Movement patterns, food availability, and fungal diets of sympatric flying squirrels in the Kawartha Highlands

Abstract

Northern flying squirrels (NFS) are mycophagous specialists (fungi-dominated diet) thatmay be displaced with southern flying squirrel (SFS) range expansion, thereby limiting fungal dispersal in forest communities. To understand the implications of squirrel species turnover on mycophagy, we investigated the home ranges of both flying squirrel species who are living in stable sympatry. We found no significant difference in home range sizes and identified spatial overlap between the two species. Through habitat selection ratios we found SFS were strongly selecting for deciduous-dominated habitats more than NFS. Lastly, we conducted microscopy on flying squirrel scat and found NFS were eating more fungi than SFS. We conclude that the squirrels are sharing the same habitat landscape but are finding ways to partition the habitat accordingly to allow for sympatry. SFS may contribute to the spore-dispersal cycle similarly to their northern counterpart through moderate fungus consumption and large home range sizes.

Author Keywords: diet, flying squirrels, Glaucomys, home range, mycophagy, sympatry

    Item Description
    Type
    Contributors
    Creator (cre): Persad, Rebekah
    Thesis advisor (ths): Bowman, Jeff
    Degree committee member (dgc): Nol, Erica
    Degree committee member (dgc): Davy, Christina
    Degree granting institution (dgg): Trent University
    Date Issued
    2024
    Date (Unspecified)
    2024
    Place Published
    Peterborough, ON
    Language
    Extent
    93 pages
    Rights
    Copyright is held by the author, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise noted.
    Local Identifier
    TC-OPET-11113
    Publisher
    Trent University
    Degree
    Master of Science (M.Sc.): Environmental and Life Sciences