Ecology of northern flying squirrels: implications for ecosystem management in the Pacific Northwest, USA

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The northern flying squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus) in the Pacific Northwest is a keystone species that disseminates the spores of ectomycorrhizal fungi symbiotic with Pinaceae and that is preyed upon by a variety of vertebrate predators. Substantial research has shown that these squirrels tend to be most abundant in naturally regenerated forests >100 years old (old growth and younger mixed-age forest with legacies from old growth), whereas abundance in second-growth forests is highly variable and often quite low. Flying squirrels vary in life history attributes from north to south, including adult body mass, rate of juvenile weight gain, age of sexual maturation for females, proportion of females that are sexually active, survivorship, population age structure, and population density. Some life history attributes and predation seem density-dependent. There is less variation between managed and old forest within physiographic provinces than among physiographic provinces. The most common difference between managed and natural forests is population density. Environmental correlates of abundance vary among areas, but seem to include abundance of coarse woody debris in drier regions dominated by Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), abundance of ericaceous shrubs in wetter regions dominated by western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), abundance of cavity trees, and habitat breadth-variety of vegetation site types that differ in species composition, foliage height diversity, and, possibly, deciduous trees that produce cavities and seeds, nuts, catkins, or other food that augments the squirrel’s diet. Flying squirrel ecology provides practical insights for forest ecosystem management and conservation of biodiversity in Pacific Northwest forests.

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ELECTRONIC FILE - Zoology

This paper is in a book published in 2000 from a symposium held in 1997 (the Seventh International Theriological Congress (ITC7). Due to lack of needed fields, the book title is in the field labeled Conference Name