The results of a karyological study on the dormice Myoxus glis (2n=62) and Dryomys nitedula (2n=48), the ground squirrel Spermophilus citellus/i> (2n=40) and the red bank vole Myodes glareolus (2n=56) from Greece are presented. A part from the clarification of their diploid chromosome number, a more elaborate study of their karyotype was conducted and the G- and C- banding patterns are provided for the first time in Greek populations of these species. In particular, heterochromatin distribution in D. nitedula seems to be more extensive than previously thought, contrasting M. glis, in which heterochromatin seems to be absent. On the other hand, the Y chromosome of M. glareolus was found to be a fully heterochromatic submetacentric. In overall, the comparison of our karyological results, with those of other Eurasian populations reinforce the belief that the karyotypes of the studied species are conservative, displaying small degrees of variation, usually restricted to the size and morphology of the sex chromosomes.
In Lithuania, common dormice Muscardinus avellanarius destroyed 6.6% of 3807 bird nests with eggs in nestboxes at two study sites. M. avellanarius occupied nests of pied flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca without eggs or nests with incomplete clutches most often, ate unhatched eggs, but did not kill or bite nestlings and adult birds. M. avellanarius were very seldom found in nestboxes with nests of tits Parus spp. Edible dormice Glis glis destroyed 14.3% of 498 bird nests with eggs or nestlings at two study sites, mostly nests of F. hypoleuca and great tit Parus major. G. glis ate birds’ eggs, killed and ate nestlings and adult birds. Forest dormice Dryomys nitedula made the biggest impact on birds nesting in nestboxes. They destroyed 20.5% of 171 nests with eggs or nestlings, ate eggs, killed and ate nestlings and adult birds. The most common impact of D. nitedula on birds in nestboxes was the killing of adults, either breeding or just looking for nest sites, and F. hypoleuca made a majority among birds killed. F. hypoleuca was most affected by all three dormice species in Lithuania, while P. major was impacted less and only by G. glis and D. nitedula.
V článku je popsáno neobvyklé hemisynantropní chování plcha lesního (Dryomys nitedula) v domě v Oderských vrších nedaleko Bílovce (okres Nový Jičín). Zjištěný jedinec si ve dnech 14.-16. srpna vybudoval hnízdo v květináči s dračincem (Dracaena sp.), které bylo tvořeno suchými listy rostliny a ozdobnými krajkami., This article describes an unusual hemisynanthropic behaviour of one individual of the Forest Dormouse (Dryomys nitedula) observed at a house in the Oderské vrchy mountains near Bílovec (Nový Jičín district). On August 14-16, this dormouse built a nest in a flowerpot containing a Dracaena plant out of its dry leaves and also decorative lace., and Patrik Molitor.