Seasonal differences in the uitilisation of agricultural habitats by small rodents.

Webb, L; Velander, Kathy

Abstract

The population and community structure of small rodents on arable and set-aside habitats was stided in winter and summer in order to determine seasonal patterns of habitat use.An area of 0.3 ha on each study site was live trapped during each sample session and the Fisher-Ford method applied to estimate population densities. Overall, species richness increased from two in the winter trapping sessions to four in the summer. Wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus L., were found on all study areas; whereas bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus Schr., and field voles, Microtus agrestis L., were mainly restricted to the established set-aside. This study lends itself to the conservation management of small mammal species within agricultural ecosystems. Maintaining areas of long grass along field margins or as part of longer rotation set-aside may benefit the survival of vole species.

Citation

Webb, L., & Velander, K. (2000). Seasonal differences in the uitilisation of agricultural habitats by small rodents. Naturalist, 125, 99-109

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: 2000
• Deposit Date: Jun 4, 2009
• Print ISSN: 1013-6444
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 125
• Pages: 99-109
• Keywords: Agricultural habitats; Utilisation; Wood mice; Voles; Seasonal studies; Conservation methods
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/2636