The Tamias genus includes any of the 24 species of chipmunks seen throughout North America, with one additional species being present in Northern Asia (Oldham, 2019). All species are traditionally known for their furry, striped tails and their cheek pouches that are used for transporting food (Oldham, 2019). The different species are all omnivores feeding on various seeds, berries, nuts, insects, and more (Oldham, 2019).

From May 1977 until May 1979 scientists studied the demographic patterns of Eastern Chipmunks through live capturing and food supplementation (Gregory, et. al., 1988). They took data on population size, emigration, lactation rates, survival through the winter, and more (Gregory, et. al., 1988). They essentially were trying to see if food supply had an effect on the survival and vitality of this species in different groupings, such as the difference the supplementation had between males and females (Gregory, et. al., 1988). 

As you can see from the graph, and as the scientists concluded, the added corn did not make much of an impact on the male species of any group (Gregory, et. al., 1988). However, the females seemed to thrive in areas with supplementation (Gregory, et. al., 1988). This suggests that the size of the food source available to the female has an effect on their survival (Gregory, et. al., 1988). They discovered that males tend to emigrate more than females and they believe this is why the females rely more heavily on a specific area's food source (Gregory, et. al., 1988). 

This is important because it can help explain a possible reason why an imbalance in the population between male and female Eastern Chipmunks is occurring, and it can help us humans determine how to fix it. It also helps reenforce the fact that females choose male mates and tend to have litters in their burrows, meaning they live a more sedimentary lifestyle and cannot move about to new food sources as easily (Kroll, 2013).