Spermophilus lateralis, the golden-mantled ground squirrel, while euthermic exhibits a strong hypoxic ventilatory response, but a relatively blunted hypercapnic ventilatory response similar to other semi-fossorial mammals. Under resting conditions, carotid body chemoreceptors provide a tonic excitatory input to the frequency component of ventilation. Carotid body denervation (CBX) results in a 40% decrease in minute ventilation (V). The overall ventilatory response to hypoxia is unaffected by CBX, although the ventilatory threshold is significantly shifted to lower levels of inspired O₂. CBX also has little effect on the overall response to hypercapnia. Thus, in S. lateralis, it appears that changes in the partial pressure of O₂ (P0₂) In the blood act centrally, rather than peripherally, to play a predominate role in ventilatory control. Chronic exposure to hypoxia and hypercapnia (CHH, 17% O₂ and 4% CO₂) does not result in overall ventilatory acclimation, with minute ventilation being similar to control squirrels acutely exposed to hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions. In spite of this, CHH exposure does result in adjustments to respiration; frequency is decreased and tidal volume is elevated compared to control squirrels acutely exposed to CHH conditions. Overall V sensitivities to both hypoxia and hypercapnia are not significantly altered by CHH exposure. It appears that acclimation to chronic hypoxic and hypercapnic conditions in S. lateralis may increase alveolar minute ventilation relative to total minute ventilation and thus minimize the changes in arterial PO₂ and Pco₂ during hypoxic and hypercapnic exposure. During entrance into hibernation, as metabolic rate and body temperature decline, concomitant decreases in ventilation occur. Two patterns of respiration occur during deep hibernation; a burst breathing pattern characterized by long non-ventilatory periods (Tnvp) separated by bursts of several breaths and a single breath pattern characterized by single breaths separated by a relatively short Tnvp. In S. lateralis during hibernation at body temperatures between 6° and 10°C, a burst breathing pattern prevails. At slightly lower body temperatures, less than 4°C, a single breath breathing pattern prevails. Both burst breathing and single breath breathing squirrels have similar overall levels of resting minute ventilation. Burst breathing squirrels exhibit a significant respiratory response to hypoxia (3% O₂) and when the decreases in metabolic rate during hibernation are taken into account (air convection requirement) their hypoxic sensitivity is similar to that in awake S. lateralis. In contrast, single breath breathing squirrels do not respond to hypoxia at any level tested (down to 3% O₂). Both burst breathing and single breath breathing squirrels show large ventilatory repsonses to hypercapnia. In the burst breathing state hypercapnic sensitivity is significantly higher compared to the single breath breathing state, due to an augmented frequency response during burst breathing. In both groups of hibernating squirrels ventilation is increased during hypercapnia solely by decreases in the nonventilatory period. When ventilation is standardized for the decreases in metabolic rate during hibernation both burst breathing and single breath breathing S. laterlis exhibit a much higher hypercapnic sensitivity than that seen in awake S. lateralis. Carotid body denervation has little effect on ventilatory pattern generation or ventilatory sensitivities to hypoxia and hypercapnia in hibernating squirrels. It appears that during hibernation in S. lateralis, ventilation is controlled primarily by changes in the partial pressure of CO₂ (Pc0₂) in tne blood acting centrally to stimulate ventilation. The burst breathing pattern is produced centrally, as are the respiratory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia. Thus, central mechanisms involved with ventilatory control are extremely important in both the euthermic state and the hibernating state, but the chemical stimuli regulating ventilation appear to be fundamentally different in euthermic and hibernating S. lateralis. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Sexual selection is considered a powerful evolutionary force responsible for the enormous diversity found in reproductive morphology, physiology, and behavior. I addressed questions related to selection in the Cape ground squirrel (Xerus inauris), a species characterized as highly social and promiscuous. These attributes often are responsible for variance in male reproductive success and as such, sexual selection theory predicts increased opportunity for sexual selection. I confirm that the predominant mechanism underlying genital evolution and competition for paternity in X. inauris is sperm competition. I find evidence that investment in sperm competition is costly and may reflect immunocompetence. I quantify reproductive success as it relates to alternative male tactics and female resource distribution. I find that male X. inauris alternative reproductive tactics differ within and across populations most likely due to differences in female resource distribution. In areas where females are evenly distributed, dispersed males encounter more estrous females, and therefore have increased breeding opportunities. However, the decision to remain natal does not preclude reproduction. I determine that these tactics are most likely conditional with equal fitness payoffs. Males, regardless of tactic, invest more in post-copulatory competition (e.g. sperm competition, copulatory plugs) than males within a population with a clustered distribution of breeding females. In the latter area, males form dominance hierarchies that affect copulatory success and lead to greater skews in reproduction among males. Both sites have evidence of a highly skewed variance in reproduction and intense sexual selective pressure. My results suggest these populations have increased opportunities for selection but that different mechanisms of intrasexual competition may result in rapid evolutionary change within this species.

The genetic structure of 26 natural populations of three species (S. tridecemlineatus, S. mexicanus, and S. spilosoma) of the Ictidomys subgenus of ground squirrels was analyzed using chromosomal and electrophoretic techniques. Chromosomal variation was not observed in S. mexicanus, and only slight karyotypic variation was found in the other two species. Chromosomal evidence indicated hybridization between S. tridecemlineatus and S. mexicanus, placing these species within the classical definition of semispecies. Analysis of electrophoretic variation at 29 genetic loci indicated close genetic relationships between these species. Evolution in Ictidomys appears to be linked with Pleistocene events, and speciation appears to have occurred within the last 155,000 years.

I studied round-tailed ground squirrels (Spermophilus tereticaudus) to determine if presence of water or green vegetation significantly increased reproductive success. I compared the number of juveniles produced, body weights, and diets of squirrels during 1981-84 on 2 plots with green vegetation and no free water, on 3 plots with free water and no green vegetation, and 2 control plots. Reproductive success and body weights of adult and juvenile squirrels were significantly higher (P ≥ 0.001) on plots with green vegetation than on either watered or control plots. Body weights of squirrels on plots with water only and control plots were not significantly different (P ≥ 0.05). Adult squirrels without access to green vegetation during winter and spring failed to reproduce even though free water was readily available. Percent of diet overlap, diversity, and evenness of squirrel diets on control and watered plots were not significantly different. Green vegetation appeared to be the limiting factor for round-tailed ground squirrels.

In an attempt to describe, explain, and show the demographic significance of annual variations in the nesting distribution of Uinta ground squirrels, a study was conducted during the summers of 1964 through 1967 in northern Utah. Procedures included both trapping and direct observation. It was found that females tended to nest in open, previously inhabited, grassy areas. Males resided throughout a variety of habitats. This typical nesting distribution was established initially in the summer by juveniles shortly after they first appeared aboveground. The extent to which the distribution was maintained the following spring depended largely upon the number of female s which emerged from hibernation and the pattern in which they emerged. The number of females which appeared depended upon the previous year's breeding density and productivity. The pattern of emergence appeared to be a function of an inherent pattern of physiological arousal from hibernation and the prevailing weather conditions. The number and sequence of emergence of females in the early spring affected breeding and social organization in a manner which limited the number of females which retained residences in the study area. This determined the actual breeding density. In addition, emergence influenced the production of offspring by altering both the breeding density and the number of non-productive females in the population. The adaptive significance of the system and its applicability to other species are discussed.

The annual demography of a population of antelope ground squirrels in Curlew Valley, Utah was studied by measuring population density, natality, and mortality. Capture- recapture techniques yielded lower estimates than the Hayne strip- census. The estimates suggested 1968 was a year of population decline. One hundred seventy- three squirrels were collected and autopsied to obtain sex ratio , age structure, natality, and mortality data . The seasonal sex ratios for adult and yearling squirrels showed 82 percent females in spring 1968, this gradually changed to 56 percent by winter . The seasonal sex ratios of the young squirrels showed 59 percent females upon emergence from natal burrows in summer 1968, increasing to 79 percent by winter. The squirrels collected were aged by cementum annuli . The oldest were believed to be 5 years old . They composed 1.2 percent of the collection while young- of- the-year composed 38. 7 percent. The estimate of mean corpora lutea was 7.6, the mean embryo count was 7.2, and the mean post-partum placental scar count was 5.8. The mean corpora lutea count for yearlings was statistically lower than the count for adults and the mean ovulation rate for 1968 statistically lower than the rate for 1969. An estimate of litter size from four nests gave a mean of 4.5. In 1968, the conception rate was 91 percent with yearlings comprising 75 percent of those not conceiving. In 1969, the rate was 100 percent. Pre-Emergence mortality of the young was 41 percent. post-emergence mortality was 86 percent, and mortality, March - November, 1968 was 92 percent. Adult and yearling spring-to-spring mortality for study area squirrels calculated from retrap data was 81 percent. Spring-to-spring mortality calulated from age distribution data and Ricker's formula was 71 percent. The spring-to-fall mortality for 1968 calculated from density estimates and age distribution data was 53 percent.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-178). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M. Sc.)--Carleton University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-132). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc.) - Carleton University, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 134-145). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-138). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.