Abundance of Apodemus spp. varies by stand age in coppice-originated oak forest, Thrace, Turkey

Abstract

Recently, oak (Quercus spp.) management strategies in Turkey have transitioned from predominantly coppice-regeneration to seed regeneration. However, impacts of this change on the small mammal community is unknown. To address this issue we evaluated abundance of Apodemus spp. (Rodentia, Muridae) in relation to stand age and forest characteristics in the northern Thrace, Turkey. We sampled 43 plots using box-style live traps. A total of 75 individuals (0.125 ± 0.013 mice/trap nights) was captured. Apodemus flavicollis (n = 69) was the most abundant, although A. agrarius (1) and A. sylvaticus (4) also occurred. Apodemus spp. abundance was superior in older than in younger stands (P = 0.038). The number of specimens was positively related to diameter at breast height (DBH) (y = 0.18 + 0.015x, R² = 0.21) and forest floor mass (y = 0.005 + 0.00005x, R² = 0.22). Increasing the amount of forest floor mass and mast production will benefit the population of Apodemus spp. Abandonment of the coppice management on oak forests in Thrace may positively affect the local abundance of Apodemus spp., particularly A. flavicollis.