Shrew Communities in Mediterranean Agro-Ecosystems of Central Greece: Associations with Crop Types, Land Uses, and Soil Parameters

Abstract

Shrew communities play a crucial role in a diverse range of natural, urban, and agricultural ecosystems. We used Barn owl diet analysis as the ideal proxy to assess small-mammal distribution patterns on large spatial scales. More than 10,000 pellets were analyzed from Thessaly, the largest agricultural prefecture located in central Greece. A total of more than 29,000 prey items were identified, one of the largest datasets used in similar analyses in Europe. Three discrete shrew species were present in Thessaly agricultural plains, central Greece (Güldenstädt’s shrew Crocidura gueldenstaedtii, Bi-coloured shrew Crocidura leucodon, and Pygmy white-toothed shrew Suncus etruscus), which comprised a total of 7452 shrews, representing 25.64% of the total small-mammals’ dataset. C. gueldenstaedtii and S. etruscus demonstrated strong associations with heavy argillaceous-clay soils and Vertisol soil types, whereas S. etruscus was also associated with non-irrigated land and non-intensive cultivated plots. C. leucodon demonstrated no significant associations to any environmental gradient and demonstrated habitat plasticity, most possibly shaped by existing resources and competition. Our study highlights the important insights gained from Barn owl diet analysis in respect of small-mammal assemblages on broad geographical scales, and the inclusion of soil parameters as drivers of habitat suitability and distribution patterns for small-mammal responses.