Data from: The secret life of ground squirrels: accelerometry reveals sex-dependent plasticity in above-ground activity

The sexes differ in how and when they allocate energy towards
reproduction, but how this influences phenotypic plasticity in daily
activity patterns is unclear. Here, we use collar-mounted light loggers
and triaxial accelerometers to examine factors that affect time spent
above ground and overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), an index of
activity-specific energy expenditure, across the active season of
free-living, semi-fossorial arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii).
We found high day-to-day variability in time spent above ground and ODBA
with most of the variance explained by environmental conditions known to
affect thermal exchange. In both years, females spent more time below
ground compared with males during parturition and early lactation;
however, this difference was fourfold larger in the second year, possibly,
because females were in better body condition. Daily ODBA positively
correlated with time spent above ground in both sexes, but females were
more active per unit time above ground. Consequently, daily ODBA did not
differ between the sexes when females were early in lactation, even though
females were above ground three to six fewer hours each day. Further, on
top of having the additional burden of milk production, ODBA data indicate
females also had fragmented rest patterns and were more active during late
lactation. Our results indicate that sex differences in reproductive
requirements can have a substantial influence on activity patterns, but
the size of this effect may be dependent on capital resources accrued
during gestation.