Analysis of Squirrel Activity Patterns and Fur Color Relations in Central Park

yellow-wallaby
Tammy Zhang, Zhuoya Li, Florence Li, Joey Kassenoff

2024-02-29

Introduction

  • Each year, the Central Park Squirrel Census compiles observations of the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from hundreds of volunteers.
  • We investigated the 2018 dataset, which included data for 3,023 squirrel sightings.
 [1] "X"                                         
 [2] "Y"                                         
 [3] "Unique Squirrel ID"                        
 [4] "Hectare"                                   
 [5] "Shift"                                     
 [6] "Date"                                      
 [7] "Hectare Squirrel Number"                   
 [8] "Age"                                       
 [9] "Primary Fur Color"                         
[10] "Highlight Fur Color"                       
[11] "Combination of Primary and Highlight Color"
[12] "Color notes"                               
[13] "Location"                                  
[14] "Above Ground Sighter Measurement"          
[15] "Specific Location"                         
[16] "Running"                                   
[17] "Chasing"                                   
[18] "Climbing"                                  
[19] "Eating"                                    
[20] "Foraging"                                  
[21] "Other Activities"                          
[22] "Kuks"                                      
[23] "Quaas"                                     
[24] "Moans"                                     
[25] "Tail flags"                                
[26] "Tail twitches"                             
[27] "Approaches"                                
[28] "Indifferent"                               
[29] "Runs from"                                 
[30] "Other Interactions"                        
[31] "Lat/Long"

Question 1:

How does the time of day (AM or PM shift) influence observed squirrel activities?

Question 1: How does the time of day (AM or PM shift) influence observed squirrel activities?

  • Chasing/running: similar overall
  • Eating/foraging: more common in afternoon
  • Climbing: more common in morning

Question 1: How does the time of day (AM or PM shift) influence observed squirrel activities?

  • Index summarizes overall activity level
  • Common level of observed activities (0.5 < index < 1.5)
  • Generally higher counts for PM shift

Question 2:

Is there a relationship between squirrel fur color and their location or activities?

Question 2: Is there a relationship between squirrel fur color and their location or activities?

  • Cinnamon squirrels have highest relative foraging/eating frequency
  • Black squirrels have highest relative climbing frequency

Question 2: Is there a relationship between squirrel fur color and their location or activities?

  • Gray squirrels are by far the most common in either case, suggesting gray fur dominance in the overall population
  • Can be from evolutionary/genetic influences favoring gray fur

Thank you!