IVth International Conference on Dormice (Rodentia, Gliridae)

HABITAT PREFERENCE OF DORMOUSE SPECIES IN NASZÁLY REGION OF HUNGARY

Bakó, B. & Gál, I.

Gödöllõ Univ. of Agric. Sci., Dept of Zoology and Ecology, H - 2103 Gödöllõ, Páter K. u. 1. Hungary, e- mail: bakobo@rkt.gau.hu

Investigations on habitat preference of dormouse species occuring in Hungary (Muscardinus avellanarius, Myoxus glis, Dryomys nitedula) has been carried out on Naszaly hill (Vác, Hungary), where ecological requirements of all three species are provided.

The aims of investigations carried out by the authors were as follows:

- define natural habitat requirements of dormouse species

- investigate to what extent dormice adapt to historically new types of vegetation

- emphasize possible differences between types of vegetation preferred by each species

- define characteristics of preferred vegetation types (plant species, density etc)

Biotopes required by Muscardinus avellanarius:

Vegetation: calciphilous oak forest (Orno-Quercetum pannonicum) and its edge, hornbeam-oak forest (Querco petraeae-Carpinetum pannonicum) and its edge, willow grove along streams (Salicetum albae-fragilis), thick shrubby vegetation, fruit orchard, black pine plantation and its edge

Preferred characteristics:

- diverse, dense shrubby layer, producing berries

- even small patches (6 m in diameter)

- even dead trees if neighbouring living ones

Not preferred characheristics:

- dead trees inside forests

Biotopes required by Myoxus glis:

Vegetation: calciphilous oak forest (Orno-Quercetum pannonicum) and its edge, hornbeam-oak forest (Querco petraeae-Carpinetum pannonicum) and its edge, beech forest (Melitti - Fagetum), thick shrubby vegetation, fruit orchard, black pine plantation and its edge

Preferred characteristics:

- extended patches of shrubs or trees, or small patch neighbouring an extended one

- both dead and living trees

Not preferred characheristics:

- dead trees inside forests

- pine plantations

- solitary tree in small patch

Biotopes required by Dryomys nitedula:

Vegetation: calciphilous oak forest (Orno-Quercetum pannonicum) and its edge, thick hrubby vegetation, fruit orchard, black pine plantation and its edge

Preferred characteristics:

- extended patches of shrubs or trees

- dead shrub in edge of pine plantation

- thick shrubby layer

- certain plant species (Cornus mas, C. sanguinea, Prunus spp.)

Not preferred characheristics:

- solitary tree or small patch or hedge

- dead trees inside forests

- living shrubs in edge of pine plantation

- certain plant species (Ligustrum vulgare, Viburnum lantana)

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