Ecology of the Indian Palm Squirrel, Funambulus pennanntii, an Invading Species in Mizpe Ramon Asael Greenfeld, The Open University of Israel Instructor: Prof. Boris Krasnov, MadaRamon July 2008

Who are you, Funambulus pennanntii ? The Indian palm squirrel (Funambulus pennanntii), is about the size of a rat (up to 150 g). Their bushy tail is slightly shorter than their body and their gray back has five white stripes. Daytime active all year round. Breeding in grass nests in spring, with litters of 2-3 pups that sexually mature at 9 months. Their natural generalist diet includes seeds, fruit, nuts, insects and birds' eggs.

Where did you come from F. P. ? Original habitat in India Nepal and Pakistan. Artificially introduced the last century,to several other areas ? 1898 In Western Australia F. P. is considered an invading alien species but has no known negative effect on native wildlife.

So, What are you doing in Mizpe Ramon? We were bought here and released in 2003 by the owner of the Alpaca Farm near Mizpe Ramon. We are natural desert dwellers, and have no diurnal predators here so we survived in man-made and natural habitats of the area. Nature and Parks Authority fear we endanger the indigenous plants and animals and are actively reducing our numbers Were you welcomed by the natives? So are you established here or not? Well, that ’ s exactly the research question …

Has the palm squirrel established stable populations in Mizpe Ramon area?  2007 Krasnov report: “ The species is absent from most natural habitats surrounding the point of introduction, but has invaded anthropogenic habitats in the Ramon region ”  2008 project: “ Neither I nor any of the park authority rangers have seen a squirrel in the Mizpe Ramon vicinity (excluding the Alpaca farm) ” NO.

Why do squirrel populations fail to establish in the Mizpe Ramon area? Hypotheses:  Intraspecific aggression  Capturing by Parks Authority Rangers  multi-annual fluctuations,or `cycles ‘  Changes in food abundance caused by climatic changes Cage observations

What was done:  12 observations on the captive population at the “ MadaRamon ” facility, comprising descendents of squirrels captured on the Alpaca farm in  The population is kept in a metal cage with hiding boxes and climbing trees. Squirrels are fed vegetables and “ Bamba ” ad libitum.  The method was to choose a focal animal, randomly, and observe it until it was out of sight, then choose another one and so on, for one hour each time.  Behaviors were classified as one of the following categories:

Cage observations What was found: 1. They don ’ t do much …

Cage observations What was found: 2. The limited activity is done solitarily.

Cage observations What was found: 3. Most interactions are not aggressive.

Conclusions:  There are no squirrel populations in the area, except on the Alpaca farm.  By observing the behavior of captive squirrels it was found that aggressive interactions are scarce, and definitely not part of this species ’ stereotypic behavior. This allows the rejection of the hypothesis that intraspecific aggression is a limiting factor in the establishment.  Future monitoring and research are required to examine other explanations for the squirrel population's instability. Such a study might shed light on the important process of the establishment of an invading alien rodent.

Acknowledgements Thanks:  Prof.Krasnov from the Ramon Science center and Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology.  Ramon Science center ( ‘ Madaramon ’ ) staff.  Gal Vine, head of the Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority ’ s Bio-Ramon center, and coordinator of the squirrel capturing efforts.  My Lea, Eliran, Avichai, and other family members and friends that gave a hand (or an eye) with the observations.  Mom, for crucial English support.

Main Bibliography  Forsyth et al, Climatic suitability, life- history traits, introduction effort, and the establishment and spread of introduced mammals in Australia, 2004  Krasnov, Indian palm squirrel as a new invasive mammalian species in Makhteshim Country – ecological and parasitological aspects.2007  Prakash, Breeding of Mammals in Rajasthan Desert, India. 1960