Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of high nestbox density on the common dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius population

  • Published:
Acta Theriologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The response of common dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius Linnaeus, 1758 population to availability of nest sites was studied by manipulating the nestbox grid and ring-marking dormice. Abundance of adult dormice more than doubled in the 25 × 25 m nestbox grid in comparison to the 50 × 50 m grid, as a result of increased nestbox density from four to 16 boxes/ha. This effect already became apparent in the first year after additional nestboxes were made available and resulted from dormouse immigration, mostly from adjacent areas without nestboxes. In the second and third years, the number of two-year-old and older resident dormice, which had their home ranges in this plot, increased considerably. The average size of dormouse home range decreased by approximately half both in males and females in the 25 × 25 m grid compared to the 50 × 50 m grid. The proportion of breeding adult females did not differ between the two grids in spite of different adult dormouse density. Shortage of secure nest sites was a limiting factor for the common dormouse population abundance in the forest where natural tree hollows were absent, and high nestbox density increased environmental carrying capacity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Berg L. 1997. Spatial distribution and habitat selection of the hazel dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius in Sweden. Licentiate dissertation, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala: 1–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berg L. and Berg A. 1998. Nest site selection by the dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius in two different landscapes. Annales Zoologici Fennici 35: 115–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brady M. J., Risch T. S. and Dobson F. S. 2000. Availability of nest sites does not limit population size of southern flying squirels. Canadian Journal of Zoology 78: 1144–1149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright P. W. and Morris P. A. 1990. Habitat requirements of dormiceMuscardinus avellanarius in relation to woodland management in Southwest England. Biological Conservation 54: 307–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright P. W. and Morris P. A. 1991. Ranging and nesting behaviour of the dormouse,Muscardinus avellanarius, in diverse low-growing woodland. Journal of Zoology, London 224: 177–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright P. W. and Morris P. A. 1992. Ranging and nesting behavior of the dormouse,Muscardinus avellanarius, in coppice-with-standards woodland. Journal of Zoology, London 226: 589–600.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bright P. W. and Morris P. A. 1996. Why are Dormice rare? A case study in conservation biology. Mammal Review 26: 157–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Büchner S., Stubbe M. and Striese D. 2003. Breeding and biological data for the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) in eastern Saxony (Germany). Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae 49 (Suppl. 1): 19–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flowerdew J. R. 1976. Ecological methods. Mammal Review 6: 123–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foppen R., Verheggen L. and Boonman M. 2002. Biology, status and conservation of the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) in the Netherlands. Lutra 45: 147–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurrell E. and MacIntosh G. 1984. Mammal Society dormouse survey, January 1975 — April 1979. Mammal Review 14: 1–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 1997a. Ranging and movement of the common dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius in Lithuania. Acta Theriologica 42: 113–122.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 1997b. Use of nestboxes by the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) in Lithuania. Natura Croatica 6: 177–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 2001. Weight changes of the common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) during the year in Lithuania. Trakya University Journal of Scientific Research, series B, 2: 79–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 2003a. Abundance dynamics and reproduction success in the common dormouse,Muscardinus avellanarius, populations in Lithuania. Folia Zoologica 52: 239–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 2003b. Breeding by young-of-the-year females in common dormouse,Muscardinus avellanarius, populations in Lithuania. Annales Zoologici Fennici 40: 529–535.

    Google Scholar 

  • Juškaitis R. 2003c. Late breeding in two common dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius populations. Mammalian Biology 68: 244–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laar V. van 1979. Summer nests of the hazel dormouse in north-eastern France. Acta Theriologica 24: 517–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Likhachev G. N. 1967a. [Occupation of nestboxes by the common dormouse]. [In: Ecology of mammals and birds. K. V. Arnoldi, ed]. Nauka, Moscow: 67–79. [In Russian]

    Google Scholar 

  • Likhachev G. N. 1967b. [Territorial distribution of the common dormouse]. [In: Ecology of mammals and birds. K. V. Arnoldi, ed]. Nauka, Moscow: 79–90. [In Russian]

    Google Scholar 

  • Manville R. H. 1949. A study of small mammal populations in Northern Michigan. Miscellaneous publications Museum of Zoology University of Michigan 73: 1–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris P. A., Bright P. W. and Woods D. 1990. Use of nestboxes by the dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius. Biological Conservation 51: 1–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pielowski Z. and Wasilewski A. 1960. Haselmäuse in Vogelnistkästen. Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde 25: 74–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samuel M. D. and Fuller M. R. 1994. Wildlife radiotelemetry. [In: Research and management techniques for wildlife and habitats. T. A. Bookhout, ed]. The Wildlife Society Bethesda, Maryland: 370–418.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sara M., Casamento G. and Spinato A. 2001. Density and breeding ofMuscardinus avellanarius L. 1758 in woodlands of Sicily. Trakya University Journal of Scientific Research, series B, 2: 85–93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schulze W. 1986. Zum Vorkommen und zur Biologie von Haselmaus (Muscardinus avellanarius L.) und Siebenschläfer (Glis glis L.) in Vogelkästen im Südharz der DDR. Säugetierkundliche Informationen 2: 341–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorace A., Bellavita M. and Amori G. 1999. Seasonal differences in nest-boxes occupation by the dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius L. (Rodentia, Myoxidae) in two areas of Central Italy. Ecologia Mediterranea 25: 125–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wachtendorf W. 1951. Beiträge zur Ökologie und Biology der Haselmaus (Muscardinus avellanarius) im Alpenvorland. Zoologisches Jahrbuch, Abteilung Systematik 80: 189–204.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Vilnius University, Akademijos 2, LT-08412, Vilnius-21, Lithuania

    Rimvydas Juškaitis

Authors
  1. Rimvydas Juškaitis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Associate Editor was Krzysztof Schmidt.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Juškaitis, R. The influence of high nestbox density on the common dormouseMuscardinus avellanarius population. Acta Theriol 50, 43–50 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03192617

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03192617

Key words

Search

Navigation