SMALL MAMMALS IN FRAGMENTS OF ROBINIA-PSEUDOACACIA STANDS IN THE EASTSLOVAKIAN LOWLANDS

Small mammal assemblages were studied from 1986 to 1994 in the fragmen ts of false acacia stands in intensively exploited agricultural landsc ape of the East Slovakian Lowlands. Altogether, 7200 trap-nights and 1 380 individuals of 11 species were caught. Apodemus agrarius (D = 48.6 %; F = 80.5%) and A. flavicollis (D = 36.6%; F = 81.8%) were eudominan t and euconstant, respectively. Assemblages in two false acacia stands , in acacia belts and acacia forests were compared. A lower number of species was found in acacia belts, but both assemblages showed distinc t similarity. A similar number of species was found in two acacia fore sts of different size, with that in the larger forest showing signific antly higher relative density, but lower species diversity and equitab ility Our results show that fragments of false acacia are important fo r increasing the ecological diversity of agricultural areas, forming e cological corridors for small mammals.