scholarly journals Heterozygosity, Aggression, and Population Fluctuations in Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Evolution ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudy Boonstra ◽  
Wesley M. Hochachka ◽  
Leo Pavone
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Meadow Voles

Macrogeographic variation in mitochondrial DNA of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Plante ◽  
Peter T. Boag ◽  
Bradley N. White
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Mtdna Sequence ◽  
Nucleotide Divergence ◽  
Phenotype Diversity ◽  
Single Locality

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 99 meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) collected in 13 localities and from 2 Townsend's voles (M. townsendii) from a single locality was assayed for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with 13 restriction endonucleases. There was evidence of extensive mtDNA sequence heterogeneity within and among meadow vole populations. Thirty-eight different mtDNA composite phenotypes were found. Two common mtDNA composite phenotypes were shared among five populations, the other mtDNA composite phenotypes being characteristic of individual populations. Estimates of nucleon diversity (ĥ) were high (0.303–0.893), as were measures of intrapopulational nucleotide divergence (px values ranged from 0.0 to 0.038). Population fluctuations and periodic dispersal are the likely mechanisms maintaining high mtDNA composite phenotype diversity in meadow vole populations. Overall interpopulational nucleotide divergence (pxy) was also high (values ranged from 0.007 to 0.045). Cluster analysis clearly separates M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii and suggests the separation of the meadow vole populations into eastern and central groups, but there is little evidence of structure within the regional groups. Based on the zoogeography of the populations sampled, the mtDNA RFLP data support the differentiation of Microtus pennsylvanicus into at least two previously described subspecies.

scholarly journals HETEROZYGOSITY, AGGRESSION, AND POPULATION FLUCTUATIONS IN MEADOW VOLES (MICROTUS PENNSYLVANICUS )

Evolution ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1350-1363
Author(s):  
Rudy Boonstra ◽  
Wesley M. Hochachka ◽  
Leo Pavone
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Meadow Voles

Winter coexistence of voles in spruce forest: relevance of seasonal changes in aggression

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 1004-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian N. Turner ◽  
Michael R. Perrin ◽  
Stuart L. Iverson
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Vole Population ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Interspecific Aggression ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Short Period

Beginning in November 1973, numerous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) moved onto a spruce forest grid occupied by red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). A resident meadow vole population resulted, the two species coexisting until April 1974, when most meadow voles disappeared from the grid during a relatively short period. Interspecific aggression levels, as determined from voles temporarily removed from the populations and tested in paired encounters in a laboratory arena, were low during the winter, but increased when males of both species entered reproductive condition in the spring. Microtus was generally dominant in early breeding period encounters, but this dominance declined concurrently with the meadow voles' disappearance from the forest. It is argued that meadow voles did not leave the forest to breed, or because the snow cover melted, since this species will live and reproduce in forest in the absence of Clethrionomys. The results are interpreted as support for an earlier hypothesis that competitive habitat exclusion varies seasonally with reproduction-related aggression. Thus, these species apparently may coexist in either of their preferred habitats when interspecific aggression is low (the nonbreeding season), but this relationship terminates when interspecific aggression levels increase with the resumption of breeding in the spring.

scholarly journals The duration of sociosexual behaviors in male meadow voles Microtus pennsylvanicus varies before, during, and after copulation

2011 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashlee A. Vaughn ◽  
Daniel A. Ferkin ◽  
Javier Delbarco-Trillo ◽  
Michael H. Ferkin
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Voles

Abstract The behaviors that surround copulation are characterized as sociosexual behaviors. These behaviors displayed by males that are directed at females may include allogrooming, wrestling, chasing, approach, and time spent together. The data supported the hypothesis that the duration of sociosexual behaviors differs during the pre-copulatory, peri-copulatory, and post-copulatory phases of the mating bout in meadow voles. Voles spent more time approaching conspecifics during the pre- and peri-copulatory phases than during the post-copulatory phase. Voles spent more time allogrooming, wrestling, and chasing during the pre-copulatory phase than during the peri- and post-copulatory phases. Voles spent similar amounts of time together during the pre-, peri-, and post-copulatory phases. The data suggest that sociosexual behaviors displayed by males may be involved in setting the pace and temporal components of the mating bout. During the pre-copulatory phase particular behaviors by male voles may attract females, during the peri-copulatory phase some of these behaviors may stimulate or motivate the female to mate, and during the post-copulatory phase certain behaviors may prepare the male to mate again.

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