The Abundance and Dynamics of Small Mammals and Their Predators: An Editorial.

This editorial discusses the abundance and dynamics of small mammals and their predators. Small mammals, such as rodents and insectivores, play important roles in ecosystems, including seed dispersal and serving as prey for larger carnivores. However, they are often considered pests in human-dominated environments. The editorial introduces a special issue that includes 10 papers on this topic, with studies conducted in European countries, New Zealand, and Chile. The papers cover a range of topics, including the effects of alien species, pest control in agroecosystems, historical trends in small mammal populations, and the activity of small mammals in response to predation risk. The editorial highlights the unintended consequences of human actions, such as the introduction of predators to control small mammal populations, and the need for new management strategies for conservation. [Extracted from the article]