Transformation of the agricultural landscape and its influence on small terrestrial mammal communities in South Moravia (Czech Republic, Central Europe)

Abstract

Over the last 70 years, the agricultural landscape in many formerly socialistic European countries have changed markedly. Small mammals inhabiting agricultural landscapes are one of the most influenced communities. In this manuscript, unique long-term datasets from the Czech Republic and three representative periods have been interpreted and investigated as to species composition, variation in numbers, and habitat requirements. The first study period of 1956–1963 was a time when socialist collectivisation started, the agricultural landscape was still partially under the management of small holders and a higher diversity of crops and the landscape elements persisted. Second period studied was 1983–1989 when fields were merged into big areas and intensive land use and high yields were supported by increased use of fertilizers and pesticides. The landscape diversity decreased. In both periods, species of the genus Apodemus and Microtus arvalis were the dominant species. The abundances of mice were approximately similar, however voles’ densities increased rapidly in the second period. Number of the rare species drastically decreased. The third period studied was after land reprivatisation (2008–2010). Only a small part of the land was cultivated by small farmers; most of the land continued to be farmed by large cooperatives. The diversity of planted crops and of the overall landscape increased and effort toward more ecological agricultural management occurred. In contrast to previous two studies, the research was conducted in a more variable landscape, which resulted in lower densities of captured mammals, however the species composition was similar to the 1983–1989 period.