Common Shrew (Sorex araneus (Linnaeus, 1758)) distribution across mosaic landscapes of Southern Karelia

Abstract

Common shrew population dynamics (17 517 kill trap-days) and its habitat preferences in mid-taiga ecosystems of southern Karelia (Gomselga Village, Kondopoga District) were studied from 1994 to 2014. By interpreting satellite images from 11 years (1970, 1973, 1975, 1984, 1986, 1989, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2013) we managed to track the succession stages of nine habitat types and assign each of the 219 installed lines of traps to them. The parameters of animal abundance were transformed for statistical analysis. The fifth root was taken from the obtained estimates of abundance. Then, the values calculated individually for each year for every habitat type were centered around the common regional average value and normalized by regional standard deviation. We obtained the normal distribution of the derivative indices. By means of variance analysis and construction of confidence intervals it was statistically proved that fresh, young and overgrowing felled sites, young forests were the most preferred habitat types for the animals in August. Meadows and mires, mixed and coniferous forests were the least attractive habitats.

Keywords

• common shrew
• habitat distribution
• conversion of population measures
• statistical estimate
• habitat fidelity index