Rob Swihart
Professor of Forestry and Natural Resources (wildlife ecology)
I have studied rodent and amphibian communities at the Ross Biological Reserve to understand distribution patterns of different species that are variably sensitive to habitat fragmentation. For example, fox squirrels and chipmunks are nearly ubiquitous, but fox squirrel home ranges and population levels are smaller in small patches and eastern chipmunks appear more sensitive to fragmentation than do mice (Nupp & Swihart 2000). Flying squirrels and gray squirrels occur only in large, relatively well-connected woodlots. Translocation experiments have revealed that gray squirrels are more sensitive to isolation of forest patches than either fox or red squirrels (Swihart et al. 2003). A goal of this work is the development and refinement of functional measures of landscape connectivity that link landscape characteristics like patch area and isolation with characteristics of species that determine energetic requirements and mobility (Swihart et al. 2003).
Visit Rob Swihart's homepage for more detailed information about his research.