Geographical variation in body size of the Wood Mouse Apodemus sylvaticus L.

Abstract This paper analyses the geographical variation in body size of the Wood Mouse. A size increase is observed from north to south, contrary to Bergmann's rule. This increase is related to regions of sympatry and allopatry with the Yellow‐necked Mouse, a closely related, potentially competing species. The possibility of character displacement playing an important role in determining the observed variation in body size is discussed.