Stealthy at the roadside: Connecting role of roadside hedges and copse for silvicolous, small mammal populations

摘要: Abstract An important factor in fragmented habitats is the connectivity between major occurrence areas of a species. Two corridors were modeled two validated occurrences Muscardinus avellanarius based on habitat suitability map corrected for recent landscape changes. Especially roadside hedges and copse identified as connecting elements woodland occupied by neighboring populations hazel dormouse. The differed total length (10.9 km vs. 15.5 km) but longer corridor also had better mean (0.77 0.80). usage was supported field mapping species’ individuals traces. On both nuts gnawed open M. found. It can be concluded that with high tree species diversity, proportion deciduous mixed forest, more canopy play an role conservation management silvicolous small mammals improve their connectivity. Therefore, continuous regular stepping stone should promoted environmental planning preservation. Extensive coppicing hedges, e.g., at highways due to traffic safety avoided maintain mammals.