Breeding dispersal, male mating tactics, and population dynamics of arctic ground squirrels ...
Arctic ground squirrels are the northernmost hibernating mammal and they live in an extremely harsh and unpredictable environment with a short growing season. This environment has the potential to exert strong selection pressure on life-history traits and behaviour. I studied arctic ground squirrels...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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University of British Columbia
2009
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0091308 https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0091308 |
| Summary: | Arctic ground squirrels are the northernmost hibernating mammal and they live in an extremely harsh and unpredictable environment with a short growing season. This environment has the potential to exert strong selection pressure on life-history traits and behaviour. I studied arctic ground squirrels living at high elevation in alpine tundra in Southwest Yukon in order to answer 5 main questions: (1) How do changes in elevation and associated habitat affect demography of arctic ground squirrels? (2) What is the fate of adult males that disappear at very high rates from local populations? (3) What factors are correlated with an individual's probability of death and dispersal?, (4) What factors are correlated with a male's reproductive tactic and success?, and (5) Why do adult males disperse? Female arctic ground squirrels living at high elevation in the alpine had higher reproductive output and survival during the active season, but lower survival over winter, than their counterparts living at lower elevation ... |
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