Small Mammal Community of Forest Stands in Drahanská vrchovina Upland (Czech Republic)

Abstract

In the years 2006–2011 was studied community of small terrestrial mammals in the Drahanská vrchovina Upland. There were compared four stands of different age and tree species composition (30 years old spruce stand; 105 years old spruce forest; 125 years old mixed stand, and 40 years old beech stand). Totally 276 individuals of small terrestrial mammals were trapped and analyzed. The vast majority of cases were Apodemus flavicollis (163), Clethrionomys glareolus (81 specimen), and Apodemus sylvaticus (28). Besides previous species has been confirmed Sorex araneus (2) and Microtus arvalis (1). At all sites the most numerous species was A. flavicollis. Changes in species abundance were synchronized not only among themselves, but also in comparison to southern Moravia. The smallest amplitude and thus the smallest variation showed a population of mammals in old mixed forest. The highest population densities were found in younger spruce stand. The highest biodiversity according to all aspects except the number of species has been found among spruce stands.

Abundance of Common Shrew (Sorex Araneus) in Selected Forest Habitats of Moravia (Czech Republic)

“…Mature upland forests consist mainly of Norway spruce monocultures with lower proportion of beech. Low abundance and dominance of common shrew in such habitats is confirmed by many studies (Zejda, 1981;Suchomel, 2007;Suchomel et al, 2010;Čepelka et al, 2015). For example, Suchomel et al (2010) reported abundance in both types of forest only rA = 0.06; Suchomel and Urban (2011) states rA = 0.04 both in the old mixed forest and in the beech monoculture.…”

“…In contrast, even-aged spruce monocultures with no or only poor herb layer are unsuitable for shrews (lack of food and shelter). For example, Zejda (1981) stated dominance of common shrew in spruce monocultures only 2.3 %; Suchomel et al (2010) rA = 0.06 andČepelka et al (2015) …”