Ecological Preferences of the East European Vole Microtus levis (Rodentia: Cricetidae) in the West Mediterranean Region at Eleven New Localities

In this study, from July to September 2007, habitat type and characteristics of Microtus levis was investigated. Of the caught 98 samples, 76 (52 ♂♂+24 ♀♀) were dead individuals and 22 (13♂♂+9 ♀♀) were alive from eleven localities (Seki, Yaz r, Korkuteli, Bozova, K z lkaya, Kozan, Kocaaliler, Bozdo an, Gebiz, Kas mlar and Derebucak). Also all of this localities are first records for species. There were statisticaly significant between sexes for snaptrapping but no differences for livetrapping (χ2snaptrapping = 5.34, df= 1, p=0.02 ve χ2livetrapping = 0.37, df= 1, p=0.54). On the other hand, there were strong positive correlations between the capture frequencies in traps (snap and livetrap), also population density and the altitude of localities (rsnaptrapping=0.750; n=11; p=0.031, rlivetrapping=0.918; n=11; p=0.041 and rdensity=0.912; n=11; p=0.001). M. levis lives in wet places and near the brook and river at colonies. In the areas, observed that nesting in with slopes of 31-60° at sunny south-facing areas. 64 of 76 dead and 20 of 22 alive individuals were caught on the south-facing (south, southeast, and southwest) exposures. Also 94.05% of population density in South-facing areas.