Linear landscape elements and biodiversity of small terrestrial mammals in agriculture landscape

Annotation The thesis deals with an influence of linear landscape elements and landscape heterogeneity on a biodiversity and population dynamics of small terrestrial mammals (STM) in an agricultural landscape of South Bohemia. The theoretical part consists of literally review about landscape, historical analysis of landscape structures development in the area of interest and summarizes existing knowledge about the ecology of present STM species. The aim of the practical part is to compare small mammals' biodiversity in three biotopes using capture-release-recapture method. The thesis follows my bachelor thesis and uses the same methods as in 2013. Data obtained in 2013 and 2015 were evaluated and the results were compared. In both years three three-days long captures were performed, always with 30 traps in 5 meters distance in every biotope. The species, sex, weight, foot length and age of captured animals were determined. In 2013, 60 individuals of three species of small terrestrial mammals were captured (Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus and Microtus arvalis). In 2015, 444 individuals of four species were captured (Apodemus sylvaticus, Myodes glareolus, Microtus arvalis and Apodemus flavicollis). The total numbers of STM significantly differ between 2013 and 2015 (Wilcoxon's pair test, Z = 2,66; p = 0,008). The biotopes differ significantly in animal abundance in both 2013 (Chi-Square 114,1; d. f. = 2; p < 0, 0001) and 2015 (Chi-Square 346,96; d. f. = 2; p < 0, 0001). The highest species diversity and abundance were always found in linear landscape element (alley)