focal animal sampling (Sciuridae)

Knowledge graph centered on focal animal sampling (Sciuridae) with 72 nodes and 176 connections. Top connected: Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Marmota, Yellow-bellied Marmot, Crested Butte.

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

Steps below were extracted from the most recent peer-reviewed implementation of this protocol in the corpus — Is the propensity to alarm-call heritable and related across multiple contexts? (2025), Animal Behaviour. The protocol was originally introduced by Behavioral responses of yellow-bellied marmots to birds and mammals (2003), Oecologia Montana. Implementations in other papers (listed below) may differ.

1. Conduct behavioral observations
   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
2. 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
   Equipment: spotting scopes, binoculars

Typical Equipment

• Tomahawk live traps
• metal tags
• Nyanzol fur dye
• spotting scopes
• voice recorders
• JWatcher 1.0 software

Output Measurements

• proportion time vigilant
• individual identity
• behavioral sequences
• capture histories

Papers Using This Protocol (98)

Species Studied With This Protocol

Places Where Used