Abstract
Within ecology, there are unanswered questions about species-habitat interactions, which could potentially be resolved by a pragmatic analysis of a long-term volunteer-collected dataset. Here, we analysed 18 years of volunteer-collected data from a UK dormouse nestbox monitoring programme to determine the influence of habitat variables on nestbox choice by common dormice ( Muscardinus avellanarius ). We measured a range of habitat variables in a coppiced woodland in Gloucestershire, UK, and analysed these in relation to dormouse nestbox occupancy records (by dormice, other small mammals, and birds) collected by volunteers. While some characteristics of the woodland had changed over 18 years, simple transformation of the data and interpretation of the results indicated that the dataset was informative. Using stepwise regressions, multiple environmental and ecological factors were found to determine nestbox selection. Distance from the edge of the wood was the most influential (this did not change over 18 years), with boxes in the woodland interior being selected preferentially. There was a significant negative relationship with the presence of ferns (indicative of damp shady conditions). The presence of oak (a long-lived species), and the clumped structural complexity of the canopy were also important factors in the final model. There was no evidence of competition between dormice and birds or other mammals. The results provide greater understanding of artificial dormouse nest-site requirements and indicate that, in terms of habitat selection, long-term volunteer-collected datasets contribute usefully to understanding the requirements of species with an important conservation status.
Highlights
IntroductionBoth invertebrate and vertebrate, build nests (e.g. stingless bees Trigona spinipes [1]; grass-cutting ants Atta vollenweideri [2]; chimpanzees Pan troglodytes [3]; great tits Parus major [4])
Many animals, both invertebrate and vertebrate, build nests
Knowledge of nest-site requirements is essential for the conservation of rare or specialist species [7,12], especially where nest-site availability limits population sizes, as has been observed in a variety of arboreal mammals
Summary
Both invertebrate and vertebrate, build nests (e.g. stingless bees Trigona spinipes [1]; grass-cutting ants Atta vollenweideri [2]; chimpanzees Pan troglodytes [3]; great tits Parus major [4]). Dormouse nesting ecology is difficult to study because dormice are cryptic, nocturnal and arboreal; their natural nests are difficult to locate as they are usually concealed in thick foliage or in tree cavities, and may be as high as 15 m in the canopy [17,19]. Bright and Morris [20] conducted a radio-tracking survey and found that artificial nestboxes were by far the most frequently used nest-sites compared to natural nests They argued that, where nestboxes are present, almost the whole population would use them, and providing nestboxes appeared to double the number of dormice present in an area [20]. Any findings that relate habitat features to nestbox preference or breeding success in nestboxes could be used in an applied sense (e.g. changing nestbox location) and may have more immediate conservation implications than findings relating to habitat features in natural nest-sites (because these cannot be moved), factors influencing the selection of natural and artificial sites may not be identical
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