Small mammal communities in newly planted biocorridors and their surroundings in southern Moravia (Czech Republic)

Published source details Bryja J. & Zukal J. (2000) Small mammal communities in newly planted biocorridors and their surroundings in southern Moravia (Czech Republic). Folia Zoologica, 49, 191-197.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Connect areas of natural or semi-natural habitat Action Link
	Create or maintain corridors between habitat patches Action Link

Connect areas of natural or semi-natural habitat

A small replicated study from 1992 to 1996 in an arable area in the Czech Republic (Bryja & Zukal 2000) found that from the third year after planting, two bio-corridors (10 m-wide, planted with trees and shrubs) had more small mammal species and individuals than two adjacent fields or a forest. The bio-corridors had eight small mammal species (supporting both field and forest species) and 128-143 captures compared to five species and 47-68 captures in fields (maize and wheat) and 66 captures in the forest. The mammal community in the forest differed from that of the bio-corridors and fields, where wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus and common vole Microtus arvalis tended to dominate. During the autumn (from 1994), the wood mouse population peaked in bio-corridors, but few were caught in (bare) fields. The two bio-corridors were planted in 1991, one extended perpendicular to a forested area into an arable field and the second extended from the end of the first bio-corridor further into the crop. They were fenced and ploughed in the first years after planting to allow short-lived weeds to grow in the herb layer. Fifty snap traps were set in a 150 m line in each habitat and left for three nights twice in spring and autumn from 1992 to 1996 and in summer 1994.
Create or maintain corridors between habitat patches

A site comparison study in 1992–1996 in an agricultural landscape in Moravia, Czech Republic (Bryja & Zukal 2000) found that corridors created between habitat patches were used by eight small mammal species. Eight small mammal species were recorded in the corridor, five of which were also present in a nearby native woodland. In 1991, native trees and shrubs were planted in agricultural fields to create a 10-m-wide corridor. To survey small mammal populations in the corridor, 100 snap-traps were placed at 3-m intervals, and 50 snap-traps were placed in a nearby forest. Each trap was baited with a wick soaked in fat and left for three nights. Traps were set twice each year, in spring and autumn, in 1992–1996, apart from in 1994, when sampling was also carried out in summer.

(Summarised by: Phil Martin)