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A novel approach to field identification of cryptic Apodemus wood mice: calls differ more than morphology |
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| Authors: | Leonardo Ancillotto Emiliano Mori Giulia Sozio Emanuela Solano Sandro Bertolino Danilo Russo |
| Institution: | 1. Wildlife Research Unit, Laboratorio di Ecologia Applicata, Sezione di Biologia e Protezione dei Sistemi Agrari e Forestali, Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italy;2. Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali e Alimentari, Università di Torino, Grugliasco, Torino, Italy;3. Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Teramo, Italy;4. Department of Biology and Biotechnology “Charles Darwin”, “La Sapienza” University of Rome, Rome, Italy;5. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK |
| Abstract: | Field identification of European wood mice Apodemus spp. is challenging due to their morphological resemblance and frequent sympatry. We developed discriminant functions based on body mass and acoustic variables of distress calls to identify three cryptic species of wood mice (Apodemus alpicola, Apodemus flavicollis and Apodemus sylvaticus) in Italy. We achieved an overall correct classification rate of 86–98%; the best results (100% correct classification) were obtained for Apodemus sylvaticus calls. This minimally invasive, effective and low‐cost method highlights the potential role of bioacoustics as a powerful tool for field discrimination of cryptic species of terrestrial mammals. |
| Keywords: | Apodemus alpicola Apodemus flavicollis Apodemus sylvaticus distress call species discrimination |