Garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) nest site selection in an alpine habitat

Abstract

Habitat selection by the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) for nesting sites was studied by means of radiotracking. Fifteen out of 16 nests recorded were located underground, in cavities between rocks and in rocky crevices. In six cases, 2–3 animals used the same nest. In one case two females were recorded nesting together, but we could not determine if this was a case of communal nursing. Overall, nest sites had more (> 60%) rock cover, overstory tree dispersion, and deeper soil-litter, but fewer tree stumps compared with random points. Nesting in rocky crevices may decrease the energy necessary for nest construction and the cost of thermoregulation thereby reducing thermal stress. Periodical switching from one nest to another decreases the risk of ectoparasite accumulation and predator attraction due to scent accumulation. Garden dormice seem to actively select habitat features of suitable nesting sites, preferably using cavities between rocks inside the forest. This behaviour differs from other European glirids.