Ep. 24 - The Flying* Squirrel

*it doesn't actually fly.

Steve and Bill wrap up 2017 with an episode about Flying Squirrels. They talk about their adaptations for gliding, evolutionary history, and baculum morphology. They also talk about the new species that was discovered earlier this year. Enjoy!

This episode was recorded with new lapel mics that the guys tried out for the first time. We hope the audio quality was better (but we're still working on it). Thank you to all our patrons and especially Dan Stapleton, Amanda Hicks, and Julie Davies for their generous paypal donations.

Mistakes:
@23:30 Steve says "geological," but he meant "geographical"
@27:30 Steve says "the forest grows in the soil," but he meant to say "the fungi grows in the soil"
@33:55 Steve says "all extant flying squirrels," but he should have just said "all flying squirrels"\

Useful Links:
Colugo (Gliding Lemurs)

Petauridae (Gliding Possums)

Anomaluridae (Scaly-tailed Squirrels AKA Gliding Rodents)

Dr. Pesendorfer's Corvid/Oak restoration paper

As always, check out Always Wandering Art

Work Cited:
Arbogast, B.S., Schumacher, K.I., Kerhoulas, N.J., Bidlack, A.L., Cook, J.A. and Kenagy, G.J., 2017. Genetic data reveal a cryptic species of New World flying squirrel: Glaucomys oregonensis. Journal of Mammalogy.

Bahlman, J.W., Swartz, S.M., Riskin, D.K. and Breuer, K.S., 2013. Glide performance and aerodynamics of non-equilibrium glides in northern flying squirrels (Glaucomys sabrinus). Journal of The Royal Society Interface10(80), p.20120794.

Flaherty, E.A., Ben-David, M. and Smith, W.P., 2010. Quadrupedal locomotor performance in two species of arboreal squirrels: predicting energy savings of gliding. Journal of Comparative Physiology B, 180(7), pp.1067-1078.

Helmick, K.R., Barrett, T.L. and Barrett, G.W., 2014. Dietary resource preference of the Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans). The American Midland Naturalist, 171(2), pp.371-374.

Kelly, C.A., Diggins, C.A. and Lawrence, A.J., 2013. Crossing structures reconnect federally endangered flying squirrel populations divided for 20 years by road barrier. Wildlife Society Bulletin37(2), pp.375-379.

Krichbaum, K., Mahan, C.G., Steele, M.A., Turner, G. and Hudson, P.J., 2010. The potential role of Strongyloides robustus on parasite-mediated competition between two species of flying squirrels (Glaucomys). Journal of wildlife diseases, 46(1), pp.229-235.

Paskins, K.E., Bowyer, A., Megill, W.M. and Scheibe, J.S., 2007. Take-off and landing forces and the evolution of controlled gliding in northern flying squirrels Glaucomys sabrinus. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210(8), pp.1413-1423.

Priol, P., Mazerolle, M.J., Imbeau, L., Drapeau, P., Trudeau, C. and Ramiere, J., 2014. Using dynamic N‐mixture models to test cavity limitation on northern flying squirrel demographic parameters using experimental nest box supplementation. Ecology and evolution, 4(11), pp.2165-2177.

Reid, F., 2006. Peterson field guide to mammals of North America. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Smith, W.P., 2007. Ecology of Glaucomys sabrinus: habitat, demography, and community relations. Journal of Mammalogy, 88(4), pp.862-881.