The 'common vole' in Svalbard identified as Microtus epiroticus by chromosome analysis

The chromosomes were studied in six individuals from a population of Microtus from Grumantbyen, Svalbard, and in six Microtur arualis (Pallas 1778) from Lauwersee, Holland. It was shown that the voles from Svalbard did not belong, as earlier supposed, to the species M. arualis (2n = 46) but to M . e...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Fredga, Karl, Jaarola, Maarit, Anker Ims, Rolf, Steen, Harald, G. Yoccoz, Nigel
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 1990
Subjects:
Svalbard
Grumantbyen
Common vole
Grumantby*
Polar Research
Microtus epiroticus
Online Access:https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2390
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v8i2.6818
Description
Summary:The chromosomes were studied in six individuals from a population of Microtus from Grumantbyen, Svalbard, and in six Microtur arualis (Pallas 1778) from Lauwersee, Holland. It was shown that the voles from Svalbard did not belong, as earlier supposed, to the species M. arualis (2n = 46) but to M . epiroticus (Ondrias, 1966) (2n = 54). We suggest that the Svalbard voles were introduced by man between 1920 and 1960 together with hay on Russian ships from the vicinity of Leningrad, USSR.

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