Territorial Behaviour and Reproductive Success of Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus Females

Koskela, Esa; Mappes, Tapio; Ylönen, Hannu

doi:10.2307/5980

Cited by 104 publications

(89 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…This finding entitles one to suggest that the changes in the sizes and locations of rodents' home ranges described by Mazurkiewicz (1971), Bujalska (1985a, b), Gliwicz (1988) and Koskela et al (1997) may also result from the large distances they cover. The introduction of an artificial source of food to the natural spatial system of a rodent -for example a dense network of live traps -may lead to a situation in which individuals having a good food base close at hand reduce the distances they travel (eg Dominas 1963, Wolton andFlowerdew 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles

Owadowska¹

1999

Acta Theriol.

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E. 1999. The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles. Acta Theriologica 44: 133-150.The aim of the study was to test a hypothesis that small rodents in natural conditions are able to distinguish between the scents of neighbour (N) and stranger (S) individuals of conspecific. Experiments were carried out in a 100-year-old alder forest of the association Circaeo-elongatae Alnetum (Koch. 1926), on a population of bank voles Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreber, 1780). Experiment I found higher capture rates in traps with the scent of N individuals (n = 35) and showed that the rodents could distinguish between N and S scents. Analysis of 90 sheets of Bristol board laid down in the forest in experiment II showed that rodents left significantly more traces of faeces and urine on sheets with the N scents. Experiment III showed that at distances of as much as 200 m from the place of origin of a donor there had been no decrease in the interest of other voles in its scent. Experiment IV increased the distance at which a fall-off in interest in the N scent was sought. As a result of 856 observations of the reactions of voles to the scents of donors originating at different distances, it was found that voles treated as N individuals those donors coming from distances of up to about 1000 m. Analysis of 840 sheets of Bristol board with scents of donors originating between 200 and 1400 m away used in experiment V showed that those smelling of donors from 1200 and 1400 m away were visited significantly less often by the rodents than others. A distance of around 1000 m may thus be the threshold for a decline in the interest of rodents in the N scent.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 74%

The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles

Owadowska¹

1999

Acta Theriol.

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“…In addition, intruding females may pose no threat during this specific period of the reproductive cycle (early gestation). In the female-territorial species bank vole, Koskela et al (1997) reported lower female aggressiveness during early gestation than during late gestation and lactation. Unfortunately, no data exists on how territorial behaviour of root voles changes during the reproductive cycle.…”

Section: Nsd In Female Root Volesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Territory ownership and familiarity status affect how much male root voles (Microtus oeconomus) invest in territory defence

Rosell

Gundersen

Galliard

2008

Behav Ecol Sociobiol

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Neighbour-stranger discrimination occurs when individuals respond with more aggression to strangers than to territorial neighbours -a phenomenon termed the "dear enemy phenomenon" (DEP). We investigated the DEP with male and female root voles (Microtus oeconomus Pallas 1776) using field dyadic arena tests conducted in enclosures where we could test for the effects of familiarity (familiar versus stranger), ownership (resident versus intruder status) and resource-holding potential (body mass) on territorial behaviours. The results showed that males put more effort into territorial defence than females, and males could discriminate between neighbours and strangers. In males, aggressiveness was influenced by a significant two-way interaction between treatment and ownership. Male residents were more aggressive towards stranger intruders than towards neighbour intruders, while male intruders were less aggressive towards stranger residents than towards neighbour residents. In females, neither treatment nor ownership status had a significant effect on aggressiveness. Familiar males performed more social behaviours, but less non-social behaviours, than stranger males. Furthermore, there was a clear dominance hierarchy between residents and intruders in stranger dyads, with the male territory holders dominating the intruder in pairwise interactions. To our knowledge, these results demonstrate for the first time DEP in a small mammal with a known pedigree and present the first evidence for "prior resident advantage" in voles. We argue that both ownership status and familiarity status affect how much an individual invests in territory defence. The benefits of neighbour-stranger discrimination for male root voles and the absence of neighbour-stranger discrimination in female root voles are discussed.

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“…The size of female home range changes depending on habitat (i.e. food condition) and reproductive state (Koskela et al 1997). Breeding females maintain a territory within which nesting, courtship, mating and most foraging take place (in sensu Hinde 1956;Wilson 1975;Ito 1978;Morse 1980).…”

Section: Breeding Seasonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social organization of the vole Clethrionomys rufocanus and its demographic and genetic consequences: A review

1998

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Abstract. Recent findings on the relationship between social interaction and demographic process in the gray-sided vole Clethrionomys rufocanus are reviewed with reference to the findings in other microtine rodents. Social behavior was particularly focused on spacing and dispersal, and their effects on population dynamics are discussed. Female territoriality can limit a population abundance as a density-dependent factor, although its regulatory effect is controversial. Female philopatry and male-biased dispersal should bring about the clumped distribution of female relatives and genetically random distribution of males during the breeding season. The sexual difference in dispersal patterns can contribute to the mating behavior of the vole; promiscuous mating and low frequency of incestuous mating. However, effects of social structure, including kinship, on reproduction and survival of individuals still remains to be clarified. Molecular markers may help to solve these issues and provide new field of population ecology in microtine rodents.

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Territorial Behaviour and Reproductive Success of Bank Vole Clethrionomys glareolus Females

Cited by 104 publications

References 31 publications

The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles

The range of olfactory familiarity between individuals in a population of bank voles

Territory ownership and familiarity status affect how much male root voles (Microtus oeconomus) invest in territory defence

Social organization of the vole Clethrionomys rufocanus and its demographic and genetic consequences: A review

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