Author(s): Koppmann-Rumpf, B., Heberer, C. & Schmidt, K.-H.
Title: Long term study of the reaction of the Edible Dormouse Glis glis (Rodentia: Gliridae) to climatic changes and its interactions with hole-breeding passerines
Year: 2003
Volume: 49
Pages: 69-76.
Abstract: This study is based on data collected in the course of a long-term study focusing on hole-breeding passerines in Frankfurt city and a low mountain range 70 km north-east of Frankfurt, Germany. Regular nest box checks have been carried out throughout the whole year in different sample areas, consisting of 2000 nestboxes, since 1969. Besides the collection of data on birds like the Great Tit (Parus major), bats and insects the occurrence of Common Dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and Edible Dormouse (Glis glis) was registered. To investigate whether interspecific competetion occurs, data from 6 sample areas with a total of 1190 nestboxes have been analyzed. The data show that mean population densities of G. glis during the birds' breeding season have increased. While most species of hole-breeding passerines start their breeding period on average one week earlier due to higher temperatures in spring, G. glis appears on average four weeks earlier in the nest boxes. This leads to an increase in predation of eggs or juvenile birds. The Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), a migratory bird and a late breeder, is especially affected.
Keywords: global warming, competition, Glis glis, Parus major, Ficedula hypoleuca
Journal: Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae
Journal abbreviation:
ISSN: 1217-8837
Publisher: Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest
Editor(s): Matskási, I., Peregovits, L., Morris, P. A. & Bakonyi, G.
