Description
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
Data Records
The data in this occurrence resource has been published as a Darwin Core Archive (DwC-A), which is a standardized format for sharing biodiversity data as a set of one or more data tables. The core data table contains 221 records.
This IPT archives the data and thus serves as the data repository. The data and resource metadata are available for download in the downloads section. The versions table lists other versions of the resource that have been made publicly available and allows tracking changes made to the resource over time.
Versions
The table below shows only published versions of the resource that are publicly accessible.
How to cite
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
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
Rights
Researchers should respect the following rights statement:
The publisher and rights holder of this work is Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive (CEFE). This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY 4.0) License.
GBIF Registration
This resource has been registered with GBIF, and assigned the following GBIF UUID: acf6ebcb-57e9-47ec-b901-24bb1ac920e3. Centre d’Ecologie Fonctionnelle & Evolutive (CEFE) publishes this resource, and is itself registered in GBIF as a data publisher endorsed by GBIF France.
Keywords
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; Observation
Contacts
- Originator ●
- Point Of Contact
https://orcid.org/ttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-0309-2214
- Originator ●
- Point Of Contact
Geographic Coverage
N/A
| Bounding Coordinates | South West [43.559, 3.711], North East [43.709, 3.952] |
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Taxonomic Coverage
No Description available
| Kingdom | Animalia |
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| Class | Mammalia |
| Order | Rodentia, Carnivora |
| Family | Mustelidae, Sciuridae |
Temporal Coverage
| Start Date / End Date | 2020-10-01 / 2025-09-17 |
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Project Data
No Description available
| Title | Macroland project – Effect of landscape fragmentation on the red squirrel |
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The personnel involved in the project:
Sampling Methods
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.
| Study Extent | 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. |
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Method step description:
- 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.
Additional Metadata
| Alternative Identifiers | acf6ebcb-57e9-47ec-b901-24bb1ac920e3 |
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| https://ipt.gbif.fr/resource?r=coulon_ecureuil |