Acoustic detection of Garden Dormice: a field mapping study in an urban habitat in Germany

• DOI: 10.3897/aca.5.e84450
• Publication Date: 2022-04-15T07:51:45Z
• Authors: Teresa Nava; Pamela Burn; Sven Büchner; Holger Meinig; Johannes Lang
• Keywords: Wildlife corridor; Home range; Population density; Botanical garden

Garden Dormouse populations have been decreasing in range and declining number throughout Europe. For effective conservation strategies, it is important to know where which habitats the species still occurs. Effective monitoring methods are therefore urgently needed especially because Glirids difficult monitor due their nocturnal activity relatively low population density. The city of Wiesbaden (central Germany close River Rhine) harbors a stable population. In summer 2019 field mapping study was conducted occurrence this investigated. During summertime detection animals, based on characteristic vocalizations, used for first time map species. Within 20 nights we obtained 128 acoustic detections Dormice, involving at least 168 individuals, resulting records 55 out 61 km² grids Wiesbaden, widespread could be easily detected by its calls. It found over almost whole area, mainly semi-open areas like gardens allotments, but also highly built up cultivated areas, right immediate vicinity humans, some cases even inside buildings. Thus, has successfully adjusted life an urban environment. Using simple, cheap, fast non-invasive method can provide many data biodiversity should given more consideration future surveys.