[NatureNS] Southern Flying Squirrel

From: Christopher Majka <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca>
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Wed, 3 Nov 2010 14:19:48 -0300
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Hi Hans,

On 3-Nov-10, at 12:34 PM, Hans Toom wrote:

> Hi Christopher,
>
> According to S. E. Woods, Jr., "The Squirrels of Canada", in  
> reference to the Southern Flying Squirrel, " Until the 1950's it was  
> generally believed the little flying squirrel was restricted to  
> southern Ontario.

Yes, that's correct. In 1971 in a study of the small mammals of  
Kejimkujik National Park, the southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys  
volans) was discovered there (Wood & Tessier 1974), the first record  
of the species in Atlantic Canada [I happen to know rather a lot about  
this since in 1974 I was working from Tom Woods (the senior author of  
the paper) when Britt Roscoe and I conducted the similar small mammal  
survey of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.]. There were five sites  
in Kejimkujik where they were found. Then (in 1984 I believe) a second  
population was discovered in the Gaspereau Valley of Nova Scotia.

Until recently this was all that was known about them in the province,  
in large part because they are very difficult to differentiate, even  
in the hand. Lavers et al. (2006) say a close examination of the  
ventral hairs is the only method differentiate between the species.

In any event, in 2006 Amanada Lavers and colleagues at Acadia  
University (Lavers et al. 2006) published a superb study of flying  
squirrels in Nova Scotia. Based on 135 specimen records collected  
between 2001-2003 they were able to much more precisely determine the  
distribution of the species, in large part because they were able to  
use genetic markers (specifically the cytochrome-b gene) to  
differentiate between the two species.

They found centers of population in both the area around Kejimkujik  
and the Gaspereau Valley but also in between, and along the Annapolis  
Valley southwest to Bear River. For anyone who may be interested, a  
copy of the southern flying squirrel's distribution map from this  
study is available here:

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/Images5/G_volans-distribution.jpg

The shaded area shows the distribution of the southern flying  
squirrel; the square dots are records of southern flying squirrels;  
the round dots are localities where flying squirrels were tested as  
part the study and proved not to be southern flying squirrels (i.e.,  
they were northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus)).

What determines the distribution of the southern flying squirrel?  
Laver's et al. (2006) say that, "This range [of the southern flying  
squirrel] is largely coincident with the regional distribution of  
abundant masting red oak, Quercus rubra, used by G. volans for  
storable food."

Thus, there are no records of of the southern flying squirrels from  
Halifax (indeed, from anywhere in Halifax County). It's not  
impossible, of course, that one could turn up, but it's unlikely given  
the relative scarcity of red oak in this area compared to other  
portions of the province. And the Gaspereau Valley (45.12 degrees N)  
is even slightly to the north of Halifax (44.65 degrees N) so it is  
certainly correct to say that the northern extremity of its range is  
on the same latitude as Halifax.

Lavers, A.J., Petersen, S.D., Stewart, D.T., and Herman, T.B. 2006.  
Delineating the Range of a Disjunct Population of Southern Flying  
Squirrels (Glaucomys volans). American Midland Naturalist 155(1):  
188-196.

Wood, T.J., and Tessier, G.D. 1974. First records of eastern flying  
squirrel (Glaucomys volans) in Nova Scotia. Canadian Field Naturalist:  
88: 83-84.

> We now know that the northern extremity of his Canadian range  
> roughly corresponds with a line drawn on the map from Sudbury  
> through Montreal to Halifax".   I suggest you rethink your certainty  
> as stated, "It's almost certainly a northern flying squirrel".

It's not a certainty and its not mine. It's the result of research  
conducted on this species in the province by scientists at Acadia  
University.

>
> This is my last word on this subject.
>

All the best!

Chris



Christopher Majka  <c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca> | Halifax, Nova Scotia,  
Canada

* Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum | http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm
* Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin | http://www.coleopsoc.org/
* Subject Editor: ZooKeys | http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index
* Associate Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society | http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html
* Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera | http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html

"Whenever I hear of the capture of rare beetles, I feel like an old  
war-horse at the sound of a trumpet." - Charles Darwin


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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Hi Hans,<div><br><div><div>On =
3-Nov-10, at 12:34 PM, Hans Toom wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: =
rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-style: normal; =
font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; =
line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; =
text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-size: medium; "><div =
bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: =
space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial">Hi Christopher,</font></div><div><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial"></font>&nbsp;</div><div><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial">According to S. E. Woods, Jr., "The Squirrels of Canada", =
in reference to the Southern Flying Squirrel, "<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span><em>Until the 1950's it was =
generally believed the little flying squirrel was restricted to southern =
Ontario.&nbsp; =
</em></font></div></div></span></blockquote><div><br></div><div>Yes, =
that's correct. In 1971 in a study of the small mammals of Kejimkujik =
National Park, the&nbsp;southern flying squirrel (<i>Glaucomys =
volans</i>)&nbsp;was discovered there (Wood &amp; Tessier 1974), the =
first record of the species in Atlantic Canada [I happen to know rather =
a lot about this since in 1974 I was working from Tom Woods (the senior =
author of the paper) when Britt Roscoe and I conducted the similar small =
mammal survey of Cape Breton Highlands National Park.]. There were five =
sites in&nbsp;Kejimkujik where they were found.&nbsp;Then (in 1984 I =
believe) a second population was discovered in the Gaspereau Valley of =
Nova Scotia.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Until recently this was all =
that was known about them in the province, in large part because they =
are very difficult to differentiate, even in the hand. Lavers et al. =
(2006) say a close examination of the ventral hairs is the only method =
differentiate between the species.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In any =
event, in 2006 Amanada Lavers and colleagues at Acadia University =
(Lavers et al. 2006) published a superb study of flying squirrels in =
Nova Scotia. Based on 135 specimen records collected between 2001-2003 =
they were able to much more precisely determine the distribution of the =
species, in large part because they were able to use genetic markers =
(specifically the cytochrome-<i>b</i> gene) to differentiate between the =
two species.</div><div><br></div><div>They found centers of population =
in both the area around Kejimkujik and&nbsp;the Gaspereau Valley but =
also in between, and along the Annapolis Valley southwest to Bear River. =
For anyone who may be interested, a copy of the southern flying =
squirrel's distribution map from this study is available =
here:</div><div><br></div><div><a =
href=3D"http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/Images5/G_volans-distrib=
ution.jpg">http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/Images5/G_volans-dist=
ribution.jpg</a></div><div><br></div><div>The shaded area shows the =
distribution of the&nbsp;southern flying squirrel; the square dots are =
records of southern flying squirrels; the round dots are localities =
where flying squirrels were tested as part the study and proved not to =
be southern flying squirrels (i.e., they were northern&nbsp;flying =
squirrels&nbsp;(<i>Glaucomys =
sabrinus</i>)).</div><div><br></div><div>What determines the =
distribution&nbsp;of the southern flying squirrel? Laver's et al. (2006) =
say that, "This range [of the southern flying squirrel] is =
largely&nbsp;coincident with the regional distribution of abundant =
masting red oak, <i>Quercus rubra</i>,&nbsp;used by <i>G. volans</i> for =
storable food."</div><div><br></div><div>Thus, there are no records =
of&nbsp;of the southern flying squirrels from Halifax (indeed, from =
anywhere in Halifax County). It's not impossible, of course, that one =
could turn up, but it's unlikely given the relative scarcity of red oak =
in this area compared to other portions of the province. And the =
Gaspereau Valley (45.12 degrees N) is even slightly to the north of =
Halifax (44.65&nbsp;degrees N) so it is certainly correct to say that =
the northern extremity of its range is on the same latitude as =
Halifax.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div><div align=3D""><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial">Lavers, A.J., Petersen, S.D., =
Stewart, D.T., and Herman,
T.B. 2006. Delineating the Range of a Disjunct Population of Southern =
Flying
Squirrels (</font><i><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"Arial">Glaucomys&nbsp;volans</font></i><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial">).
American Midland Naturalist 155(1): =
188-196.</font></div></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"Arial"><br></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"Arial">Wood, T.J., and Tessier, G.D. 1974. First records of =
eastern flying squirrel&nbsp;(</font><i><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
face=3D"Arial">Glaucomys&nbsp;volans</font></i><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" face=3D"Arial">) in&nbsp;Nova&nbsp;Scotia. =
Canadian Field Naturalist: 88: 83-84.</font></div><br><blockquote =
type=3D"cite"><div bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; =
"><div><font size=3D"2" face=3D"Arial"><em>We now know that the northern =
extremity of his Canadian range roughly corresponds with a line drawn on =
the map from Sudbury through Montreal to Halifax".</em>&nbsp;<em><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></em>&nbsp;I suggest you =
rethink your certainty as stated,<em>&nbsp;"It's almost certainly a =
northern flying =
squirrel".&nbsp;</em></font></div></div></blockquote><div><br></div><div>I=
t's not a certainty and its not mine. It's the result of research =
conducted on this species in the province by scientists at Acadia =
University.</div><br><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div bgcolor=3D"#ffffff" =
style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><em><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial"></font></em>&nbsp;</div><div><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial">This is my last word on this =
subject.</font></div><div><font size=3D"2" =
face=3D"Arial"></font>&nbsp;</div></div></blockquote><br></div><div>All =
the best!</div><div><br></div><div>Chris</div><br></div><br><br><div =
apple-content-edited=3D"true"> <span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: =
normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: =
normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: =
none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; =
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after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
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auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: =
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after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: =
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auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: =
normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: =
normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: =
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0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: =
normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: =
normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: =
normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space; "><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: =
'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: =
normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: =
normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: =
normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: =
0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; =
-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: =
auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style=3D"word-wrap: =
break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space; "><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; =
">Christopher Majka &nbsp;&lt;<a =
href=3D"mailto:c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca">c.majka@ns.sympatico.ca</a>&gt; =
|&nbsp;Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada</span></font></div><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><br></span></font></div><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Research Associate: Nova Scotia Museum =
|&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm">http://museum.gov.n=
s.ca/mnh/research-asfr.htm</a></span></font></div><div><font =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Review Editor: The Coleopterists Bulletin =
|&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://www.coleopsoc.org/">http://www.coleopsoc.org/</a></span></f=
ont></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Subject Editor: =
ZooKeys |&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://pensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index">http://p=
ensoftonline.net/zookeys/index.php/journal/index</a></span></font></div><d=
iv><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; ">* Associate =
Editor: Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society |&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://www.acadianes.org/journal.html">http://www.acadianes.org/jo=
urnal.html</a></span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><span class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; =
">* Editor: Atlantic Canada Coleoptera |&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html=
">http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/NHR/atlantic_coleoptera.html</a></=
span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; =
"><br></span></font></div><div><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
size=3D"3"><font class=3D"Apple-style-span" size=3D"3"><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><i>"Whenever I =
hear of the capture of rare&nbsp;beetles, I feel like an old war-horse =
at the sound of a trumpet."</i></span></font><span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"font-size: 12px; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>- =
Charles&nbsp;Darwin</span></font></div></div></span></div></span></div></s=
pan></div></span></div></span></div></span> </div><br></body></html>=

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