Habitat preferences of the bank vole Myodes glareolus in a Mediterranean mountain range

摘要: The bank voleMyodes glareolus Schreber, 1780 is a widely distributed rodent in Europe, being numerically dominant small mammal communities living temperate woodlands. However, it becomes scarce southern Europe (Mediterranean area) where reaches the southernmost limit of its distribution range. We studied habitat preferences voles 9 plots transitional area between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian regions within mountain. During study period we captured 1919 mammals species, including 287 (14.95%). Mean density ranged from zero individuals per plot (1.1 ha) at boreo-subalpine scrubland to 10.27 ± 2.84 (SE) river woodland. Statistical path analysis was used investigate relationships mean vole climate vegetation structure measured plots. variables selected by structural equation model were those related forest structure, like tree cover height, dead vegetation, moss, rock cover. Habitat moisture also important (microclimatic conditions). conditions (and elevation) did not have any significant effect on density, no association with understorey (eg shrub herbaceous cover) observed. Our results pointed out that specialists our area, more abundant frequent moist woodlands, rare or absent shrublands grasslands.