Winter Ecology Schedules and Readings
Snowshoe Hare (Lepus americanus) [MRS/Niwot LTER]

WINTER MAMMALOGY FIELD DAY

RETURN TO SYLLABUS

(Schedules etc. subject to modification)

FORECAST
 
Vertebrate Winter Ecology –  Mammals
Readings
  • LC Chapter 4: p90-120 (3rd ed: p93-125) (=sections for mammals & birds; also assigned for Winter Ornithology)
  • See Mammal Winter Adaptation handouts in Lab section below
  • Interested in more?
    • re Mammals: LC Chapter 7: p176-215 (3rd ed: p185-212) (=Winter Profile sections on Northern Cervids & Semiaquatic mammals)
    • on Plant-Animal Interactions: LC Chapter 6
    • A different treatment in WEH: Chapter 3: p65-162
Lesson points
(in parallel with those for Birds)
  • What are the major survival issues for mammals in winter?
  • What are Physiological, Morphological, and Behavior adaptations for coping with these issues? 
    • many, many ... so organize these in terms of (e.g., give examples of) the next 2 '●' questions–
  • How are these integrated together to give mammals solutions to winter conditions?
    • What is the relationship between winter activity/dormancy domain (as part of behavior) and food preferences (expressed morphologically and physiologically)?
    • What are some adaptations in mammals that involve strongly linked physiology and morphology?  How does this integration work? -
      • that is, for a given linked adaptation - what are the physiological mechanisms and how do they depend on the morphology?
  • What is the equation for thermal flux?  How do mammals 'manipulate' each term to reduce heat loss in winter?
  • What is "density-dependent" vs. "density-independent" mortality?  
    • How do these relate to survivorship of overwintering mammal populations? -
      • maybe easier to explain giving examples.
Other Resources:
  • No Room at the Top, by Paul Tolmι. National Wildlife, 44(1): 22-30 (Dec-Jan 2006) -  High mountain species and global warming.
    • Print article (pdf, 8M)
    • Online article <from: http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=79&articleID=1147>
  • Video on Pika: "The University of Colorado's Chris Ray discusses her research on the American Pika at the Niwot Ridge Long Term Research site (produced by Earth Initiatives)"
  • Song of the Alpine:  The Rocky Mountain Tundra Through the Seasons, by Joyce Gellhorn (2002, Johnson Books, Boulder).  Chapters 7, 10, 12 provide an description of animal responses to winter.  - also listed for Winter Ornithology
  • [broken link 3/09 - Human physiological response - Surviving cold shock... http://www.exn.ca/video/?Video=exn20020325-icewater.asx]
click image to enlarge comics:



source: http://www.comics.com/comics/monty/archive/monty-20080106.html
Wiley


8:30a – Weather briefing - Daily Weather Discussion handouts: Archive

8:40a – 12:30p –  Field: Winter activities of montane forest mammals: Tracking sign 

FIELD - 
Bring
  • Flotation
    • Snowshoes work a lot better than skis for the mammal day, as we are mainly on the flats and do a lot of zigzagging through the trees.
  • Field Journal
  • topo map
  • snacks
  • If you have: 
    • Binoculars, camera
    • Field guide to animal tracks and/or to mammals
Handouts
Lesson points As lesson points above
Related Links 
Resources
  • A Guide to Nature in Winter, by Donald Stokes (1976; Little, Brown & Co.)
  • Field Guide to Tracking Animals in the Snow, by Louise Forrest (1988, Stackpole Books)
  • Scats and Tracks of the Rocky Mountains, by James Halfpenny (2001, 2nd ed., A Falcon Guide)
  • Mammal Tracks and Sign.  A Guide to North American Species, by Mark Elbroach (2002, Stackpole Books)
  • A Field Guide to Animal Tracks, by Olaus Murie (1954, Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin, Boston).  A classic - in this guide to animal sign, Murie includes personal essays on North American mammals.


Snow prints of an owl having caught a rabbit (See also photo)
photo: https://hovergirl.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/owl-prints-in-snow.jpg
Northern Pocket Gopher (Thomomys talpoides) subnivean tubes  (photo: Niwot LTER)               

Winter Behavior Photos --

A red fox has targeted a mouse hidden under 2 feet of crusted snow, Park Country, WY 
(photo: Micheal Eastman, source: NGS)

See also Video: 
Red Fox hunting, Yellowstone NP
https://www.facebook.com/YellowstoneNPS/videos/1190325234316162/

 

12:30 – Lunch, at the Lodge

1:00-5:00p – LAB: Mammals of Front Range montane forest and alpine tundra: Winter adaptations 

Some Previous Years' Results - Winter Mammalogy
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rev.  22 Jun 24