Timing of Resource Availability Drives Divergent Social Systems and Home Range Dynamics in Ecologically Similar Tree Squirrels
Author
Mazzamuto, Maria VittoriaMerrick, Melissa J.
Bisi, Francesco
Koprowski, John L.
Wauters, Lucas
Martinoli, Adriano
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Sch Nat Resources & EnvironmIssue Date
2020-06-25Keywords
conifer-squirrel coevolutionhome range size variation
Eurasian red squirrel
Mt. Graham red squirrel
foraging strategy
producer-consumer dynamics
Metadata
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FRONTIERS MEDIA SACitation
Mazzamuto, M. V., Merrick, M. J., Bisi, F., Koprowski, J. L., Wauters, L., & Martinoli, A. (2020). Timing of resource availability drives divergent social systems and home range dynamics in ecologically similar tree squirrels. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 8, 174.Rights
Copyright © 2020 Mazzamuto, Merrick, Bisi, Koprowski, Wauters and Martinoli. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Intraspecific variation in home range size has important implications for the distribution of animals across landscapes and the spatial structuring of population, community, and ecosystem processes. Among species of similar trophic guild and body mass, differences in home range size can reflect extrinsic variables that exert divergent selective forces upon spacing behavior and social organization. We tested predictions about how resource availability and timing influence social system, home range size, and territoriality in two tree squirrel species of similar size and ecological niches but that differ in foraging strategy and social organization. We estimated home range size and intraspecific home range core overlap in the Mt. Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus fremonti grahamensis; Arizona USA; MGRS) and the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris; Alps, Italy; ERS) as functions of species, sex, season, and individual's body mass. However, body mass did not explain differences found between the two species. We found MGRS home ranges being three times smaller with higher core area exclusivity compared to ERS in all seasons. In fact, territorial MGRS evolved in a system of brief resource pulses and are larder hoarders, whereas ERS experience prolonged resource availability and are non-territorial. Only male MGRSs increased their home range during the breeding season, reflecting interspecific differences in social organization and mating behavior. Male ERS home ranges always overlap with several females to enhance mating success although male and female MGRS maintain nearly exclusive territories throughout the year. Only during spring and summer do males temporarily leave their food-based territory to increase mating opportunities with neighboring estrus females. Home range comparisons between ecologically similar species emphasize the importance of divergent extrinsic factors in shaping variability in body size-home range size scaling relationships. Timing in resource availability influenced the social structure and space use in tree squirrels of similar body size, highlighting how the coevolution of arboreal squirrels with conifer tree species has shaped their natural history.Note
Open access journalISSN
2296-701XVersion
Final published versionae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3389/fevo.2020.00174
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Copyright © 2020 Mazzamuto, Merrick, Bisi, Koprowski, Wauters and Martinoli. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).


