The wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus is common in woodlands and open areas of the Western Palearctic. Despite extensive research, little is known about its population ecology in fields in the Mediterranean area, where the climate involves great seasonal changes in environmental features. Here, we investigated wood mice seasonal fluctuations in the number of captures and population structure by sampling long-fallow fields and woodlands, i.e., oak forest and conifer plantation, in a heterogeneous landscape of central Italy. Mice were live-trapped every two months for three years (23.814 trap-days). The number of captures, mice body weight, and proportion of adult, residents and breeding individuals were analyzed. Mice dynamics changed across seasons and habitats. In fields, we recorded more captures, more reproductive individuals, and fewer non-adults and resident individuals in the warmer months compared to the colder months; mice were heavier in warmer months. During the cold season, the captures and adult proportion in fields were lower than in resource-rich woodlands. Breeding and non-resident mice were more abundant in fields than in woodlands in warmer months. Overall, the seasonal demographic variations we recorded provide evidence that fields can represent a suboptimal habitat in Mediterranean heterogeneous landscapes, acting nonetheless as a source of food resources, cover, and mates for mice in spring–summer.

Background: In recent years, the study of animal personality has gained significant attention in ecology and evolutionary biology. Small mammals are one of the most frequently studied mammalian taxa in this field, and their personality significantly impacts ecological outcomes. However, a review focused on the materials and methods to study wild small mammal personality is lacking. Aims: To address this gap, we aim to (1) identify the most consistent assays for measuring specific personality traits in wild species and (2) propose a standardised experimental design, detailing optimal arena size, shape and material, as well as standardised testing conditions and experimental procedures and highlighting critical aspects which require validation. Moreover, we (3) report a clear interpretation of the most commonly measured behavioural traits and the methods employed for their analysis. Material and Methods: Our review synthesises findings from 133 articles covering 54 species in a variety of habitats, ranging from the Canadian boreal forests to the semi‐desert regions of South Africa. We found a concerning lack of standardisation in research methodologies, especially for key features such as the shape and size of arenas for behavioural assays and test duration. We observed considerable variability in how behavioural traits were interpreted. Nevertheless, we identified a suite of tests and interpretations of behaviours that allow for efficient processing of animals and produce consistent results in both field and laboratory settings. Conclusion: We conclude with five recommendations for a standardised approach to enhance the comparability of results and advance the field of wild small mammal personality research.

Wild boar rooting behaviour can be shaped by several environmental variables (e.g., food availability and habitat features) and can directly or indirectly influence various habitats, ecological processes and taxa. One of these, ground-dwelling rodents, are known to be affected by wild boar foraging activity due to food competition and direct disturbance. In the current study, the following questions were investigated: do vegetation composition, structural components of forest habitats (at ground, shrub, and tree levels) and acorn availability influence rooting activity of wild boars and consequently, also the abundance of Apodemus flavicollis and A. sylvaticus in the same area. This research was carried out in a Mediterranean deciduous oak forest across 12 sampling sites. The results showed that, among the habitat variables considered, only shrub cover at 1 m height had a significant association with the extent of wild boar rooting. Contrary to expectations, acorn availability did not significantly influence rooting activity, suggesting either a more complex relationship between food availability and rooting behaviour or the influence of other local factors. Likewise, the number of Apodemus spp. individuals captured was not significantly related to rooting activity, indicating no detectable effects of wild boar rooting on rodents in the study area. This study contributes to our understanding of the factors driving this foraging behaviour and its ecological and socioeconomic implications.