Research Proposal for Research Paper, Squirrel Dreys PDF

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Squirrel Drey research proposal for the research paper in mammalogy...

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Jordan Gilder 0665817 – AW01 BIOL 4180H 2020/01/13 Investigator Jordan Gilder Title Preferred Habitat Selection of North American Squirrels within the Trent University Campus In respect to Coniferous and Deciduous Trees Objectives (hypothesis) Hypothesis Tree species will affect where squirrels build their dreys. Prediction Coniferous trees such as pine, hemlock and cedar will have a greater number of dreys compared to deciduous tree species such as maple, elm and oak. Methods Data will be collected by identifying three deciduous and three coniferous trees that all have a diameter of ≥40 cm at breast height due to this being the general nest-building characteristics of North American squirrels (Gregory, et al. 2010). Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday six trees (3 deciduous and 3 coniferous) will be identified on Trent University’s Campus for a duration of five weeks (from January 27th 2020 to February 24th 2020), and it will be noted by the investigator whether or not a squirrel nest is present in said tree. A data series consisting of a total of 120 data points (60 coniferous and 60 deciduous) will be entered into an Excel spreadsheet and organized into two tables. The first table will consist of the 60 data points correlated with the deciduous tree’s identification and if a drey was present, and the second table will consist of the other 60 data points correlated with the coniferous tree’s identification and if a drey was present. The standard deviation, standard error and averages of the number of dreys found in coniferous and deciduous trees will be separately calculated and put into a third table. Finally, a fourth table will be made to represent a t-test that will be run using Excel’s Data Analysis Tool Pak. Using the t-test results, a conclusion will be made based off the p-value and critical value to see if there is a significant difference between the number of dreys found in coniferous trees compared to the number of trees found in deciduous trees. Using this information, the hypothesis will be answered and the answer for what tree species affect where squirrels build their dreys will be answered.

References Cudworth, N. L, and J. L Koprowski. 2011. Importance of Scale in Nest-Site Selection by Arizona Gray Squirrels. Journal of Wildlife Management 75:1668-1674. CWF [Canadian Wildlife Federation]. 1990. Eastern Grey Squirrel. http://www.hww.ca/en/wildlife/mammals/eastern-grey-squirrel.html. Accessed 12 January 2020. Gregory, S. C., M. W. Haegen, W. Y. Chang, and S. D. West. 2010. Nest Site Selection by Western Gray Squirrels at Their Northern Range Terminus. Journal of Wildlife Management 74:1825. Palmer, G. H., J. L. Koprowski, and A. J. Pernas. 2013. Nest tree and site selection of an introduced population of red-bellied squirrels (Sciurus aureogaster). Journal of Mammalogy 94:1274-1281....