Traditional and diversified crops in South Moravia (Czech Republic): Habitat preferences of common vole and mice species

0360028 - ÚBO 2012 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Jánová, Eva - Heroldová, Marta - Konečný, Adam - Bryja, Josef
Traditional and diversified crops in South Moravia (Czech Republic): Habitat preferences of common vole and mice species.
Mammalian Biology. Roč. 76, č. 5 (2011), s. 570-576. ISSN 1616-5047. E-ISSN 1618-1476
R&D Projects: GA ČR GP521/08/P529
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : Microtus arvalis * Apodemus sylvaticus * Agroecosystems * Agricultural landscape * Crop
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 1.609, year: 2011

Changes in the composition of crops in Central Europe (increasing areas of maize, rape and sunflower fields) have significantly influenced animal communities. We assessed the importance of these three crops for rodents and compared it with traditional crops. We confirmed the presumed differences in habitat preferences; however we rejected the hypothesis of a general increase of rodent abundance during the vegetative season in managed fields. We found that (1) maize and sunflower had no importance for common voles, but they were favored habitats for wood mice; (2) numbers of wood mice in rape decreased during the season, while abundances of common voles increased; (3) common vole populations tended to increase during the season in all suitable crops; (4) wood mice populations seemed stable in all crops; i.e. without a seasonal increase. It can be concluded that the new crop fields are only a temporal habitat for small mammals, especially granivorous species.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0197679