Master's Theses

Department

Biology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The Franklin ground squirrel is prevalent in low lying areas of silty soil overgrown with Bromus inermis which provides concealment and nest material for the squirrels. The burrows range from simple to complex but seldom vary in depth (17 inches) and diameter (3 ¼ inches). Emergence from hibernation in 1969 and 1970 was in early May and thereafter the daily activity occurred predominantly about 4 and 7 hours after sunrise and 5 hours prior to sunset. Weather conditions did not affect the daily life patterns of Spermophilus franklinii. Oxygen consumption for Spermophilus franklinii can be expressed as Y=1.73-0.014 X (Y=cc O2/g per hour, X=temp.) for metabolic responses to ambient temperature changes below 26.5 C. The thermoneutral zone (26.5 C) gave a value of 0.64 cc O2/g per hour. This value was quite close to that predicted by relating metabolism to body weight. Actual metabolized energy calculated from food consumption experiments was about double the estimated metabolized energy ascertained from oxygen consumption. The energy flow value for an estimated two animals per hectare per one day was 247.8 Kcal. This value would be nearly equivalent to the energy of maintenance as a negligible amount would be used for growth in such a brief period.

Keywords

Ground squirrels, Zoology, Species survey, Range management, Boone County (Neb.), Rodents, Habitats & ecosystems

Advisor

Dr. Eugene D. Flaherty

Date of Award

Summer 1970

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

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