Data from: Assessing the effects of land‑use intensity on small mammal community composition and genetic variation in Myodesglareolus and Microtus arvalis across grassland and forest habitats

Context: Land-use intensification can alter small mammal community
composition and induce loss of genetic variation in remaining populations.
Fragmented landscapes favor generalist and synanthropic species, which are
potential reservoirs of pathogens and pose risks to agriculture and
forestry. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of land-use
intensity on small mammal diversity in grassland and forest habitats, as
well as on genetic variation patterns driven by geographic (Isolation by
Distance) and environmental distance (Isolation by Resistance) factors.
Methods: We analysed differences in small mammal community diversity on
grassland and forest plots with varying land-use intensities. Genetic
analyses were conducted on Myodes glareolus and Microtus arvalis
populations from each habitat, using microsatellites. Maximum Likelihood
Population Effects models were employed to elucidate gene flow patterns
and significant differences in genetic structure based on land-use
intensity. Results: Small mammal communities in grasslands were
significantly less diverse than in forests. Land-use intensity had a
significant effect on diversity within grassland but not within forest
habitats. M. glareolus showed three genetic groups, while M. arvalis
displayed no discernible population structure or landscape-related
pattern. Land-use intensity did not significantly influence the genetic
structure of either species. Gene flow in M. glareolus is best described
by the IBR model. Conclusion: Land-use intensity significantly affects
small mammal community composition, particularly in grasslands. Neither
species' genetics is directly impacted by land-use intensity but
rather by landscape connectivity and distance. Risk assessments for
rodent-borne zoonotic pathogens and crop damage should be framed within a
habitat connectivity context.

研究背景：土地利用集约化可改变小型哺乳类群落组成，并导致残存种群的遗传变异丢失。景观破碎化更青睐广适性与伴人生物种群，这类物种是病原体的潜在储存宿主，会对农林业构成潜在风险。
研究目标：本研究旨在评估土地利用集约化对草原与森林生境中小型哺乳类多样性的影响，同时解析由地理距离（距离隔离，Isolation by Distance）与环境阻力距离（阻力隔离，Isolation by Resistance）驱动的遗传变异模式。
研究方法：本研究对土地利用强度各异的草原与森林样地中的小型哺乳类群落多样性差异进行分析。针对各生境中的普通田鼠（Myodes glareolus）与沼泽田鼠（Microtus arvalis）种群，采用微卫星标记开展遗传分析。通过最大似然种群效应模型（Maximum Likelihood Population Effects models）阐明基因流模式，并解析基于土地利用强度的遗传结构差异。
研究结果：草原生境中的小型哺乳类群落多样性显著低于森林生境。土地利用强度对草原生境的群落多样性存在显著影响，但对森林生境无显著作用。普通田鼠（Myodes glareolus）可划分为3个遗传类群，而沼泽田鼠（Microtus arvalis）未显现出可辨识的种群结构或与景观相关的分布模式。土地利用强度对两种田鼠的遗传结构均无显著影响。普通田鼠的基因流模式最符合阻力隔离（Isolation by Resistance）模型。
研究结论：土地利用集约化显著改变小型哺乳类群落组成，该效应在草原生境中尤为突出。两种田鼠的遗传特征均不受土地利用强度的直接影响，而是受生境连通性与地理距离调控。针对啮齿类传播的人畜共患病病原体与作物损害的风险评估，应纳入生境连通性的考量框架。