Small mammal communities in newly planted biocorridors and their surroundings in southern Moravia (Czech Republic)

Over a five year period, terrestrial small mammals were sampled by snap tra pping at a locality near the village of Vlkos, southern Moravia. Sampling w as carried out in newly planted biocorridors, adjacent fields, and a forest area. In total, 452 individuals from eight small mammal species (six roden ts and two insectivores) were recorded. The largest numbers of species (eig ht) were recorded in biocorridors, and Apodemus sylvaticus was eudominant i n all habitats. The community of small mammals in the biocorridors was quan titatively similar to those in fields during the first phase of succession, but very different from the community in fully developed windbreaks, which more resembled the forest community. A close association between the small mammal communities in fields and biocorridors was found during the initial phase of biocorridor development, and individuals from field populations m oved into biocorridors in the autumn, probably in response to agricultural activities.