Area of Science:

• Zoology
• Ecology
• Mammalogy

Context:

• Field studies conducted in diverse forest habitats in Lower Austria and Burgenland, Austria, from 1963 to 1966.
• Involved marking and trapping 418 individuals of the yellow-necked fieldmouse (Apodemus flavicollis) across 1226 instances.

Purpose:

• To investigate the bionomics and ecology of the yellow-necked fieldmouse.
• To compare its ecological niche and population dynamics with the long-tailed fieldmouse (Apodemus sylvaticus).
• To assess the role of A. flavicollis as a host for Ixodes ricinus ticks.

Summary:

• Winter breeding was observed in A. flavicollis and A. sylvaticus, suggesting it may occur annually.
• Reproductive periods varied without a discernible pattern across different years and locations.
• Male A. flavicollis exhibited significant weight variations between study areas, with Neusiedler Wald showing the highest percentage of heavy individuals (28%).
• Average lifespan for A. flavicollis was approximately 3.5 to 3.9 months.
• A. flavicollis is a forest- specialist, while A. sylvaticus demonstrated habitat flexibility.
• A. flavicollis is identified as a significant host for Ixodes ricinus ticks.

Impact:

• Provides insights into the reproductive strategies and population dynamics of forest rodents.
• Highlights the specific habitat requirements of A. flavicollis compared to A. sylvaticus.
• Establishes A. flavicollis as an important host for disease vectors like Ixodes ricinus, relevant for public health and ecological risk assessment.