The Ecology of Small Mammals in Urban Habitats. I. Populations in a Patchy Environment

Abstract

SUMMARY (1) Populations of four species of small mammals, Apodemus sylvaticus, Clethrionomys glareolus, Microtus agrestis and Sorex araneus, were censused using live traps and hair sampling tubes in fifty discrete patches of habitat within the City of Oxford. (2) Habitats were classified as woodland, scrub, orchard, long grass, short grass, allotment, detached, and semi-detached house garden using ordination methods and subjective criteria. (3) Apodemus sylvaticus occurred in all habitats and in 84% of patches, and reached maximum densities (c. 70-80 ha-1) in scrub. (4) Clethrionomys glareolus occurred in all habitats except allotment, and achieved maximum abundance (< 30 ha-') in woodland. (5) Microtus agrestis and Sorex araneus were largely absent from cultivated gardens, allotments and short grass, and were most abundant (c. 50-66 ha-~) in long grass and scrub.