Pattern of Nest Occupancy of the Prairie Vole Microtus ochrogaster in Different Habitats

Getz, Lowell L.; Gudermuth, Diane F.; Benson, Sheri M.

doi:10.2307/2426425

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Prairie voles are used as an ultimate example of social monogamy within the rodent literature and indeed across taxa. However, even within prairie vole populations, some individuals do not show pair bonding, biparental care, or selective aggression at all, or will display only a subset of these behaviors [4,[35][36][37][38]. Individual differences play a role in how rodents mate in both nature and laboratory, and demonstrate how flexible patterns of reproduction are expressed at an individual level, which provides a plausible explanation for why female rats employ different methods of mate guarding.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in conditioned mate guarding behavior in the female rat

Holley¹,

Bellevue²,

Vosberg³

et al. 2015

Physiology & Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in conditioned mate guarding behavior in the female rat

Holley¹,

Bellevue²,

Vosberg³

et al. 2015

Physiology & Behavior

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…We conducted the study in two adjacent 1-ha alfalfa (Medieago sativa) fields within the University of Illinois Biological Research Area (Phillips Tract), 6 km north-east of Urbana, Illinois. Although prairie voles are thought to have originally occupied tallgrass prairie habitat, they commonly occur in unmown alfalfa fields today (Getz 1985), and basic aspects of social organization appear similar in populations occupying alfalfa fields and areas of restored tallgrass prairie (Getz et al 1992). Our two alfalfa fields were separated by a 10-m closely mown strip of grass.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natal dispersal and philopatry in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in relation to population density, season, and natal social environment

McGuire

Getz

Hofmann

et al. 1993

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

128

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We used intensive livetrapping to examine natal dispersal and philopatry in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster). The majority of male (70.0%) and female prairie voles (75.1%) remained at the natal nest until death. Those males and females that did disperse left home at about the same age (45-55 days) and moved similar distances (28 33 m). Dispersal was more common (1) from small natal groups than from large natal groups, (2) following disappearance of parents, (3) during the breeding period than during the nonbreeding period, and (4) at low population densities than at high densities. Dispersal was not associated with level of competition for mates within natal groups, and dispersers did not differ from nondispersers in body weight. Our data do not support competition for mates or resources as important factors influencing natal dispersal in prairie voles. The absence of sex differences in dispersal tendency or distance, and our finding that more than half of dispersers had become reproductive before leaving the natal nest, lead us to suggest that inbreeding avoidance is not a primary function of dispersal in this species. Dispersal was, however, more common when potential mates within the natal group were relatives than when they were nonrelatives. Although not tested here, if family members avoid mating with one another through patterns of mate choice, then some animals may leave home in search of mates. The precise benefits associated with philopatry in prairie voles remain to be identified.

show abstract

“…They eat aboveground vegetation, seeds, and roots of grasses and forbs (Getz 1985). Prairie voles nest communally in subterranean burrows with an average of five individuals per nest (Getz et al 1992). Burrows, created for both nesting and escape from predators, are occupied an average of 51 days (Mankin and Getz 1994) and have a mean aboveground area of 5.7 m 2 (E.J.…”

Section: Prairie Vole Natural Historymentioning

confidence: 99%

Vole disturbances and plant diversity in a grassland metacommunity

Questad

Foster

2007

Oecologia

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied the disturbance associated with prairie vole burrows and its effects on grassland plant diversity at the patch (1 m(2)) and metacommunity (>5 ha) scales. We expected vole burrows to increase patch-scale plant species diversity by locally reducing competition for resources or creating niche opportunities that increase the presence of fugitive species. At the metacommunity scale, we expected burrows to increase resource heterogeneity and have a community composition distinct from the matrix. We measured resource variables and plant community composition in 30 paired plots representing disturbed burrows and undisturbed matrix patches in a cool-season grassland. Vole disturbance affected the mean values of nine resource variables measured and contributed more to resource heterogeneity in the metacommunity than matrix plots. Disturbance increased local plant species richness, metacommunity evenness, and the presence and abundance of fugitive species. To learn more about the contribution of burrow and matrix habitats to metacommunity diversity, we compared community similarity among burrow and matrix plots. Using Sorenson's similarity index, which considers only presence-absence data, we found no difference in community similarity among burrows and matrix plots. Using a proportional similarity index, which considers both presence-absence and relative abundance data, we found low community similarity among burrows. Burrows appeared to shift the identity of dominant species away from the species dominant in the matrix. They also allowed subordinate species to persist in higher abundances. The patterns we observed are consistent with several diversity-maintaining mechanisms, including a successional mosaic and alternative successional trajectories. We also found evidence that prairie voles may be ecosystem engineers.

show abstract

Pattern of Nest Occupancy of the Prairie Vole Microtus ochrogaster in Different Habitats

Cited by 31 publications

References 19 publications

The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in conditioned mate guarding behavior in the female rat

The role of oxytocin and vasopressin in conditioned mate guarding behavior in the female rat

Natal dispersal and philopatry in prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) in relation to population density, season, and natal social environment

Vole disturbances and plant diversity in a grassland metacommunity

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About