Set-aside plots - source of small mammal pests?

• Main Authors: Heroldová Marta, Jánová Eva, Bryja Josef, Tkadlec Emil
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Subjects: abandoned fields; succession; rodents; Common vole
• Online Access: https://kramerius.lib.cas.cz/view/uuid:a4eeafa6-7fc9-dbf6-48ac-0db49dc6ccfe

Succession of weeds and small mammal species was studied and compared on alfalfa field in two periods (cultivated 1996–1998 and set-aside 2001–2003). Composition of the plant community changed between the two periods of study. In the first period high biomass of green alfalfa biomass was available to the common vole which dominated small mammal community (88.7 %) and pronounced variation in maximal autumnal densities, typical of cyclic vole populations. Massive invasion of seed bearing weeds was stated after the field was set-aside and alfalfa biomass lowered. With the succession of weeds other rodent species such as Apodemus sp. increase their relative abundance (RA) and that of the pygmy field mouse was higher in the abandoned field compared with the common vole. The trend toward increasing RA was quite distinct (Z = 1.883; P = 0.060). Diversity of herb species and the small mammal species increased with abandonment. The monthly RA of the common vole was, on average, lower in the abandoned field than in the former period (Z = 2.353, P = 0.019). Also the cyclicity disappeared and RA of the population exhibited only seasonal oscillations. Biomass of the small mammal community decreased after the field was set-aside (Z = 3.021, P = 0.002).