Use and Selection of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Cavities by Southern Flying Squirels
Loeb SC. 1993. Use and Selection of Red-Cockaded Woodpecker Cavities by Southern Flying Squirels. The Journal of Wildlife Management. 57(2):329-335
Southern flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) may have a negative impact on red-cockaded woodpeckers (RCW's, Picoides borealis). Thus, I examined cavities excavated by RCW's in central Georgia during 4 breeding seasons to determine the extent of cavity use by southern flying squirrels and other competitors, and to determine whether flying squirrels select cavities on the basis of cavity or tree characteristics. Species other than RCW's occupied 18-25% of the RCW cavities over the 4 years. Flying squirrels used 10-21% of RCW cavities, whereas avian species other than RCW's used 4-8% of the cavities. Flying squirrels selected cavities primarily on the basis of cavity entrance size. Entrances to cavities used by flying squirrels were smaller (P ≤ 0.05) than entrances to unused cavities, and squirrels strongly preferred (P ≤ 0.05) cavities that had not been enlarged. Because RCW's also prefer non-enlarged cavities, the potential for competitive interactions between the 2 species exists, particularly when non-enlarged cavities are limited.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Loeb, Susan
- Units
- BITH
- Keywords
- cavities, Glauconys volans, RCW's Picoides borealis, red-cockaded woodpeckers, southern flying squirrels
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Birds