The mouse project | Visit | Imperial College London

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href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/75th-anniversary/">75th Anniversary</a> <ul class="multilevel-linkul-0"> <li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/75th-anniversary/75th-anniversary-alumni-event/">75th anniversary alumni event</a></li> </ul> </li>  </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main id="page"> <div class="show-no-js"> <div class="container"> <p class="step-1">In this section</p> <nav class="nav-fallback"> <ul class="nav-fallback__parent"> <li> <a class="lwi" href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/"> Silwood Park </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="container content-template" id="content"> <nav class="page-area-heading"> <a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/">Silwood Park</a> </nav> <div class="page-heading lg-8 sm-12"> <div class="breadcrumbs"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Imperial Home</a></li> <li><a href="/visit/">Visit</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/">Campuses and maps</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/">Silwood Park</a></li><li><a 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Experiment</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/mesocosm/">Silwood Park mesocosm facility</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/nutnet/">Nutrient Network project (NutNet)</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/poundhill-disturbance/">Pound Hill disturbance timing experiment</a></li><li><span class="currentbranch0"><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/mouse-project/">The mouse project</a></span></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/blue-tits/">The blue tit project</a></li><li><a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/silwood-lte/suction-trap/">Suction trap</a></li></ul> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="col lg-8 sm-12" role="main" id="primary-content">  <div class="module flow-m">  <div class="highlight"> <a href="/visit/campuses/silwood-park/research/field-experiments/" class="btn reverse"><span>Interested in conducting research on this experiment</span><svg role="img" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="icon icon--m"><use xlink:href="/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#chevron-right"></use></svg></a><a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxBDRAfqbCDLRWpKTGk3SkJObzA" class="btn btn-dl" target="_blank"><span>Map of the mouse project at Nash's Copse (655KB) </span><svg role="img" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="icon icon--m"><use xlink:href="/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#download"></use></svg></a><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/aureliomalo/research/rodent-research" class="btn reverse" target="_blank"><span>Find out more about this study in Dr. Malo's website</span><svg role="img" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="icon icon--m"><use xlink:href="/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#chevron-right"></use></svg></a> </div> <div class="row wysiwyg"> <p>There is still little understanding of the influence of individuals' phenotype on the dynamics of natural populations.  Wild rodents  of the ancient woodland at Nash's Copse, Silwood Park are monitored to assess the relative contribution of individual behaviours and environmental factors driving the population dynamics of these animals.  The study species are the wood mouse (<a href="https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0000080210" target="_blank" title="Apodemus sylvaticus link opens in a new window">Apodemus sylvaticus</a>), a small rodent common in Europe and North-western Africa,  the yellow necked mouse (<a href="https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0000080209" target="_blank" title="Apodemus flavicollis link opens in a new window">Apodemus flavicollis</a>) and the bank vole (<a href="https://data.nbn.org.uk/Taxa/NHMSYS0020755138" target="_blank" title="Myodes glareolus link opens in a new window">Myodes glareolus</a>).</p> <p>The study site is an ancient woodland of about 2.5 ha dominated by trees of birch (<em>Betula pendula</em> and <em>Betula pubescens</em>), beech (<em>Fagus sylvatica</em>), sycamore (<em>Acer pseudoplanatus</em>) and <span>hazel (</span><em>Corylus avellana</em><span>)</span>. It has large patches of rhododendron (<em>Rhododendron ponticum</em>) and bamboo (<em>Sasa palmate</em>), and the ground is covered with bluebell (<em>Hyacinthoides non-scripta</em>), bracken (<em>Pteridium aquilinum</em>) and wood sorrel (<em>Oxalis acetosella</em>). Nash's Copse woodland is divided in quadrants where t<span>hree types of core data have been collected for this project. First, regular trapping sessions allow monitoring of rodent populations with variables that include sex, weight, body fat, reproductive state, and presence of ecto-parasites.  Mice collected in these sessions are tagged with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) PIT-tags and released. Second, monitoring of mice' habitat use are done using mobile data logger boxes rotated daily between the study site quadrants. Finally, mapping of habitat features and estimation food availability has allowed a detailed and dynamic habitat characterization.</span></p> <p><span>The mouse project was created and is run by  <a href="https://www.sites.google.com/site/aureliomalo/home" target="_blank" title="Dr. Aurelio Malo link opens in a new window">Dr. Aurelio Malo</a></span>.<span> It is currently supported by a Ramon y Cajal Senior Research Fellowship to Aurelio Malo. Other funding includes an European Research Council grant to Professor Tim Coulson</span>, <span>a Marie Curie action to Aurelio Malo,</span><span> and a NERC Independent Research Fellowship to </span>Dr. Sarah Knowles<span>. PIT-tag loggers for this project were designed by Aurelio Malo in collaboration with Francis Instruments. </span></p> </div> <div class="heading"> <h2 class="title sr-only"> details mouse project </h2> </div> <div class="a11y-accordion-tabs wysiwyg"> <div class="accordion-tabs js-tabs" data-tabs-allowed="true" data-start-collapsed="true"> <ul role="tablist" class="tabs-tab-list"> <li role="presentation"><a href="#tabpanel_222527-1" role="tab" id="tab_222527-1" aria-controls="tabpanel_222527-1" aria-selected="true" class="tabs-trigger js-tabs-trigger">Experimental design</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="#tabpanel_222527-2" role="tab" id="tab_222527-2" aria-controls="tabpanel_222527-2" aria-selected="true" class="tabs-trigger js-tabs-trigger">Data</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="#tabpanel_222527-3" role="tab" id="tab_222527-3" aria-controls="tabpanel_222527-3" aria-selected="true" class="tabs-trigger js-tabs-trigger">Publications</a></li> </ul> <section id='tabpanel_222527-1' role='tabpanel' aria-labelledby='tab_222527-1' class='tabs-panel js-tabs-panel' tabindex='0'> <div class='accordion-trigger js-accordion-trigger' aria-controls='tabpanel_222527-1' tabindex='0'> Experimental design <svg role='img' aria-hidden='true' focusable='false' class='icon icon--m'><use xlink:href='/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#chevron-down'></use></svg> </div> <div class='content' aria-hidden='false'> <p>Nash’s Copse is divided into a grid of 10 x 10 m quadrants, each one containing a trap station that consists of a small wooden box fix to the ground with an iron rod.  During trapping sessions the boxes, which can move in any direction, host small Sherman traps that are baited and set up from before sunset to sunrise time the next morning. Trapping sessions are conducted with a frequency that ranged from weekly to every three weeks. Captured rodent are classified in species, sex and developmental state using body weight (adults, subadults, and juveniles). The presence and amount of ecto-parasites, the anogenital distance (proxy for testosterone levels), and a body fat score that assessed the animal energy reserves are also recorded. Individuals are identified with subcutaneous PIT-tags and ear clipping if they are heavier than 15 g or with fur clipping if they are juveniles. All animals are released in the same quadrant where captured. PIT-tags allow record recaptures during trapping sessions and monitor daily individual mouse spacio-temporal habitat use.  Space use has been monitored with ten mobile PIT-tag loggers that are rotated daily between the study site grid squares.</p> <p>The microhabitat of Nash's Copse plot has been characterized seasonally in maps that record the location and dimension of standing and felled trees, patches of rhododendron, bamboo and other dominant shrub species, and areas with wood debris. Food availability is also estimated with the collection and identification of invertebrates and seeds in spring and autumn, respectively.</p> </div> </section> <section id='tabpanel_222527-2' role='tabpanel' aria-labelledby='tab_222527-2' class='tabs-panel js-tabs-panel' tabindex='0'> <div class='accordion-trigger js-accordion-trigger' aria-controls='tabpanel_222527-2' tabindex='0'> Data <svg role='img' aria-hidden='true' focusable='false' class='icon icon--m'><use xlink:href='/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#chevron-down'></use></svg> </div> <div class='content' aria-hidden='false'> <p>The mouse project ran uninterrupted from October 2008 to December 2015. Maintaining of the experimental set up and trapping has starteed again in April 2018.  We collect information of three rodent species and their habitat: wood mouse (<em>Apodemus</em> <em>sylvaticus</em>), yellow necked mouse (<em>Apodemus flavicollis</em>), and bank vole (<em>Myodes glareolus</em>). </p> <p>Data from the long-term rodent monitoring facility contains:</p> <p><span>1) Population level data including density, sex ratio and age structure.</span></p> <p><span>2) Individual level information that include weight, morphology (anogenital distance), development (juvenile adult), physiology (reproductive state) and space-use behaviour.</span></p> <p>3) Habitat variables that influence rodent populations including vegetation cover, food abundance, and weather.</p> <p>4) Species interaction data with parasites (ecto-parasites and gut bacteria), predators, prey and competitors. </p> </div> </section> <section id='tabpanel_222527-3' role='tabpanel' aria-labelledby='tab_222527-3' class='tabs-panel js-tabs-panel' tabindex='0'> <div class='accordion-trigger js-accordion-trigger' aria-controls='tabpanel_222527-3' tabindex='0'> Publications <svg role='img' aria-hidden='true' focusable='false' class='icon icon--m'><use xlink:href='/assets/website/images/svg/icons.svg#chevron-down'></use></svg> </div> <div class='content' aria-hidden='false'> <div><span>Malo AF, Taylor A, Díaz M (2022). <a href="https://doi.org/10.32800/abc.2022.45.0053" target="_blank" title="Native seed dispersal by rodents is negatively influenced by an invasive shrub. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation link opens in a new window">Native seed dispersal by rodents is negatively influenced by an invasive shrub. Animal Biodiversity and Conservation</a></span><span>, 45.1: 53–67.</span></div> <div><em style="font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 400;"> </em></div> <div><em style="font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 400;">Raulo A, Allen BE, Troitsky T, Husby A, Firth, JA, Coulson T, Knowles SCL (2021). <a href=" https://www.nature.com/articles/s41396-021-00949-3" target="_blank" title="Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice link opens in a new window">Social networks strongly predict the gut microbiota of wild mice</a>. ISME 15: 2601-2613</em></div> <div><em style="font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 400;"> </em></div> <div><em style="font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: 400;">Brouard MJ, Knowles SCL, Dressen S, Coulson T, Malo AF (2020). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12822" target="_blank" title="Factors affecting woodland rodent growth link opens in a new window">Factors affecting woodland rodent growth</a></em><span>. Journal of Zoology 312 (174-182)</span></div> <p>Godsall B, Coulson T, Malo AF (2014) From physiology to space use: <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12116" target="_blank" title="Energy reserves and androgenization explain home-range size variation in a woodland rodent link opens in a new window">Energy reserves and androgenization explain home-range size variation in a woodland rodent</a>. <em>Journal of Animal Ecology</em> 83: 126–135. </p> <p><span>Malo AF, Godsall B, Prebble C, Grange Z, McCandless S, Taylor A, Coulson T (2013) <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ars202" target="_blank" title="Positive effects of an invasive shrub on aggregation and abundance of a native small rodent link opens in a new window">Positive effects of an invasive shrub on aggregation and abundance of a native small rodent</a>. </span><em style="font-size: 1.5rem; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.6;">Behavioral Ecology</em><span> 24: 759–767. </span></p> <p><span> </span></p> </div> </section> </div> </div>    <div class="row full" > <div class="col lg-12">  <div class="media-item lg slideshow"> <div class="items"> <div class="item"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/mouse_Nash-copse-2--tojpeg_1460028980408_x4.jpg" alt="Nash's Copse March 2016" width="4312" height="2536" loading="lazy"> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="title"> <p>Forest at Nash's Copse March 2016</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="item"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/mouse_Nash-copse-5--tojpeg_1460029184167_x4.jpg" alt="Rhododendron Nash's copse" width="4312" height="2536" loading="lazy"> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="title"> <p>Rhododendron patch at Nash's Copse</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="item"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/CDY_0013-JPG--tojpeg_1528460206879_x4.jpg" alt="owl" width="4316" height="2540" loading="lazy"> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="title"> <p>Owl caught in a camera trap picture at a litter collection point!</p> </div> </div> </div><div class="item"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/trap-from-Aurelio--tojpeg_1528460779819_x4.jpg" alt="trap" width="4316" height="2540" loading="lazy"> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="title"> <p>Wooden cover for a mouse trap. </p> </div> </div> </div><div class="item"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/CDY_0018-JPG--tojpeg_1528460913959_x4.jpg" alt="deer" width="4316" height="2540" loading="lazy"> </div> <div class="content"> <div class="title"> <p>Muntjac deer caught in camera trap picture. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="row wysiwyg"> <p><strong>Related Links</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://portal.uah.es/portal/page/portal/epd2_profesores/prof1091824/presentacion" target="_blank" title="Dr. Aurelio Malo link opens in a new window">Dr. Aurelio Malo</a></li> <li><a href="https://sites.google.com/site/aureliomalo/research/rodent-research" target="_blank" title="A. Malo's Mouse Project website link opens in a new window">A. Malo's Mouse Project website</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <section class="supplementary-content row"> <div class="supplementary-content__sizer col"></div> <div class="col lg-12 news thumb"> <div class="module"> <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=1-AHNI5bI5HYlJr1-q1CBOmKmu6k&usp=sharing" target="_blank"> <div class="content"> <div class="media"> <img src="https://pxl-imperialacuk.terminalfour.net/prod01/channel_3/media/migration/visit/maps--tojpeg_1464699176863_x4-4.jpg" alt="" width="412" height="356" loading="lazy"> </div> <h2 class="type fake-h6"> Silwood Park</h2> <span class="fake-h4">long-term field studies</span><br> <span class="description"> Find out the location of our field experiments</span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </section>  </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="footer" role="contentinfo"> <section class="footer__main"> <h2 class="sr-only">Useful Links</h2> <div class="container"> <div class="row row--gap-on-collapse"> <nav class="col lg-3 sm-12"> <div 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