Seed attributes are important predictors of rodent foraging behaviors. I examined the role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) foraging behavior from an evolutionary, economic, ecological and biochemical perspective. From an evolutionary perspective (chapter 2), I found that squirrel foraging behaviors are influenced by a combination of phylogenetically conserved and evolutionarily labile seed traits, which supports a diffuse coevolutionary relationship between hardwood trees and squirrels and provides indirect evidence supporting the Janzen-Connell and handling time hypotheses. From an economic perspective (chapter 3), I found that eastern gray squirrels are homogenous with respect to their preferences for seed attributes, which is likely due to natural selection favoring caching of specific seeds in the fall. I also provide evidence that squirrels trade between 3 attributes when selecting seeds for caching, which results in a variety of seed types being cached. In contrast, squirrels trade between 2 attributes when selecting seeds for consumption, which leads to fewer seed types being consumed in the fall. From an ecological context perspective (chapter 4), I provide evidence of seed traits interacting with relative seed availability to predict caching. Specifically, when seeds of different caching value (i.e., utility) were paired, relative frequency of availability played a minimal role in predicting seed caching. In contrast when seeds of similar caching utility were paired, relative frequency of availability significantly influenced probability of seed selection for caching. From a biochemical perspective (chapter 5), I identified biochemical and anatomical changes at the cellular level associated with radicle dormancy that serve as a signal of lack of dormancy to eastern gray squirrels. In combination, my dissertation chapters support the existence of complex reciprocal evolutionary effects between hardwood trees and eastern gray squirrels.
","abstract_html":"<p>Seed attributes are important predictors of rodent foraging behaviors. I examined the role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) foraging behavior from an evolutionary, economic, ecological and biochemical perspective. From an evolutionary perspective (chapter 2), I found that squirrel foraging behaviors are influenced by a combination of phylogenetically conserved and evolutionarily labile seed traits, which supports a diffuse coevolutionary relationship between hardwood trees and squirrels and provides indirect evidence supporting the Janzen-Connell and handling time hypotheses. From an economic perspective (chapter 3), I found that eastern gray squirrels are homogenous with respect to their preferences for seed attributes, which is likely due to natural selection favoring caching of specific seeds in the fall. I also provide evidence that squirrels trade between 3 attributes when selecting seeds for caching, which results in a variety of seed types being cached. In contrast, squirrels trade between 2 attributes when selecting seeds for consumption, which leads to fewer seed types being consumed in the fall. From an ecological context perspective (chapter 4), I provide evidence of seed traits interacting with relative seed availability to predict caching. Specifically, when seeds of different caching value (i.e., utility) were paired, relative frequency of availability played a minimal role in predicting seed caching. In contrast when seeds of similar caching utility were paired, relative frequency of availability significantly influenced probability of seed selection for caching. From a biochemical perspective (chapter 5), I identified biochemical and anatomical changes at the cellular level associated with radicle dormancy that serve as a signal of lack of dormancy to eastern gray squirrels. In combination, my dissertation chapters support the existence of complex reciprocal evolutionary effects between hardwood trees and eastern gray squirrels.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Sundaram, Mekala"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Dissertation","degree_discipline":"Forestry and Natural Resources","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Robert K. Swihart","Nicole J. Olynk Widmar","Michael A. Steele","Patrick A. Zollner"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:54:17Z","subjects":["Biological sciences","Wildlife Management","Caching","Consumption","Hardwood trees","Sciurus carolinensis","Selection","Biology","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1009","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Robert K. Swihart","Nicole J. Olynk Widmar","Michael A. Steele","Patrick A. 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I examined the role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) foraging behavior from an evolutionary, economic, ecological and biochemical perspective. From an evolutionary perspective (chapter 2), I found that squirrel foraging behaviors are influenced by a combination of phylogenetically conserved and evolutionarily labile seed traits, which supports a diffuse coevolutionary relationship between hardwood trees and squirrels and provides indirect evidence supporting the Janzen-Connell and handling time hypotheses. From an economic perspective (chapter 3), I found that eastern gray squirrels are homogenous with respect to their preferences for seed attributes, which is likely due to natural selection favoring caching of specific seeds in the fall. I also provide evidence that squirrels trade between 3 attributes when selecting seeds for caching, which results in a variety of seed types being cached. In contrast, squirrels trade between 2 attributes when selecting seeds for consumption, which leads to fewer seed types being consumed in the fall. From an ecological context perspective (chapter 4), I provide evidence of seed traits interacting with relative seed availability to predict caching. Specifically, when seeds of different caching value (i.e., utility) were paired, relative frequency of availability played a minimal role in predicting seed caching. In contrast when seeds of similar caching utility were paired, relative frequency of availability significantly influenced probability of seed selection for caching. From a biochemical perspective (chapter 5), I identified biochemical and anatomical changes at the cellular level associated with radicle dormancy that serve as a signal of lack of dormancy to eastern gray squirrels. In combination, my dissertation chapters support the existence of complex reciprocal evolutionary effects between hardwood trees and eastern gray squirrels.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel foraging"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Robert K. Swihart","Nicole J. Olynk Widmar","Michael A. Steele","Patrick A. Zollner"],"dc:creator":["Sundaram, Mekala"],"dc:description.abstract":["Seed attributes are important predictors of rodent foraging behaviors. I examined the role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) foraging behavior from an evolutionary, economic, ecological and biochemical perspective. From an evolutionary perspective (chapter 2), I found that squirrel foraging behaviors are influenced by a combination of phylogenetically conserved and evolutionarily labile seed traits, which supports a diffuse coevolutionary relationship between hardwood trees and squirrels and provides indirect evidence supporting the Janzen-Connell and handling time hypotheses. From an economic perspective (chapter 3), I found that eastern gray squirrels are homogenous with respect to their preferences for seed attributes, which is likely due to natural selection favoring caching of specific seeds in the fall. I also provide evidence that squirrels trade between 3 attributes when selecting seeds for caching, which results in a variety of seed types being cached. In contrast, squirrels trade between 2 attributes when selecting seeds for consumption, which leads to fewer seed types being consumed in the fall. From an ecological context perspective (chapter 4), I provide evidence of seed traits interacting with relative seed availability to predict caching. Specifically, when seeds of different caching value (i.e., utility) were paired, relative frequency of availability played a minimal role in predicting seed caching. In contrast when seeds of similar caching utility were paired, relative frequency of availability significantly influenced probability of seed selection for caching. From a biochemical perspective (chapter 5), I identified biochemical and anatomical changes at the cellular level associated with radicle dormancy that serve as a signal of lack of dormancy to eastern gray squirrels. In combination, my dissertation chapters support the existence of complex reciprocal evolutionary effects between hardwood trees and eastern gray squirrels.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/1009"],"dc:subject":["Biological sciences","Wildlife Management","Caching","Consumption","Hardwood trees","Sciurus carolinensis","Selection","Biology","Ecology and Evolutionary Biology"],"dc:title":["The role of seed attributes in eastern gray squirrel foraging"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Forestry and Natural Resources"],"thesis:degree_level":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_name":["Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:54:17Z"}