Population Dynamics and Behavioral Ecology of North American Squirrels

North American squirrels encompass a diverse assemblage of tree- and ground-dwelling species whose population dynamics are shaped by a complex interplay of resource availability, territorial behaviour, dispersal strategies and interspecific interactions. Central to their demography are episodic resource pulses, notably mast seeding in temperate and boreal forests, which drive pronounced fluctuations in reproductive output and survival. Territoriality and social structure influence access to food caches and mating opportunities, while individual dispersal decisions—mediated by natal condition and maternal investment—determine gene flow and spatial distribution. Ground squirrels further illustrate how habitat fragmentation, predation risk and climate variability at range margins alter dispersal patterns and local abundance. Behavioural adaptations such as scatter hoarding, alarm calling and habitat selection underpin resilience to environmental change, with implications for forest regeneration and predator–prey dynamics. Recent work has expanded our understanding of how climate-driven shifts in forest composition and mast frequency may precipitate range expansions or contractions, thereby influencing community structure and the conservation of boreal and montane ecosystems.

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Technical terms

Masting: The simultaneous, episodic production of large seed crops by forest trees that generates resource pulses for consumers.

Resource pulse: A transient, substantial increase in the availability of a key resource that alters consumer reproduction and survival.

Natal dispersal: The movement of young individuals from their birthplace to the site where they first establish a territory or breed.

Philopatry: The tendency of an individual to remain in or return to its natal area to reproduce.

Territory quality: The composite measure of resources, shelter and mate access within a defended area that influences individual fitness.

References

1. Boom and bust: the effects of masting on seed predator range dynamics and trophic cascades. Diversity and Distributions (2024).
2. Altered natal dispersal at the range periphery: The role of behavior, resources, and maternal condition. Ecology and Evolution (2016).
3. Constraints on range expansion of introduced red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in an island ecosystem. Canadian Journal of Forest Research (2020).
4. Spatial segregation between Gray-cheeked Thrush and an introduced nest predator in a managed forest landscape. Avian Conservation and Ecology (2023).