Seasonal variations in the food consumption of woodchucks (Marmota monax).
Food consumption of 155 woodchucks ( Marmota monax ) was measured immediately after capture to determine whether a seasonal rhythm obtained in feeding of a natural population. Food intake of adults was lowest in March. It reached a maximum in May, then declined through the summer; some individuals increased food intake temporarily in late autumn. Comparative ata from a laboratory colony showed that a similar rhythm occurred under conditions of constant temperature and photoperiod. Variability in food consumption axima associated with different age groups, considered in the context of vailable life history information, suggested that the rhythm had a period omewhat less than 1 year.
The Annual Rhythm of Fat Deposition in Woodchucks (Marmota monax)
OR many years it has been known that in the summer and fall various OR hibernating mammals store internally large quantities of fat which they slowly use during hibernation. The present report is part of a study originally designed to determine whether external factors, such as photoperiod or low temperature, control the deposition of fat in woodchucks (Marmota monax), a classic hibernator. In the course of these experiments, an annual rhythm of deposition has been recognized that continues even under constant environmental circum-
Geographic And Environmental Influence On Maya Settlement Patterns Of The Northwest Yucatan: An Explanation For The Sparsely Settled Western Cenote Zone
Most settlement pattern research and GIS analysis of the ancient Maya of the Northern Yucatan have focused on water availability in a dry landscape where cenotes are often the only water source. While water is of paramount importance, permanent settlement secondarily requires farmable soil, a resource often as precious as water in many parts of the Yucatan. The dynamics between these resources reveal areas of ideal settlement and more challenging landscapes for which the Maya developed strategies to overcome environmental conditions. A region of the southwest "Cenote Zone", however, appears to have presented the ancient Maya with insurmountably poor environmental conditions despite abundant water resources. The lack of dense population and stone architecture in this area emphasizes the lack of a simple correlation between cenotes and settlement. This thesis uses GIS analysis to identify and explore such problematic settlement areas to better understand the factors and complexities involved in the more successful settlements of neighboring regions. iv This work is dedicated to my late father, who first introduced me to the Mundo Maya through a visit to the ruins of Tikal at the age of nine, and who instilled in me strength, curiosity, and a love for exploring the world. v ACKLOWLEDGEMENTS I'd like to acknowledge Dr. Arlen Chase and Dr. Diane Chase for providing such outstanding opportunities and instruction, and for leading by example both in the field and in the classroom. Dr. John Walker for his eye-opening perspectives, GIS instruction, inspiring hard-working attitude, and patience in the field. Dr. Clifford Brown and Dr. Walter Witschey for their invaluable correspondence and for their contributions to mapping and GIS data of Maya sites.