ECOLOGICAL DATA ON SMALL MAMMALS FROM CEAHLĂU NATIONAL PARK

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1 Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii AL. I. CUZA Iaşi, s. Biologie animală, Tom LII, 2006 ECOLOGICAL DATA ON SMALL MAMMALS FROM CEAHLĂU NATIONAL PARK CLAUDIU NICULĂES and IORDACHE ION Al. I. Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, Carol I, 20A, , Iasi, Romania. Abstract. The paper presents the results of two years of research on the small mammals from Ceahlău National Park. Through trapping and visual observation, 14 species of rodents and insectivores were identified. Keywords: small mammals, species diversity, ecology Rezumat. Date ecologice privind mamiferele mici din Parcul Naţional Ceahlău. Lucrarea prezintă rezultatele a doi ani de cercetări asupra mamiferelor mici din Parcul Naţional Ceahlău. Prin capturări şi observaţii directe au fost identificate 14 specii de rozătoare şi insectivore. Cuvinte cheie: micromamifere, diversitatea specifică, ecologie Introduction Ceahlău Mountain has always been a symbol of Romania, its beauty attracting an ever growing number of tourists each year. Although it is neither a very large or isolated area, Ceahlău Massif is home to a very large number of plant and animal species, many of which are rare and under threat from the ever increasing human activity. In 1994, Ceahlău Massif was declared a National Park, and with this status came the need for a better knowledge concerning all the organisms that populate it. If some of these organisms have been relatively well studied across the years, the small mammals are a group for which the available data are incomplete, and a need for a more profound study is felt. The present paper shows some of the scientific observations done in the last two years ( ). Comparisons with results obtained by other researchers in two massifs with the same legal protection status (Piatra Craiului and Retezat) are made. Material and Methods The main method used for the study of small mammals in Ceahlău National Park was capturing in square sample grids: each sampling area was represented by a 25 x 25 m 2, in which 35 traps were installed at regular intervals. Two types of traps were used in order to catch different sized animals (metallic spring traps for the larger species and pitfalls for the smaller species). Trapping was carried out in 9 sample areas located at 4 altitude levels (900m, 1200m, 1500m, 1800m) and in 6 habitat types (compact mixed forest, mixed forest with bushes, compact spruce forest, wind felling with raspberry cane, glade, sub alpine meadow), as follows: sample area 1 located in a wind felling with raspberry cane at 1200m altitude; sample area 2 situated in a mixed forest with bushes at 900m altitude; sample area 3 in a compact mixed forest, at 900m altitude; sample area 4 represented by a glade, at 900 altitude; sample area 5 in the compact spruce forest, at 1200 m altitude; sample area 6 situated in the sub alpine meadow, at 1800 m altitude; sample area 7 in the compact spruce forest, at 1500 m altitude; sample area 8 in a glade at 1500 m altitude and sample area 9 located in the compact spruce forest, at 1500 m altitude. Observations have also been done to complement the data obtained through capturing. The identification of species was done using descriptions given by Popescu & Murariu, (2001), and Murariu (2000), and ecological indices were calculated according to Varvara et al., (2001)

2 Claudiu Niculăes & Iordache Ion Results and Discussion During field research carried out throughout 2004 and 2005, 214 individuals belonging to 10 small mammal species were captured (7 species of rodents and 3 species of insectivores). Two species of rodents and two of insectivores were observed in the area, but there were not present in the captures. All these species belong to 6 families - 4 rodent families and 2 families of insectivores. Among rodents, the species with the highest number of captured individuals was Clethrionomys glareolus (almost 50% of all captures), followed by Apodemus flavicollis (almost 30% of total captures) and by Mus musculus. Among insectivores, Sorex minutus is best represented in captures. The cited literature gives a number of 23 species of rodents and insectivores (Tab. 1) present in the Ceahlău Massif. We followed the species composition in relation with altitude (Tab. 2) and habitat type (Tab. 3). In the previous study dedicated exclusively to the small mammals of Ceahlău Massif (Simionescu, 1968),8 species of micromammals were captured, of which 6 were rodents (Myoxus glis, Clethrionomys glareolus, Pitymys subterraneus, Microtus agrestis, Apodemus sylvaticus and Apodemus flavicollis) and 2 were insectivores (Sorex araneus and Sorex alpinus). From all these species, the only one not found in our research was Microtus agrestis. Myoxus glis was seen in the Izvorul Muntelui chalet, but was not captured in traps. As compared to the study from 1968, we found three more species of rodents (Muscardinus avellanarius, Mus musculus and Arvicola terrestris), and one more species of insectivores (Sorex minutus).the dominant species in the 1968 research was Apodemus flavicollis, whereas, for the present study,cletrhionomys glareolus was dominant. We also captured more species in the sub alpine meadow than the 1968 research (4 species of rodents unlike to just one) we consider this to be the result of a higher sampling effort. Regarding the small mammals of other mountainous areas in Romania with the same legal status, we compared our results with those from Piatra Craiului and Retezat National Parks. In Piatra Craiului Massif, Deaconu (2002) captured small mammals belonging to 7 rodent species, but did not trap any insectivores. Three of the species captured are from the Muridae family (Apodemus flavicollis, Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus musculus), two are Microtidae (Microtus nivalis and Microtus agrestis), and two are Myoxidae (Glis glis and Muscardinus avellanarius). Apodemus flavicollis is the dominant species, and an interesting fact is that no Clethrionomys glareolus were caught. In Piatra Craiului, the most favorable habitat for small mammals proved to be the mixed forest with bushes, in accord with the results obtained by us in Ceahlău Massif. The mixed forest with bushes seems to offer the best conditions for small mammals, both in terms of food opportunities and in shelter from predators. The most recent study on small mammals from Retezat National Park was conducted between 2000 and 2002 (Benedek et al., 2004). The authors of the study found 4 species of insectivores (Talpa europea, Sorex araneus, Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens) and 7 species of rodents (Sciurus vulgaris, Myoxus glis, Clethrionomys glareolus, Pitymys subterraneus, Microtus agrestis, Microtus nivalis, Apodemus flavicollis). No quantitative data regarding the numbers of animals from each species was presented. As for the altitudinal distribution, 6 species were found in the mixed forest, 5 species in the spruce forest and 7 species in the sub alpine meadow. In our own research in Ceahlău massif, we captured 7 species in the mixed forest, 5 species in the spruce forest and 4 species in the sub alpine meadow

3 Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii AL. I. CUZA Iaşi, s. Biologie animală, Tom LII, 2006 Table 1. The small mammal fauna of Ceahlău National Park, based on available data in literature and on original research. Order Family Species Cited in literature Original data Nr. Ind Sciuridae Sciurus vulgaris V. Simionescu, 1968 observed Myoxus glis V Simionescu, 1968 observed Muscardinus avellanarius V. Ionescu, 1972 captured 4 Eliomys quercinus I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Myoxidae Dryomys nitedula I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Clethrionomys glareolus V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 102 Microtus arvalis I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Microtus agrestis V. Simionescu, 1968 Microtus nivalis I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Pitymys subterraneus V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 23 Arvicolidae Ondatra zibethica I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 (Microtidae) Arvicola terrestris I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 captured 1 Dipodidae Sicista betulina I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Mus musculus I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 captured 12 Rattus norvegicus I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Apodemus flavicollis V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 59 Rodentia Muriade Apodemus sylvaticus V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 3 Erinaceidae Erinaceus europaeus I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 Talpidae Talpa europaea I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 observed Sorex araneus V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 1 Sorex minutus I. Ion, C. Ion, 2002 captured 7 Sorex alpinus V. Simionescu, 1968 captured 2 Insetivora Soricidae Neomys fodiens V. Ionescu, 1972 observed total Table 2. The altitudinal distribution of small mammals in Ceahlau National Park based on captures. Altitude level Nr.crt. Species 900m 1200m 1500m 1800m 1 Apodemus flavicollis Apodemus sylvaticus Mus musculus + 4 Clethronomys glareolus Pitymys subterraneus Arvicola terrestris + 7 Sorex araneus Sorex alpinus + 9 Sorex minutus Muscardinus avellanarius

4 Claudiu Niculăes & Iordache Ion Table 3. The distribution of small mammals from Ceahlau National Park on habitat types, based on captures. Nr Wind Mixed forest Compact Compact Sub alpine Crt. Species felling with bushes mixed forest Glade spruce forest meadow 1 Apodemus flavicollis Apodemus sylvaticus Mus musculus Clethronomys glareolus Pitymys subterraneus Arvicola terrestris + 7 Sorex araneus Sorex alpinus + 9 Sorex minutus Muscardinus avellanarius + Order Rodentia Family Muridae Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior, 1834) The yellow necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis) (Fig. 1) was present in 7 of the 9 sample areas that were studied, at all altitude levels and in most types of habitat. The highest relative abundance for this species was reached in the sub alpine meadow (43%), followed by the mixed forest with bushes (30%). In the spruce forest is less present (around Figure 1. Apodemus flavicollis (orig). 10 % of all captured individuals). The yellow necked mouse seems to be a very adaptable species, as it was found in great numbers not only in nature, but also in Dochia chalet. In nature, it was only seen or captured during the night, but in the chalet we also saw it active during the day. Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus, 1758) The wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) is very similar in appearance to the yellow necked mouse, from which it can be distinguished by a smaller size and the lack of the yellow spot on the neck. It is most abundant in relatively low altitude forests, and in Ceahlău it is a recedent and accidental species. It was captured in habitats associated with the spruce forest, where Apodemus flavicollis is rare or missing. This makes us believe that the wood mouse is in competition with the yellow necked mouse, which has the advantage of its larger size in the relatively cold climate of Ceahlău

5 Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii AL. I. CUZA Iaşi, s. Biologie animală, Tom LII, 2006 Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758) The house mouse (Mus musculus) was captured in two of the 9 sample areas. It was found in both 2004 and 2005, especially in the spring, which is probably the season when it is most active. There are several elements that make us believe that the house mouse is an introduced species in the Ceahlău Mountains, its presence being related to human activities in the area: - It was not found in the 1968 study, when the human presence in the area was much more reduced - We also found house mice in the Mountain Rescue base in Durău - We only captured house mice in the sample areas located near Durău (in the mixed forest). - We did not find any food reserves characteristic to the species that lives in the wild (Mus spicilegus). The house mouse distinguishes itself by the sociable nature of individuals, which were captured in many occasions in pairs, alive, in one pitfall. Family Arvicolidae (Microtidae) Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780) The bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) (Fig. 2) was trapped in all sample areas, and overall is the most abundant species in Ceahlău. The habitat in which it is not the dominant species is the sub alpine meadow. In competition with other rodent species (especially Apodemus flavicollis),the bank vole has the advantage of also being active during the day, thus utilizing the resources of the ecosystem more efficiently. In direct encounters between these two species, the bank vole loses to the yellow necked mouse which is also larger (Adrzejewski & Oleszwski, 1963). Figure 2. Clethionomys glareolus (orig.). As for the intraspecific relations, the bank voles are aggressive, one of them killing the other, whenever they found themselves together in a pitfall. Pitymys subterraneus (de Selys- Longschamps, 1836) The pine vole (Pitymys subterraneus) (Fig. 3) is present in large numbers in the sub alpine meadow, where it is the second species in captures, after Apodemus flavicollis. In the rest of the massif, the pine vole is a rare species, but present at all altitudes and in most habitats. It was seen active and captured both during the day and the night. Figure 3. Pitymys subterraneus (orig.). The number of pine voles in Ceahlău Mountains seems to be limited by the competition with the bank vole. The pine vole was captured in larger numbers in the sample areas and in the periods in which the bank vole was less present

6 Claudiu Niculăes & Iordache Ion Arvicola terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) Only one water vole (Arvicola terrestris) was captured near the Dochia chalet. Its presence, at such a high altitude (1800m), is unusual, as it is quoted in the Romanian Fauna at altitudes less than 1500m. Apart from the animals that we captured, its presence on the high mountain plateau is confirmed by the characteristic hills. Family Gliridae Muscardinus avellanarius (Linnaeus, 1758) Four hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) (Fig. 4) were captured in the mixed forest with bushes. The fact that it was trapped for two consecutive years in the same sample area confirms the presence of a hazel dormouse population in that particular habitat. Due to their protected species status, the hazel dormice were released after capture. The presence of a hazel dormouse in the mixed forest with bushes is an argument to further protect this type of habitat. Figure 4. Muscardinus avellanarius (orig.). Order Insectivora Family Soricidae Sorex araneus (Linnaeus, 1758) Although it is the most common soricid in Romania s fauna, the common shrew (Sorex araneus) is a rare species in Ceahlău Mountains. Only one shrew was captured, and two more were found dead on the high plateau, near Dochia chalet. The fact that it was found at such different altitudes makes us believe that the common shrew is present in the entire massif, but in small numbers. Sorex minutus (Linnaeus, 1776) The minute shrew (Sorex minutus) (Fig. 5) is the soricid with the highest number of individuals captured in Ceahlău. It seems to have a preference for the spruce forest, where most minute shrews were trapped. As for interspecific relations with other soricids, we must note that the minute shrew was not found in the same sample area like the common shrew, although it was captured in the same sample area like the alpine shrew (but not at the same time). Figure 5. Sorex minutus (orig.) Sorex alpinus (Schinz, 1837) The alpine shrew (Sorex alpinus) distinguishes itself from the common shrew by its bigger size, by its larger hind legs and especially by its tail which is almost as long as

7 Analele Ştiinţifice ale Universităţii AL. I. CUZA Iaşi, s. Biologie animală, Tom LII, 2006 its body (the tail of the common shrew is no longer than 2/3 of its body). Sorex alpinus is a rare species in the massif, with only two specimens trapped in the mixed forest with bushes, the same habitat where the hazel dormouse was found, both species being rare in Romania and protected by law. Conclusions The cited literature gives a number of 23 species of small mammals (rodents and insectivores) as present in Ceahlău Massif Our own researches found 14 species of small mammals (by observations and capturing). During 2004 and 2005, 214 individuals belonging to 10 small mammal species were captured (7 species of rodents and 3 species of insectivores). Two species of rodents and two of insectivores were observed in the area, but there were not present in the captures. The species observed and captured in the study area belong to 6 families, 4 families of rodents and 2 families of insectivores Three of the species found in Ceahlău (Myoxus glis, Muscardinus avellanarius and Sorex alpinus) are protected by law in Romania. We consider that micromammal species diversity is high in Ceahlău Massif, as it surpasses that found in other protected mountainous areas (14 species of small mammals found in Ceahlau as compared to 7 in Piatra Craiului and 11 in Retezat). The 9 sample areas in which the traps were set covered most habitat types (compact mixed forest, mixed forest with bushes, compact spruce forest, wind felling with raspberry cane, glade, sub alpine meadow) and 4 altitude levels (900m, 1200m, 1500m, 1800m). The most important habitat type, both in terms of species diversity and in terms of the presence of rare and protected species was the mixed forest with bushes, and this is an argument for supplementary protection measures concerning this area. The species with the highest influence on the small mammal community from Ceahlău National Park are Clethrionomys glareolus and Apodemus flavicollis. References Andrzejewski, R., Oleszwski, J., 1963, - Social behaviour and interspecific relations in Apodemus flavicollis (Melchior 1834) and Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780). Acta theriologica, Bialowieza, VII (10): Benedek, A.-M., Soricu M., Drugă M., 2004, Preliminary data regarding the fauna of small mammals (Ord. Insectivora and Ord. Rodentia) from the Retezat Mountains and the surrounding areas. Muzeul Naţional Brukental, Sudii şi comunicări Ştiinţe naturale, 29: Ciobanu, M., Grasu, C., Ionescu V., 1972, Monumentele naturii din Judeţul Neamţ. Muzeul de Ştiinţe Naturale Piatra Neamţ., p Deaconu, S., 2002, Observations on rodent species in the northern side of Piatra Craiului massif. In Research in Piatra Craiului National Park I, p , Editura Phoenix, Brasov Ion, I., Ion, C., 2002, Mamiferele din Ceahlău. Editura Corson, Iaşi. Murariu, D., 2000, Fauna României, Mammalia, Insectivora,vol. XVI, fasc. 1. Edit. Acad. Rom., Bucureşti. Popescu Alexandrina, Murariu D., 2001, Fauna României, Mammalia, vol. XVI, fasc. 2, Rodentia, Edit. Acad. Rom., Bucureşti. Simionescu, V., 1968, Contribuţii la cunoaşterea componenţei specifice şi a repartiţiei pe verticală a mamiferelor mici de pe masivul Ceahlău. An. Şt. Univ. "Al. I. Cuza" Iaşi, s. Biol. Anim., XIV (2): Varvara, M., Zamfirescu, Şt., Neacşu, P., 2001, Lucrări practice de ecologie. Editura Universităţii "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" Iaşi

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