MORPHOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS IN SOME SMALL MAMMALS OF VERTICAL PROFILE OF THE MOUNTAIN VRANICA

Abstract

During 1999-2000, a systematic research was conducted on the vertical profile of the Vranica Mountain, following the seasonal fluctuation of the numbers of the small mammals.Hunting took place over five consecutive nights with 72 traps being set with the kerosene-lamp-cotton wick cooked in oil and fried with flour used as the bait. Each individual caught was subjected to different measurements of pre-determined parameters, later compared by the localities and seasons.The study was conducted on seven sites, very specific in terms of altitude, substrate type, soil type, and plant communities. The research lasted 75 days through three seasons: spring, summer and autumn.In total, we caught 271 individuals. Systematically, all individuals are classified in two orders: Soricomorpha and Rodentia. The caught individuals showed a wide diversity in terms of measured parameters.Key words: systematic research, Vranica Mountain, measurements, individuals