Effect of conspecifics on winter movements and dispersion in an overwintering bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) population

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (3) ◽  
pp. 593-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fredric Karlsson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Reproductive Season ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Early Access ◽  
Males And Females

Patterns of movements and dispersion were studied in a population of the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, during two winters near Uppsala, Sweden. Forty-one percent of the individuals studied were involved in multiple captures. However, multiple captures accounted for only 2% of all captures. Males and females were most often caught together in multiple captures. An overlap in home range was more pronounced in females than in males during winter. The reverse was observed during the reproductive season. An increase in mean distance, calculated for neighbours within 40 m of the center of activity, was observed among persistent females from October to May. Statistically significant differences were obtained when mean distances were compared between females still present in the trapping area in May who then produced young and females trapped up to April but not thereafter. Thus, early access to optimally spaced, high quality home ranges may be important for reproductive success in spring. Extensive overlapping of female home ranges in winter at low population density may be a consequence of habitat conditions.

Initiation of breeding after winter in bank voles: effects of food and population density

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (10) ◽  
pp. 1743-1753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jana A Eccard ◽  
Hannu Ylönen
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Local Density ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Food Supplements ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Environmental Stability ◽  
Food Treatment ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Winter Food

We studied factors causing variation in the initiation of reproduction after winter in the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus), an iteroparous seasonal breeder, by offering different winter food supplements and monitoring local density variation. We used either sunflower seeds or barley to supplement the diet of populations of bank voles in grassland enclosures. In a parallel experiment we used spruce seeds, a natural winter food, to supplement the diet of bank vole populations in unfenced spruce forest. Survival, maturation, and breeding were monitored by livetrapping. Population density decreased during winter in grassland enclosures and remained constant in the forest, with no difference between food treatments. Breeding was initiated earlier in the grassland enclosures than in the forest, probably because of the supplemental food supply in both seed treatments and social and environmental stability in enclosures. Within both experiments, we found no differences in timing of parturition between food treatments. Inter actions of food treatment with density of females influenced the time of initiation of breeding in both experiments. At low densities, breeding started up to 1 month earlier than the population average. At high densities, a proportion of females did not breed during spring. Massive food supplements advanced the initiation of breeding, but among animals with similar food supplies, local population density seemed to have stronger regulatory effects. Local density variations may therefore create asynchronous breeding patterns within populations under similar wintering conditions.

Home ranges, time budgets and food-tree use in a high-density tropical population of greater gliders, Petauroides volans minor (Pseudocheiridae : Marsupialia)

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 401 ◽  
Author(s):  
SS Comport ◽  
SJ Ward ◽  
WJ Foley
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Kernel Method ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
High Population ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Time Budgets ◽  
High Population Density ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Males And Females

The socio-ecology of Petauroides volans has been studied for subtropical and temperate populations, but not for the northern tropical subspecies, Petauroides volans minor. Data on the effects of a high population density on home ranges, time budgets and food-tree use were obtained by means of radio-telemetry. Three techniques were used to estimate home-range area (kernel, MCP and harmonic mean) and the kernel method was preferred. Estimates of home-range area (defined by the 95% kernel) gave mean values of 2.5 and 1.3 ha for males and females, respectively. Broad overlap of home ranges of males was observed, which has not been reported previously for populations of P. volans. Behaviour patterns for males and females were similar to those in previous studies, although the mating system may differ, possibly because of the high population density. Dietary patterns were similar to those previously reported for this species, the most important food items being young leaves and flower buds of particular eucalypt species, notably Eucalyptus acmenoides.

scholarly journals Effects of litter size on pup defence and weaning success of neighbouring bank vole females

2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pernilla Jonsson ◽  
Jep Agrell ◽  
Esa Koskela ◽  
Tapio Mappes
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Litter Size ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Dominance Rank ◽  
The Other ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Litter Size Manipulation

Reproductive success of territorial female mammals depends partly on their capability to defend their young from conspecific intruders. However, how this is related to the characteristics of females and their litter sizes is largely unknown. The defence activity of 25 female bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) in relation to the number of offspring was studied in a behavioural arena by manipulating litter sizes (–2 pups or +2 pups). Infanticidal male bank voles were used as intruders–predators. Moreover, the weaning success (weaned at least one offspring or none) of 15 pairs of neighbouring females was investigated in a large indoor runway system. In each pair of females, the litter size of one female was reduced (–2 pups) and the litter size of the other enlarged (+2 pups). Defence activity of females increased with the number of offspring and the mother's size. However, weaning success of neighbours was related only to their body mass, and litter-size manipulation did not affect weaning success. Present results indicate that, although bank vole females increase their defence intensity with an increase in the number of pups, the weaning success of neighbouring females may be primarily determined by their size and dominance rank.

Consistency and change in bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) home ranges across a decade

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1329-1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Fredric Karlsson ◽  
Eugene R Potapov
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Bank Vole ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Partial Explanation ◽  
Mating Period ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Significant Difference

Minimum distance moved (MDM) and home-range sizes were studied in overwintering bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) during March and April in 1985, 1986, and 1996 near Uppsala, Sweden. In 1985 and 1986, the average snow depth was 50 and 35 cm in March and 7 and 18 cm in April, respectively. In 1996 the snow depth was only 16 cm in March and 2 cm in April. Bank voles were found to have winter nests at exactly the same grid coordinates in 1985, 1986, and 1996. Among females there was a high degree of consistency in home-range sizes, both between months and between years. Daily MDM of females was shorter in March 1996 than in 1985 and 1986, while no significant difference occurred during April. Males' home-range sizes, on the other hand, increased significantly from March to April in all 3 years, i.e., at the onset of the mating period. There was no significant difference in males' home-range sizes in March across years, but in April, home ranges were significantly larger 1985 and 1986 than in 1996. Males' average home-range sizes in April showed a positive correlation with snow depth. MDM of males in both March and April was also significantly higher during the snowy years of 1985 and 1986 than in 1996, when there was much less snow. These observations suggest that adequate snow cover is a favourable factor, allowing the males to expand their home ranges, while lack of snow or a thin, patchy snow cover prevents them from travelling longer distances during the mating period and consequently from visiting a large number of potential mates. These differences in the behaviour of male bank voles between snow-rich and snow-poor years may offer a partial explanation of the hypothetical connection between the less severe winter conditions during the past decade and the decline in population density and cyclicity in boreal bank vole populations.

Consistency and change in bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) home ranges across a decade

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (7) ◽  
pp. 1329-1334 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fredric Karlsson ◽  
Eugene R. Potapov
Keyword(s):  
Bank Vole ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Home Ranges
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