| A northern flying squirrel runs up a tree on the Payette National Forest in Idaho.
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| GF researcher Shelli Dubay searches for truffles in the Medicine Bow National Forest in Wyoming.
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| Field technicians taking vegetation measurements in an area near where GF scientists tracked a vole. Understanding how voles relate to their environment is critical to effective wildlife management.
Koopman |
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| Investigators |
| Dr. Shelli Dubay, Department of Biology, University of Wisconsin
Dr. Greg Hayward, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming
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What is the Issue? |
| FOOD SUPPLY FOR SMALL MAMMALS AND FUNGAL SPORE DISPERSAL |
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Soil fungi (and their mushrooms) and lichens are the dominant food source of northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus) and red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). These small subalpine mammals are very important because they deposit the fungi spores via their feces throughout the forest. These spores then give rise to essential healthy soil fungi -- known as mycorrhizas -- which grow intimately with roots and benefit all forest plants. This study examined the diet preferences of these small mammals, and also investigated the nutritional quality and digestibility of lichen and fungal species eaten by these animals.
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What is our goal? |
| DEVELOP AND UNDERSTANDING OF PREDATOR/PREY RELATIONS AND CARRYING AGENTS FOR FUNGAL DISPERSION.
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| Soil fungi and their relationship with northern flying squirrels and red-backed voles in the southern Rocky Mountains. |
Where we currently stand. |
| This research focused on determining the nutritional benefits of mycophagy. Mycophagy is the consumption of fungi and lichens. Nutrient analyses for several fungi and lichens were conducted, along with preference experiments with several diet items. Generally, voles appeared to choose among diets based upon protein content and squirrels appeared to select based on trace element content. The research showed that voles and squirrels are able to survive on diets of fungi and lichens by diet mixing. Lichens are eaten because they are high in calcium and are easily digested, but fungi provide nitrogen (protein) and many other vitamins and minerals including vitamin D. In order to determine how the individual animal obtains adequate nutrients, digestibility experiments were conducted. Collaboration was undertaken with related projects and several publications have been submitted to scientific journals based on this work. Shelli Dubay successfully completed her PhD in July, 2000. |
You can help this project - find out how. |
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