AGE STRUCTURE OF APODEMUS-FLAVICOLLIS IN A FLOODPLAIN FOREST IN THE MIDDLE PART OF THE RIVER ELBE

Studied age structure of Apodemus flavicollis in a floodplain forest i n the middle part of the river Elbe. Age was determined using the dry mass of crystalline lenses of the eve. There exists a relationship bet ween age of animals and mass of lens. Three month old A. flavicollis h ad an average life expectancy of 3.8 months. The average age of the po pulation was 6.6 months, however, this changed throughout the year wit h a maximum in April of 12.2 months and a minimum of 5 months in summe r. The turnover rate during the course of the year was 86.6 %. Sex rat io was nearly balanced with a slight female bias. The results indicate the typical high turnover rate and short life expectancy for small ro dents.