A. G. McAdam

A future food boom rescues the negative effects of cumulative early-life adversity on adult lifespan in a small mammal

The study shows that a future food boom can offset the negative effects of early-life adversity on lifespan in red squirrels, but experimental food supplementation does not replicate this effect.

Inferring condition in wild mammals: body condition indices confer no benefit over measuring body mass across ecological contexts

The paper compares body condition indices (BCI) and body mass in predicting fat and lean mass in three mammal species, finding BCI no better than body mass alone.

Benefits of living closer to kin vary by genealogical relationship in a territorial mammal

The paper examines how proximity to different kin relationships affects survival and reproductive success in red squirrels, finding varying benefits depending on the genealogical relationship.

Using a Homeogram to Detect Sleep in Free-living Animals

This paper introduces a sleep detection method called a homeogram for accelerometer data from wild animals and applies it to red squirrels to identify unique sleep strategies in changing environments.

Familiar neighbours, but not relatives, enhance fitness in a territorial mammal

The study examines how kinship and familiarity affect fitness in red squirrels, finding that familiarity with neighbors increases survival and reproductive success, suggesting cooperation can evolve even among non-relatives.

Maternal glucocorticoids do not influence HPA axis activity or behavior of juvenile wild North American red squirrels

This study tests if maternal glucocorticoids affect offspring behavior and HPA axis activity in red squirrels, finding no significant effects on aggression or adrenal reactivity.

Variation in space and time: a long-term examination of density-dependent dispersal in a woodland rodent

This study examines how density-dependent dispersal in deer mice varies over time and across spatial scales, finding that local and regional densities influence dispersal probability differently.

Examining interspecific density-dependent dispersal in forest small mammals

This study examines how conspecific and heterospecific densities affect dispersal in four forest small mammal species using 51 years of live-trapping data.

Maternal glucocorticoids promote offspring growth without inducing oxidative stress or shortening telomeres in wild red squirrels

This study shows that maternal glucocorticoids increase offspring growth rates without causing oxidative stress or telomere shortening in red squirrels.

Territory acquisition mediates the influence of predators and climate on juvenile red squirrel survival

The paper examines how the timing of territory acquisition affects juvenile red squirrel survival and mediates the impacts of predators and climate.

Attentive red squirrel mothers have faster-growing pups and higher lifetime reproductive success

The paper examines how maternal attentiveness in red squirrels affects pup growth and lifetime reproductive success, finding that attentive mothers have faster-growing pups and higher reproductive success.

Experimental increases in glucocorticoids alter function of the HPA axis in wild red squirrels without negatively impacting survival and reproduction

This study shows that experimental increases in cortisol in wild red squirrels alter HPA axis function but do not affect survival or reproduction.

Is physiological stress state reflected in acoustic structure of vocalizations? An experimental test in wild North American red squirrels

This study tests if physiological stress affects vocalization structure in red squirrels, finding mixed evidence of a stress signature in acoustic signals.

Indirect genetic effects clarify how traits can evolve even when fitness does not

The paper shows how indirect genetic effects explain trait evolution without fitness increase by reconciling evolutionary theory with observed natural scenarios.

Red squirrels mitigate costs of territory defence through social plasticity

The paper shows red squirrels adjust territorial behavior based on neighbor familiarity, but cross-sectional data may not reliably capture this plasticity.

Red squirrel territorial vocalizations deter intrusions by conspecific rivals

This study tests whether red squirrel rattles deter conspecific intrusions, finding a 34% reduction in intrusion probability and increased latency to intrusion when rattles were broadcasted.

Individual variation in the dear enemy phenomenon via territorial vocalizations in red squirrels

The study investigates how red squirrels use vocalizations to discriminate territorial neighbors, finding no difference in intrusion risk but variation in intruder identity.

Indirect effects on fitness between individuals that have never met via an extended phenotype

The paper shows that red squirrels' hoarding behavior, an extended phenotype, influences future individuals' fitness and resource acquisition without direct interaction.

Social effects of territorial neighbours on the timing of spring breeding in North American red squirrels

The paper estimates indirect phenotypic and genetic effects of territorial neighbors on spring breeding timing in red squirrels, finding stronger social effects at high population densities.

Local differentiation in the defensive morphology of an invasive zooplankton species is not genetically based

This study shows that phenotypic differences in distal spine length among populations of Bythotrephes longimanus are due to plasticity, not genetics, despite spatially varying selection pressures.

Multilevel And Sex-Specific Selection On Competitive Traits In North American Red Squirrels

The paper quantifies multilevel and sex-specific natural selection on growth rate and birth date in red squirrels, showing stronger selection within social neighborhoods and litters, with females facing stronger growth rate selection.