Presenter(s): Mallory Roberts − Biology
Faculty Mentor(s): Stacey Kiser
Poster 56
Research Area: Biology
Student researchers at Lane Community College have studied and monitored a vast array of species on campus over the past several years. While the presence of squirrels may seem ubiquitous in this area, we don’t have much data regarding species distribution and population on campus. Easy access to such information allows for further student research and may encourage interest in squirrels and squirrel-related activities on college campuses (survey). Over the course of two terms, squirrel populations were monitored in different areas of LCC Campus using two different methods. The first method captured tracks of small mammals by using an ink tunnel. Ink was placed on the outside of the tunnel with paper inside, allowing the animals to walk through and track the ink onto paper. Peanut butter and birdseed were used inside the tunnel as bait. One tunnel was placed at each of three locations throughout campus, and a game camera was placed outside of each tunnel. I was able to confirm tracks of both mice and squirrels with this method. I observed squirrels at locations closer to the wooded area near the south parking lot and chose to explore this area further. During the second term, I selected a different method using hair tubes which were constructed with PVC pipes measuring approximately two feet in length (61 cm) and three inches diameter (8 cm). I placed three wood pieces (shims) approximately two feet in length inside the pipe and secured them using a drill and screw, and double-sided tape was placed on the wood at each entrance to the pipe. The tape captured hairs from animals that entered the tubes, allowing for another method of identification. Peanut butter and bird seed were again used as bait. I selected two locations within the south woods and placed three hair tubes near each other in both locations. Each tube was secured vertically on a tree trunk, approximately five feet from the ground. A game camera monitored each location. Using photographs along with identification of tracks and hairs, I was able to affirm the presence of several different species at LCC main campus. Townsend’s chipmunks (Tamias townsendii) visited the south woods sites most frequently and appeared during both fall and winter terms. I also confirmed sight of a fox squirrel (Sciurus niger) and a western grey squirrel (Sciurius griseus) in the south woods. I captured images of other species throughout this project, including a gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos), and turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). Data collected regarding squirrel species and population will be entered into a national database used for research on college campuses.
References: Peplinski, J. and Brown, J. “Campus Squirrels”. Survey.