The Effects of Urbanization — Small Mammal Communities in a Gradient of Human Pressure in Warsaw City, Poland

Gortat, Tomasz; Barkowska, Miłosława; Tkowska, Alicja Gryczyńska-Siemią; Pieniążek, Agnieszka; Kozakiewicz, Anna; Kozakiewicz, Michał

doi:10.3161/104.062.0115

Cited by 35 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…30 years ago) and has colonized several patches within the city borders (Andrzejewski et al 1978;Gliwicz 1980;Babińska-Werka and Malinowska 2008;Gortat et al 2014). Moreover, given that another rodent species, the striped field mouse (A. agrarius), having a much longer city colonization history (more than 100 years), had previously been investigated in exactly the same locations (Gortat et al 2015a), we were able to compare the results for the two species, using the same set of molecular markers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…It may be speculated that the reason for this may lie in the city having been colonized in different and independent ways by the yellow-necked mouse. Unlike the yellow-necked mouse, the striped field mouse has been present in Warsaw for more than 100 years (Walecki 1881;Suminski 1922) and it forms stable local populations in many green areas in the city, including ones in the highest anthropopressure zone (Gortat et al 2014). The genetic structure of the urban population of this species is most strongly expressed in the central part of the city, where particular local populations are strictly isolated from one another by city infrastructure (Gortat et al 2015a).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The spatial genetic structure of the yellow-necked mouse in an urban environment – a recent invader vs. a closely related permanent inhabitant

et al. 2016

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We analyse the genetic variability in the yellownecked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) population in the city of Warsaw, Poland, and its surroundings -a species that has begun to occupy the city only in the last 30 years. We also compare the genetic variability of this species with corresponding data collected in the same time and areas for another species -the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius). The results indicate a gradual decrease in genetic diversity and increase in relatedness in the population of A. flavicollis from non-urban locations towards sites with the highest anthropopressure. The genetic structure was more pronounced in the 'recent invader' (A. flavicollis) than in the 'permanent inhabitant' (A. agrarius), which has a much longer city colonization history (more than 100 years). In general, FST was higher in A. flavicollis, which may indicate different and independent ways of city colonization by the species. The process by which urban areas are settled by a new, typically forest-dwelling species such as A. flavicollis, more 'sensitive' to the conditions of life in a city, probably includes not only successful events of penetration of the city by small groups of individuals (the founder effect), but also temporary extinctions of local urban populations of A. flavicollis or at least marked fluctuations in species population numbers. Suitably planned areas at the city borders could play an important role as 'gateways' through which individuals from non-urban populations could migrate into the city and join urban populations.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The spatial genetic structure of the yellow-necked mouse in an urban environment – a recent invader vs. a closely related permanent inhabitant

et al. 2016

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“…Of the rodents killed by cats, the occurrence of mice was higher in the urban environment. Urbanization influences rodent species composition with the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius, being a dominant species in considerably human-transformed habitats in Warsaw (Babińska-Werka et al 1979;Gortat et al 2014). Voles, on the other hand, are absent from the central quarters of Warsaw , and their share in the rodent community decreases along an urbanization gradient (Andrzejewski et al 1978;Gortat et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generally, shrews, being highly sensitive to fragmentation (Vergnes et al 2013), are scarce in highly transformed, typically urban habitats (Andrzejewski et al 1978;Gryz et al 2008;Gortat et al 2014).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urbanization influences rodent species composition with the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius, being a dominant species in considerably human-transformed habitats in Warsaw (Babińska-Werka et al 1979;Gortat et al 2014). Voles, on the other hand, are absent from the central quarters of Warsaw , and their share in the rodent community decreases along an urbanization gradient (Andrzejewski et al 1978;Gortat et al 2014). Although populations of the striped field mouse reach very high densities in urban habitats, the species may be relatively difficult to catch due to dense vegetation (i.e., in parks, where rodents can hide in ivy cover), as observed for the tawny owl (Goszczyński et al 1993).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Annual variation in prey composition of domestic cats in rural and urban environment

2016

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The threat that domestic cats pose to wildlife has gained increased recognition by researchers and conservationists, and in this study, we investigated the seasonal variability and the effects of environment type (rural vs. urban) on the prey composition of free-ranging house cats in Poland. We analysed the variability in 307 monthly prey samples of different prey items killed by cats and brought to their owners (i.e., prey brought home by cats living in one home in one month) between 2002 and 2007 at 26 rural and urban sites. The variability in prey composition over time was analysed using additive models and canonical correspondence analysis. In total, we recorded 1348 prey items. Rodents were the most common prey in both environments, but shrews and reptiles were killed by cats more often in the rural environment while birds (mainly sparrows and pigeons) were more common in the urban environment. Additionally, prey composition changed seasonally. The pooled number of vertebrates killed by cats was largest in September and lowest in January, and rodents were killed most often in September, shrews and birds in June, and reptiles in April. The seasonal variation in the prey composition of cats was relatively high in the rural environment and more stable in the urban environment. Prey composition seemed to follow temporal and spatial variations in prey availability, thus confirming a facultative feeding strategy in free-ranging house cats.

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Comparison of helminth community of Apodemus agrarius and Apodemus flavicollis between urban and suburban populations of mice

et al. 2017

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The growing human population and the development of urban areas have led to fragmentation and destruction of many natural habitats but have also created new urban habitats. These environmental changes have had a negative impact on many species of plants and animals, including parasite communities. The aim of present study was to compare the helminth communities of Apodemus flavicollis and Apodemus agrarius in natural and urban habitats. Helminth burdens were assessed in 124 mice, 48 A. flavicollis, and 76 A. agrarius from two managed forests close to the city boundaries and two city parks within Warsaw, Central Poland. In total, eight species of helminths, Nematoda (n = 3), Digenea (n = 2), and Cestoda (n = 3), were identified. Helminth community structure and prevalence/abundance of individual helminth species differed significantly between the two Apodemus species. Overall, prevalence and abundance of helminth species were significantly higher in A. agrarius compared to A. flavicollis. For A. flavicollis, higher prevalence and abundance of helminths were detected in individuals from managed forest habitats in comparison to city parks. In striped field mice, much higher prevalence and mean abundance were recorded in rodents trapped in city parks than in managed forests. This phenomenon may be explained by better adaptation of A. agrarius, compared to A. flavicollis, to city habitats, resulting in high local densities of mice and the full range of parasite species affecting this host species. Our data confirm also that the established routes of infection exist for selected helminth species in the urban environment.

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The Effects of Urbanization — Small Mammal Communities in a Gradient of Human Pressure in Warsaw City, Poland

Cited by 35 publications

References 34 publications

The spatial genetic structure of the yellow-necked mouse in an urban environment – a recent invader vs. a closely related permanent inhabitant

The spatial genetic structure of the yellow-necked mouse in an urban environment – a recent invader vs. a closely related permanent inhabitant

Annual variation in prey composition of domestic cats in rural and urban environment

Comparison of helminth community of Apodemus agrarius and Apodemus flavicollis between urban and suburban populations of mice

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