title

Distribution of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in Georgia based on barn owl (Tyto alba) pellet analysis

author(s)

Denis Kitel (orcid: 0000-0002-5298-2611)
Aleksander Bukhnikashvili (orcid: 0009-0007-2920-8939)

affiliation

University of Bialystok (Bialystok, Poland);
Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia)

bibliography

Theriologia Ukrainica. 2025. Vol. 29: xx–xx.

DOI

language

English, with Ukrainian summary, titles of tables, captures to figs

abstract

The present study investigates the distribution of the harvest mouse (Micromys minutus) in Georgia through the analysis of barn owl (Tyto alba) pellets. Historically, Micromys minutus has been documented in restricted areas of western Georgia, with a fragmented range that extends into north-eastern Azerbaijan. Despite being considered nationally vulnerable, its current status and distribution within Georgia remain insufficiently known. With the recent establishment of the barn owl as a breeding species in Georgia, this study explores the potential of diet analysis as an effective method for detecting elusive or poorly documented small mammal species. Pellet collection was carried out between June 2023 and January 2025 across diverse Georgian regions, including Adjara, Guria, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, and Shida Kartli. Nevertheless, remains of the harvest mouse were only recovered from pellets collected in Adjara, Imereti, Kakheti, Kvemo Kartli, and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti. All collected pellets were processed using standard osteological techniques, and prey species were identified based primarily on cranial and mandibular remains. A total of 6136 prey items were identified, among which 82 individuals (1.34%) were assigned to Micromys minutus. The species was most prevalent in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (64 individuals, 16.45% of prey), followed by Adjara (9 individuals, 2.99%) and Imereti (5 individuals, 13.51%). In eastern Georgia, the species was recorded in significantly lower numbers, with only one specimen from Kakheti (0.03%) and three from Kvemo Kartli (0.16%), confirming its rarity in that part of the country. These findings reveal a broader and more continuous distribution of Micromys minutus in western Georgia, while suggesting scattered populations further east. The results support earlier hypotheses regarding importance of barn owl dietary studies in small mammal biodiversity assessment. This study provides essential baseline data for conservation efforts and long-term monitoring of this ecologically valuable but vulnerable rodent species.

keywords

wildcat, Felis silvestris, geographical range, Black Sea Region, Ukraine

references

Aulagnier, S., P. Haffner, A. J. Mitchell-Jones, F. Moutou, J. Zima. 2009. Mammals of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Bloomsbury Wildlife, London, 1–272.
Balčiauskas, L., L. Balčiauskienė. 2023. Long-term stability of harvest mouse population. Diversity, 15 (10): 1102. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15101102
Bobrinsky, M. A., V. A. Kuznetsov, A. P. Kuzyakin. 1965. Key of mammals of the USSR. 2nd edition. Provseschenie, Moskva, 1–382.
Buknikashvili, A., A. Kandaurov, G. Sheklashvili, I. Natradze. 2023. All records of rodents (Mammalia, Rodentia) and hares (Mammalia, Lagomorpha) in Georgia from 1855 through to 2022. Biodiversity Data Journal, 11: e108740. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.11.e108740
Bukreev, S. A. 2003. The data on the breeding of Barn Owl on the Caucasus. Strepet, (2): 80–81. [Russian]
Cain, S., T. Solomon, Y. Leshem, S. Toledo, E. Arnon, [et al.]. 2023. Movement predictability of individual barn owls facilitates estimation of home range size and survival. Movement Ecology, 11 (1): 1–12. http://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-022-00366-x
Drebet, M. 2022. Monitoring of the mammal fauna by studying owl pellets: a case of small mammals in protected areas of Podillia. Theriologia Ukrainica, 24: 16–27. https://doi.org/10.15407/TU2404
Government ... 2014. Government of Georgia. The Red List of Georgia. Decree No. 190, 20 February 2014. Available at: http://www.matsne.gov.ge
Gromov, I. M., M. A. Erbajeva. 1995. The Mammals of Russia and Adjacent Territories. Lagomorphs and rodents. St. Petersburg: Russian academy of science, 1–522. (Series Proceedings of Zoological Institute RAN, Vol. 167) [Russian]
Haberl, W., B. Kryštufek. 2003. Spatial distribution and population density of the harvest mouse Micromys minutus in a habitat mosaic at Lake Neusiedl, Austria. Mammalia, 67 (3): 355–365. https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.2003.67.3.355
Horváth, G. F., K. Mánfai, A. Horváth. 2023. Relationship between landscape structure and the diet of common barn-owl (Tyto alba) at different distances from the Drava River ecological corridor. Ornis Hungarica, 31 (1): 88–110. https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2023-0006
Kłys, G., M. Kokoszka, K. Dorożyńska, A. Barowska, M. Bandurowska. 2022. The analysis of the diet composition of the barn owl Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) from the region of Brzeg, Opolskie Voivodeship (Poland). Rocznik Muzeum Górnóśląskiego w Bytomiu, Przyroda, 28 (015): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7193364
Kross, S. M., R. P. Bourbour, B. L. Martinico. 2016. Agricultural land use, barn owl diet, and vertebrate pest control implications. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 223: 167–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2016.03.002
Kryštufek, B., V. Vohralík. 2009. Mammals of Turkey and Cyprus. Rodentia II: Cricetinae, Muridae, Spalacidae, Calomyscidae, Capromyidae, Hystricidae, Castoridae. Univerza na Primorskem, Koper, 1–372.
Kryštufek, B., D. P. Lunde, H. Meinig, K. Aplin, N. Batsaikhan, H. Henttonen. 2019. Micromys minutus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T13373A119151882. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T13373A119151882.en 
Kuzmenko, Y. V. 2021. The owls (Strigiformes) of the Central and Eastern Ukrainian Polissya, Ukraine. Manuscript. Dissertation ... cand. biol. sciences (03.00.08 – zoology). I. Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, 1–222.
Malandzia, V. I., A. N. Ivanitskiy. 2005. Changes in the vertebrate fauna of Abkhazia and adjacent territories (retrospective review). Bulletin of the Academy of Science of Abkhasia, 1: 262–277. [Russian]
Mikusek, R. (ed.). 2005. Metody badań i ochrony sów. FWIE, Kraków, 1–175.
Morgilevskaya, I. 1989. The Catalogue of the Collection of the Small Mammals of the Institute of zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the Georgian SSR. Metsniereba, Tbilisi, 1–28. [Russian]
Obuch, J. 2024. The diet of the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) in various natural environments across Eurasia. Raptor Journal, 18: 25–46. https://doi.org/10.2478/srj-2024-0004
Pucek, Z. (red.). 1984. Klucz do oznaczania ssakow Polski. Panst. Wydaw. Nauk., Warszawa, 1–388.
Satunin, K. 1913. Fauna of the Black Seas coast of the Caucasus. Mammals. Proceedings of the Society for the Study of the Black Seas Coast, 2: 1–248. [Russian]
Savarin, A. A., D. A. Kitel. 2016. On the prospects of studying owl pellets in the territory of Belarusian Polesie. Proceedings of Homel State University named after F. Skorina, 3 (96): 51–54. [Russian]
Shidlovskiy, M. 1950. Rodents of Abkhazia (ecological-faunistic review). Proceedings of Academy of Science of Georgian SSR, 9: 135–161. [Russian]
Simeonov, S. D., T. M. Mičev, P. S. Simeonov. 1981. Materials on the nesting, distribution and the diet of the barn owl (Tyto alba) in Bulgaria. Ekologija (Sofia), 8: 49–54.
Spitzenberger, F. 1999. Micromys minutus. In: A. J. Mitchell-Jones, G. Amori, W. Bogdanowicz, B. Kryštufek, P. J. H. Reijnders, [et al.]. (eds). The Atlas of European Mammals. Academic Press, London, UK, 1–484. https://doi.org/10.1086/393687
Voronetskiy, V. I., S. V. Kuzmenko. 2013. Guide to Bird Pellets. Moscow University publishing, Moscow, 1–96. [Russian]
Ważna, A., J. Cichocki, D. Łupicki, S. Rubacha, A. Wąsicki, G. Gabryś. 2011. Pokarm płomykówki Tyto alba (Scopoli, 1769) na Ziemi Lubuskiej. Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego we Wrocławiu, Biologia i Hodowla Zwierząt, LXII, 580: 65–87.