Structure and diversity of small mammal communities of mountain forests in Western Carpathians

0423978 - ÚBO 2015 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Suchomel, J. - Purchart, L. - Čepelka, L. - Heroldová, Marta
Structure and diversity of small mammal communities of mountain forests in Western Carpathians.
European Journal of Forest Research. Roč. 133, č. 3 (2014), s. 481-490. ISSN 1612-4669. E-ISSN 1612-4677
R&D Projects: GA MZe QH72075
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : species diversity * Rodents * Insectivores * Mountain forests * Carpathians
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 2.095, year: 2014

We sampled the small mammal (SM) community in mountain forest ecosystems of the Beskydy Mountains over 5 years in order to study associations with different types of forest habitat. Fourteen species were determined, three being eudominant (yellow-necked mouse—Apodemus flavicollis (45 %), bank vole—Clethrionomys glareolus (23.3 %) and field vole—Microtus agrestis (15.7 %) and one dominant common shrew—Sorex araneus (9.3 %)). Highest abundance was observed in young succession sites (plantations) with dicotyledonous plants dominant (more than 50 %) in the undergrowth. Highest diversity was observed in plantations and primeval forests. Lowest total abundance and diversity were observed in mature monocultures. Significant differences in diversity were only found between old monocultures and other sites. Using a faunistic similarity index, two basic SM community groups were determined: those inhabiting (1) early (plantation) and late (reserve) successional forest ecosystems with a dense dicotyledonous plant herb layer, and (2) plantations with a dense grass herb layer and forests with a dense canopy closure (fruiting monoculture). Redundancy analysis confirmed separate habitat preferences of the three eudominant species. Generalised linear model indicated increasing preference of field vole for plantations with dominance of grass and less than 10–15 %admixed dicotyledonous plants while decreasing preference at ratios more than 10–15 %, and increasing preference of bank vole for plantations with a dicotyledonous plant ratio of more than 10–15 %. The biotopes monitored proved suitable for long-term survival of the dominant SM species. Early successional plantations and forest reserves also represent important refuges for a number of rarer SMspecies presently under threat.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0230012