Species’ surrogacy for conservation planning: caveats from comparing the response of three arboreal rodents to habitat loss and fragmentation

摘要: The use of surrogate species in conservation planning has been applied with disappointing results on relatively large sets species. It could still prove useful for optimizing efforts when considering a small set similar ecological requirements, however few field tests this nature have carried out. aim research is to compare the response three arboreal rodent species—the fat dormouse (Glis glis), hazel (Muscardinus avellanarius) and red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris)—to habitat loss fragmentation, identifying priorities evaluating possible optimization under different scenarios: restoration selection focal patches. We studied distribution sample patches highly fragmented landscape central Italy, using patch-landscape scale approach. was by hair tubes, nestboxes nocturnal surveys. showed analogous responses increasing isolation decreasing size patches; what differed however, magnitude responses. Our show application surrogacy within restricted group species, several caveats arise depending strategy available funding. If objective, then should be target guiding On other hand, differences patch requirements question feasibility these actions. objective selecting as focal/umbrella would overlook areas suitable two Feasible optimisation may only between dormouse.