Warming Arctic could put chill on squirrel 'date nights'
As Alaska's bleak winter sets in, arctic ground squirrels burrow deep into the ground to begin an eight-month-hibernation before popping up again in spring, famished and eager to breed.
As Alaska's bleak winter sets in, arctic ground squirrels burrow deep into the ground to begin an eight-month-hibernation before popping up again in spring, famished and eager to breed.
Ecology
May 28, 2023
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Arctic ground squirrels are unique among mammals. Their ability to keep from freezing even when body temperatures dip below that mark on the thermometer enables them to survive extreme winter climates. New research published ...
Plants & Animals
May 25, 2023
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When bears and ground squirrels hibernate in winter, they stop eating, lasting until spring simply on the fat reserves they've stored up in their bodies. Usually, this sort of prolonged fasting and inactivity would significantly ...
Plants & Animals
Jan 27, 2022
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Ground squirrels have few natural defenses against predators, so they rely on an early warning system to identify threats and alert others to run for cover.
Plants & Animals
Oct 29, 2021
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Humans acknowledge that personality goes a long way, at least for our species. But scientists have been more hesitant to ascribe personality—defined as consistent behavior over time—to other animals.
Plants & Animals
Sep 10, 2021
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The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a popular sight among tourists in the Rocky Mountains—the small rodent is a photogenic creature with a striped back and pudgy cheeks that store seeds and ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 11, 2021
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By feeding arctic ground squirrels special diets, researchers have found that omega-3 fatty acids, common in flax seed and fish oil, help keep the animals warmer in deep hibernation.
Plants & Animals
Jan 14, 2021
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By studying the body chemistry of hibernating Arctic ground squirrels, researchers have found that the animals are able to recycle their body's own nutrients to survive during a long, inactive winter.
Plants & Animals
Dec 7, 2020
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Snowshoe hare carcasses may provide a vital food source for a wide variety of species in Canada's boreal forest—including lynx, ravens, flying squirrels and even other hares, according to a new study by University of Alberta ...
Plants & Animals
Jul 22, 2020
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Researchers at the National Eye Institute have discovered cellular mechanisms that help the 13-lined ground squirrel survive hibernation. Their findings could be a step to extending storage of human donor tissues awaiting ...
Cell & Microbiology
May 7, 2018
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