scholarly journals What Muscardinus avellanarius like but consultants don’t: performance of nest boxes vs. nest tubes for translocations (Rodentia: Gliridae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-48
Author(s):  
Johannes Lang ◽  
Ines Leonhardt ◽  
Sarah Beer ◽  
Nicolle Bräsel ◽  
Johann D. Lanz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research And Development ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Muscardinus Avellanarius

Abstract Nest boxes and nest tubes are widely used for surveys, for both research and development purposes, to detect and survey hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius). In order to compare the performance of the two devices for translocations a study was conducted where hazel dormice had the choice between nest boxes and nest tubes. Hazel dormice preferred nest tubes over nest boxes but escaped more often from nest tubes than from nest boxes during checking. We conclude that nest boxes are the better choice for translocations as they offer the better escape ratio over nest tubes.

scholarly journals Assessing the occupation of nest boxes by dormice (Gliridae) in the Carpathian forests

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Izabela Fedyń ◽  
Ewa Pierzchała ◽  
Katarzyna Nowak ◽  
Joanna Wąs ◽  
Adela Malak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Forest Stand ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Active Protection ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Fruiting Plant ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Muscardinus Avellanarius

Abstract Nest boxes for dormice (Gliridae) can significantly increase the habitat’s carrying capacity for these species in areas under high anthropopressure and facilitate the long-term monitoring of populations. As part of the active protection of dormice in the Carpathian Landscape Parks in Małopolska, in August and September 2019, 575 boxes of two different sizes were checked for the presence of adults, young or nests. Additionally, habitat conditions within a 25 m radius were recorded (e.g. forest stand, estimated understory cover, the approximate number of natural shelters, fruiting plant species). The vast majority of all nest boxes – 79% – were used by dormice, but also birds and insects frequently occupied these shelters. Out of four species of dormice that occur in Poland, two were recorded in the study area: hazel dormice Muscardinus avellanarius and fat dormice Gli sglis. They were found in all surveyed landscape parks and inhabited mainly fir stands. Hazel dormice preferred smaller nest boxes and were generally more common than fat dormice, which preferred large boxes. On the other hand, fat dormice were more common in areas rich in fruiting plant species. Our research thus confirmed the usefulness of artificial shelters for dormouse in active protection.

scholarly journals How big is best? Various nest box sizes and their acceptance by Muscardinus avellanarius (Rodentia: Gliridae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-42
Author(s):  
Carina Heberer ◽  
Bettina Koppmann-Rumpf ◽  
Karl-Heinz Schmidt
Keyword(s):  
Wood Mouse ◽  
Internal Space ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Entrance Hole ◽  
Pass Through ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Hazel Dormouse ◽  
Muscardinus Avellanarius

Abstract The hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) can be found in nest boxes intended for birds and dormice throughout its distributional range. To minimize competition with other potential nest box inhabitants such as the edible dormouse (Glis glis) and hole-nesting passerines like the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), we successfully tested nest boxes with a 21 mm entrance hole in previous studies. The only competing species still able to pass through the entrance hole were the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and possibly the yellow-necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). To further optimize the nest boxes we tested whether their internal space might be important for selection by the hazel dormouse. Starting in 2015, we set up groups of four wooden nest boxes varying in base area (50×50 mm, 60×60 mm, 70×70 mm and 80×80 mm, respectively) with 21 mm entrance holes. The nest boxes were placed in an identical array at 15 stations spaced at intervals of 30 m along a hedgerow. By doing regular nest box checks and documenting all species found we investigated which nest box types were used most often by the hazel dormouse in order to detect possible preferences. So far, the data show a more intensive use of the nest boxes that provided the largest internal space, i.e. 80×80 mm.

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