The diet of the Alpine mouse Apodemus alpicola in the Swiss Alps

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_F7F83B7516C9
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
The diet of the Alpine mouse Apodemus alpicola in the Swiss Alps
Journal
Mammalian Biology
Author(s)
Reutter B. A., Bertouille E., Vogel P.
ISSN
1616-5047
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2005
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
70
Number
3
Pages
147-155
Language
english
Abstract
In this study, we used faecal analysis to determine the diet of the alpine mouse Apodemus alpicola in the field for the first time. This species consumes mainly insects in spring and fruits and seeds of small herbaceous dicotyledons in summer and autumn. Compared to the two congeneric species A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus, which also occur in the Alps, the diet of A. alpicola is rich in contrasts, with a very pronounced difference between spring and summer. The absence of tree seeds also suggests a mostly terrestrial behaviour. We explain these facts by the specificity of the habitat of A. alpicola: the extreme weather conditions produce great seasonal changes in the vegetation, and the rocky ground favours the adaptation to rock climbing rather than to arboreal Living. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.
Keywords
apodemus alpicola diet faecal analysis alps wood mouse a-flavicollis sylvaticus rodentia habitat food identification mammalia muridae eastern
Web of science
Create date
24/01/2008 17:33
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:24
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