Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review

Dormice are widely distributed through Eurasia and Africa, but their abundance varies considerably. In many regions, dormice are rare, and their role in ecosystems is considered to be unimportant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diet of predators in the Palae...

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Published in:ARPHA Conference Abstracts
Main Author: Juškaitis, Rimvydas
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: Pensoft Publishers 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403
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record_format openpolar
spelling ftzenodo:oai:zenodo.org:6465727 2024-09-15T18:41:47+00:00 Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review Juškaitis, Rimvydas 2022-04-15 https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403 unknown Pensoft Publishers https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403 oai:zenodo.org:6465727 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode ARPHA Conference Abstracts, 5, e82403, (2022-04-15) diet dormice mammalian predators owls predation info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2022 ftzenodo https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403 2024-07-26T00:11:02Z Dormice are widely distributed through Eurasia and Africa, but their abundance varies considerably. In many regions, dormice are rare, and their role in ecosystems is considered to be unimportant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diet of predators in the Palaearctic (excluding Japan). A total of 540 sources, containing information on dormice in the diet of predators was analysed. Countries of Southern and Central Europe had the largest numbers of target sources. Dormice were recorded in the diet of 57 predator species: 21 mammals, 13 owls, 18 diurnal birds and 5 reptiles. Owls hunting in the forests, particularly the Tawny Owl ( Strix aluco) , are the main dormouse predators. The highest proportion of dormice in the diet of predators was recorded in the Mediterranean region, where Edible Dormice ( Glis glis) are abundant and some other dormouse species are sympatric. In particular periods, dormice may be an alternative prey for predators such as Tawny Owl and even Lynx ( Lynx lynx) . It was supposed previously that predation was an important cause of high winter mortality in dormice, but analysis of publications showed that dormice were rather seldom recorded in the winter diet of predators. Thus, the exact impact of predators on winter mortality of dormice remains unclear. The role of dormice in the diet of predators depends on dormouse abundance. In areas where dormice are rare, it is trivial. However, predators catching even individual females, may have a significant impact on dormouse reproductive success. Article in Journal/Newspaper Lynx Lynx lynx lynx Zenodo ARPHA Conference Abstracts 5
institution Open Polar
collection Zenodo
op_collection_id ftzenodo
language unknown
topic diet
dormice
mammalian predators
owls
predation
spellingShingle diet
dormice
mammalian predators
owls
predation
Juškaitis, Rimvydas
Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
topic_facet diet
dormice
mammalian predators
owls
predation
description Dormice are widely distributed through Eurasia and Africa, but their abundance varies considerably. In many regions, dormice are rare, and their role in ecosystems is considered to be unimportant. The aim of this study was to evaluate the significance of dormice in the diet of predators in the Palaearctic (excluding Japan). A total of 540 sources, containing information on dormice in the diet of predators was analysed. Countries of Southern and Central Europe had the largest numbers of target sources. Dormice were recorded in the diet of 57 predator species: 21 mammals, 13 owls, 18 diurnal birds and 5 reptiles. Owls hunting in the forests, particularly the Tawny Owl ( Strix aluco) , are the main dormouse predators. The highest proportion of dormice in the diet of predators was recorded in the Mediterranean region, where Edible Dormice ( Glis glis) are abundant and some other dormouse species are sympatric. In particular periods, dormice may be an alternative prey for predators such as Tawny Owl and even Lynx ( Lynx lynx) . It was supposed previously that predation was an important cause of high winter mortality in dormice, but analysis of publications showed that dormice were rather seldom recorded in the winter diet of predators. Thus, the exact impact of predators on winter mortality of dormice remains unclear. The role of dormice in the diet of predators depends on dormouse abundance. In areas where dormice are rare, it is trivial. However, predators catching even individual females, may have a significant impact on dormouse reproductive success.
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
author Juškaitis, Rimvydas
author_facet Juškaitis, Rimvydas
author_sort Juškaitis, Rimvydas
title Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
title_short Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
title_full Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
title_fullStr Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
title_full_unstemmed Dormice (Gliridae) in the diet of predators in Eurasia: a review
title_sort dormice (gliridae) in the diet of predators in eurasia: a review
publisher Pensoft Publishers
publishDate 2022
url https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403
genre Lynx
Lynx lynx lynx
genre_facet Lynx
Lynx lynx lynx
op_source ARPHA Conference Abstracts, 5, e82403, (2022-04-15)
op_relation https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403
oai:zenodo.org:6465727
op_rights info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode
op_doi https://doi.org/10.3897/aca.5.e82403
container_title ARPHA Conference Abstracts
container_volume 5
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