Forest management affects individual and population parameters of the hazel dormouse Muscardinus avellanarius

摘要: Several studies have shown that forest management (e.g. for timber production) affects mammal communities. Nevertheless, we still lack a detailed understanding on how different practices influence individuals and populations. The overarching goal of our work was to investigate the demographic esponse hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) management. We focused set key individual (survival litter size) population (abundance individuals) parameters test whether dormice which habitat variables are responsible such effects. surveyed 3 years in continuous central Italy including sites subjected regimes: 5 coppiced stands (2 recently old coppice stands), 2 abandoned with regrowing high stands. found strong effect dormice, acting mainly through variation food resources. Regrowing forests were most suitable whereas recent coppices unsuitable, an ephemeral presence few individuals. Old both able sustain local populations but at lower densities higher mortality and/or emigration younger weaker than forest. Through analyses uncover mechanism underlying effects populations; findings strongly suggest maintaining heterogeneous successional composition may be effective strategy conservation this species.