ARCTIC Differences in Weight Changes and the Annual Cycle of Male and Female Arctic Ground Squirrels

• Main Authors: Ian G. Mclean, Alison J. Towns
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Traduit par Ian Badgley; Universite du Quebec à Montreal; Arctic; Haines Junction; Yukon; Arctique*
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.494.7871; http://pubs.aina.ucalgary.ca/arctic/Arctic34-3-249.pdf

ABSTRACT. Arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) were studied for three summers near Haines Junction, Yukon Territory. Population characteristics and the behaviour of individual animals were monitored throughout the study. Ground squirrels entered hibernation in the order adult females, juvenile females, then males. Males emerged from hibernation before females. Males stored food in the autumn when conditions permitted, whereas females did not. Males emerged from hibernation having lost significantly less weight than females over winter. Males lost weight during the mating period, whereas females did not. These data are interpreted in terms of the mating period which for males lasts for approximately three weeks, whereas for females it lasts for less than a day. RÉSUMÉ. Les Spermophiles arctiques (Spermophilusparryii) furent ttudits lors de trois Btés pres de Haines Junction, au Yukon. Les caracteres de la population ainsique les comportements d’individus furent contrôlde durant toute I’etude. Les Spermophiles ont amorce l’hibernation dans l’ordre suivant: les femelles adultes, les femelles juveniles puis les mâles. Les mâles ont cess6 l’hibernation plus tôt que les femelles. Les mâles, contrairement aux femelles, ont entrepose de la nourriture en automne lorsque les conditions les permettaient. Lors de l’hibernation, les mâles ont perdu beaucoup moins de poids que les femelles. Lors de la pkriode d’accouplement une perte du poids