Origin and Diffusion of the House Mouse in the Mediterranean

摘要: The house mouse (Mus musculus), after humans, is the most widespread mammal on earth and one of worst invasive species for both biological diversity human health. This ubiquity consequence its strong ecological relationship with namely commensalism. Human activities promote diffusion by eliminating barriers increasing environment suitable this species. paper deals recent zooarchaeological data that has helped to decipher main factors evolution involved in origin commensal behaviour process throughout Mediterranean. Understanding contributes our overall knowledge how modelled mammalian during Holocene. In Near Eastern core European Neolithisation, two are recognised as driving forces explain beginning commensalism: rise farming practices (cultivated fields, large scale grain storage, domestication plants) dispersal domesticated plants through cultural area pre-ceramic Neolithic. These increased attractiveness anthropic ecosystem well vectors mice passive transport. Nevertheless, Neolithisation Mediterranean did not mouse’s invasion Europe. commercial demographic expansions Phoenicians Greeks last millennium bc were allowed overwhelm previously prevented westward environment.