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The National Yellow-Necked Mouse Survey The Mammal Society Research Report No. 2 The National Yellow-Necked Mouse Survey Aidan Marsh March 1999 © The Mammal Society The Mammal Society Research report No. 2 ISBN: 0 906282 57 8 Published in March 1999 by The Mammal Society The Mammal Society Registered Charity No. 278918 Registered Office: 2B Inworth Street London SW11 3EP The National Yellow-Necked Mouse Survey Survey Objectives Executive Summary 1. To collect and review all available data on The yellow-necked mouse was found to be the distribution of the yellow-necked mouse widespread within suitable woodland inside its in Britain. natural range (occupying 71% of these sites). 2. To establish a network of experienced small The survey results lend support to the broad mammal trapping volunteers to conduct outline of the current distribution map. extensive woodland surveying for an However, they do suggest minor additions to its exploratory study. range as well as highlighting the absence of records from Cornwall and Cheshire, despite 3. To establish a workable woodland small extensive surveying. mammal survey technique by which the Where found alongside the wood mouse, the relative abundance of populations could be yellow-necked mouse was the more abundant measured quickly and simply. rodent on 15% of occasions, far more often than previously thought. However, there may be 4. To select, measure and evaluate specific considerable inter-annual variation and this woodland habitat and landscape variables study provides only a snap shot of the situation. that may affect the relative abundance of yellow-necked mice. Yellow-necked mice were found in woodland of all ages but were more abundant in woods of 5. To assess the current status of the yellow- ancient origin, confirming that such woods may necked mouse in Britain and reassess offer the best habitat for this species. perceptions in order to stimulate focused future research. Woodland size was not an important factor. However, the degree of isolation from large 6. To compare and evaluate the updated neighbouring woods was important. Isolation distribution map for the yellow-necked distances over 2000m lead to a decreased mouse with climatic data and other factors chance of finding yellow-necked mice. that may influence the national range of this species. There was some evidence to show that the presence of yellow-necked mice correlates with 7. To use these data to suggest any appropriate a reduction in the proportion of breeding male woodland management practices that may wood mice. This suggests the possibility of benefit the conservation of the yellow- interspecific male-male interactions. The presence of yellow-necked mice at a site did not have any apparent affect on the relative Points (2)–(5) will be addressed in this abundance of either wood mice or bank voles. report. These relate specifically to the results from the live trapping survey Using a logistic regression model based on conducted in the latter part of 1998. management level and the ivy cover on trees, 73% of woods could be correctly classified as Points (1), (6) & (7), including data present or absent for yellow-necked-mice. from the “A Mouse in Your House?” questionnaire, will be addressed in the Contrary to expectations, woods with higher next phase of the analysis. levels of management were associated with the presence of this species, as were woods with A full and final analysis of all the above less tree ivy cover. Tree ivy coverage is climate objectives will be published in Mammal regulated and this may have a bearing on the Review in due course. result. necked mouse. © Aidan Marsh / The Mammal Society March 1999 1 The National Yellow-Necked Mouse Survey General Introduction The yellow-necked mouse in Europe In much of Europe the yellow-necked mouse is The distribution and status of the yellow- one of the commonest woodland rodents. necked mouse in Britain Unlike the situation in Britain, it is often The yellow-necked mouse ( Apodemus numerically dominant where it occurs alongside flavicollis ) is a close relative of the wood mouse the wood mouse or the striped field mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus ), one of the most (Apodemus agrarius ). Despite the extensive common and widespread species in Britain. research conducted on the yellow-necked mouse 7,8,9 10,11,12,13 14 16 While the wood mouse has been recorded in in Poland , Sweden , Germany , Italy 17,18 almost every corner of these islands, the yellow- and Spain care must be taken when necked mouse has a noticeably restricted range. attempting to extrapolate results in Britain. The Recent distribution maps suggest that this differences in rodent fauna, habitat and rural species if found predominantly in the south- landscapes between the British Isles and east, south and west of England and in central continental Europe mean that European and eastern Wales: it is noticeably absent from research is no substitute for research into the southern Midlands, around Oxford and from British populations. A species at the edge of its the north and far south-west 1. geographical range is often subject to different ecological and evolutionary pressures. Reasons for this unusual distribution have The comparative ecology of the yellow- remained something of a mystery, as has the necked mouse and wood mouse status of this species. The yellow-necked mouse is seldom seen and relatively little recording is Localised studies suggest that the yellow- carried out for small mammals. As a result the necked mouse tends to be associated with status of this species is often the subject of mature deciduous woodland 19,20,21 and with speculation. Several authors have suggested that woodland areas displaying a wide diversity of the numbers and/or range of the yellow-necked seed bearing tree species 22. A good correlation mouse may have declined and that monitoring exists between the current distribution of and research is needed to evaluate the current deciduous woodland and yellow-necked mice 23 . status of this species 2,3,4 . This project was Rackham’s 24 historical study highlighted the designed to test potential monitoring southerly distribution of Domesday woodland th techniques. and 19 century coppice, which also closely correlates with the present range of the yellow- necked mouse 23 . As a result, this species has The history of the yellow-necked mouse in been described as an ancient woodland species, Britain in much the same way as the dormouse 25 , The yellow-necked mouse is native to Britain, although the evidence to support this is weak. In having probably become established in coppiced woodland the yellow-necked mouse is Mesolithic or early Neolithic times. At this the only rodent to prefer older, more established time, it may have been the common woodland compartments and it is seldom recorded in 26,16 mouse, possibly excluding the wood mouse recent coppice . There is still very little from this habitat 5. Certainly, in these former research into the effects of different woodland times the range of the yellow-necked mouse management practices on yellow-necked mouse appears to have been slightly wider, as populations. suggested by archaeological remains from Dowel cave, Derbyshire, Roman Manchester 6 As well as the woodland habitat itself, the and elsewhere 5. Records from the late surrounding landscape, including land use, nineteenth and twentieth centuries also indicate distances to neighbouring woodlands, and that the current distribution of the yellow- connectivity between woodlands, may also 27,28,29,30 necked mouse may be more restricted than it affect Apodemus . The yellow-necked was in quite recent times. mouse can be vulnerable to habitat fragmentation 31 and its perceived habitat specificity may contribute to this 32 . However, there is very little evidence on which to judge the degree of woodland isolation that might © Aidan Marsh / The Mammal Society March 1999 2 The National Yellow-Necked Mouse Survey affect yellow-necked mouse populations. Both Site selection and survey timing species of Apodemus are known to be able to The survey period was from 1 September 1998 travel over 1000 m in short periods 20,33,34 . to 30 November 1998, a 3-month window chosen to coincide with the period of peak small It is argued that some form of niche separation mammal abundance. Two surveys conducted must occur between yellow-necked mice and just outside these dates were also included. wood mice in order to avoid direct competition Surveyors were asked to select their own survey and allow these two species to live in the same sites, providing they chose predominantly woods.. One common suggestion is that yellow- deciduous woodland >2ha in size. Very small necked mice may spend more time arboreally woodlots, coniferous woodland and other types than wood mice 35,36 .. Both species of Apodemus of habitat were excluded as these were are proficient climbers 37 and both species are considered, a priori , to be marginal habitats and commonly recorded in tree based nest therefore of lesser importance than deciduous boxes 38,39,40 . A yellow-necked mouse has been woodland. Sites were not pre-selected for recorded in the canopy in Poland at a height of volunteers as this would have reduced 23m 41 . involvement, sample size and geographical coverage. In total, around 350 volunteers were involved, often working in pairs or groups. Methods Longworth trapping protocol Survey participants All surveyors used 40 Longworth live-capture traps for the survey, which was carried out over Methods Summary two consecutive nights. Two trap lines were laid in each woodland, each one consisting of • Survey period between 1 September and 30 ten pairs of traps placed at approximately 15m November 1998. intervals. Transect lines were laid at least 50m from the edge of the woodland and at least • Deciduous woodland sites >2ha selected by 100m from each other.
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