Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Semester of Degree Completion
1997
Thesis Director
Eric K. Bollinger
Thesis Committee Member
Thomas A. Nelson
Abstract
I studied the effects of habitat :fragmentation on the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in 30 forest fragments in southern Illinois. The fragments ranged in size from 6 ha to 5264 ha, and had varying degrees of isolation. I placed 10 nest boxes in each habitat fragment and checked them monthly. I captured southern flying squirrels in 24 of the 30 fragments, and found evidence of squirrels (i.e., nests and feeding stations) in 4 additional fragments. Thus, only 2 fragments did not show any evidence of squirrel use suggesting that the southern flying squirrel may not be particularly sensitive to the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation, in a primarily forested landscape like southern Illinois. However, the 2 fragments apparently lacking squirrels were small and isolated.
Recommended Citation
Woodworth, Catherine J., "The Effects of Habitat Fragmentation and Factors Influencing Nest Box Use on the Southern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in Southern Illinois" (1997). Masters Theses. 1844.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1844
