The impact of tassel-eared squirrel defoliation on ecotonal ponderosa pine
Soderquist TR. 1987. The impact of tassel-eared squirrel defoliation on ecotonal ponderosa pine. Journal of Mammalogy. 68(2):398-401
Two hypotheses were tested 1) under pressure of defoliation by tassel-eared squirrel, feed trees grow more slowly than non-feed trees, 2) in the absence of defoliation, comparative growth of feed trees is greater due to the lower energetic costs of chemical defense. Based on data collected in 1984, the first hypothesis was not supported in part because overall productivity was low for all trees while the second was. The author suggests that defoliation was extreme at the site, and that the effects may not be confined to growth.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Soderquist, Todd
- Units
- PARA
- Keywords
- Abundance (Biodiversity), Habitat, Kaibab squirrel, Mt. Trumbull, Pinus ponderosa, Presence, Sciurus aberti kababensis (tassel-eared squirrel), Vegetation