The role of woody hedgerows in landscape connectivity and habitat suitability for the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) in England

Bc. Markéta Smutná

Diplomová práce

Abstract:

Habitat loss and fragmentation caused by agricultural intensification have increased the need to maintain biodiversity within human-modified landscapes. In England, hedgerows represent the most extensive semi-natural habitat network, providing habitat and movement corridors for many species, including those of great conservation concern, such as the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius). While the importance of hedgerows for dormice has been demonstrated at local scales, their role has not been evaluated nationally. This study explored the role of the English hedgerow network in supporting habitat suitability and landscape connectivity for the hazel dormouse and identified landscapes where targeted hedgerow management and restoration could provide the greatest conservation benefit. Hazel dormouse occurrence data and environmental variables were analysed using the Ecological Niche Factor Analysis (ENFA), while a habitat suitability model was built using Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt), and landscape connectivity was assessed with least-cost path (LCP) analysis. Less than a third (29.3%) of mapped hedgerow segments simultaneously met the height and woodland proximity criteria considered favourable for hazel dormouse dispersal. ENFA showed that dormice occurrences were associated with greater landscape connectivity, habitat heterogeneity and proximity to woodland and hedgerows. MaxEnt predicted 53,812 km2 of suitable habitat nationally, including 15,408 km2 of highly suitable habitat. The simulated hedgerow degradation scenario disproportionately reduced the area of highly suitable habitat (by 26%), while increasing mean LCP resistance by 8.61% with little change in path length. Hedgerow contribution to habitat suitability was found to be greatest in landscapes with a moderate amount of woodland cover (37%). Priority areas for hedgerow management and conservation with moderate woodland cover and low hedgerow density were identified mainly in south-east England. These findings demonstrated that hedgerows are an important complementary component of the hazel dormouse habitat network and provided a spatial framework for hedgerow management and restoration efforts where they could provide the greatest conservation benefit.

Keywords

hazel dormouse, Muscardinus avellanarius, hedgerows, landscape connectivity

Jazyk práce: angličtina

Datum vytvoření / odevzdání či podání práce: 19. 8. 2026

Obhajoba závěrečné práce

• Obhajoba proběhla 15. 9. 2026
• Vedoucí: prof. Ing. Bohdan Lojka, Ph.D.
• Oponent: Iveta Štolhoferová, externi

Česká zemědělská univerzita v Praze

Fakulta tropického zemědělství

Magisterský studijní program:
Tropical Forestry and Agroforestry