Gimme shelter: The effect of rocks and moonlight on occupancy and activity pattern of an endangered rodent, the garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus

摘要: Information on spatial behaviour and temporal activity patterns is paramount for the conservation of animal species. This particularly true endangered taxa that are threatened by ongoing climatic environmental changes. The garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus a native European rodent (family Gliridae), whose populations declining throughout Continent. Notwithstanding this, neither International nor National laws explicitly require mandatory monitoring populations. As result, compelling information spatiotemporal lacking. We aimed to fill this gap investigating occupancy in relation features rhythms moonlit nights an Alpine population within Stelvio Park, northern Italy. Data were collected between May October 2015. Twenty camera-traps deployed 500 ha coniferous forest, using random tessellation approach; camera trap data analyzed with models kernel smoothers. Camera-traps provided reliable assessment presence dormouse, only 1 % false absence high detection probability (68 %). occurrence was positively influenced percentage rock coverage ground. species showed strictly nocturnal behaviour, peak before midnight, negatively related nights. use rocky areas nesting, shelter site thigmotactic movements moonlight avoidance may represent adaptations avoid predation risk. Our results shed some light habitat requirement poorly known, near-threatened species, provide baseline future activities.