Morphometric variation of the common shrew was studied in three different habitats (dry meadow, wet sedge bog, and floodplain forest) in Biatowieza, north-eastern Poland. Morphometric differentiation was examined by the use of 26 orthogonal mandibular measurements in 138 specimens. Comparison of mean values by discriminant functions in three studied samples of shrews revealed statistically significant differences (x 2 = 96.812, d.f. = 52, p = 0.0002). The discriminant function analysis performed on 26 morphological variables led to a correct classification in 70.3% of cases. Differences observed between samples in this study indicate that there is important morphometric variation within the population of shrews in Biatowieza. However, it can be suggested that differentiation of mandibular morphology in the common shrew is not clearly related to environmental heterogeneity.
KEYWORDSSorex araneus, mandibular morphometrics, environmental heterogeneity, Biatowieza RfiSUMfi La variation morphometrique des musaraignes communes a ete etudiee dans trois habitats differents (prairie seche, marecages de roseaux, foret de plaine inondable) de Biatowieza, au nord-est de la Pologne. Pour cette etude nous avons pris 26 mesures mandibulaires orthogonales sur 138 specimens. La comparaison des valeurs moyennes par functions discriminantes dans les trois lots etudies de musaraignes a revele des differences statistiquement significatives (χ 2 =96.812, d.f. = 52, ρ = 0,0002). Uanalyse discriminante, realisee sur 26 MAMMALIA, t. 68, n°2 · 2003 · 225-231 225 Brought to you by | New York University Bobst Library Technical Services Authenticated Download Date | 5/31/15 4:36 AMvariables morphologiques, a conduit ä une classification correctc des specimens dans 70,3% des cas. Les differences observees entre les echantillons de cette etude montrent une importance variation morphometrique au sein de la population de musaraignes de Biatowieza qui ne serait pas liee a 1'hecerogcneite environnementale.