Knowledge graph centered on focal animal sampling (Sciuridae) with 72 nodes and 130 connections. Top connected: Marmota flaviventris, Spruce, Alarm calling in yellow-bellied marmots: I. The me, Reliability and the adaptive utility of discrimina, mark-recapture (Sciuridae).
Method synopsis
Live-trapping and marking of yellow-bellied marmots followed by systematic focal behavioral observations to quantify time allocation to different behaviors including vigilance. Uses established ethogram and continuous recording methods during standardized 2-minute observation periods.
Synthesized from method descriptions across 98 papers using this protocol.
Procedure from a recent peer-reviewed implementation
Marmot colonies were observed during peak hours of activity using spotting scopes and binoculars at distances of ca. 150 m from individuals to avoid disturbing their natural behaviours. During observation periods, observers noted all instances of alarm calling and the caller's identity when possible
Quantities: ca. 1000 hours per year of observation, 4101 total observations recordedDuration: Between 0700 and 1100 hours and between 1630 and 1900 hours dailyConditions: Peak activity hours, maintaining 150m distance to avoid disturbance
Equipment: spotting scopes, binoculars
Calculate predation pressure index
Calculated predation index for each colony and year as the proportion of observation periods where at least one predator was detected in flight or within 500m of the colony. Used a median split to classify colony years with rates of predator detection below the median as 'low predation pressure' and those with rates above the median as 'high predation pressure'
Quantities: Calculated annually for each colony based on predator detection rates during observation sessionsDuration: Annual calculation based on year's observation dataConditions: Based on predator sightings within 500m of colony or in flight