The structure of micromammal communities in the “Holy Mountains” National Nature Park

Abstract

Results of a 8-year-long monitoring study of micromammals in the "Holy Mountains" National Nature Park are presented. Data accumulated from 2006 to 2014 within 3 monitoring plots were analized. In sum, during 20 672 trap-days 1111 specimens were collected. Studies mainly concerned the most typical biotopes of the park, namely pine and oak forests. The composition and structure of the micromammal community within the studied area are described. There were 14 micromammal species recorded in NNP “Holy Mountains.” The yellow-necked wood mouse is a dominant species, while the wood mouse and the bank vole are subdominants. The obtained data were analyzed by using the Shannon and Simpson indexes. It was shown that the biodiversity indexes change as a result not only fluctuations in the number of micromammals, but also the anthropogenic transformation of habitats. The lowest values of diversity indexes are in biotopes with the highest abundance of rodents.

Keywords

• NNP “Holy Mountains”
• micromammals
• diversity index