Ecology, distribution, and predictive modeling of Tamias palmeri: A high elevation small mammal

Background/Question/Methods

Although sky-islands comprise a large part of the biological diversity of the Basin and Range Province, comprehensive ecological studies for high elevation small mammals within these areas are rare. Rarer still are ecological studies of this region conducted at both the fundamental and realized niche scales. The distribution, ecology, and population parameters of the Palmers chipmunk at two spatial scales are examined through trapping and direct measurement, and a predictive GIS-based distribution model is presented.

Results/Conclusions

Logistic regression found variables of tree type, slope, distance to water sources, and aspect as predictive of chipmunk occurrence. Linear regression found decreasing density of understory fir trees and increasing shrub cover as important variables contributing to increasing abundance, while increasing shrub cover and increasing population density significantly contributed to increased survival rates.