ACORN PREFERENCE AND HABITAT USE IN EASTERN CHIPMUNKS

We used field and laboratory trials to examine the effects of size and species of acorn on food choice by eastern chipmunks (Tamius striatus ) from central New York. Initial trials suggested that chipmunks prefe rred the low tannin, white oak (W; Quercus alba) acorns over the high tannin, red oak acorn (R; Q rubra). However, the smaller size of the W acorns, and therefore greater ease of handling, possibly confounded t he affects of tannin content on acorn choice. Additional field and lab oratory experiments confirmed that chipmunks preferred smaller acorns, but W acorns were still preferred to equal-sized R acorns. Frequency of live capture of chipmunks during the period of acorn drop (mid-Sept ember to mid-November) at the field site was related directly to the t otal basal area (P = 0.02) but not number of W trees. Capture frequenc y was also correlated negatively with the number (P = 0.04) but not ba sal area of R trees in the canopy. Our results suggest that chipmunks prefer to eat W acorns and that chipmunk activity is in part influence d by this preference. Heavy chipmunk harvesting of the preferred W aco rns may be influencing the successional patterns in the forest at our study site.