acf6ebcb-57e9-47ec-b901-24bb1ac920e3 https://ipt.gbif.fr/resource?r=coulon_ecureuil Aurélie Coulon CEFE

Montpellier 34070 FR

ttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0309-2214 Cécile Albert IMBE

Aix-en-Provence 13545 FR

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0991-1068 Montpellier Méditerranée Métropole distributor Ville de Montpellier distributor 2026-02-19 eng

This dataset, collected since 2021 as part of a research project led by CEFE and IMBE, documents the presence of the red squirrel and other small mammals across several study areas, including the Montpellier metropolitan region (France). The project aims to investigate the effects of landscape fragmentation on population connectivity. The objective is to better understand the spatial distribution of individuals and their ability to move between habitat fragments in urban and peri-urban environments. Sampling was conducted using a network of hair traps installed across landscapes exhibiting varying degrees of fragmentation. These devices enable mammal detection through hair collection, which is then used for species identification and individual genotyping. The dataset includes occurrence data of red squirrels and other small mammals by trap and sampling site, derived from hair sampling. Hair samples were subject to genetic analyses for species and individual identification; however, the genetic data are not included in this dataset. Project funded through SCALED ERC STG 949812. Licence: CC BY 4.0

Occurrence Urban ecosystems Landscape fragmentation Habitat connectivity Small mammals Red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris Hair trap surveys Non-invasive sampling Species occurrences Urban biodiversity Peri-urban environments Population connectivity Mammal monitoring Research study Spatial distribution Wildlife corridors Functional connectivity Community ecology GBIF Dataset Type Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_type_2015-07-10.xml Observation GBIF Dataset Subtype Vocabulary: http://rs.gbif.org/vocabulary/gbif/dataset_subtype.xml This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International https://spdx.org/licenses/CC-BY-4.0.html CC-BY-4.0 https://ipt.gbif.fr/archive.do?r=coulon_ecureuil N/A 3.710596 3.952052 43.709241 43.559422 2020-10-01 2025-09-17 family Mustelidae order Rodentia class Mammalia order Carnivora kingdom Animalia family Sciuridae unknown Aurélie Coulon Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CEFE)

Montpellier 34070 FR

ttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0309-2214 Cécile Albert Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d'Écologie marine et continentale (IMBE)

FR

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0991-1068 Hair traps were installed at predefined sampling locations following a standardized deployment protocol. During each collection session, hair samples were carefully removed, labeled, and stored for laboratory processing. Field metadata, including trap location, installation date, and collection date, were recorded. Samples underwent morphological and genetic analyses to confirm species identity and, where feasible, individual assignment. Occurrence data were then digitized, standardized taxonomically, and formatted according to Darwin Core specifications. Quality control procedures included coordinate validation, date verification, and harmonization of observer and sampling information prior to dataset publication. The study was conducted across multiple sampling sectors in southern France, including the Montpellier metropolitan area and surrounding peri-urban landscapes. Sampling sites were selected along gradients of landscape fragmentation, encompassing continuous woodland patches, isolated forest fragments, urban parks, and suburban green infrastructures. The spatial extent reflects a diversity of habitat configurations representative of Mediterranean urban and peri-urban environments, enabling the assessment of connectivity patterns for arboreal and small terrestrial mammals. Sampling was carried out using a standardized network of hair traps deployed across selected habitat fragments. Traps were installed on trees or suitable structures to maximize detection probability of red squirrels and other small mammals. Each device passively collected hair samples during deployment periods. Collected samples were retrieved during scheduled field visits. Hair material was subsequently used for species identification and, when possible, individual genetic identification. This non-invasive protocol allowed repeated detection without animal capture, ensuring minimal disturbance while enabling monitoring of presence across fragmented landscapes. Aurélie Coulon ttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0309-2214 author 2026-02-12T07:47:30.315+00:00 dataset Coulon A, Albert C (2026). Macroland project – Effect of landscape fragmentation on the red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris. Version 1.3. Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive (CEFE). Occurrence dataset. https://ipt.gbif.fr/resource?r=coulon_ecureuil&v=1.3 acf6ebcb-57e9-47ec-b901-24bb1ac920e3/v1.3.xml