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Ecology of the Edible Dormouse (Glis Glis) in a Western Edge Population in Southern Belgium H

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Ecology of the Edible Dormouse (Glis Glis) in a Western Edge Population in Southern Belgium H ECOLOGY OF THE EDIBLE DORMOUSE (GLIS GLIS) IN A WESTERN EDGE POPULATION IN SOUTHERN BELGIUM H. Hürner, J. Michaux To cite this version: H. Hürner, J. Michaux. ECOLOGY OF THE EDIBLE DORMOUSE (GLIS GLIS) IN A WESTERN EDGE POPULATION IN SOUTHERN BELGIUM. Vie et Milieu / Life & Environment, Observatoire Océanologique - Laboratoire Arago, 2009, pp.243-250. hal-03253731 HAL Id: hal-03253731 https://hal.sorbonne-universite.fr/hal-03253731 Submitted on 8 Jun 2021 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. VIE ET MILIEU - LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT, 2009, 59 (2): 243-250 ECOLOGY OF THE EDIBLE DORMOUSE (GLIS GLIS) IN A WESTERN EDGE POPULATION IN SOUTHERN BELGIUM H. HÜRNER 1, J. MICHAUX 1,2 1 Génétique des micro-organismes, Institut de Botanique, Boulevard du Rectorat 27, 4000 Liège, Belgium 2 UMR 1062 CBGP, Campus international de Baillarguet, CS30016, F-34988 Montferrier-sur-Lez cedex, France Corresponding author: [email protected] GLIS GLIS ABSTRACT. – Population dynamics, diet and spatial use of the edible dormouse Glis glis were POPULATION DYNAMICS NEST BOXES studied in a peripheral population in Belgium, on the western limit of its distribution area. The DIET main results showed that the proportion of occupied nest boxes varied between 2 and 44 %. The HOME RANGE dormice occupied nest boxes approximately between June and October. The densities of adults RADIO-TRACKING varied between 0.6 and 2.3/ha. Reproduction was observed in 2006 and 2007 but not in 2005. MOVEMENT EDGE OF DISTRIBUTION The results of the diet study revealed a basically herbivorous diet. Home range (MCP) of males varied from 0.68 to 1.23 ha and that of females from 0.37 to 0.71 ha. Marked individuals moved on average 252 m/night (range = 60-497 m/night). In general, these results are in accordance with those observed in other countries. Only few differences appeared and they concern mainly a smaller number of occupied nest boxes, a smaller density and a higher proportion of birds in the diet of the species. INTRODUCTION adaptation to a marginal environment. Although the edible dormouse is usually common in According to Lesica & Allendorf (1995), geographi- southern Europe, it is rare in many parts of this area, par- cally peripheral populations are more likely to be imper- ticularly in the north where it is of conservation concern illed than central populations. Presumably, the central (Krystufek 1999). In Belgium, edible dormouse popula- populations experience favorable, optimal environmental tions reach the western limit of their distribution where conditions, whereas at borders less suitable habitats are they are small and isolated, implying particular conserva- available, and populations are likely to experience more tion concern. However, there are neither data nor previous stressful conditions (Hoffmann & Blows 1994). In range- studies on this species in Belgium that could either con- edge populations of species, the scarcity of suitable habi- firm or refute a particular ecology of these peripheral tat may thus be reflected in small and isolated populations populations. This study will thus provide the first data on by increased inbreeding, genetic drift and reduced gene the population dynamics and ecology of the edible dor- flow implying lower genetic diversity (Lesica & Allen- mouse in Belgium. Such knowledge is of primary impor- dorf 1995). In the present work, we have studied a popu- tance in understanding the ecology of this rare species and lation of the edible dormouse living at the western limit of to develop conservation programs. the species’ geographical range in order to find out wheth- er these edible dormouse populations present a different ecology related to their geographical position, and how MATERIALS & METHODS this species could be adapted to this marginal environ- ment. Study area: The study focuses on data from two study areas The edible dormouse, Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766), is an (Torgny, 49°31’N - 5°28’E and Camus 49°31’N - 5°31’E) in arboreal and nocturnal inhabitant of deciduous and mixed Belgian Lorraine (southern part of Belgium). Both sites are situ- forests in central, eastern and southern Europe, in the ated at around 300 m a.s.l. on the warm south-facing slopes of Caucasus, and in the Near East in Turkey and northern the cuesta bajocienne (elongated hills with asymmetric slope). Iran (Krystufek 1999). Its hibernation behavior made it This region is characterized by a milder climate than in the rest sensitive to climate (Koppmann-Rumpf et al. 2003). Edi- of the country and presents soils on calcareous sandstone. Both ble dormice are selective feeders, which must concentrate sites are mainly under mixed broad leafed woodland consisting on the most nutritious food sources available according to mainly of oak (Quercus sp.), beech (Fagus sylvatica), hornbeam the season (Gigirey & Rey 1999, Holisova 1968, Nowa- (Carpinus betulus), maple (Acer sp.) and ash (Fraxinus excelsi- kowski & Godlewska 2006). Its specific trophic require- or). The undergrowth was usually rich and formed mainly by ments made it sensitive to habitat containing a high diver- Corylus avellana, Rubus sp., Crataegus sp., Cornus sanguinea, sity of suitable plant species in order to ensure continuity Viburnum lantana. of food supplies through the changing seasons. The spe- cies should therefore be a suitable model for studying its Population dynamics: In May 2005, wooden nest boxes 244 H. HÜRNER, J. MICHAUX Table I. – Summary statistics of the occurrence and sex-ratio of G. glis in nest boxes in Belgian Lorraine over three years. NB-number of nest boxes; NB*-number of nest boxes occupied by dormice; NB %-percentage of occupied nest boxes; NM-number of adult males; NF-number of adult females; NT-total number of adults (this number can be higher than the sum of adult males and females since some animals escaped before being sexed); NJ-number of juveniles. Nest boxes were not checked in October 2007. sex ratio Year Month NB NB* NB% NM NF NT NJ (M:F) 2005 June 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 July 85 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aug. 85 12 14.1 5 7 12 0 5:7 Sept. 85 2 2.3 1 1 2 0 1:1 2006 June 83 3 3.6 3 0 3 0 3:0 July 81 9 11.1 5 5 12 0 5:5 Aug. 81 16 19.7 4 10 9 35 4:10 Sept. 81 12 14.8 4 8 12 34 4:8 Oct. 55¹ 24 43.6 0 1 1 55 0:1 2007 June 81 2 2.5 2 0 2 0 2:0 July 81 8 9.9 5 3 8 0 5:3 Aug. 81 17 21.0 3 13 16 14 3:13 Sept. 81 24 29.6 4 16 20 26 4:16 ¹ Only Torgny was checked in October 2006 (30 x 15 x 15 cm with 33 mm entrance holes) were dispersed at 2005 and 2006. Together our results yielded 35 dormouse/nights average intervals of 50 m over an area of 8 ha in Camus and of data (3 males and 2 females) (Table II). Dormice were cap- 21 ha in Torgny. Average density of nest boxes per ha was 3.2 in tured in nest boxes. Each animal was weighed and sexed. Indi- Camus and 2.4 in Torgny. Their exact number is given in Table viduals were fitted with radio transmitters (from Biotrack, Ware- I. They were placed > 3 m above the ground, on suitable trees. ham, Dorset, England) that weighed on average 3.5g, which During three years (2005, 2006 and 2007), the nest boxes were represents less than 5 % of their body mass as recommended by checked every 2 weeks from May to September (and to October Cochran (1969). Dormice were released at the capture site with- in 2006). Dormice were sexed and weighed to the nearest gram. in 1 hour; during this time they were kept in glass boxes and The number of young in a nest box was taken to be the litter their behavior was observed to see if any problems appeared fol- size, provided all young were of a weight prior to dispersal lowing collar fitting. Every individual was radio-tracked using a (< 41 g) (Burgess et al. 2003). Body weight was used to identify TRX1000S receiver (Wildlife material Inc.), three-element Yagi independent juveniles and adults in the autumnal population. antenna and headphones. Collars were removed from the dor- mice after approximately one week of tracking. Diet: The whole amount of faeces found during a check of a Positions of marked individuals were calculated through the nest box was treated as a single sample. All droppings were col- triangulation method. Azimuths were recorded at < 5 min inter- lected inside or on top of nest boxes. 93 samples were thus col- vals at distances < 100 m from radio-collared individuals. These lected from around 85 nest boxes (in Torgny and Camus) in positions were used to calculate the individual’s position using years 2006 and 2007, every two weeks between June and Sep- L.O.A.S. 3.4 (Ecological Software Solutions, CA, USA) that tember. calculated error ellipse to 95 % confidence with a maximum The method used for faecal analysis followed Nowakowski likelihood estimator.
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