Field Documentation of Summer and Fall Diet in Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels, Ictidomys Tridecemlineatus

Author

Trevor Zimmerman, Andrews University
H. Thomas Goodwin, Andrews UniversityFollow

Date of Award

Summer 7-2014

Document Type

Poster

Department

Biology

First Advisor

H. Thomas Goodwin

Abstract

Prior work has shown a shift in stable carbon isotope values of Ictidomys tridecemlineatus incisors and fecal pellets late in the active season (Jang et al., 2012 and Chacko, 2013).

The purpose of this study was to find out if the diet of I. tridecemlineatus shifts from C3 to C4 plants during the late part of the active season through direct observation of feeding activities. Observations were made at the Andrews University Airpark in SW Michigan from July to late September, 2013.

Representative samples of plant and insect material fed on were collected and analyzed for stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition. We found no shift from C3 to C4 plant diet. However, there was a C¹³ enrichment of plant and insect material over the course of the active season.

Recommended Citation

Zimmerman, Trevor and Goodwin, H. Thomas, "Field Documentation of Summer and Fall Diet in Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrels, Ictidomys Tridecemlineatus" (2014). Posters, Presentations, and Papers. 7.

https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/student-works/7