Foraging Behavior of Squirrels on Walnut Trees and Damage to Walnuts in Baihualing, Gaoligong
Mountain

Abstract

Abstract:

In order to understand the foraging behavior of squirrels on walnut trees and walnuts damaged caused by squirrels, this
paper collected foraging data using all-occurrence method and interviewed 200 walnut farmers to estimate walnut damages after walnut
harvesting. The results showed that, three species of squirrel（Dremomys rufigenis, Ratufa bicolor and Callosciurus erythraeus）fed on
and damaged the walnuts. Among them, C. erythraeus caused the most server damage. In order to keep walnut away from damage,
farmers chose to kill squirrels in the study site. Consequently, squirrels showed anti-predation behavior during foraging on walnut
trees. A significant positive relation was found between feeding time length and feeding height. The squirrels damaged 12.20% walnuts
in the study site. The damage rates of 51 walnut trees were negatively correlated with the distance between the walnut tree and the
boundary of the natural forests. Based on our interviews, it is estimated that squirrels caused RMB 100 000 losses in 150 hm2 walnut
farms. In order to reduce economical loss, this paper suggested that farmers should strengthen management rather than expanding the
planted area blind, and then take more scientific and effective protective actions based on the feeding behavior of squirrels.

Key words: squirrels, feeding behavior, walnuts, Gaoligong Mountain

CLC Number:

Q958

Chen Guishou, Cui Liangwei， Fan Pengfei. Foraging Behavior of Squirrels on Walnut Trees and Damage to Walnuts in Baihualing, Gaoligong
Mountain[J]. J4, 2016, 1(6): 69-74.

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