Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of habitat fragmentation on the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris L.

  • Published:
Landscape Ecology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effects of woodlot size and isolation, in relation to habitat fragmentation, on the distribution of the red squirrel were studied. In The Netherlands, 50 woodlots (0.55–13.78 ha) were surveyed in an agricultural landscape for the presence of red squirrel. In 26 woodlots squirrel dreys (nests) were found. Logit regression analysis showed that woodlot size and the area per woodlot covered with coniferous trees were the best predictors of squirrel presence. Addition of isolation variables by means of a stepwise forward regression method showed significant effects of the distance to a large, permanently inhabited wood and the amount of surrounding wood. No effect was found for the distance to the nearest woodlot (>0.5 ha). The model could be further improved by adding a measure of the amount of hedgerows surrounding a woodlot.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brönmark, C. 1985. Freshwater snail diversity: effects of pond area, habitat heterogeneity and isolation. Oecologia 67: 127–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corbel, G.B. and Southern, H.N. (eds.) 1977. The handbook of British mammals. Blackwell Scientific Publications, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Don, B.A. 1985. The use of drey counts to estimate Grey squirrel populations. J. Zool., Lond. 206: 282–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genstat 5 committee 1987. Genstat 5 Reference Manual. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getz, L.L., Cole, F.R. and Gates, D.L. 1978. Interstate roadsides as dispersal routes for Microtus pennsylvanicus. J. Mammal. 59: 208–212.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geuse, P., Bauchau, V. and Le Boulengé, E. 1985. Distribution and population dynamics of bank voles and wood mice in a patchy woodland habitat in central Belgium. Acta Zool. Fennica 173: 65–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfried, B.M. 1979. Small mammal populations in woodland islands. Am. Midl. Nat. 102: 105–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henderson, M.T., Merriam, G. and Wegner, J. 1985. Patchy environments and species survival: chipmunks in an agricultural mosaic. Biol. Conserv. 31: 95–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jongman, R.H.G., Ter Braak, C.J.F. and Van Tongeren, O.F.R. 1987. Data analysis in community and landscape ecology. Centre for Agricultural Publishing and Documentation (Pudoc), Wageningen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levins, R. 1970. Extinction. In: Some mathematical questions in biology. Lectures on Mathematics in the Life Sciences Vol. 2: 75–101. Am. Math.-Soc., Rhode Island.

    Google Scholar 

  • Opdam, P. 1988. Populations in fragmented landscape. In: Schreiber, K.-F. (ed.). Connectivity in Landscape Ecology. Proceedings of the 2nd International Seminar of the “International Association for Landscape Ecology”, Münstersche Geografische Arbeiten 29, Münster.

  • Pokki, J. 1981. Distribution, demography and dispersal of the field vole, Microtus agrestis (L.), in the Tvärminne archipelago, Finland. Acta Zool. Fennica 164: 1–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G.T. 1974. The distribution and dispersal of Pikas: consequences of insular population structure. Ecology 55:1112–1119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Soesbergen, M. and Mabelis, A. 1989. Evertebraten in een versnipperd landschap. In: Insektenfauna en Natuurbeheer. Wetenschappelijke Mededeling 192, K.N.N.V., Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tonkin, J.M. 1983. Red squirrel ecology. PhD thesis, University of Bradford, Bradford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Dorp, D. and Opdam, P.F.M. 1987. Effects of patch size, isolation and regional abundance on forest bird communities. Landsc. Ecol. 1: 59–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauters, L.A. and Dhondt, A.A. 1986. Dichtheid en home ranges van een populatie eekhoorns Sciurus vulgaris L., 1758 in België. Lutra 29: 243–260 (with English summary).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauters, L.A. and Dhondt, A.A. 1987. Activity budget and foraging behaviour of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758) in a coniferous habitat. Z. Säugetierk. 52: 341–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauters, L.A. and Dhondt, A.A. 1988. The use of red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) dreys to estimate population density. J. Zool. 214: 179–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wauters, L.A. and Dhondt, A.A. Nest-use by red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758). Mammalia: in press.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Landscape Ecology, Research Institute for Nature Management, P.O. Box 46, 3956 ZR, Leersum, The Netherlands

    B. Verboom & R. van Apeldoorn

Authors
  1. B. Verboom
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. van Apeldoorn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Verboom, B., van Apeldoorn, R. Effects of habitat fragmentation on the red squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris L.. Landscape Ecol 4, 171–176 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00132859

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00132859

Keywords

Search

Navigation