| Under the direction of Dr. Ken Hoover, Professor of Biology
at Jacksonville University, students of the Department of Biology and Marine Science at
Jacksonville University conduct ecological studies on the Sherman's fox squirrel at White
Oak Plantation. It is believed that the loss of habitat and also habitat alteration may be
important contributing factors for the declining numbers of the fox squirrels in the
Southeastern United States. The populations of Sherman's fox squirrel at White Oak
Plantation offer the opportunity to determine optimum habitat parameters for this Species
of Special Concern. The students measure densities of leaf and stick nests, observe
squirrels, follow squirrels to their nests, conduct literature searches, and measure
several habitat characteristics to evaluate habitat and isolate important habitat
characteristics. The pictures below show JU students Cathy Smith, Lisa Wilson, Michelle
Worley, Allison Griffin and Sue Wilcox measuring habitat parameters, locating squirrels
and their nests, and recording squirrel nest locations utilizing GPS technology at White
Oak Plantation near Yulee, Florida in the Spring of 1999.
Interested students should contact Dr. Ken Hoover, Department of Biology and Marine
Science, Jacksonville University. (phone: (904) 745-7299) (e-mail: khoover@ju.edu) . |
