J. For. Sci., 2007, 53(7):340-344 | DOI: 10.17221/2076-JFS

Contribution to the knowledge of Clethrionomys glareolus populations in forests of managed landscape in Southern Moravia (Czech Republic)

J. Suchomel

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, Brno, Czech Republic

In intensively managed landscape, the dynamics of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus, Cg) populations was studied in three types of forest complexes which differed in food supply. The first type was an old semi-natural forest with dominance of oak (HL), the second was a production broad-leaved forest with dominant oak and black locust (HA), and the third was a pheasantry with a variable mixture of forest stands of various woody species and age with a permanent supply of food for pheasants and roe deer (RB). The population fluctuations in four years of research were influenced by the seed year (2003, oak mast harvest), so higher population densities remained for the next two years. The influence of mast crop on the weight of individuals was statistically significant (α = 0.05, P = 0.0484). Probable niche vacation (Apodemus flavicollis, Af densities lowered) was the reason for another high abundance year (2005). There were no significant differences in abundance between the localities as the Cg population was influenced comparably by the seed crop. There was only a tendency to prefer the most variable biotope in RB. There was a strong impact on the forest regeneration in tree plantings during the winter 2004/2005. The importance of abundance prediction by abundance monitoring was stressed as needed for impact prevention.

Keywords: bank vole; forests in managed landscape; population dynamic; food supply

Published: July 31, 2007  Show citation