Species diversity and abundance of small terrestrial mammals in several types of forest stands in Třeboňsko study area

The goal of this thesis was to find the diversity and abundance of small mammals in several types of forest and non-forest ecosystems in the protected landscape area of CHKO Třeboňsko. Further, the goal was to compare the collected data with analogical data from Krušné hory and finally discuss the findings in relation to the abundance of the Tengmalm´s Owl (Aegolius funereus) in both areas. Trapping by collapsible snap-traps was practiced in both of the abovementioned protected landscape areas. In case of Třeboňsko, six spring and six fall quadrants were established, while the area of one quadrant was designated to 270 m2with 40 traps laid. In contrast, the small mammals in Krušné hory were being caught on three spring and three fall quadrants. The area of one quadrant was designated to be 1 ha with each quadrant containing 121 laid traps. The result numbers of caught individuals were converted into the number of trapped individuals per 100 trap nights. The number of nesting pairs of Tengmalm´s Owl was established by regular visits of hanging nestboxes in both of the protected landscape areas. In 2014, 42 individuals were caught in Třeboňsko. The following species were recorded: yellow-neck mouse (Apodemus flavicollis), bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), and common vole (Microtus arvalis). For this year, the highest diversity of species was recorded in localities "pine north" and "open area south". The highest number of individuals caught (21) was in the quadrant of "pine north". The year 2015 was more colorful in case of recorded species, however the total number of caught individuals was only insignificantly higher (49 individuals in total). The following species were caught: yellow-neck mouse, wood mouse, bank vole, common shrew (Sorex araneus), and field vole (Microtus agrestis). The highest species diversity was recorded in the quadrant of "spruces north" and the highest number of caught pieces (24) was recorded in the quadrant of "pine north". In case of Krušné hory, there were 31 caught individuals in 2014 and 193 individuals in 2015. The species diversity of small mammals was equivalent as in the experimental localities in Třeboňsko, additionally, only the eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) was recorded. The following numbers of nesting pairs of Tengmalm´s Owl were recorded through the regular visits of nesting boxes: in the year 2014, there was not a single nesting pair in the area of Třeboňsko; in the year 2015, there were 3 nesting pair. In Krušné hory, for the year 2014, there were 10 nesting pair recorded, and for the year 2015, 34 pair were recorded. Even though the food supply was similar, there was a significant difference in the numbers of nesting couples in Třeboňsko and Krušné hory. It seems probably, that the Tengmalm´s Owl simply prefers natural nesting cavities over the hanging booths in Třeboňsko