Dynamics of a Small Mammal Community in a Fragmented Forest

Yahner, Richard H.

doi:10.2307/2426545

Cited by 76 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Several studies indicate the higher densities in the habitat patches in more fragmented habitats (Chalfoun et al 2002), for example, in the case of the white-footed mice (Yahner 1992;Swihart 1996, 2000). Also, the study of Collins and Barrett (1997) on meadow voles showed that especially the densities of females were substantially higher in the fragmented habitats compared to nonfragmented ones.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infanticide effects on behavior of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in the fragmented breeding habitat

Haapakoski

Lensu

Sundell

et al. 2014

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Habitat fragmentation affects individual movements between favorable resource patches. In many small mammal species, an important intrinsic factor affecting recruitment of young is infanticide, committed especially by males. We predict that habitat fragmentation hinders movements of males between patches due to predation risk in the open areas. Thus, fragmentation reduces the number of males to which young litters are exposed to and decreases risk of infanticide in isolated habitat patches. Nonfragmented habitat provides not only breeding possibilities for more females but also safe movements to mate or commit infanticide for males. In a replicated enclosure experiment, we tested how infanticidal status of male bank voles (Myodes glareolus) affects their movements in fragmented vs. nonfragmented habitats with same total area and how this affects female spacing and offspring recruitment into population. We found no difference in the number of offspring recruited per female between infanticidal and fragmentation treatments. Females in the fragmented enclosures had smaller movement areas and stayed closer to their nests, suggesting better protection of pups against intruders. Infanticidal males moved more in general but especially in fragmented enclosures, whilst noninfanticidal males were moving more in nonfragmented enclosures. Our results suggest that behavior of females is affected by the habitat fragmentation, as we expected, but males searching for mates move similarly in safe and risky habitats. Thus, the threat of infanticide was not reflected in the recruitment of young into the population as probably the male-female interactions and effective nest protection by the mothers remained similar in both habitats.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Infanticide effects on behavior of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in the fragmented breeding habitat

Haapakoski

Lensu

Sundell

et al. 2014

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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“…Increased population densities represent one manifestation of the island syndrome in small mammals (e.g., Yahner 1992;Adler and Levins 1994), although the causes of these increases are not yet clear (Dooley and Bowers 1998;Langlois et al 2001). In accordance with prior findings, population densities in our study were much higher within forest fragments than within the continuous forest (four individuals/ha; Ruf et al 2006).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stranded on an island: consequences of forest fragmentation for body size variations in an arboreal mammal, the edible dormouse (Glis glis)

Fietz

Weis-Dootz

2012

Population Ecology

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The island rule states that small mammals isolated on islands have the evolutionary tendency to become larger, while large mammals tend to become smaller. However, the underlying mechanisms and life history consequences of these insular shifts in body size still remain speculative. The aim of this study was to investigate whether an arboreal mammal, the edible dormouse (Glis glis), showed shifts in body size when inhabiting isolated forest fragments. We analysed a data set of 541 individuals captured between 2005 and 2010 in four different forest fragments and one continuous forest, which served as a reference area. Sex, age, body mass, and size of all individuals were known. We used linear mixed-effect models to investigate whether individuals differed in their body size and mass between forest fragments and continuous forest. Our study revealed that edible dormice inhabiting forest fragments were significantly larger and heavier than individuals in the continuous forest, in accordance with patterns described by the island rule for small mammals. Because edible dormice frequently use nest boxes to rest during the day and to rear offspring, the life history strategies of this rodent can be easily investigated under evolutionary relevant conditions in the field. Thus the edible dormouse represents an excellent model organism for studying the mechanisms underlying shifts in body size as a response to habitat fragmentation and to investigate the consequences of these shifts on their life history strategies.

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“…White-footed mice, primary reservoirs for B. burgdorferi, thrive in most forest environments. However, as an opportunistic species, whitefooted mice outcompete other small mammals in disrupted areas of small, fragmented forests, which are created when larger forests are subdivided as a result of land use changes (Yahner 1992). Therefore, the ecotone between forested and open, vegetated areas supports populations of both white-tailed deer and white-footed mice (Despommier et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The fragmentation of habitats of the species involved in Lyme disease transmission was found to be ''of pivotal importance'' by EstradaPena (2009, p. 153), when examining how rates of infected ticks varied in an endemic area. The significance of forest fragments more specifically was studied by Yahner (1992) who examined the relative abundance of white-footed mice, B. burgdorferi's most competent reservoir, in clearcut environments. He found that the relative abundance of white-footed mice as compared to other small mammals increased as the size of forest fragments decreased.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Examination of the Demographic and Environmental Variables Correlated with Lyme Disease Emergence in Virginia

et al. 2015

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Lyme disease is the United States' most significant vector-borne illness. Virginia, on the southern edge of the disease's currently expanding range, has experienced an increase in Lyme disease both spatially and temporally, with steadily increasing rates over the past decade and disease spread from the northern to the southwestern part of the state. This study used a Geographic Information System and a spatial Poisson regression model to examine correlations between demographic and land cover variables, and human Lyme disease from 2006 to 2010 in Virginia. Analysis indicated that herbaceous land cover is positively correlated with Lyme disease incidence rates. Areas with greater interspersion between herbaceous and forested land were also positively correlated with incidence rates. In addition, income and age were positively correlated with incidence rates. Levels of development, interspersion of herbaceous and developed land, and population density were negatively correlated with incidence rates. Abundance of forest fragments less than 2 hectares in area was not significantly correlated. Our results support some findings of previous studies on ecological variables and Lyme disease in endemic areas, but other results have not been found in previous studies, highlighting the potential contribution of new variables as Lyme disease continues to emerge southward.

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Dynamics of a Small Mammal Community in a Fragmented Forest

Cited by 76 publications

References 30 publications

Infanticide effects on behavior of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in the fragmented breeding habitat

Infanticide effects on behavior of the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) in the fragmented breeding habitat

Stranded on an island: consequences of forest fragmentation for body size variations in an arboreal mammal, the edible dormouse (Glis glis)

An Examination of the Demographic and Environmental Variables Correlated with Lyme Disease Emergence in Virginia

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