Feeding Ecology of a Population of Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus) in Southeast Ohio

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Food resource fluctuation and composition of diet were continuously monitored for a population of eastern chipmunks (T. striatus) in southeast Ohio [USA] from May-Oct. 1975. Three food categories were used extensively by the population: plants, invertebrates and fungi. Chipmunks selected subsets of the food available in each category. Plant material formed the bulk of spring and autumn diets. The relative proportion of invertebrate and fungal food in diets increased during summer. Adult males consumed significantly more plant and less invertebrate material than did other age-sex classes. Regression analysis revealed positive relationships between invertebrate and fungal availability and their percentages in the diet. Chipmunk activity was positively related to fungal consumption and inversely related to plant (reproductive structure) consumption. Explanations are offered for the trends observed. Discriminant analysis revealed a distinction between adult and juvenile feeding behavior based on invertebrate consumption, adults consuming smaller amounts of invertebrate food. In addition, adult feeding behavior was consistent; that of juveniles was interpreted as being adaptively flexible.

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit: