Home-Range of Squirrels (13 days vs. 25 days)

Data for a male (M) and a female (F) ground squirrel were collected on an 24 x 24 station live-trap grid. The spacing between traps in each column and each row was 12 meters. The data from this CMR method is shown in the table below. Use the data for the first 13 days to diagram the home range for each squirrel. Then find the home range size using the minimum area method and the range length as we did in the demonstration. For the range length, indicate which two points you are using. On a separate sheet of paper, repeat the exercise above using all 25 days worth of data. Compare the calculations using 13 days worth of data versus using all 25 days worth of data. Did the range size and range length change considerably? Would you expect it to? Explain

Day Female Male Day Female Male

1

D6

T3

14

D7

O1

2

F6

V2

15

D6

P6

3

F6

S2

16

D7

O6

4

A9

S1

17

B9

U2

5

E5

S3

18

D9

V2

6

E6

P2

19

A9

P11

7

D5

O1

20

A8

O4

8

D6

S7

21

A10

O6

9

A11

Q1

22

B9

S2

10

D7

U2

23

B8

V5

11

D10

P9

24

C7

V4

12

D2

R5

25

C5

O9

13

C6

P7

     

Range data for ground squirrels

Related Links:


The Squirrel Almanac