Impact of the Colonies of Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) on Small Mammals Communities

摘要: Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) are ecosystem engineers, able cause extremely changes in the territory of breeding colony. The purpose our work was to evaluate influence colonies great on small mammal communities. investigation done 4 located Lithuania. During nine-year study 1967 individuals 10 species were trapped with a total sampling effort 17,700 trap days. We found, that (80–130 pairs) had positive effect mammals Abundance, richness and diversity increased there. In big colony (which different years hosted 1500–3800 birds active part abundance, diversity, body condition index proportion females decreased. However, abandoned increased. Thus, results this allow better assessment complexity environmental impact cormorants. For first time we highlighted size, finding increase effects communities overweighed by negative ones.