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Abstract

Small Mammal Diversity and Abundance in Commercial Orchards in Relation to Habitat and Agricultural Factors †

by
Vitalijus Stirkė
*,
Linas Balčiauskas
and
Laima Balčiauskienė
Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, LT08412 Vilnius, Lithuania
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Presented at the 2nd International Electronic Conference on Diversity (IECD 2022)—New Insights into the Biodiversity of Plants, Animals and Microbes, 15–31 March 2022; Available online: https://sciforum.net/event/IECD2022.
Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 15(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/IECD2022-12413
Published: 15 March 2022

Abstract

:
The diversity of small mammal communities (SMCs) shows the sustainability of habitats, especially agricultural ones. Gathered over three years, data from 18 sites in Lithuania were used to analyse factors related to several dependent parameters, namely, diversity (Shannon’s H, dominance index and number of species trapped); the relative abundance of species in SMCs; and the abundances and proportions of the four most numerous species, specifically common vole, striped field mouse, yellow-necked mouse and bank vole. Using the General Linear Model, we assessed the influence of habitat type (commercial orchards, berry plantations, control meadows and control forests with at least two of these present at every investigation site), age of the orchard or plantation, intensity of agriculture, season and location (central, northern, eastern, southern and western parts of the country). To control temporal data variability, the year was used as a continuous predictor. The model was valid, and explained 14–31% of the listed parameters with p < 0.005 or higher, with the exception of the dominance index and the proportion of the common vole. The time factor (year and season, p < 0.001), intensity of agriculture and site location (p < 0.05) had the highest influences on the model, while those of the habitat type and its age were not significant. Univariate results suggest that old commercial orchards with low intensities of agricultural practice play a role in maintaining the diversity and abundance of SMCs.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/IECD2022-12413/s1.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization and investigation, V.S., L.B. (Linas Balčiauskas) and L.B. (Laima Balčiauskienė); methodology and formal analysis L.B. (Linas Balčiauskas); data curation, V.S. and L.B. (Laima Balčiauskienė); resources, V.S.; supervision, project administration and funding acquisition, L.B. (Linas Balčiauskas). All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

In 2018 and 2019, this research was funded by the MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE OF THE REPUBLIC OF LITHUANIA, grant number MT-18-3.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was conducted in accordance with Lithuanian (the Republic of Lithuania Law on the Welfare and Protection of Animals No. XI-2271, “Requirements for the Housing, Care and Use of Animals for Scientific and Educational Purposes”, approved by Order No B1-866, 31/10/2012 of the Director of the State Food and Veterinary Service (Paragraph 4 of Article 16) and European legislation (Directive 2010/63/EU) on the protection of animals and approved by the Animal Welfare Committee of the Nature Research Centre, protocol No GGT-7. Snap trapping was justifiable as we studied reproduction parameters and collected tissues and internal organs for analysis of pathogens, elemental content and stable isotopes (not covered in this publication).

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

This is an ongoing research, therefore data are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study, nor in the collection, analysis or interpretation of data, or the writing of the manuscript or in the decision to publish the results.
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Stirkė, V.; Balčiauskas, L.; Balčiauskienė, L. Small Mammal Diversity and Abundance in Commercial Orchards in Relation to Habitat and Agricultural Factors. Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 15, 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECD2022-12413

AMA Style

Stirkė V, Balčiauskas L, Balčiauskienė L. Small Mammal Diversity and Abundance in Commercial Orchards in Relation to Habitat and Agricultural Factors. Biology and Life Sciences Forum. 2022; 15(1):2. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECD2022-12413

Chicago/Turabian Style

Stirkė, Vitalijus, Linas Balčiauskas, and Laima Balčiauskienė. 2022. "Small Mammal Diversity and Abundance in Commercial Orchards in Relation to Habitat and Agricultural Factors" Biology and Life Sciences Forum 15, no. 1: 2. https://doi.org/10.3390/IECD2022-12413

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