Abstract
In fragmented forest landscapes, population persistence of arboreal species with limited dispersal ability may strongly depend on the quality of the remaining forest habitat. Using the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) as a model species, we studied habitat selection at two spatial scales (home range and within home range) in intensely managed woodlands at its northern distributional range in Denmark. We modelled selection at home range level as the conditional probability of occupancy of 588 nest boxes and nest tubes in 15 managed forests relative to habitat variables measured within 25 m radius. Habitat selection within home ranges was modelled by comparing habitat variables within 3 m radius of triangulated locations by 19 radio-tracked individuals (12 M, 7 F) when active at night with regularly distributed available locations within their home ranges. At both spatial scales, hazel dormice strongly selected sites with high abundance-weighted species richness and high vegetation density of woody plants. On home range level, they furthermore selected for young tree vegetation, while they within home ranges selected for intermediate aged tree stands (maximum trunk circumference: 1.50 m). The predicted probability of presence in nest boxes or nest tubes varied from less than 1% to more than 99% as a combined function of three habitat variables. From May to October, selection for abundance-weighted species richness of woody plants of radio-tagged individuals decreased with date and body weight, suggesting that a diverse food base is particularly important early in their season of activity and for lean and small (growing) individuals. Selection for dense vegetation increased with body mass and mean available vegetation density within home ranges, indicating behavioural variability related to changes in energy expenditure and need for safety among individuals. The study demonstrates that the hazel dormouse has specific habitat requirements related to food and safety that can be accommodated with relatively simple means in managed forests.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Artikelnummer | 120348 |
| Tidsskrift | Forest Ecology and Management |
| Vol/bind | 519 |
| Antal sider | 11 |
| ISSN | 0378-1127 |
| DOI | |
| Status | Udgivet - 1. sep. 2022 |
Bibliografisk note
Funding Information:This project originally constituted RMM's MSc project at Aarhus University. We thank the landowners for letting us examine hazel dormice presence and assess the habitats in their forests. Furthermore, we thank the Bikuben Foundation for letting us use their area for the radio telemetry. Thanks to Mads Kristian Warming, and the staff of Naturama for assisting with the radio telemetry, as well as to Peter Leth (the Danish Nature Agency) and Peter Mæhl (Ramboll) for letting us use their nest tubes from the national monitoring program in our analyses. Thanks to Ruth Morrison Svensson for reviewing the language of our paper. The project was financially supported by the Danish Nature Agency (Project title: “Forvaltning af hasselmus”). The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from doi.org/10.23642/usn.19425311.
Funding Information:
This project originally constituted RMM’s MSc project at Aarhus University. We thank the landowners for letting us examine hazel dormice presence and assess the habitats in their forests. Furthermore, we thank the Bikuben Foundation for letting us use their area for the radio telemetry. Thanks to Mads Kristian Warming, and the staff of Naturama for assisting with the radio telemetry, as well as to Peter Leth (the Danish Nature Agency) and Peter Mæhl (Ramboll) for letting us use their nest tubes from the national monitoring program in our analyses. Thanks to Ruth Morrison Svensson for reviewing the language of our paper. The project was financially supported by the Danish Nature Agency (Project title: “Forvaltning af hasselmus”).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Author(s)