The influence of habitat fragmentation : a study on the indigenous least weasel (Mustela nivalis) population in Malta

Abstract

This study explores the influence of habitat fragmentation on the Least Weasel (Mustela nivalis) population in Malta. Being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with 33% of land under development, Malta is experiencing rapid habitat fragmentation with negative consequences on local flora and fauna. The weasel was chosen as the study species because sightings have become rare and the species is becoming increasingly more vulnerable. The objective of this study was achieved using three different approaches; weasel radio tagging, structured asynchronous interviews and a dissection session. Weasel radio tagging was fruitless because no Least Weasel individuals were captured and tagged throughout this study. This was in itself a result, and when coupled with the results obtained from the other two methodologies, thought provoking outcomes were concluded. The principal conclusion of this study is that habitat fragmentation mainly due to numerous networks of roads and rudimentary roads have a profound negative effect on the M. niva/is population. Road kills due to vehicle collisions are frequently seen at major travel routes between two isolated areas. The implementation of wildlife corridors to assist small mammals such as the Least Weasel to traverse infrastructural development into adjacent habitats, will be the most effective way to enhance several functions attributable to these species. Furthermore, a confounding issue was the lack of records regarding the conservation status of the Least Weasel in Malta and the absence of adequate familiarity amongst the Maltese public.