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Factors determining the distribution of coexisting dormouse species [Gliridae, Rodentia]

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Bako B. , Hecker K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

This study investigated coexistence of three dormouse species living in the same habitat, Naszály-hill, in the north-eastern part of the Danube-bend (47°49’N, 19°08’E). The vegetation of the area is very diverse, comprising a mosaic of orchards with natural forests and forest plantations. Data were collected from 1999 to 2005 with wooden nest boxes and from 2002 to 2005 also plastic nest tubes were used. Study area was approximately 6 ha. All three species (hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius L., forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula Pall. and fat dormouse Glis glis L.) have different ecological requirements. However, they occurred simultaneously in some microhabitats and in some places one species clearly predominated. We also observed how the ongoing succession process in the former orchards affected the distribution of dormice. There were seasonal differences in timing of emergence from hibernation, greatly affecting spatial distribution of the different species. Hazel dormice were first to appear in nest boxes and/or tubes, in March, then forest dormice in April and fat dormice in June. As numbers of fat dormice increased the smaller species withdrew from using the nest boxes. Fat dormice reached peak numbers in summer and they entered hibernation by October.

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Nest material of the common dormouse [Muscardinus avellanarius L.] used in nestboxes, Podilla [West Ukraine]

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Zaytseva H.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

The common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius L. is a regular inhabitant of the nestboxes placed in the region of Podilla (48°20’N 26°30’E), West Ukraine. One hundred and forty seven nestboxes were controlled during 2004. The dormouse occupied 31% of the nestboxes available in oak-hornbeam forest. It is a significant competitor of birds, which frequently occupies the nests of the collared flycatcher Ficedula albicollis Temminck, great tit Parus major L. and blue tit Parus caeruleus L. At the end of the year 41 nests of M. avellanarius from the nestboxes were studied and the nest material was analysed quantitatively. We found four basic types of dormouse nests: foliar, mixed, layered and grassy. Mixed nests (54%) were the most frequent. Dormice preferred to build mixed nests on the flycatcher nests, and foliar nests on the tit nests. Leaves of trees constituted the greatest part of the nest material (62%). Leaves of hornbeam were the commonest fraction of the nest material, but those of linden, oak and maples were also present in smaller quantities. Simultaneously an experiment on the use of an artificial material for nest building by forest inhabitants was carried out in the nature reserve. Dormice also used an artificial material; namely a coloured thread and some tow were found in six nests on the study area. M. avellanarius showed high plasticity and used the most widespread and accessible nest materials available in the particular habitat.

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The importance of animal food for Dryomys nitedula [Pallas] and Glis glis [L.] in Bialowieza Forest [East Poland]: analysis of faeces

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Nowakowski W. K. , Godlewska M.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

Fresh faeces of dormice found in nestboxes along the permanent transect in Białowieża Forest were analysed. The study area was a managed forest of diverse biotopes. In total, 196 samples of faeces of the forest dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) and 62 of edible dormouse (Glis glis) were examined. In the faeces analysed, the following categories of food remains were distinguished: chitin carapaces, calcareous shells, feathers, seeds, plant fibres. In the forest dormouse, chitin carapaces were found in 100% of samples, but in only 8% of the edible dormouse samples. Feathers were noted in 36% of samples of forest dormouse faeces, but only in 12% of samples from the edible dormouse. Calcareous shells were found in 14% of forest dormouse samples and 1.6% of edible dormouse faeces. Remains of animal food were found in 100% of samples of forest dormouse excrements, but only in 29% of samples from the edible dormouse. The highest percent of faecal samples with animal remains was found in the edible dormouse in July, while in the forest dormouse seasonal variation occurred only in some types of animal remains. Most of the chitin carapaces identified in forest dormouse faeces came from Chilopoda (45%), Hemiptera (33%) and Coleoptera (22%). In faeces of the edible dormouse the majority were remains of butterflies (55%). The results presented here suggest an almost total separation of the food niches of the two dormouse species.

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Nestbox grids in population studies of the common dormouse [Muscardinus avellanarius L.]: methodological aspects

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Juskaitis R.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

Two different nestbox grids have been used for studies of the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) populations: high-density nestbox grids in small plots (e.g. 25–30 boxes ha⁻¹ in 1 ha plots) and lowdensity nestbox grids in large plots (e.g. 4 boxes ha⁻¹ in areas of 60 and 85 ha). The present study aimed to compare efficiency and suitability of 25 × 25 m and 50 × 50 m nestbox grids for studies of the common dormouse population, and to show limitations of small study plots in dormouse studies. Live trapping of dormice within nestbox grids proved that all dormice captured used nestboxes placed in both 25 × 25 m and 50 × 50 m grids. Regular control of nestboxes placed in the 25 × 25 m grid gave an opportunity to register all adult dormice living in the study site during shorter periods, and average dormouse capture rate was significantly higher compared to the 50 × 50 m grid. However the 25 × 25 m nestbox grid had one substantial drawback: high nestbox density (16 boxes ha⁻¹) increased environment carrying capacity for dormice in the forest, where natural hollows were almost absent. In consequence, adult dormouse density increased two to four-fold, while their home range sizes decreased by about half. Dormice are distributed irregularly in large forest areas, and the results obtained in small study plots may not reflect the average characteristics of the population. Some results obtained in small study plots (e.g. density, mortality) can be overestimated because of dormouse movements and edge effects. Predators, e.g. owls, can catch some dormice and substantially influence the results obtained in small plots. Because of the influence on dormouse population density and other population parameters, high density nestbox grids (e.g. 20 × 20 m, 25 × 25 m) should not be used in dormouse population studies. Small study plots (e.g. 1 ha) are completely unsuitable for estimation of such dormouse population characteristics as survival (mortality) and dispersal.

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The use of space by translocated edible dormice, Glis glis [L.], at the site of their original capture and the site of their release: radio-tracking method applied in a reintroduction experiment

100%

Jurczyszyn M.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

A study was made of the use of space by two groups (each of 6 animals) of adult edible dormice (G. glis) at the sites of their origin and where they were released. The reintroduction took place in Szczeciński Landscape Park (north-western Poland; 53°17’N, 14°46’E). The source sites for the animals were in the Sie rakowski Landscape Park (western Poland; 52°38’N, 16°07’E) and a nature reserve “Buczyna Szprotawska” in south-western Poland (51°30’N, 15°40’E). All three sites had dense and extensive mixed forests. At release and source sites, dormice were radio-tracked during 10 successive nights between 20.00 and 05.00 at 1-hour intervals. At the source sites, the mean distance travelled per night and mean home range (95% Minimum Convex Polygon) (MCP) tended to be larger in males than in females but not significantly. At the release sites, the mean distance travelled per night and mean home range were significantly larger in females than in males. The mean distance travelled per night by males and their mean home range size did not differ significantly between source and release sites (although distances were larger at the source sites (source: 458 m; release: 265 m) and home ranges larger at the release sites (source: 1.3 ha; release: 1.8 ha). In contrast, the mean female distance travelled per night (source: 214 m; release: 404 m) and mean home range (source: 0.3 ha; release: 3.5 ha) were significantly larger at the release site than at the source sites.

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Food preferences of Glis glis [L.], Dryomys nitedula [Pallas] and Graphiurus murinus [Smuts] kept in captivity

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Nowakowski W. K. , Remisiewicz M. , Kosowska J.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

We investigated food preferences of three species of dormice, testing consumption by captive animals. One type of food was provided to an animal and its “suitability” scored for each species, according to whether it was or was not consumed. If it was eaten, the time when it was consumed was recorded (after 24, 48 or 72 hours). In total, 17 types of animal food and 46 of plant food were tested. Animal foods offered included different arthropods, eggs, snails and chicken meat. Plant food consisted of fruits, seeds, nuts and green parts. Glis glis consumed – 24% of animal material offered and 100% of plant food types, Dryomys nitedula consumed – 77% of animal and 54% of plant food types. Graphiurus murinus consumed – 94% of animal and 63% of plant food types. G. glis showed a significantly higher preference for plant foods rather than animal material, and preferred plant food much more than the other two species. Both D. nitedula and G. murinus preferred animal more than plant food and did not differ in preferences and diversity of both kinds of food they consumed. Thus, G. glis can be considered as principally a herbivore, while D. nitedula and G. murinus are rather meat-eaters. It can be concluded that food niches, especially of the two European dormice, are separate and thus in natural conditions they do not compete strongly for food resources.

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Ectoparasites of the edible dormouse Glis glis L. of Samarskaya Luka Peninsula [Russia]

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Kirillova N. Y. , Kirillov A. A. , Ivashkina V. A.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2006

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tom 54

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nr 3

EN

The parasitic fauna of the edible dormouse was studied in 2004. Nine species of ectoparasites were registered: fleas (Siphonaptera) – 7, gamasid mites (Gamasoidea) – 1, harvest mites (Trombidiidae) – 1. Two ectoparasite species predominated: a flea Nosopsyllus sciurorum and a harvest mite Trombicula zachvatkini. We revealed differences in the infection rates of dormice of different age and sex. Adult individuals were more infected than juveniles in terms of the index of abundance. Infection among males was higher than in females in terms of index of occurrence.