Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus were radio-tracked in an area covering three cereal ®elds, which was notionally divided into 565 m squares; each of these squares was classi®ed to one of four habitat types (hedgerow, wheat, barley and oil-seed rape). From a sample of 79 radio-tracked wood mice, yielding 8500 ®xes, we de®ned home-range boundaries and estimated for two seasons: (a) the extent to which each habitat was present in each individual's home range relative to its overall availability in the surrounding landscape; (b) the extent to which each habitat was used by the mice relative to its abundance within a home range. Hedgerow ranked highest in preference (as distinct from use) for all comparisons made in both winter and summer. In winter, home ranges contained signi®cantly more hedgerow than barley and wheat, and signi®cantly more rape than wheat. Animals also used the habitats within their home ranges non-randomly, with a signi®cant preference for hedgerow. In summer, home ranges contained signi®cantly less rape than other habitats. Habitats within home ranges were used at random. Seasonal patterns in habitat use appeared to be largely a response to seasonal disturbance and the availability of cover in the ®elds.

We studied the epidemiology of Heligmosomoides polygyrus (Nematodd) in the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) in an arable ecosystem, and investigated any association between infection and the movement patterns of male mice by manipulating worm burdens. Methods included the live‐trapping of mice, estimation of worm burdens by faecal analysis, administration of either an anthelminthic or water (as a control) and the radio‐tracking of selected animals. Heligmosomoides polygyrus showed an overdispersed distribution pattern, with prevalence tending to be higher in males and heavier mice. Prevalence and intensity peaked in spring and declined in autumn both in the entire population and in adults. This seasonality in the arable ecosystem in comparison to woodland may arise due to the direct and indirect impact of agricultural practice. To investigate the link between infection and movements, radio‐tracked mice were classed as either‘Uninfected’or‘Infected’; mice were also classed as either‘Control’or‘Dosed’. There were no significant differences in movement parameters between‘Infected/Dosed’and‘Infected/Control’, possibly because treatment was not administered sufficiently frequently. Both‘Infected’classes of mice moved significantly faster than‘Uninfected’ones, and‘Infected/Dosed’mice moved significantly further than‘Uninfected’ones. The percentage of time spent moving was also greater, and the home range area was larger, for‘Infected/Dosed’and‘Infected/Control’than for‘Uninfected’mice. The observed differences in movement may have been the result of either the behaviour of mice influencing their parasite load or the parasite manipulating its host.

No abstract

Wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus were radio-tracked in an area covering three cereal ®elds, which was notionally divided into 565 m squares; each of these squares was classi®ed to one of four habitat types (hedgerow, wheat, barley and oil-seed rape). From a sample of 79 radio-tracked wood mice, yielding 8500 ®xes, we de®ned home-range boundaries and estimated for two seasons: (a) the extent to which each habitat was present in each individual's home range relative to its overall availability in the surrounding landscape; (b) the extent to which each habitat was used by the mice relative to its abundance within a home range. Hedgerow ranked highest in preference (as distinct from use) for all comparisons made in both winter and summer. In winter, home ranges contained signi®cantly more hedgerow than barley and wheat, and signi®cantly more rape than wheat. Animals also used the habitats within their home ranges non-randomly, with a signi®cant preference for hedgerow. In summer, home ranges contained signi®cantly less rape than other habitats. Habitats within home ranges were used at random. Seasonal patterns in habitat use appeared to be largely a response to seasonal disturbance and the availability of cover in the ®elds.