Field test for environmental correlates of dispersal in hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus

摘要: 1. We report a field experiment designed to explore the responses by hedgehogs novel and unfavourable terrain, which they encounter when dispersing between fragmented local populations in farmland. identified four replicate sites as unused hedgehogs, but lying existing containing locally abundant food. At each site, we released six from distant sources at 2-day intervals monitored their subsequent dispersals over 20 days radio-tracking. compared movement trajectories under this treatment those of 29 two known support hedgehogs. A third comprised unmanipulated three sites. estimated habitat use proximity habitats comparing observed trajectory simulated random walks equal length. sought differences treatments nested analysis variance. 2. No any translocated followed same route; most involved little change body weight, took animal into or through populations. Hedgehogs moved substantially further faster on average than favourable They showed significantly stronger attraction edges, therefore acted corridors, significant proportion them stayed closer roads urban expectation. Habitat preferences also shifted towards away arable areas. Six were predated, killed road traffic. least returned release point, with P 3. In region, natural up 4 km apart are rare events. have shown, however, that capable travelling distances 3·8 9·9 total, an home range span 0·8 km, it appears none study area out reach neighbours.