Indirect effects of least weasel presence on field vole behaviour and demography : a field experiment.

Hellstedt, Paavo; Kalske, Tiia; Hanski, Ilkka; Department of Ecology and Systematics, Division of Population Biology, University of Helsinki; Metapopulaatiobiologian tutkimusryhmä; Metapopulationsbiologi, Forskningsgruppen för

Indirect effects of least weasel presence on field vole behaviour and demography : a field experiment.

2002

Hellstedt, Paavo | Kalske, Tiia | Hanski, Ilkka | Department of Ecology and Systematics, Division of Population Biology, University of Helsinki | Metapopulaatiobiologian tutkimusryhmä (Bio- ja ympäristötieteiden laitos. Ekologia ja evoluutiobiologia) | Metapopulationsbiologi, Forskningsgruppen för (Institutionen för bio- och miljövetenskaper. Ekologi och evolutionsbiologi)

Predation by small mustelids is widely considered to be the most likely mechanism to maintain multiannual fluctuations of vole populations in Fennoscandia. Apart from the direct effect of predation, small mustelids have been suggested to have indirect effects on vole population dynamics. We studied in a field experiment the indirect effects of the presence of the least weasel (Mustela nivalis nivalis) on behaviour and demography of field voles (Microtus agrestis). We constructed grids made of drainpipe with small holes and covering an area of 0.24 ha (4 * 6-m grid, pipes with 10-m intervals). A least weasel moved in the experimental grid without having access to voles during the entire experiment, lasting for 11 weeks. We analysed the rate of maturation, breeding success, movements, and home range use of field voles in the experimental and control grids. The results indicate that weasel's presence had no or had only minor effects on voles.

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