Behaviour and daily activity of the squirrel Sciurus ingrami in a secondary araucaria forest in southern Brazil

A study on the behaviour of a population of squirrels, the "serelepe" (Sciu rus ingrami), was conducted in a secondary araucaria forest in southern Bra zil. Forty-three squirrels were marked and observed between 05:00 and 18:00 daily. The largest number of males were trapped during the winter, coincid ing with an increase in the number of agonistic encounters and mating chase s. Two peaks in occurrence of trapped pregnant females were found, one duri ng the winter and the other in the summer. The population density was 0.89 squirrels/ha and the mean area occupied by males was larger during the wint er mating period, decreasing gradually during subsequent seasons. The diurn al activity of S. ingrami exhibited bimodal curves in all seasons, with one peak in the morning and another in the afternoon. During the winter, the m orning peak was greater in amplitude than during the other seasons. In the spring and summer, a marked increase in the activity of the squirrels durin g the hottest hours occurred. The morning peak of activity occurred earlier in the spring and summer and later in the autumn and winter. The daily tim e spent inrest, displacement, feeding, and maintenance showed seasonal vari ation similar to that shown by other sciurids.