Presentation Details
| Characterizing Sex Differences in the Physical Territories of North American Red Squirrels Margot Blanco1, Ben Carlson1, Rachel Schulz1, Andrew McAdam2, Stan Boutin3, Jeff Lane4, Lauren Petrullo5, April Martinig6, Ben Dantzer1. 1University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.2University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.3University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.4University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.5University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.6University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada |
Abstract
Spatial memory affects the ability of animals to locate the resources they need to survive and reproduce, and intraspecific differences in spatial memory can be influenced by characteristics such as sex and age. In animals that are territorial, individual differences in spatial memory could influence the physical characteristics of the territory. North American red squirrels defend exclusive territories centered around their midden (the storage site for the squirrel’s larder hoard of its main food source), with nests and additional scattered food caches also located in the territory. While all individuals need to remember the locations of their food caches, spatial memory needs may differ between males and females as males need to locate the territories of females in oestrus and females need to remember the location of the nest that holds their pups. We quantified several physical midden characteristics, including the number of nests and locations of cached food on and near the midden. In the same squirrels, we used the Y-maze to quantify spatial memory. We will present our findings about the differences between male and female middens and associations with Y-maze performance.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
Content Locked. Log into a registered attendee account to access this presentation.