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2007 | 55 | 3 |

Tytuł artykułu

Artificial tunnels as a method for studying populations of small rodents

Warianty tytułu

Języki publikacji

EN

Abstrakty

EN
A method was proposed for studying population density, microhabitat preference, daily activity and seasonal activity in small rodents. In this method, artificial tunnels (PVC pipes) imitating a natural system of burrows were applied. Their use by rodents was recorded by means of the electronic counters provided with a photoelectric cell. The study was conducted in an alder swamp 110 years old, located in the Kampinos National Park (52°25’N, 20°53’E) during 2003–2005. In this area, the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) accounted for 90–99% of the captured rodents. The use of the tunnels by rodents (the number of passages) did not depend on their length within a range of 1–8 m applied in the experiment (P = 0.22). The tunnels were used by day and night, at the highest rate in the evening and at night. The use of tunnels increased when a bait was exposed in the vicinity (P = 0.001). It was positively correlated with population density (estimated with the CMR technique), and varied from season to season (in spring, summer, and autumn). The formula: density = 0.1717 + 0.0304 × mean number of passages per day, enabled the estimation of population density based on the number of passages through the tunnels. It has been found that a single tunnel was typically used by 5 individuals (mean 4.6 individuals, SD = 1.8). The location of tunnels had a significant effect on their use. Tunnels connecting fallen logs or bases of alders (hummocks) were more frequented than those leading to shrubby areas (P <0.000) or to microhabitats covered with herbaceous vegetation (P <0.001). This method enabled a multisided analysis of the behaviour of rodents at a minimum interference in the life of animals. Thanks to the application of electronic counters of passages, it was possible to obtain easily a large number of data. It is proposed to mark rodents with electronic transponders in the future studies to identify the individuals using artificial tunnels. This method could replace the methods used so far in the studies of small rodents, requiring trapping (CMR) or radio-telemetry.

Wydawca

-

Rocznik

Tom

55

Numer

3

Opis fizyczny

p.535-542,fig.,ref.

Twórcy

  • The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al.Krasnicka 102, 20-718 Lublin, Poland
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Bibliografia

  • Andrzejewski R. 2002 – The home-range concept in rodents revised – Acta theriol. 47, Suppl. 1: 81–101.
  • Braude S., Ciszek D. 1998 – Survival of naked mole-rats market by implantable transponders and toe-clipping – J. Mamm. 79: 360–363.
  • Bujalska G., Saitoh T. 2000 – Territoriality and its consequences – Pol. J. Ecol., Suppl. 48: 37–49.
  • Douglass R.J. 1989 – The use of radio-telemetry to evaluate microhabitat selection by deer mice – J. Mammal. 70: 648–652.
  • Drennan J.E., Beier P., Dodd N.L. 1998 – Use of track stations to index abundance of sciurids – J. Mammal. 79: 352–359.
  • Glennon M.J., Porter W.F., Demers C.L. 2002 – An alternative field technique for estimating diversity of small mammals populations – J. Mammal. 83: 734–742.
  • Gortat T., Kozakiewicz M., Barkowska M., Charytonik U. 2004 – The role of chemical information in shaping the spatial activity of bank voles in a free-living population – Acta theriol. 49: 465–477.
  • Kaufman G.A., Kaufman D. 1989 – An artifical burrow for the study of natural populations of small mammals – J. Mammal. 70: 656–659.
  • Korn H. 1986 – Changes in home range size during growth and maturation of the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) – Oecologia, 68: 623–628.
  • Korslund L., Steen H. 2006 – Small rodents winter survival: snow conditions limit access to food resources – J. Anim. Ecol. 75: 156–166.
  • Lemen C.A., Freeman P.W. 1985 – Tracking mammals with fluorescent pigments: a new technique – J. Mammal. 66: 134–136.
  • Mazurkiewicz M. 1981 – Spatial organization of bank vole population in years of small or large numbers – Acta theriol. 26: 31–45.
  • Mazurkiewicz M., Rajska-Jurgiel E. 1998 – Spatial behaviour and population dynamics of woodland rodents – Acta theriol. 43: 137–161.
  • Mongomery W.I. 1980 – The use of arboreal runways by the woodland rodents, Apodemus sylvaticus (L.), A. flavicollis (Melchior) and Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber) – Mammal Rev. 4: 189 –195.
  • Mróz I. 2007 – Response of the bank vole Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber) to the odour and presence of heterospecifics as measured by scent marking behaviour and trapping in double traps in an alder forest – Pol. J. Ecol. in press.
  • Nams V.O., Gillis E.A. 2003 – Changes in tracking tube use by small mammals over time – J. Mammal. 84: 1374–1380.
  • Owadowska E. 1999 – The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles – Acta theriol. 44: 133–150.
  • Olszewski L.J. 1968 – Role of uprooted trees in the movement of rodents in forest – Oikos, 19: 99–104.
  • Raphael M.G., Taylor C.A., Barret R.H. 1986 – Smoke aluminium tract stations record flying squirrel – United States Forest Service, Research Note. PSW-384: 1–3.
  • Wójcik J. M., Wołk K. 1985 – The daily activity rhythm of two competitive rodents: Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis – Acta theriol. 30: 241–258.

Typ dokumentu

Bibliografia

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Identyfikator YADDA

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