Study

The influence of high nestbox density on the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius population

  • Published source details Juškaitis R. (2005) The influence of high nestbox density on the common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius population. Acta Theriologica, 50, 43-50.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Provide artificial dens or nest boxes on trees

    A controlled, before-and-after study in 1985–1989 and 2000–2003 in a forest site in Lithuania (Juškaitis 2005) found that after more nest boxes were provided, common dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius density approximately doubled. Dormouse density was higher when there were 16 boxes/ha (0.9–3.0 dormice/ha) than when there were 4 boxes/ha (0.3–1.5 dormice/ha). Dormouse density did not increase in an area where next box provision remained at 4 boxes/ha (after: 0.6–0.9 individuals/ha; before: 0.7–1.3 individuals/ha). The study was conducted in 60 ha of a 40-50-year-old forest. In 1985–1999 wooden nest boxes (12 × 12 × 24 cm) were installed in a 50 × 50 m grid (276 boxes, 4 boxes/ha). In 2001, eighty-five additional nest boxes were added to a 6.25-ha section of the forest to form a 25 × 25 m grid (increasing box density to 16 boxes/ha). Boxes were inspected twice each month from April until October in 1985–1989 and 2000–2003.

    (Summarised by: Ricardo Rocha)

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