Habitat selection of Fat dormouse (Glis glis italicus) in deciduous woodlands of Sicily

The population ecology of the Fat dormouse (Glis glis) is poorly known in Mediterranean biotopes. During 1999-2001, we set artificial nest boxes of suitable size in three deciduous woodlands (1200-1600 m a.s.l.): a pure Fagus sylvatica wood, a mixed Q. petraea and Ilex aquifolium and a mixed F. sylvatica and Quercus petraea in the Madonie Regional Park (Sicily) to obtain basic data on the species' ecology. Nest box density was 25 per ha. The Fat dormouse living in Sicily has the typical italicus fur pattern and the smallest body size among the Italian populations. It is, however, slightly larger than G.g. melonii from Sardinia. The Fat dormouse was absent from the sampled pure beech forest, but present in the other two mixed deciduous woodlands. The nest box occupation rate fluctuated according to the production of oak acorns, which is biennial. It was higher during the years of peak production. Occupation of the nest boxes began in early May. From late August to the end of September lactating females with new-born young occupy the nests. Eight litters gave an average of 5.5±1.9 young. Juveniles were present until early December, whereas the adults disappeared in the first days of November. Using a selection index we showed that the Fat dormouse preferred nest-boxes placed in a vegetation structure with dense understorey and high trees. Secondarily it uses nest-boxes placed in the single stratum of high trees. Mixed deciduous woodland with a high (> 12 m) and dense tree canopy seems, from these preliminary data, to be one determinant habitat feature.