Habitat preferences and vertical distribution of dormice in the Tatra Mountains

Dormice monitoring was carried out between 2014 and 2019 at 14 areas located in various regions of the Tatra National Park Poland. The were habitats: beech forests spruce low mountain zone; forests, windbreaks pine (Pinus mugo) thickets high zone. choice area for resulted from habitat type technical possibilities enabling regular inspections. Each equipped with 30 nest boxes dedicated to dormice. hung on trees a height 1.5 2 meters, only thickets. In habitats dense cover European Red Raspberries (Rubus idaeus) lower, branches or specially constructed poles. use determined basis presence dormice their nests. A comparison box shows that Hazel Dormouse has specific preferences mountainous areas. This species most frequently found windbreaks, often those proportion destroyed after an outbreak bark beetle ( Ips typographus) . These are characterized by extensive undergrowth numerous raspberries, Common Rowan Sorbus aucuparia) , Rosebay Willow Herb Epilobium angustifolium) Picea abies) Beech forest Fagus sylvatica ) forms which is not preferred, but unavoidable. Negative selectivity demonstrated relation dominant Park. Forest Dryomys nitedula) one plot fourth year observation. It small patch vicinity site where this detected 2011.