DAY 4

Competition

• Inter-species

  • Thirteen-lined ground squirrels compete with each other for food, burrow space, and mates

• Intra-species

  • Compete with other small mammals such as voles, mice, and other ground squirrell species for food and habitat

• What do they compete over

  • Mainly food resources (seeds, insects, small vertebrates), burrow sites, and territory

• Effect of invasive species

  • Includes European starlings and house sparrows. Invasive plants can alter habitat and food availability, affecting their population

IUCN Rating

• What is the rating?

  • Least Concern (LC)

• Population

  • Not precisely qualified but considered stable and widespread

• Population Trend

  • Generally stable with some localized fluctuations due to habitat changes and human activities

Impact of Humans

• What impacts have occured

  • Habitat destruction due to agriculture

• Potential future impacts

  • Continued habitat loss, increase agriculutural processes

• How long have humans been interacting with the species

  • Have interacted for centuries. Used to hunt

• Efforts made to minimize impact

  • Conservation of grassland habitats and natural areas

  • Implementing wildlife corridors to reduce habitat fragmentation

  • Educating public on ecological role and reducing unnecessary pest control measures