Rodent species in agricultural ecosystems from the central part of the Republic of Moldova and Bacau county, Romania

• Main Authors: Nistreanu, V.B., Нистряну, В.Б., Paraschiv, D., Larion, A.F., Ларион, А.Ф.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Rodents; agricultural crops; diversity; Central Moldova; Bacau county; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: https://ibn.idsi.md/vizualizare_articol/192122

Introduction. Rodents are the most widespread group of mammals and are important elements of terrestrial ecosystems, being the dominant vertebrate species in various types of ecosystems, especially in agricultural ones. Many rodent species are pests of agricultural crops, thus influencing the food supply of humans and domestic animals. In the central part of the Republic of Moldova and in Bacau County, Romania, the agricultural landscape occupies large surfaces. The aim of the study was to reveal the differences between the structure of small rodent communities in agrocenoses from central part of Moldova and Bacau district, Romania. Material and methods. The studies were conducted from 2009 to 2019 in several types of agricultural crops such as alfalfa, wheat, and corn, in the central part of the Republic of Moldova and Bacău County. The rodents were caught using snap traps and live traps, which were placed in lines at a distance of 5-8 meters from each other. Results. In both areas 14 rodent species were registered: Spermophilus citellus, Apodemus sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, A.uralensis, A. agrarius, Mus musculus, M. spicilegus, Rattus norvegicus, Mycromys minutus, Cricetulus migratorius, Microtus arvalis, M. subterraneus, Clethrionomys glareolus and Dryomys nitedula. The diversity of rodent fauna was higher in Bacau cultivated lands 11 species in comparison to central Moldova agrocenoses 9 species. In crops from central Moldova the species S. citellus, R. norvegicus, M. minutus and M. subterraneus were not registered, while in Bacau crops the species A. uralensis, C. migratorius and D. nitedula werenrsquo;t recorded. In alfalfa crop the dominant species in both regions was the field vole, in wheat and corn A. sylvaticus was the dominant species in central Moldova and A. agrarius was dominant in Bacau County, due to more favorable humidity conditions. The European ground squirrel is a critically endangered species in the Republic of Moldova, while in Romania it is vulnerable, being rather spread in Bacau ...