Conservation ecology of a reintroduced dormouse population

不断变化的环境条件对濒危物种的影响是一个迫切需要保护的问题。榛睡鼠（Muscardinus avellanarius）在英国很罕见，很容易灭绝。虽然睡鼠曾经在英格兰和威尔士广泛分布，但土地利用和林地和灌木篱生境管理的变化导致睡鼠分布和种群规模显著减少，剩余种群越来越孤立。榛睡鼠是英国生物多样性行动计划的优先物种，也是欧洲保护物种。该项目将主要集中在柴郡半古老林地重新引入榛睡鼠种群。1996年，作为英国自然物种恢复计划的一部分，建立了这个种群。项目的合作伙伴柴郡野生动物基金会已经监测了这一种群20多年，提供了200多个人工巢箱来支持繁殖的成功。该项目的主要目的和目标将以直接为保护计划提供信息为目标。潜在的目标包括：-分析和增加关于人口规模、人口统计和繁殖成功的长期数据记录，以确定解释人口趋势的环境因素。-确定与木鼠和黄颈鼠的种间竞争在榛睡鼠行为和种群动态中的作用。-测试一系列非侵入性的调查和监测方法，量化扩散到新地点的程度，并为改善栖息地连通性的计划提供信息。-应用非侵入性分子工具进行饮食分析，为未来的栖息地管理提供信息；应用基因分析，为种群管理提供信息。-确定主要的生境需求，以支持现有的种群，并计划未来重新引入。

The impact of changing environmental conditions on endangered species is a subject of pressing conservation concern. Hazel dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) are rare and vulnerable to extinction in the UK. Although once widespread throughout England and Wales, changes in land use and in the management of woodland and hedgerow habitat have led to significant reductions in dormouse distribution and population size, with remaining populations increasingly isolated. Hazel dormice are a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan and a European Protected Species. This project will focus primarily on a re-introduced population of hazel dormice at a semi-ancient woodland site in Cheshire. The population was established as part of the English Nature Species Recovery Programme in 1996. Project CASE partner Cheshire Wildlife Trust have monitored this population for over 20 years, providing more than 200 artificial nest boxes to support breeding success. Key aims and objectives of the project will be developed with the goal of directly informing conservation plans. Potential goals include:- Analyse and add to long-term data records on population size, demography and breeding success, to identify environmental factors explaining population trends.- Determine the role of interspecific competition with wood mice and yellow-necked mice in the behaviour and population dynamics of hazel dormice. - Test a range of non-invasive surveying and monitoring methods, to quantify the extent of dispersal to new sites, and inform plans for improving habitat connectivity. - Apply non-invasive molecular tools for diet analysis, to inform future habitat management, and genetic analysis, to inform population management.- Identify key habitat requirements to support the current population and plan for future reintroductions.