| Title: | Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization |
| Author(s): | Beliniak A; Gryz J; Klich D; Jasinska K; Krauze-Gryz D; |
| Address: | "Department of Forest Zoology and Wildlife Management, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Nowoursynowska 159, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland. Department of Forest Ecology, Forest Research Institute, Sekocin Stary, Braci Lesnej 3, 05-090 Raszyn, Poland. Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2076-2615 (Print) 2076-2615 (Electronic) 2076-2615 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The red squirrel is among the mammals that have adjusted well to urban habitats. Here, we focused on the two populations inhabiting Warsaw: in a park (with year-round supplemental feeding) and in an urban forest. We hypothesised that park squirrels would have higher body mass (and better body condition), being more stable over the year, and would have a higher breeding rate (i.e., the share of breeding females). Contrary to our hypothesis, forest squirrels were heavier and had better body condition than park squirrels. The body masses of squirrels from both areas were quite stable (with the highest values obtained in spring). Females in better body conditions were more likely to breed. More breeding females and sub-adults were trapped in the park. Regardless of the study site, the highest share of breeding females was in spring, but they also bred in winter and in the remaining seasons. The lower body mass/condition of park squirrels may be possibly explained by high intraspecific competition, or by stable food (and thermal as typical for the city) conditions, in which accumulating fat was not crucial. Mild winter conditions may have also enabled squirrels to breed early. This study showed the high plasticity of red squirrels living in human-transformed habitats" |
| Keywords: | Sciurus vulgaris body mass breeding activity live-trapping seasonal changes urban mammals; |
| Notes: | "PubMed-not-MEDLINEBeliniak, Agata Gryz, Jakub Klich, Daniel Jasinska, Karolina Krauze-Gryz, Dagny eng Switzerland 2022/12/12 Animals (Basel). 2022 Nov 23; 12(23):3246. doi: 10.3390/ani12233246" |
