IVth International Conference on Dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae)13 - 16 September 1999 EDÝRNE - TURKEY |
ESTIMATES OF THE NUMBER AND DENSITY OF DRYOMYS NITEDULA POPULATION IN THE BIALOWIEZA FOREST (EASTERN POLAND)
Nowakowski, W. K. * & Boratynski, P.**
*Agricultural & Pedagogic Univ., Inst. of Biology, Prusa 12, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland, e-mail:sikorka@supermedia.pl
**Institute of Ecology PAS, Konopnickiej 1, 05-092 Tomianki, Poland; e-mail: ekolog@warman.com.pl
In the paper we present the results of the investigations conducted in the Bialowieza Forest in years 1993-1999, in the study plot of the area 83 ha. We also used the estimates of the territories' size by different authors.
The capacity of habitats used by the Forest Dormouse would allow to expect maximally 130 000 individuals in Polish part of the Biaowie a Forest (area ca 58 000 ha). However, in fact probably not more than 33 000 animals live in this area, with the density from 0.25 to 3 individuals per hectare. We could attempt to give a more narrow range - from 410 000 to 20 000 individuals, with a density between 0.67 and 1.25 individual per hectare.
It should be born in mind that the estimations depend upon accepted assumptions. Despite the fact that the results are only an approximation, they cannot be extrapolated to a Byelorussian part of the Bialowieza a Forest because of a different type of management.