Abstract
The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a vulnerable species, whose populations are declining throughout its entire range in Central and South-Eastern Europe. To a great extent, its conservation depends on habitat restoration, maintenance and protection. In order to improve the conservation status of the species, reintroductions are increasingly applied. Therefore, researchers focus their attention on factors that facilitate these activities and contribute to their success. In addition to the well-known factors like grass height and exposition, others, related to the underground characteristics, are more difficult to evaluate. The presence of other digging species could help this evaluation. Here, we present two reintroduced ground squirrel colonies, where the vast majority of the burrows are located in the base of anthills, mainly of yellow meadow ant (Lasius flavus). This interspecies relationship offers numerous advantages for the ground squirrel and is mostly neutral for the ants. The benefits for the ground squirrel, including reduced energy demand for digging, as well as additional surveillance and hiding places available, could greatly enhance the post-reintroduction adaptation process.
Highlights
The European ground squirrel or the souslik (Spermophilus citellus), is a rodent inhabiting pastures and meadows in Central and South-Eastern Europe
Most of the ground squirrel reintroductions in Bulgaria were organised by nature parks directorates and implemented in the mountains (Koshev et al 2019)
Vygonyailova (2011) reports the superficial and surrounding mound’s material of red wood ants is attractive food for rodents, possibly because of the higher organic components. Taking into account these scare data, our goal is to report a confirmed case of an interspecific relationship between souslik and ants and to discuss its implications in the conservation reintroduction practice
Summary
The European ground squirrel or the souslik (Spermophilus citellus), is a rodent inhabiting pastures and meadows in Central and South-Eastern Europe. The souslik's populations throughout its entire range are declining mainly because of habitat destruction and degradation (Coroiu et al 2008). It is listed as “Vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List and conservation measures have been taken all over its range. They often include conservation reintroductions – reestablishing the species in places where it was extinct. Most of the ground squirrel reintroductions in Bulgaria were organised by nature parks directorates and implemented in the mountains (Koshev et al 2019)
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