Habitat analysis of a disjunct population of the Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
- WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Nicole DeAnne Allman Parrish (Creator)
- Institution
- Western Carolina University (WCU )
- Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
- Advisor
- Beverly Collins
Abstract: The northern flying squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus occurs in a variety of forest
types over most of North America, with disjunct populations in the southern
Appalachians, Black Hills, southern Rocky Mountains, and Sierra Nevada (Wells-
Gosling and Heaney, 1984). A subspecies of sabrinus, the Carolina northern flying
squirrel, sabrinus coloratus, is a small nocturnal flying squirrel found in the southern
Appalachians. One population of Carolina northern flying squirrel occurs within
hemlock-northern hardwood forests along the Cherohala Skyway in western North
Carolina. This subspecies was listed as federally endangered on July 1, 1985 (U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, 1990) largely due to declining populations from habitat loss (Loeb
et al., 2000). I sought to determine if the larger habitat surrounding the areas of
documented squirrel activity is suitable for squirrel persistence, how habitat size and
quality compares between sites with squirrel activity and other sites, and what types of
foods the squirrels were consuming.
Vegetation surveys of sites with documented G. s. coloratus activity, either den
sites or capture sites, and paired random sites approximately 70 meters away were
conducted. In addition to general habitat knowledge, these surveys provided information
for GIS analysis of the larger habitat around the three focal areas. Using ArcGIS v. 9.3.1 (ESRI, Redlands, CA, USA), a model delineating potential Carolina northern flying
squirrel habitat based on six parameters: slope, elevation, aspect, spectral signature of den
sites, soil types, and tree height data was created. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis
and sequencing was performed on G. s. coloratus scat samples to determine fungal or
bacterial diet composition.
Vegetation surveys revealed G. s. coloratus were utilizing habitat from hemlock
to northern hardwood forest and habitat patches that were similar to nearby areas along
the Cherohala Skyway. The GIS model revealed an area of potential G. s. coloratus
habitat to the north (Stratton Bald). Though the distance from Stratton Bald to my three
study sites exceeds G. s. coloratus travel distance, the model also revealed an area much
closer than Stratton Bald of smaller suitable patches grouped relatively close together.
BLAST results of sequenced DGGE bands of squirrel scat revealed similarity to common
fungi, including both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes.
Habitat analysis of a disjunct population of the Carolina northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)
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Created on 3/1/2012
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2012
- Keywords
- Carolina, Cherohala Skyway, coloratus, Glaucomys sabrinus, habitat, northern flying squirrel
- Subjects
- Northern flying squirrel -- Ecology -- North Carolina, Western
- Northern flying squirrel -- Habitat -- North Carolina, Western