Dr J R Flowerdew Interests are centred around the understanding of factors affecting the abundance and distribution of small mammals in natural, managed and agricultural habitats. The influence of intensive and traditional farming practices on the ecology of the field vole, Microtus agrestis. The social behaviour and ecology of the yellow-necked mouse, Apodemus flavicollis. The effects of winter severity and food supply on bank vole and wood mouse population dynamics. Collaborative work on the ecology of road verge small mammals is proposed through co-operation with Dr Richard Shore at The Institute of Terrestrial Ecology, Monks Wood, Huntingdon.
Road verges constitute major habitats for small rodents and insectivores.
The physical structure of the verge and its vegetation is determined by management decisions divorced from ecological considerations. These and other factors such as road traffic density may have considerable influences on community diversity, population density and survival, food availability and predation success. Studies are centred on live trapping and habitat description to assess the effect of such management on small mammal populations. Population dynamics of small mammals in new woodlands. J. Mar. Biol.