Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk
Arvicoline rodents adapt to predation risk imposed by specialist predators (e.g. mustelids) in several ways. These include breeding suppression as well as changes in spatial and temporal activity. I investigated whether such adaptations are employed by common voles (Microtus arvalis). Breeding suppr...
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ftdbthueringen:oai:www.db-thueringen.de:dbt_mods_00020727 2024-04-07T07:54:03+00:00 Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk Jochym, Mateusz Halle, Stefan Ylönen, Hannu Lambin, Xavier 2012-07-18 https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:27-20120718-114918-7 https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00020727 https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRZipServlet/dbt_derivate_00025847 http://uri.gbv.de/document/gvk:ppn:719706645 eng eng https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:27-20120718-114918-7 https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00020727 https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRZipServlet/dbt_derivate_00025847 http://uri.gbv.de/document/gvk:ppn:719706645 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess thesis Doktorarbeit DNB Meldung Klasse A ddc:570 Hochschulschrift / Räuber / Kleinsäuger / Geruchssinn / Verhalten / Reproduktion / Feldforschung dissertation doc-type:PhDThesis 2012 ftdbthueringen 2024-03-08T13:31:40Z Arvicoline rodents adapt to predation risk imposed by specialist predators (e.g. mustelids) in several ways. These include breeding suppression as well as changes in spatial and temporal activity. I investigated whether such adaptations are employed by common voles (Microtus arvalis). Breeding suppression hypothesis (BSH) predicts that females will suppress breeding in response to high risk of mustelid predation, thus gaining higher chances of survival. I used capture-mark-recapture data to verify whether breeding suppression occurs in M. arvalis, and how population density combined with predation risk affects voles' reproductive activity. In contrast to males, some females did suppress breeding; this confirmed the BSH. A model of the interaction between predation risk and population density revealed that response to predation risk depends on the density of conspecifics: breeding suppression is a viable adaptation only at low vole densities. Despite predation risk, some females maintained reproduction. To establish whether they responded at all, I measured two parameters of their reproductive output: the number of recruits per litter, and the interval between litters. The number of recruits per litter was not affected, but litters of females facing predation risk were less frequent. This indicates that the effect of predation risk on females is more complex than originally proposed: while some females suppress breeding, the frequency of litters is affected in others. This effect may be linked with regulation of estrus. Spatial and temporal activity of breeding females was measured using radio-tracking. Size of activity range, movement distances and temporal behavior were not influenced by predation risk. However, the females clearly avoided the sources of mustelid odor. Reproductively active females cannot afford spatial and temporal adaptations, as these limit foraging opportunities and ultimately, fecundity. Yet, they respond to predator odors. Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis Microtus arvalis Digital Library Thüringen |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Digital Library Thüringen |
op_collection_id |
ftdbthueringen |
language |
English |
topic |
thesis Doktorarbeit DNB Meldung Klasse A ddc:570 Hochschulschrift / Räuber / Kleinsäuger / Geruchssinn / Verhalten / Reproduktion / Feldforschung |
spellingShingle |
thesis Doktorarbeit DNB Meldung Klasse A ddc:570 Hochschulschrift / Räuber / Kleinsäuger / Geruchssinn / Verhalten / Reproduktion / Feldforschung Jochym, Mateusz Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
topic_facet |
thesis Doktorarbeit DNB Meldung Klasse A ddc:570 Hochschulschrift / Räuber / Kleinsäuger / Geruchssinn / Verhalten / Reproduktion / Feldforschung |
description |
Arvicoline rodents adapt to predation risk imposed by specialist predators (e.g. mustelids) in several ways. These include breeding suppression as well as changes in spatial and temporal activity. I investigated whether such adaptations are employed by common voles (Microtus arvalis). Breeding suppression hypothesis (BSH) predicts that females will suppress breeding in response to high risk of mustelid predation, thus gaining higher chances of survival. I used capture-mark-recapture data to verify whether breeding suppression occurs in M. arvalis, and how population density combined with predation risk affects voles' reproductive activity. In contrast to males, some females did suppress breeding; this confirmed the BSH. A model of the interaction between predation risk and population density revealed that response to predation risk depends on the density of conspecifics: breeding suppression is a viable adaptation only at low vole densities. Despite predation risk, some females maintained reproduction. To establish whether they responded at all, I measured two parameters of their reproductive output: the number of recruits per litter, and the interval between litters. The number of recruits per litter was not affected, but litters of females facing predation risk were less frequent. This indicates that the effect of predation risk on females is more complex than originally proposed: while some females suppress breeding, the frequency of litters is affected in others. This effect may be linked with regulation of estrus. Spatial and temporal activity of breeding females was measured using radio-tracking. Size of activity range, movement distances and temporal behavior were not influenced by predation risk. However, the females clearly avoided the sources of mustelid odor. Reproductively active females cannot afford spatial and temporal adaptations, as these limit foraging opportunities and ultimately, fecundity. Yet, they respond to predator odors. |
author2 |
Halle, Stefan Ylönen, Hannu Lambin, Xavier |
format |
Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis |
author |
Jochym, Mateusz |
author_facet |
Jochym, Mateusz |
author_sort |
Jochym, Mateusz |
title |
Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
title_short |
Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
title_full |
Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
title_fullStr |
Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
title_full_unstemmed |
Reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
title_sort |
reproductive activity and spatial behavior of common voles (microtus arvalis pallas, 1778) in response to simulated mustelid predation risk |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:27-20120718-114918-7 https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00020727 https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRZipServlet/dbt_derivate_00025847 http://uri.gbv.de/document/gvk:ppn:719706645 |
genre |
Microtus arvalis |
genre_facet |
Microtus arvalis |
op_relation |
https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:gbv:27-20120718-114918-7 https://www.db-thueringen.de/receive/dbt_mods_00020727 https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRZipServlet/dbt_derivate_00025847 http://uri.gbv.de/document/gvk:ppn:719706645 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
_version_ |
1795670333984866304 |