A pheasantry as the habitat of small terrestrial mammals (Rodentia, Insectivora) in southern Moravia (Czech Republic)

Abstract

Communities of small terrestrial mammals were studied in the specific environment of two pheasantries in southern Moravia with different intensity of pheasant management and different diversity of biotopes (RB − intensive pheasantry, HJ − extensive pheasantry). In total, ten species from the order Rodentia and Insectivora were found there in 2002−2005. The rodents <i>Apodemus flavicollis</i>, <i>A. sylvaticus</i> and <i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i> dominated in these habitats. On the other hand, the populations of insectivores were very low, <i>Crocidura leucodon</i> and <i>C. suaveolens</i> being interesting species. RB with the higher variety of biotopes showed significantly higher diversity (<i>P</i> < 0.05) of small mammals (<i>H</i>′ = 1.284, ten species determined) than HJ (<i>H</i>′ = 1.112, five species determined). The higher intensity of management (the amount of chickens released per unit area and the amount of served food) in RB compared to HJ was not reflected in the relative abundance of the community of small terrestrial mammals (<i>rA</i> in RB = 11.82, in HJ = 11.85) nor in their evenness (<i>E</i>). The probability of difference was <i>P</i> > 0.05. A difference in the diversity of compared communities was conditioned by different diversity of biotopes.