%0 Conference Proceedings %D 1992 %T Population ecology of thirteen-lined ground squirrels in ungrazed tallgrass prairie manipulated by fire %A Clark, B.K. %A D.W. Kaufman %A Kaufman, G.A. %A Gurtz, S.K. %A Bixler, S.H. %E Smith, D.A. %E Jacobs, C.A. %K tallgrass prairie %X

From March 1983 to October 1987, thirteen-lined ground squirrels (Spermophilus tridecemlineatus Mitchill) were studied in ungrazed tallgrass prairie manipulated by fire on the Konza Prairie Research Natural Area, Kansas. Overall abundance varied among years (2.6 animals/ha in 1985; 5.6 animals/ha in 1986); however, no significant variation in sex ratio was observed (overall average=52% males for adults, 48% males for juveniles). Fire had a positive effect on ground squirrels; abundance was significantly higher in burned than unburned prairie during the year of a fire and in more recently than less recently burned prairie during years following a fire. Ground squirrels also selected hillsides with exposed rocks (breaks) over upland and lowland prairie sites. Although females and males selected similar habitats, home ranges were significantly larger for adult males (average=0.56 ha) than for adult females (0.36 ha). Both adult females and males caught on the study area typically were residents rather than transients. Further, overwinter survival did not differ between adult females and males. Overwinter survival of juvenile females was similar to adults; however, no juvenile males overwintered on the study area

%C University of Northern Iowa %P 51 -54 %G eng %M KNZ00350