Intraspecific cache pilferage in larder-hoarding red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Kluane, Yukon

• Author / Creator

  Donald, Jenna

• Pilfering is thought to play a role in the evolution of scatter-hoarding strategies; but is not well understood in larder-hoarding animals. I studied intraspecific pilfering in red squirrels in Kluane, YT, Canada. The purpose of this project was to estimate the natural rate of cache pilferage, and to examine variation in pilfering behaviour. Results from experimental removal of territory owners, suggested that younger squirrels with smaller food caches were more likely to pilfer when given the opportunity. Survival over-winter was dependent on the number of cones cached and pilfering squirrels were less likely to survive. Using a mark-recapture study of marked cones I found that few individuals (14%) did any pilfering and stolen cones represented only 0.3% of total cones cached. It is clear that pilfering occurs at a much lower rate in Kluane than reported for red squirrels in other regions, and is less than rates reported for scatter-hoarding species.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Red squirrels
  • Stealing
  • Kleptoparasitism
  • Larder-hoarding
  • Pilferage

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R38625

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.