Interspecific Interactions and Habitat Dynamics of Squirrel Species

Squirrel species worldwide navigate complex ecological networks in which interspecific interactions—ranging from competition and predation to parasitism—shape population distribution, behaviour and long‐term viability. Native Eurasian red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) often face competitive exclusion and disease transmission from introduced North American grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), leading to altered resource use, habitat displacement and local declines. Conversely, species such as the Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans) illustrate how niche partitioning and habitat specialisation—driven by landscape structure and predation risk—govern occupancy patterns across forested and urban environments. Urbanisation and land‐use change further modify habitat availability, creating novel refugia where anthropogenic food resources, green‐space configuration and connectivity corridors mediate foraging strategies, dispersal distances and genetic exchange. The interplay of climate change, invasive species and habitat fragmentation underscores the global significance of understanding how multiple drivers influence interspecific dynamics, informing conservation, management of invasive populations and the design of urban green infrastructure to support both native and non‐native squirrel assemblages.

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Interspecific Interactions and Habitat Dynamics of Squirrel Species publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in interspecific interactions and habitat dynamics of squirrel species across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Interspecific competition: Competition for shared resources between different species that can lead to exclusion or niche shifts.

Niche partitioning: The process by which coexisting species use different resources or habitats to reduce direct competition.

Spillover: Transmission of parasites or pathogens from one host species to another, often associated with invasive species.

Habitat fragmentation: The breaking up of continuous habitat into smaller, isolated patches, affecting movement and gene flow.

Urban refugia: Green spaces within urban landscapes that provide shelter, food and breeding sites for wildlife species.

References

1. A systematic review into the suitability of urban refugia for the Eurasian red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris. Mammal Review (2021).
2. The effect of landscape structure on dispersal distances of the Eurasian red squirrel. Ecology and Evolution (2019).
3. Sugar addicted in the city: impact of urbanisation on food choice and diet composition of the Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris). Journal of Urban Ecology (2022).
4. Body Condition and Breeding of Urban Red Squirrels: Comparison of Two Populations Affected by Different Levels of Urbanization. Animals (2022).
5. Invading parasites: spillover of an alien nematode reduces survival in a native species. Biological Invasions (2021).
6. Immigration ensures population survival in the Siberian flying squirrel. Ecology and Evolution (2017).
7. Predation risk landscape modifies flying and red squirrel nest site occupancy independently of habitat amount. PLOS ONE (2018).