MadSci Network: General Biology |
Hi Sue, Squirrels use proximity to and direction from landscape clues such as trees to remember where they have buried their nuts. In human terms that means something like 'there is a nut 12 paces due south of the big oak tree with a broken branch' although it is instinctive rather than mapped in the same way as we would do it. They are able to do this because their brains have evolved excellent spatial awareness so as long as the landscape clues remain, they can find their buried nuts. However, this is not perfect as many nuts are either forgotten or not needed as burial by squirrels is an important seed dispersal mechanism for many nut-bearing tree species. Many ancient oaks probably started life as an acorn buried by a squirrel or one of the other animals that do the same thing. I hope that answers your question, Dr David Hubble, UK
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