Small mammal communities in the fragmented landscape in Lithuania

• Main Authors: Šinkūnas, Rimvydas, Balčiauskas, Linas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Lithuanian; English
• Published: 2006
• Subjects: Forest fragments; Small mammals; Abandoned field; Common vole; Microtus arvalis
• Online Access: http://lmavb.lvb.lt/LMAVB:ELABAPDB5626632&prefLang=en_US

Species composition and abundance of small mammals, as well as changes in small mammal communities after the abandonment of agriculture fields, were studied in forest fragments and the surrounding field matrix. The most common species in the forest fragments was the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), in the fields - the common vole (Microtus arvalis). C. glareolus and the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) had the highest frequency of occurrence, both recorded in 82% of the investigated forest fragments. Other species were less common. The relative abundance of small mammals did not differ in the surrounding field matrix and the forest fragments irrespective oftheir size. In small forest fragments, species composition of small mammals was not stable. After the abandonment of the surrounding field, the diversity ofa small mammal community in the forest fragments decreased. Our study suggests that C. glareolus was the only small mammal species in the forest fragments that positively responded to matrix changes from the start ofthe forest regrowth in the former agricultural field during the first years of succession.