Will the project look at replicate populations or involve getting similar data across similar ecological spectra (e.g. more urban vs more "rural") in other areas of NE America? I am thinking of the possibilities for "citizen science" or at least "class project science" among colleagues.
Dear Anne
We do not plan to use replicate populations in other areas or envirnoments. We already are following chipmunks on three different sites but the habitat is the same. Logistical reasons are constraining us. However, other researchers (e.g. A Schulte-Hostedde) are working on eastern chipmunk populations in urban and wilder areas. They collect data similar to our I guess.
Best wishes
Denis
HI Denis,
With the challenges of any one study population, I can appreciate that. (People ask me why we don't start studying crow populations outside of Ithaca!) I was actually thinking of the possibility of getting a protocol that students could do, e.g. in context of an animal behavior course. It would have to entail NOT handling the animals, but perhaps doing work with flight distances, recording passively to get vocal interaction rates, as well as some ecological variables....well, you would know best. I have been thinking about, have been asked about such projects for crows, but so much depends on individual tagging, because they don't stay put. But for chippies, more limited territories and maybe even enough pelage variation for "local recognition".
Anyway, good luck. I will continue to follow and appreciate the problems of taking a multifaceted approach in one population!
best,
Anne
PS you might check for post-stress yawning!
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