Spatial distribution and population density of the harvest mouse <i>Micromys minutus</i> in a habitat mosaic at Lake Neusiedl, Austria

Haberl, Werner; Kryštufek, Boris

doi:10.1515/mamm.2003.67.3.355

Cited by 15 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…As for the much smaller M. minutus, its semi-arboreal way of life lessens its competition with other small mammal species in vegetative period (Ylönen 1990). High densities of M. minutus in the reeds have been registered in Austria and Poland, suggesting reed-beds as primary habitat of the species (Haberl & Kryštufek 2003) (Surmacki et al 2005). Spring-flooded meadows, especially those after high spring floods, were the most suitable habitat of M. minutus in the Nemunas Delta.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The influence of spring floods on small mammal communities in the Nemunas River Delta, Lithuania

2012

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The influence of the annual spring floods on small mammal communities was studied in the Nemunas River Delta, SW Lithuania. The aim of the investigation was to compare the diversity of small mammals inhabiting springflooded meadows, meadows not subjected to flooding and spring-flooded forest in years characterized by differing heights and durations of spring flood. In the years of the high flood, the number of species and diversity index were higher, while index of dominance was less than in the years of low flood. Significantly, the highest proportions of Apodemus agrarius were recorded in spring-flooded meadows in years of high flood (41.7%), while Microtus oeconomus occurred in the highest proportions in spring-flooded meadows in years of low flood (66.8%) and in meadows not subjected to flooding (47.1%). In non-flooded areas, M. oeconomus is not expelled by the floods and outcompetes other species. After high levels of flooding, during the process of re-population, the voles may be outcompeted by A. agrarius. In the absence of dominant species, greater opportunities existed for the establishment of more species (13 species in flooded meadows). Micromys minutus accounted for up to 19.5-30.1% in the years of high flood. We concluded that the annual spring floods in the Nemunas Delta had no long-term negative effects, the number of small mammal species and their abundance had been restored in just a few months. The worst consequences of the high flood were recorded in forest habitat. Spring floods, and especially the higher floods, are natural environmental agents, maintaining the high diversity of small mammals in meadows and reed-beds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

The influence of spring floods on small mammal communities in the Nemunas River Delta, Lithuania

2012

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“…Reed beds supported the highest proportion of breeding female small mammals, possibly due to a combination of cover and inaccessibility providing protection from predators, and plentiful resources for both nest construction and meeting the increased metabolic demands during weaning. In a study in Austria, Haberl & Kryštufek (2003) found harvest mice (M. minutus) at densities of up to 93 individuals per hectare in reed beds, suggesting that this could be an important habitat for this internationally 'near threatened' species (Amori, 1996). Tall grass had the same mammal species composition as short grass but in greater relative abundance, probably because short, highly grazed or cut grass is commonly avoided by small mammals (Grant et al, 1982;Eccard et al, 2000;Tattersall et al, 2001;Schmidt et al, 2005).…”

Section: Habitat and Landscape Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of habitat and landscape on small mammals in Estonian coastal wetlands

Scott¹,

Joyce²,

Burnside³

2008

Estonian J. Ecol.

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We investigated the influence of habitat type and landscape composition on small mammal relative abundance and diversity in coastal wetlands in western Estonia. Seventy live-trap lines in eight representative habitats, across six wetlands revealed seven species. The most diverse\ud habitats were reed bed and scrub woodland, whereas tall grasslands had the highest biomass. Short grass was low in species richness and relative abundance. Small mammal relative abundance, richness, and biomass were positively correlated with tall grass and mosaic habitats and negatively correlated with lower shore habitats and bare ground. Our study indicates potential nature conservation\ud conflicts between small mammals and other biodiversity priorities in wetlands

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“…Among small mammals living in open habitats, M. minutus is distinguished by its ability to use the three-dimensional environment for feeding and nesting. For example, there was no clear pattern or trend in niche overlap between M. minutus and eight other small mammal species from the reed-bed habitat (Haberl and Kryštufek 2003). However, in a series of eight grassland plots of different successional stages, niche overlap was least between M. minutus and the wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (Churchfield et al 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…minutus and their nests were found in a wide variety of open habitats. The preferred habitats of this species were tall, thick and rough grasslands and reed-beds mixed with grasses (Piechocki 1958, Böhme 1978, Trout 1978, Feldmann 2002, Haberl and Kryštufek 2003, Surmacki et al 2005, Kuroe et al 2007. They were often situated in wet places near water bodies (Kminiak 1968, Böhme 1978, Feldmann 2002.…”

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confidence: 99%

Harvest miceMicromys minutus and common dormiceMuscardinus avellanarius live sympatric in woodland habitat

Juškaitis

Remeisis

2007

Acta Theriol

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The harvest mouse Micromys minutus (Pallas, 1771) and the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758) have several similarities in their life histories. They both are adept climbers, able to exploit a three-dimen-sional environment, and they both make similar closed ball-shaped nests among vegetation above the ground. However, these two species usually live in completely different habitats.M. avellanarius is a woodland species, which prefers early successional stages of woody vegetation (eg Bright and Morris 1990, Berg 1996). Their ball-shaped nests were found abundantly [349] Acta Theriologica 52 (4): 349-354, 2007. PL ISSN 0001-7051 Harvest mice Micromys minutus and common dormice Muscardinus avellanarius live sympatric in woodland habitat Rimvydas JUŠKAITIS and Rimantas REMEISIS Juškaitis R. and Remeisis R. 2007. Harvest mice Micromys minutus and common dormice Muscardinus avellanarius live sympatric in woodland habitat.

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Spatial distribution and population density of the harvest mouse Micromys minutus in a habitat mosaic at Lake Neusiedl, Austria

Cited by 15 publications

References 3 publications

The influence of spring floods on small mammal communities in the Nemunas River Delta, Lithuania

The influence of spring floods on small mammal communities in the Nemunas River Delta, Lithuania

The influence of habitat and landscape on small mammals in Estonian coastal wetlands

Harvest miceMicromys minutus and common dormiceMuscardinus avellanarius live sympatric in woodland habitat

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