Distribution of Sorex minutus and Sorex araneus (Mammalia: Insectivora) within a forest area in Western Norway

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Published: Dec 31, 2005
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5324/fn.v25i0.5940
Keywords:
habitat distribution, interspecific competition, pitfall traps, shrews

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John Skartveit
Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, Musèplass 3, Pb. 7800, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway and Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allègaten 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway
Reidun Pommeresche
Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, Musèplass 3, Pb. 7800, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway and Norwegian Centre of Ecological Agriculture, Tingvoll Gård, N-6630 Tingvoll, Norway
Gunnar Langhelle
Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, Musèplass 3, Pb. 7800, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway
Ingvar Byrkjedal
Museum of Zoology, University of Bergen, Musèplass 3, Pb. 7800, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway
Torstein Solhøy
Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Allègaten 41, NO-5007 Bergen, Norway

Abstract

We collected shrews using pitfall traps in a forest area in Kvam, Hordaland, Western Norway in 1997- 98. Altogether, 205 individuals of pygmy shrew, Sorex minutus and 129 individuals of common shrew, Sorex araneus were collected. Both shrew species occurred over a wide range of forest types. Common shrew was absent in bogs and pygmy shrew apparently was absent in alder forest. Common shrew was relatively evenly distributed among forest types while the catches of pygmy shrew was significantly lower in deciduous forest than in pine forest, and this may suggest that the pygmy shrew is partially excluded from these areas by the common shrew. Catches of shrews showed no unambiguous correlation with catches of arthropods. Shrew catches were only weakly related to variation in forest productivity, humidity and tree cover. For both species the number of animals caught was highest in June and July, with rather few specimens caught in early spring and late autumn/winter.

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How to Cite
Skartveit, J., Pommeresche, R. ., Langhelle, G., Byrkjedal, I., & Solhøy, T. (2005). Distribution of Sorex minutus and Sorex araneus (Mammalia: Insectivora) within a forest area in Western Norway. Fauna Norvegica, 25, 55-62. https://doi.org/10.5324/fn.v25i0.5940
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Vol. 25 (2005)
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Articles
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