Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 36/1. (2016)
Zoology
Role of ecotone stone in survival of the species Mus spicilegus Petényi 1882 (Muridae, Rodentia) (51.9%) and fallow ground (56.4%), while in late July after harvest, the activity individuals in wheat and perennials decreases sharply (0 and 3.4%), due to their dispersal adjacent uncultivated lands, where breeding activity reaches about 60% (in fallow). In August the proportion of breeding females in lands with perennials grow again and constitute about 60%. Namely the individuals of the last generation born in August — September participates intensively at the construction of mounds and ensures the survival of the population during the cold season. After analyzing the mound-building population in autumn in various biotypes, the highest density was recorded in some agrocoenoses and in the area of ecotone (shelter belts — agrocoenoses, strip between agrocoenoses). The abundance in corn stubble varied from 7.2% to — 59.2%, on wheat stubble — from 8.6% to 34.38%, on sunflower stubble — 1.1%—19.6% on alfalfa held - 0.7%—9.9%, on fallow - 2.3%-25%, at ecotone shelter belt - cornfield - 45.5%—66.7%, on strip between agrocoenoses - 16.7%—36.4%. In these biotopes the mound-building mouse is a constant or characteristic species with ecological significance (W) 7.9 %-44.4%. Rapid recovery of population is also assured by periodic dispersion particular for this species. Rich assortment of seeds of crop and spontaneous plants used for food permit to individuals to populate various types of agricultural biotypes, to survive in the conditions of common agro-technical works (rolling, plowing, harvesting) and then to migrate to adjacent biotypes. In general, the presence of the species is conditioned by the availability of trophic resources. At first they populate the edges of fields where their density is 2.1 times higher than in the center. Here the formation of new groups occurs where individuals of spring — summer generations prevails. In the first decade of July, before the harvest, an intense migration of individuals from gramineae lands on the corn can be observed and in early September the density of individuals on the outskirts of filed is 1.3 times higher than in the center. For mound-building mouse is very important not only the possibility of building mounds, but also their preservation, which depends primarily on agro-technical measures applied to the inhabited lands. The longest period the mounds preserve on fallow, on strip between agrocenoses, on lands with perennial plants and in the area of ecotone, because these lands are not subject so often to agro-technical activities (Tab. 2). In maize and sunflower crops the mounds are preserved from 2-3 up to 6-7 months depending on the agro-technical measures applied to these lands. The shortest period of 1—2 months the mounds remain intact on gramineae fields, because in most cases, these lands are plowed in autumn. Table 2: Period of mound preservation in various biotopes Biotope______________________Mound construction____________________Period of preservation________ Perennial plants______________Il-nd half of September__________________6 — 7 months (till spring)_______ Gramineae ____________I-st half of August_______________2 — 3 months (till autumn plowing) Maize, sunflower Il-nd half of October — I-st half of November____6-7 months (till spring plowing) Fallow ____________I-st half of August____________________6 — 7 months (till spring)________ Ecotone______________________I-st half of August____________________6 — 7 months (till spring)________ Despite the fact that the mounds stay 6-7 months, in spring, the seeds from the food supply germinate and the mounds turns into green “islands”, which can be seen very well and serve as a food source for hares, wild boar, deer etc. (Fig. 5). 103
