Effect of age and parity on weight gain and entry into hibernation in Richardson's ground squirrels
- 1 December 1978
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Canadian Science Publishing in Canadian Journal of Zoology
- Vol. 56 (12), 2573-2577
- https://doi.org/10.1139/z78-345
Abstract
Weight gain and time of entry into hibernation were recorded for nonparous yearling, parous yearling, and parous 3-year-old Spermophilus richardsonii in southern Alberta in 1977. Nonparous squirrels steadily gained weight over the 12-week period between emergence from hibernation and immergence into hibernation. The weight pattern of parous squirrels exhibited a sub-cycle of weight gain, weight loss, and weight maintenance associated with pregnancy, parturition, and lactation resulting in delayed attainment of prehibernation peak weights and delayed entry into hibernation. There was no difference in time of emergence of parous and nonparous females in the subsequent spring. Age affected rates of post lactation weight gain such that the oldest mothers remained active longest but attained the lowest prehibernation weights. Oldest mothers had the lowest over-winter survival rate.This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit:
- Energy requirements during reproduction of Peromyscus maniculatusCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1977
- Effect of climatic conditions on the annual activity and hibernation cycle of Richardson's ground squirrels and Columbian ground squirrelsCanadian Journal of Zoology, 1977
- Population Structure and Dispersal in Richardson's Ground SquirrelsEcology, 1977
- Hibernation and Circannual Rhythms of Food Consumption in Marmots and Ground SquirrelsThe Quarterly Review of Biology, 1976
- Seasonal Changes in Weights of MarmotsThe American Midland Naturalist, 1976
- THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND PHOTOPERIOD ON THE YEARLY HIBERNATING BEHAVIOR OF CAPTIVE GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRRELS (CITELLUS LATERALIS TESCORUM)Canadian Journal of Zoology, 1963