Garden Dormouse Eliomys Quercinus Research Articles

An attempt to evidence post-fire adaptation of red fox diet in a Mediterranean area

Although fires are common in Mediterranean ecosystems, there are substantial knowledge gaps regarding post-fire shifts in animal diets, especially for carnivores. Red fox Vulpes vulpes is a generalist medium-size carnivore known to have a positive post-fire response, probably due to increased prey availability or facility to hunt. As small mammals are often one of its primary food categories, and early successional visitors of post-fire habitats, we hypothesize a change in red fox diet composition in the warm season after a fire. Hair trapping and scat collection were used to investigate selection of small mammals in a typical Mediterranean region, 3 years after a fire. The diet composition of the fox was compared with that of the fox in the same area in 1992, and with other undisturbed Mediterranean areas. Diet selection was evaluated through the Forage ratio and single resource preference tests. Red fox diet was consistent with other Mediterranean areas, with fruits and seeds, invertebrates, and small mammals being the most consumed categories. However, small mammals were consumed significantly less than in 1992, while fruits and seeds significantly more. Resource selection analysis indicated avoidance for some ground-foraging small mammals, including Crocidura spp. house mouse Mus domesticus and voles, whereas Apodemus spp. were selected. Arboreal-foraging species, e.g. red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris and garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus were used in proportion to their availability. We concluded that this mesocarnivore had high feeding plasticity and exploited various resources according to their availability and catchability. Future studies are needed to further investigate red fox and other carnivores’ food shifts after fire disturbance, including various seasons, other successional stages and competition within predator guilds.

Dormice (Mammalia, Gliridae) in Ukraine: сurrent state of knowledge and perspectives of investigations

I am setting up the national databases for four species of the Gliridae family (Dryomys nitedula, Glis glis, Muscardinus avellanarius, Eliomys quercinus) with data available from museum collections, scientific literature, biodiversity social networks, and original observations in nature made within the borders of Ukraine. The database contains 656 records: Dryomys nitedula 287 records, Glis glis 152 records, Muscardinus avellanarius 216 records and Eliomys quercinus 1 record. Dryomys nitedula is listed in the Red Lists of 5 administrative regions, Glis glis in the Red Lists of 2 administrative regions, and Muscardinus avellanarius in the Red Lists of 4 administrative regions. We revealed 2 findings of Glis glis outside the known range of this species. The current state of knowledge and distribution of Gliridae representatives in Ukraine are discussed. We propose to change the conservation status of the Garden Dormouse Eliomys quercinus, which is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009) as a critically endangered species (a species on the edge of extinction). The revision of literature and museum samples attributed to this species has demonstrated that the only specimen, that without a doubt belongs to this species, collected in the Cherkasy region in 1965, was assigned to a non-existent settlement. The rest of the museum specimens (one from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv Zoological Museum and one from the National Museum of Natural History National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) were redefined as Dryomys nitedula.

Complete mitogenomes reveal limited genetic variability in the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus of the Iberian Peninsula

The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus is a poorly known Western Palearctic species experiencing a global decline. Even though the availability of genetic information is key to assess the driversunderlying demographic changes in wild populations and plan adequate management, data on E. quercinus are still scant. In this study, we reconstructed the complete mitogenomes of four E. quercinus individuals from southern Spain using in–solution enriched libraries, and found evidence of limited genetic variability. We then compared their cytochrome b sequences to those of conspecifics from other countries and supported the divergent but genetically depauperate position of this evolutionarily significant unit (ESU). The information produced will assist future conservation studies on this little–studied rodent.

Distribution modelling of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus, 1766) with novel climate change indicators

The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus has been declining in both abundance and range since the mid-twentieth century. The eastern edge of its range has contracted from the Ural Mountains to eastern Germany. Habitat loss and fragmentation has been the most supported theory to explain the observed decline. Climate change has been implicated in declines of other terrestrial mammals, but not investigated for E. quercinus. To better understand the factors influencing the distribution of this species and to map habitat suitability for E. quercinus across Europe, we created a Maxent species distribution model. Among the main environmental variables used for the modelling, two novel climate change indicator variables were produced to indicate the degree of climate change between the early twentieth century and the present. Areas of high suitability were mapped, and variable importance estimated using jackknife tests and variable contribution metrics. The climate change indicators outperformed many conventional variables, which could indicate that climate change is a factor behind the current distribution of E. quercinus. We also analysed the land use types where presence points of E. quercinus were located and whether they were in areas of “high nature value farmland”. Over 30% of all spatially filtered presence points corresponded to high nature value farmland areas. Our results could indicate a role for changing climate (particularly in temperature) in the range decline E. quercinus, and for high nature value farmland practices in conserving this species. Field studies and improved monitoring for this species are recommended to confirm both possible findings.

Rodents Rescue Seeds from Aborted Fruits

Photo 1: Flowering P. bourgaeana trees (upper left), fruiting pear tree (upper right), aborted fruit (lower left), and one aborted and several ripe developed fruits (lower right). Photo credit: Miguel Delibes (upper left), Jose M. Fedriani (all other panels). Photo 2: Some of the rodent species involved in our study concerning P. bourgaeana seed predation and dispersal by rodents; Algerian mouse Mus spretus (upper left), garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus (upper right), wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus, and Algerian mouse (lower panels). Photo credit: Jose M. Fedriani. Photo 3: Dry aborted fruits (upper line) and fleshy developed fruits (lower line; upper left panel). Dry aborted fruit gnawed by rodents (upper right), and fleshy ripe fruit likely eaten by rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (lower left). Fleshy green fruits partially eaten by deer Cervus elaphus when still attached to the tree (lower right). Photo credit: Gemma Calvo. Photo 4: Field experiments to investigate rodent foraging on P. bourgaeana fruits. The “tables” allowed us to prevent fruit consumption by other frugivores such as rabbits, carnivores and ungulates. Photo credit: Gemma Calvo. Photo 5: Other mammals that feed on ripe P. bourgaeana fruits but not aborted ones. Red deer C. elaphus (upper left), wild boar Sus scrofa (upper right), Eurasian badger Meles meles (lower left), and red fox Vulpes vulpes (lower right). Photo credit: Pedro J. Garrote. These photographs illustrate the article “The overlooked benefits of synzoochory: rodents rescue seeds from aborted fruits” by Jose M. Fedriani, Gemma Calvo, Miguel Delibes, Daniel Ayllón, and Pedro J. Garrote published in Ecosphere. https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3298.

Seasonal survival in a non-hibernating Mediterranean garden dormouse population

The seasonal survival pattern of a garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus population was studied in a Mediterranean agricultural field area from East Spain, a geographical location in which this species does exhibit no hibernation. Individuals were captured from nest—boxes checked monthly during a 4-year period. Data were analysed using an open population Cormack–Jolly–Seber model including sex, age class and season as factors. Best models included the effect of age and differences in survival between adult males and females. Survival rate was more variable between seasons in males than in females or juveniles. Maximum adult male survival was reached in autumn, decreased in winter and dropped to very low values in spring and summer. Survival of adult females was higher and presented a less marked seasonal pattern. Seasonal survival of juveniles was fairly constant along the year. Recapture probability also varied seasonally and was twice in winter than in the rest of the year. The local annual survival rate obtained in adult females exceeded the survival rate observed in some garden dormouse populations from Italy, but it was considerably lower in comparison to the values obtained in South Spain and France. The possible energetic consequences of the constant sexual activity exhibited by this garden dormouse population and the effect of other factors, such as the availability of food and social interactions between individuals, seem to influence in the seasonal variations in survival rate for this rodent species in this agricultural habitat.

Footprint tunnels are effective for detecting dormouse species

AbstractGlirids are arboreal rodents that are difficult to monitor due to their nocturnal activity and their relatively low density. We compared results from footprint tunnels with those from two other monitoring methods (nest boxes and nesting tubes) for three dormouse species in an occupancy framework. Footprint tunnels performed better than the other two methods for the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius and the edible dormouse Glis glis, and were the only method which detected the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus. Our findings provide evidence to support the effectiveness of footprint tunnels in monitoring the occurrence of dormouse species in comparison with other methods.

Review of records of hymenolepidids (Eucestoda: Hymenolepididae) from dormice (Rodentia: Gliridae) in Europe, with a redescription of Armadolepis spasskyi Tenora & Baruš, 1958 and the description of A. genovi n. sp.

Armadolepis (Armadolepis) spasskyi Tenora & Baruš, 1958 is redescribed on the basis of the type-series consisting of the holotype from the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus) (type-host) and a paratype from the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas); the occurrence of this species in the fat dormouse Glis glis (Linnaeus) cannot be confirmed due to the lack of specimens from this host species both in the type-series and other studied samples. The main corrections in the diagnostic characters of A. spasskyi are related to the number and length of the rostellar hooks (12 hooks, 12-14 µm long versus 16-19 hooks, 15.3-17.1 µm long in the original description) and the position of the testes in triangle (versus in line as originally described). Specimens originally identified as Hymenolepis myoxi (Rudolphi, 1819) by Genov (1984) from the fat dormouse G. glis from Bulgaria are described as Armadolepis (Bremserilepis) genovi n. sp. The new species differs from the congeners by the presence of a rudimentary rostellum and rudimentary rostellar hooks; the new species differs from the other two species of the subgenus, A. (B.) myoxi and A. (B.) longisoma, by its longer cirrus-sac (196-240 µm), scolex diameter of 180-300 µm (wider than that of A. myoxi and narrower than that of A. longisoma) and wider ovary (220-310 µm). Cestodes previously reported as Hymenolepis myoxi from E. quercinus from Switzerland and France (western and north-western Alps) are now identified as Armadolepis (A.) jeanbaeri Makarikov, 2017. Cestodes from G. glis from Switzerland and Slovakia, previously identified as Hymenolepis sulcata (von Linstow, 1879), are now identified as Armadolepis (B.) myoxi (sensu stricto). The position of Hymenolepis (s.l.) sciurina Cholodkovsky, 1913 as a subspecies of A. myoxi is rejected and it is considered a species inquirenda.

Gimme shelter: The effect of rocks and moonlight on occupancy and activity pattern of an endangered rodent, the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus

Information on spatial behaviour and temporal activity patterns is paramount for the conservation of animal species. This is particularly true for endangered taxa that are threatened by ongoing climatic and environmental changes. The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus is a native European rodent (family Gliridae), whose populations are declining throughout the Continent. Notwithstanding this, neither International nor National laws explicitly require mandatory monitoring of populations. As a result, compelling information on the spatiotemporal behaviour of dormouse is lacking. We aimed to fill this gap by investigating occupancy patterns in relation to environmental features and activity rhythms in relation to moonlit nights in an Alpine population of dormouse within the Stelvio National Park, northern Italy. Data were collected between May and October 2015. Twenty camera-traps were deployed in a 500 ha coniferous forest, using a random tessellation approach; camera trap data were analyzed with occupancy models and kernel smoothers. Camera-traps provided a reliable assessment of the presence of the garden dormouse, with only 1 % of false absence and a high detection probability (68 %). The occurrence of the garden dormouse was positively influenced by the percentage of rock coverage on the ground. The species showed a strictly nocturnal behaviour, with an activity peak before midnight, negatively related to moonlit nights. The use of rocky areas for nesting, shelter site and thigmotactic movements and moonlight avoidance may represent adaptations of the garden dormouse to avoid predation risk. Our results shed some light on the habitat requirement of a poorly known, near-threatened species, and provide baseline information for future monitoring and conservation activities.

Direct evidence of scavenging behaviour in the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus)

AbstractIt is known that the garden dormouseEliomys quercinusincludes meat in its diet, however, it is unclear if scavenging is a widespread behaviour, as it is difficult to observe in the wild. Here, we document scavenging behaviour for the species based on direct evidence. We captured five garden dormice with live traps using dead baits, which were partially or totally consumed. Additionally, a camera-trap recorded how at least one garden dormouse visited and actively consumed the bait on 12 occasions during the study. These observations suggest that carrion may play an important role in the garden dormouse’s diet, opening a new ecological unexplored topic for this species.

Communal nesting in the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus)

Communal nesting has been described in many rodents including some dormouse species. In this study, we report the existence of this reproductive strategy in the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus. Data was recorded by checking natural nests and nest-boxes from 2003 to 2013 in SE Spain. Pups and adults dormice found in nests were captured and marked. Overall, 198 nests were found: 161 (81.31%) were singular nests and 37 (18.69%) were communal nests. Communal nests were composed by different combinations of one up to three females together with one up to three different size litters. The number of communal nests varied from year to year in accordance with the number of singular nests and no seasonal differences were observed. In at least one case, an adult female and her adult daughter were found sharing the same nest-box. The hypothesis that communal nesting was encouraged by a lack of favourable nesting sites was rejected. Litters protection from predators or conspecifics seems the most likely hypothesis to explain communal nesting in our garden dormouse population.

Long-term data from a small mammal community reveal loss of diversity and potential effects of local climate change.

Climate change affects distribution and persistence of species. However, forecasting species’ responses to these changes requires long-term data series that are often lacking in ecological studies. We used 15 years of small mammal trapping data collected between 1978 and 2015 in 3 areas at Doñana National Park (southwest Spain) to (i) describe changes in species composition and (ii) test the association between local climate conditions and size of small mammal populations. Overall, 5 species were captured: wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus, algerian mouse Mus spretus, greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula, garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus, and black rat Rattus rattus. The temporal pattern in the proportion of captures of each species suggests that the small mammal diversity declined with time. Although the larger species (e.g., E. quercinus), better adapted to colder climate, have disappeared from our trapping records, M. spretus, a small species inhabiting southwest Europe and the Mediterranean coast of Africa, currently is almost the only trapped species. We used 2-level hierarchical models to separate changes in abundance from changes in probability of capture using records of A. sylvaticus in all 3 areas and of M. spretus in 1. We found that heavy rainfall and low temperatures were positively related to abundance of A. sylvaticus, and that the number of extremely hot days was negatively related to abundance of M. spretus. Despite other mechanisms are likely to be involved, our findings support the importance of climate for the distribution and persistence of these species and raise conservation concerns about potential cascading effects in the Doñana ecosystem.

Evidence for a differentiated chromosomal race north of classical south European refuge areas in the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus

The dormouse Eliomys quercinus is a forest rodent undergoing long periods of winter hibernation. The species presents a surprisingly large diversity of chromosomal races, which geographic distribution was shown recently to predate the Pleistocene glaciations. Previously reported data on the karyotypes of the garden dormouse in France come from the northeast of the country, where the 2N = 50 race occurs. New data are presented from specimens trapped near the Atlantic coast (departments of Vendée and Charente-Maritime), in the Pyrenees, the Alps and in the Massif Central. The French Alpine chain, close to the Italian border, is inhabited by the 2N = 54 race. A karyotype with 2N = 48 chromosomes, of Iberian type, is found north of the Pyrenees, near the central Atlantic coast and also in the south of the Massif Central, whereas the 2N = 50 race occurs in the north of the massif. A hybrid between these two races (2N = 49) was found in Vendée. These facts reveal that neither the Pyrenees nor the Alps constitute a biogeographic barrier to the dormouse and strongly suggest that the present population of northern France derives from a postglacial recolonisation movement initiated in the southernmost regions of France or in the Rhône valley.

Seguimiento de las poblaciones de lirón gris (Glis glis) en el NE de la Península Ibérica

The aim of this study is to obtain data on the biology and ecology of the edible dormouse (Glis glis Linaeus, 1766) by using a standardized methodology. The edible dormouse monitoring program in Catalonia started in 2003 with the placement of specific nesting boxes for that and other arboreal small mammals in the Montnegre-Corredor Natural Park (Barcelona). We currently have 150 nest boxes distributed across 25 different locations of the NE Iberian Peninsula, trying to represent the different habitats found in these areas, with a mean altitude of 1,350 m (500-1,850 m.a.s.l.), and sampling typical Mediterranean environments (e.g. Holm oak woodland), deciduous forests (e.g. oak, beech, and riparian forests), and subalpine forests. The results allowed us to observe a great spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the occupation of the boxes. Breeding has been observed with great regularity in oak and chestnut woodlands in Montnegre (Barcelona) and Montseny (Barcelona), but appears irregular or absent in some beech and oak forests. In the Pyrenean forests we have seen a high variation in the occupancy rate of the boxes. Apparently, some viable habitats have not been occupied during these years, suggesting differences in habitat quality to which dormouse populations seem to respond. Monitoring of nest boxes also allowed us to obtain information on other species of arboreal rodents like the yellow-necked mouse Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834), the black rat Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758) and the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus (Linnaeus, 1766).

Recent range and distribution of dormice (Gliridae, Mammalia) in the Sudetes (Poland)

The paper presents updated information on the occurrence of dormice in the Polish Sudetes, based on our 1993-2008 field studies in various parts of the region, and on the results of other studies conducted and published after 1983. The studies confirmed the occurrence of 3 dormice species in the Sudetes: edible dormouse Glis glis LINNAEUS, 1766, hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius LINNAEUS, 1758, and forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula PALLAS, 1778. The edible dormouse occurs in all 5 macroregions of the Polish Sudetes. It is still fairly abundant in the Central and Eastern Sudetes, while it is quite rare in the Western Sudetes. The hazel dormouse is much less common, being slightly more abundant in some ranges of Central Sudetes (Bardzkie and Sto3owe Mts, and the Landscape Park of Wa3brzych Sudetes), and Eastern Sudetes (the Z3ote Mts and the Snie?nik Massif). The occurence of the forest dormouse is limited to the Sudete Foreland (Strzelinskie Hills) and small parts of the Central (Sto3owe Mts) and Eastern Sudetes (Z3ote and Bialskie Mts, Œnie?nik Massif), where all three species co-occur. Not a single locality of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus LINNAEUS, 1766 was found, which points to its disappearance from the Polish Sudetes.

Comparative cytogenetic and genetic study of two Italian populations of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus L. (Sciuromorpha: Gliridae)

The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus is a polytypic species that shows remarkable chromosomal variation (2n = 48, 50, 52, 54). Furthermore, among 2n = 48 populations of the species, distributed mainly in the circum-Mediterranean area, different populations may exhibit distinctive karyotypes. Here we analyse samples of E. quercinus from Sicily, the insular population so far barely studied, compared to the samples from the Central Apennines. The two populations show the same cytotype (2n = 48, NFa = 86), matching G- and C- chromosome banding patterns, and identical chromosome locations of major ribosomal genes (rDNA) and interstitial telomeric sequences (ITS). The samples from the two Italian populations show low genetic divergence (1.2%) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence analysis, which suggests that both populations belong to the same taxon – E. quercinus pallidus. In addition, we compare the present results to karyological data reported in other 2n = 48 populations and identify possible chromosomal rearrangements.

Diet of the garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus Linnaeus 1766) in orange groves: seasonal variation and use of available resources

Abstract The aim of this study was to describe the feeding habits of the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus in orange groves of eastern Spain. The study area was an extensive orange grove near Sagunto (Valencia, Spain). This study combines two different non-invasive methods, the study of food store remains and the macroscopic analysis of feces. A total of 527 feces and the food remains of 172 food stores were recollected from nest boxes. Each feces was classified into five categories according to its characteristics: arthropods, gastropods, oranges, plants, and others. Throughout the year, the garden dormouse consumed all these types of food. The most consumed prey in summer and autumn were insects. However, in winter and spring orange fruit was the principal food type. Seasonal variation of orange, arthropods, gastropods, and plant matter consumption occurred. Among animal prey types, insects were the most consumed group and large-sized species were preferred. Vertebrate preys were found in food stores. The annual variation of the garden dormouse diet owing to the seasonal availability of resources in an agricultural environment revealed its feeding behavior plasticity.

Depredación sobre nidos, aves adultas y mamíferos por el lirón careto Eliomys quercinus

This study deals with birds and small mammals captured by the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus in the orange groves of Sagunto (Valencia, E Spain). Samples come from exhaustive reviews of nest-boxes, but also of natural nests. Garden dormice predate on bird nests, containing eggs or nestlings, but also capture adults, even during the winter. Moreover, small mammals such as Mus and Crocidura were also captured, showing the abilities of this species to capture vertebrates

Microhabitat use by garden dormice during nocturnal activity

AbstractThe microhabitat used by the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus during its nocturnal activity was examined. Twenty‐three variables describing habitat structure were measured at 100 trapping points. Logistic regression models were utilized to select the variables that discriminate between used and avoided trapping points and, in a series of pairwise contrasts, between trap sites used by different sexes, age classes and animals in different reproductive periods. Used sites were characterized by a higher (>40%) rock cover, a thicker shrub layer and a younger understory with trees of smaller trunk diameter. These variables describe areas with rockfalls from the upper slope, where trees were younger and smaller, the canopy closure reduced and the shrub layer more developed than in other parts of the forest. Dense shrubby vegetation provided protection from aerial predators and, in conjunction with rocks and stones, might have made hunting by birds and mammals more difficult. Garden dormice may also have been attracted by rocky areas acting as a heat source during the night. The selection of rocky areas was more important in the first months of the active period, when animals emerged from hibernation and started the mating season. At the end of summer, the animals used areas richer in herbs, where insects and other food resources were probably more abundant.

Winter reproduction of Eliomys quercinus (Rodentia) in the orange groves of Sagunto (Valencia, Spain) / La reproduction en hiver d' Eliomys quercinus (Rodentia) dans les orangeraies de Sagunto (Valence, Espagne)

AbstractThe colonisation of orange groves in Eastern Spain by the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus and their reproduction were studied. Litter sizes and times of birth of garden dormice were studied during the winter of 2003/2004 until the month of May 2004. The main study area was a plot covered by orange trees that has been monitored since 1975. Litters in nest boxes placed around the plot for birds, as well as a few litters in nests built in trees, were observed to obtain information on reproduction. The nests found in trees include some built in old bird nests, most of them belonging to the blackbird Turdus merula . We weighed the cubs to determine their month of birth and identified the population trend by counting the number of nests occupied simultaneously. Results show that there are births during the winter, that the number of cubs per nest ranged from 4 to 13, but 6 cubs was the mode. A total of 34 litters were found, with an average size of 5.76 cubs per litter. The litter of 13 cubs was excluded from analysis. Colonisation was suspected after a first specimen was observed in 1997 in the surroundings of the study area. Occupation by garden dormice of both natural nests and nest boxes subsequently increased from 1 to 27 between 1999 and 2004. We suggest that mild winter temperatures allowed the population increase and winter reproduction.