Manuscript - Home range dynamics of sympatric vole populations: influence of food resources, population density, interspecific competition, and mating system
Getz, Lowell L.; Hofmann, Joyce E.; McGuire, Betty; Oli, Madan K.
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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/168
Description
Title
Manuscript - Home range dynamics of sympatric vole populations: influence of food resources, population density, interspecific competition, and mating system
Author(s)
Getz, Lowell L.
Hofmann, Joyce E.
McGuire, Betty
Oli, Madan K.
Issue Date
2004
Keyword(s)
Voles
Home range
Microtus ochrogaster
Microtus pennsylvanicus
Abstract
We studied variation in home range size in fluctuating populations of
Microtus ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus in alfalfa, bluegrass and
tallgrass habitats over a 25-year period in east-central Illinois. The
three habitats differed in food availability and vegetative cover.
Home range indices of both species were complexly related to abundance
of food resources. Home ranges of M. ochrogaster were smallest in the
high food habitat (alfalfa), largest in the low food habitat
(tallgrass) and intermediate in medium food habitat (bluegrass). M.
pennsylvanicus home ranges were largest in the low food habitat, but
did not differ between the high and intermediate food habitats. M.
ochrogaster did not have smaller home ranges in supplementally fed
medium and low food habitats; those of M. pennsylvanicus were smaller
only in the low food habitat. Home ranges of M. ochrogaster were
compressed only at population densities above 100/ha, irrespective of
food levels; those of M. pennsylvanicus were smaller at high densities
only in medium and low food habitats. Presence of the other species
did not influence size of home ranges of either species. Withinhabitat
seasonal variation in home range indices indicated a
confounding response to cover (prey risk) and food. Home ranges of all
age classes of M. pennsylvanicus were larger than those of M.
ochrogaster in all three habitats. There was no obvious relationship
between home range sizes of adult males and females in relation to the
mating system of each species. For both species in all three habitats,
home ranges of adult males were larger than those of adult females.
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