Premiers échantillonnages de micromammifères en Provence

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Abstract
In order to determine the distribution of small mammals, the Provence was sampled by traps lines. First the method used and the sampling areas are described; then the results of the altitudinal distribution and the abundance of small mammals in the Provence are given. The number of species is maximal in subalpine areas; this seems due to medio-european species, which cannot descend further into the Mediterranean region because of their climatic needs. The species diversity in woodlands decreases sharply from subalpine to Mediterranean levels where the wood mouse, a ubiquitous species, seems to occupy niches freed by medio-European small mammals. The absence of competitors and the stability of food supplies could explain the high number of wood micein Mediterranean oak forests.