Local disappearance of the endangered Pannonian root vole (Alexandromys oeconomus mehelyi) and the short-term community-level response of small mammals to mowing

Abstract The present study focuses on the response of small mammals to human disturbance in the Kis-Balaton Landscape Protection Area (Hungary), an endangered marshland. Diverse small mammal community occurs in the study area, providing habitat for the endangered Pannonian root vole ( Alexandromys oeconomus mehelyi ). We investigated the short-term community response of small mammals to mowing, an anthropogenic disturbance, and the consequent habitat change of the root vole subspecies. Two habitat patches utilised by the species were examined. In the first habitat, the large-scale intervention resulted in the local disappearance of the root vole during the observation period, then we found the subspecies in an adjacent habitat. The dissimilarity analyses indicated moderate evidence of seasonal change in the community of the first habitat. In contrast, significant differences were observed between the small mammal assemblages of the two habitats, highlighting the critical role that habitat type plays in community composition. Difference of the community characteristics between seasons and between habitats was also confirmed by the analyses of rank- abundance curves. Our findings emphasise the significant effect of differences in habitat quality, as well as the influence of anthropogenic alterations on the endangered habitat specialist Pannonian root vole and the small mammal community.