Estimation of Muscardinus avellanarius population density by live-trapping

Common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) density in Transylvanian Plain is investigated using live-traps. Estimated population size is 39 individuals. Results using non-spatial methods combined with ad hoc calculations of the effective trapping area overestimated common dormouse density, both when using the naïve density estimation (27 ind./ha) and also when the “edge-effect” was accounted for by the addition of a boundary strip (16 ind./ha). Compared with published results using the same methods, our results are yet significantly higher. Spatially explicit capture-recapture approach yields lower density, of 13 ind./ha (maximum likelihood estimate), but still one of the highest densities reported for the species. Interspecific competition for traps was negligible at our study site.