Predicting the predator threatening a squirrel by analyzing its sounds and tail movements

Ricky Wang
Published: October 21st, 2014
Source: University of Miami College of Arts and Sciences
Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141021125943.htm

Summary: Thaddeus McRae, an assistant biology research professor and the University of Miami, conducted an experiment to see if a squirrel's tail movement and the noises it makes will vary based on the kind of nearby predator. He used a remote-controlled cat to represent a ground predator and a painted glider for an aerial predator. He tested this in a public park and recorded his data. Over two years of observing, Thaddeus was able to determine what type of predator there was based on the squirrel's sound and tail motion. He noticed that a squirrel primarily made three types of noises: a short bark, a longer squeal, and a whistling sound. Its tail movements included the "twitch" and "flag". The "twitch" was in an arc shape, while the "flag" could be in other shapes, such as a circle or figure eight. Besides able to tell which kind of predator, Thaddeus also theorizes that these sounds and movements were to let predators know they have been spotted and to act as a warning to nearby squirrels.

Connection: This article connects to what we learned in class because its related to the relationships between organisms and an organisms' niche. We learned about how species interact in communities, and one example of this is predation. A squirrel and its predator is an example of predation, when one organism eats another. The predator would get its energy from consuming other organisms, such as the squirrel, but it will only receive around ten percent, because of energy lost mainly as heat when it is transferred to a higher trophic level. Squirrels would be considered as primary consumers because it consumes producers, and its predators would be secondary consumers. Squirrels' tail movements and sounds when reacting to its predators is part of its niche because it is unique and a specific factor in how a squirrel lives. Lastly, there were independent and dependent variables in this experiment and we studied this in class. In this case, the independent variable was the type of predator and the dependent was the squirrel's reaction (noises and tail movements).