The dispersal of the pygmy wood mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis Pallas, 1811) and the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreber, 1780) in fragmented landscapes

Abstract

Migration processes as well as the birth and death rates play the key role in the population dynamics. The main type of movements of the mouse-like rodents outside their home ranges is dispersal. Dispersal processes are still poorly studied: the typical and maximum dispersal distances of different species, as well as the permeability rate of certain landscape elements have not been determined yet. The purpose of this work was to study the dispersal of the two most abundant species by a modified method of nonselective marking. It is found that the distance of dispersal of Sylvaemus uralensis Pallas, 1811 is greater than that of Clethrionomys glareolus Schreber, 1780. The dispersal range of the bank vole is determined (up to 2 km), which is the greatest of all ever determined values for this species. The landscape properties have considerable effect on the dispersal and spatial structure of populations. Landscape barriers limit the processes of dispersal, thus increasing the local density of populations. The article also presents the first description of the “migrant trap” effect.