PARENT SESSION

EFFICACY OF THERMOCHRON IBUTTONS FOR ASSESSMENT OF NEST BOX OCCUPANCY BY SCIURIDS. Joanna Lee, Sarah Booth, John S. Scheibe, Jonathon Freezer and Kathleen Meere. Department of Biology, Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, USA.

ABSTRACT- We used Thermochron iButtons as remote time/temperature data loggers. We mounted 2 iButtons on each of 28 flying squirrel nest boxes. The iButtons were programmed to record temperatures once every 20 minutes over a period of 28 days. After 28 days, the data were downloaded, and the iButtons were reprogrammed and redeployed. By comparing the interior and exterior temperatures of experimental and control nest boxes, we were able to determine which nest boxes were used and when they were used. Furthermore, we were able to differentiate between the temperature profiles of nest boxes used by Glaucomys volans and Sciurus carolinensis. Because of their low cost and ability to record near continuous time/temperature data, iButtons provide a powerful tool for monitoring habitat use and activity data for sciurids.

KEY WORDS: Sciurus, Activity, Glaucomys, Thermochron