Roost Characteristics and Temperature Buffering of Female Red-Giant Flying Squirrel (Petaurista philippensis) in Fushan Experimental Forest
Date Issued
2015
Date
2015
Author(s)
Chen, Hsueh-Chen
Abstract
To examine whether roost characteristics affect temperature in roosts and roost preference or fidelity of female Petaurista philippensis grandis, we measured the characteristics and temperature inside and outside of roosts of P. philippensis, and monitored roosts utilization and home range of adult females at difference reproductive stages by observation and radio tracking at Fushan Experimental Forest. We radio-tracked 5 female adults and found 89 roosts used by them from July 2011 to April 2013. Results of this study indicated that the average home range of these females is 0.96 ± 0.13 ha. Home range of these females hardly overlapped and none of their roosts was shared by more than one adult female. Female P. philippensis showed preference to roosts with low canopy cover in winter, large volume and small entrance as maternity roosts. They also showed preference and higher fidelity to roosts with better temperature buffering capacity. In addition, roost with large volume showed higher minimum temperature, average temperature in summer and daily temperature range in winter. It suggests that female P. philippensis prefer specific roost characteristics which are related to better temperature buffering capacity. The temperature buffering capacity of roost partly explained the roost characteristics preferred by female P. philippensis. However, there may be other non-temperature related factors affecting roost preference and fidelity of female P. philippensis.
Subjects
roost preference
roost fidelity
radio tracking
female territoriality
Type
thesis
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