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Oro D, Freixas L, Bartrina C, Míguez S, Torre I. Direct and indirect effects of climate and seed dynamics on the breeding performance of a seed predator at the distribution edge. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e70104. [PMID: 39157667 PMCID: PMC11327614 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Marginal populations usually have low densities and are considered to be particularly vulnerable to environmental stochasticity. Using data collected in nest boxes, we analyzed the breeding performance of the edible dormouse (Glis glis), an obligate hibernating rodent and a seed predator in deciduous forests, in two populations at the distribution range's edge. Despite being only 20 km apart from each other, Montseny is a large patch of mixed deciduous forests (oaks and beech), whereas Montnegre would be the harshest habitat, that is, a small, isolated patch with only oaks. First, we studied the differences in climate and tree cover change in the two populations. Second, we analyzed the direct and indirect roles of local climate conditions and seed availability on breeding performance over 10 years in each population. Finally, we explored the influence of tree cover change on the occupancy dynamics in the two populations. Our results showed contrasting responses between populations: in Montseny, asynchronous seed production between oaks and beech precluded skip breeding, and breeding performance increased with seed availability. Furthermore, dormice in Montseny may use pollen production to anticipate the amount of beech nut resources and adjust their breeding effort. Boxes showed higher occupancy and colonization and fewer extinctions in Montseny than in Montnegre, where seed availability did not drive breeding performance. Results from Montnegre suggest that skip breeding was an adaptive response to a more pulsed, harsher environment. Here, females produced a similar number of pups than at Montseny. Long-term studies dealing with population responses in marginal habitats can lead to a deeper understanding of the capacities of organisms to adapt to harsh environments. Although local adaptation is frequently documented across various taxa, studies at the distribution edge may shed light on our still limited comprehension of the underlying mechanisms responsible for its occurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Oro
- Ecology and Complexity DepartmentCenter of Advanced Studies (CEAB‐CSIC)BlanesSpain
| | - Lídia Freixas
- BiBio Research GroupNatural Sciences Museum of GranollersGranollersSpain
| | - Carme Bartrina
- BiBio Research GroupNatural Sciences Museum of GranollersGranollersSpain
| | | | - Ignasi Torre
- BiBio Research GroupNatural Sciences Museum of GranollersGranollersSpain
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Van de Weyer N, Ruscoe WA, Brown PR, Henry S, Robinson F, Hinds LA, Oh KP. Exploring patterns of female house mouse spatial organisation among outbreaking and stable populations. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e10843. [PMID: 38505179 PMCID: PMC10949005 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The size and distribution of home ranges reflect how individuals within a population use, defend, and share space and resources, and may thus be an important predictor of population-level dynamics. Eruptive species, such as the house mouse in Australian grain-growing regions, are an ideal species in which to investigate variations in space use and home range overlap between stable and outbreaking populations. In this study, we use spatially explicit capture-recapture models to explore if space use and home range overlap among female mice could serve as indicators of changes in population density leading into summer. Additionally, we assess the sensitivity of space use and home range estimates to reduced recapture rates. Our analysis did not reveal variations in the spring spatial organisation of female mice based on existing capture-mark-recapture data. However, our study highlights the need to balance monitoring efforts within regions, emphasising the importance of exploring studies that can improve spatial recaptures by optimising trapping efforts. This is particularly important in Australian agricultural systems, where varying farm management practices may drive differences in population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki Van de Weyer
- Applied BioSciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Wendy A. Ruscoe
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Peter R. Brown
- Applied BioSciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Steve Henry
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Freya Robinson
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Lyn A. Hinds
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | - Kevin P. Oh
- Applied BioSciencesMacquarie UniversitySydneyNew South WalesAustralia
- CSIRO Health and BiosecurityCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
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3
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Baláž I, Bogdziewicz M, Dziemian-Zwolak S, Presti CL, Wróbel A, Zduniak M, Zwolak R. From trees to fleas: masting indirectly affects flea abundance on a rodent host. Integr Zool 2022; 18:440-452. [PMID: 35848894 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Mast seeding causes strong fluctuations in populations of forest animals. Thus, this phenomenon can be used as a natural experiment to examine how variation in host abundance affects parasite loads. We investigated fleas infesting yellow-necked mice in beech forest after two mast and two non-mast years. We tested two mutually exclusive scenarios: (1) as predicted by classical models of density-dependent transmission, an increase in host density will cause an increase in ectoparasite abundance (defined as the number of parasites per host), vs. (2) an increase in host density will cause a decline in flea abundance ("dilution", which is thought to occur when parasite population growth is slower than that of the host). In addition, we assessed whether masting alters the relationship between host traits (sex and body mass) and flea abundance. We found a hump-shaped relationship between host and flea abundance. Thus, the most basic predictions are too simple to describe ectoparasite dynamics in this system. In addition, masting modified seasonal dynamics of flea abundance, but did not affect the relationship between host traits and flea abundance (individuals with the highest body mass hosted the most fleas; after controlling for body mass, parasite abundance did not vary between sexes). Our results demonstrate that pulses of tree reproduction can indirectly, through changes in host densities, drive patterns of ectoparasite infestation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Baláž
- Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra, Slovenia
| | - Michał Bogdziewicz
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland.,French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment, Laboratory of EcoSystems and Societes in Mountain Environments
| | | | | | - Aleksandra Wróbel
- Department of Zoology, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | - Milena Zduniak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
| | - Rafał Zwolak
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland
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4
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Shokri M, Cozzoli F, Ciotti M, Gjoni V, Marrocco V, Vignes F, Basset A. A new approach to assessing the space use behavior of macroinvertebrates by automated video tracking. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3004-3014. [PMID: 33841762 PMCID: PMC8019041 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual space and resource use are central issues in ecology and conservation. Recent technological advances such as automated tracking techniques are boosting ecological research in this field. However, the development of a robust method to track space and resource use is still challenging for at least one important ecosystem component: motile aquatic macroinvertebrates. The challenges are mostly related to the small body size and rapid movement of many macroinvertebrate species and to light scattering and wave signal interference in aquatic habitats.We developed a video tracking method designed to reliably assess space use behavior among individual aquatic macroinvertebrates under laboratory (microcosm) conditions. The approach involves the use of experimental apparatus integrating a near infrared backlight source, a Plexiglas multi-patch maze, multiple infrared cameras, and automated video analysis. It allows detection of the position of fast-moving (~ 3 cm/s) and translucent individuals of small size (~ 5 mm in length, ~1 mg in dry weight) on simulated resource patches distributed over an experimental microcosm (0.08 m2).To illustrate the adequacy of the proposed method, we present a case study regarding the size dependency of space use behavior in the model organism Gammarus insensibilis, focusing on individual patch selection, giving-up times, and cumulative space used.In the case study, primary data were collected on individual body size and individual locomotory behavior, for example, mean speed, acceleration, and step length. Individual entrance and departure times were recorded for each simulated resource patch in the experimental maze. Individual giving-up times were found to be characterized by negative size dependency, with patch departure occurring sooner in larger individuals than smaller ones, and individual cumulative space used (treated as the overall surface area of resource patches that individuals visited) was found to scale positively with body size.This approach to studying space use behavior can deepen our understanding of species coexistence, yielding insights into mechanistic models on larger spatial scales, for example, home range, with implications for ecological and evolutionary processes, as well as for the management and conservation of populations and ecosystems. Despite being specifically developed for aquatic macroinvertebrates, this method can also be applied to other small aquatic organisms such as juvenile fish and amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milad Shokri
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Francesco Cozzoli
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
- Research Institute on Terrestrial Ecosystems (IRET) ‐ National Research Council of Italy (CNR) via SalariaRomaItaly
| | - Mario Ciotti
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Vojsava Gjoni
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Vanessa Marrocco
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Fabio Vignes
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
| | - Alberto Basset
- Laboratory of EcologyDepartment of Biological and Environmental Sciences and TechnologiesUniversity of the SalentoLecceItaly
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5
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Andreassen HP, Sundell J, Ecke F, Halle S, Haapakoski M, Henttonen H, Huitu O, Jacob J, Johnsen K, Koskela E, Luque-Larena JJ, Lecomte N, Leirs H, Mariën J, Neby M, Rätti O, Sievert T, Singleton GR, van Cann J, Vanden Broecke B, Ylönen H. Population cycles and outbreaks of small rodents: ten essential questions we still need to solve. Oecologia 2021; 195:601-622. [PMID: 33369695 PMCID: PMC7940343 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04810-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Most small rodent populations in the world have fascinating population dynamics. In the northern hemisphere, voles and lemmings tend to show population cycles with regular fluctuations in numbers. In the southern hemisphere, small rodents tend to have large amplitude outbreaks with less regular intervals. In the light of vast research and debate over almost a century, we here discuss the driving forces of these different rodent population dynamics. We highlight ten questions directly related to the various characteristics of relevant populations and ecosystems that still need to be answered. This overview is not intended as a complete list of questions but rather focuses on the most important issues that are essential for understanding the generality of small rodent population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry P Andreassen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| | - Janne Sundell
- Lammi Biological Station, University of Helsinki, Pääjärventie 320, 16900, Lammi, Finland
| | - Fraucke Ecke
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skogsmarksgränd, 90183, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Stefan Halle
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Marko Haapakoski
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Heikki Henttonen
- Terrestrial Population Dynamics, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otso Huitu
- Terrestrial Population Dynamics, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Latokartanonkaari 9, 00790, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jens Jacob
- Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Vertebrate Research, Julius Kühn-Institut, Toppheideweg 88, 48161, Münster, Germany
| | - Kaja Johnsen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| | - Esa Koskela
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Juan Jose Luque-Larena
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Escuela Tecnica Superior de Ingenierıas Agrarias, Universidad de Valladolid, Campus La Yutera, Avenida de Madrid 44, 34004, Palencia, Spain
| | - Nicolas Lecomte
- Canada Research Chair in Polar and Boreal Ecology and Centre D'Études Nordiques, Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18 Avenue Antonine-Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitslain 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Joachim Mariën
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitslain 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Magne Neby
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Sciences and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Campus Evenstad, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| | - Osmo Rätti
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, P.O. Box 122, 96101, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Thorbjörn Sievert
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Grant R Singleton
- International Rice Research Institute, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila, Philippines
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham Marine, Kent, ME4 4TB, UK
| | - Joannes van Cann
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Bram Vanden Broecke
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitslain 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Hannu Ylönen
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Konnevesi Research Station, University of Jyväskylä, P.O. Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland.
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6
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Spatial behaviour of yellow-necked wood mouse Apodemus flavicollis in two sub-Mediterranean oak coppice stands. MAMMAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-020-00538-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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7
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Gorosito I, BenÍtez A, Busch M. Home range variability, spatial aggregation, and excursions of Akodon azarae and Oligoryzomys flavescens in Pampean agroecosystems. Integr Zool 2020; 15:401-415. [PMID: 32304184 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Rodents are reservoirs of various types of hantavirus, some of which are agents of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in humans. Each hantavirus is associated with a single rodent host species but successive spill-over events may eventually lead to host-switching and new species' becoming host of a given pathogen. This study aims to gain an understanding of the spatial ecology of two hantavirus-host species, Akodon azarae, and Oligoryzomys flavescens, by identifying factors modulating their home range sizes and stability, and by evaluating intra- and interspecific spatial aggregation for these species and a third one-Oxymycterus rufus-living in sympatry. For this, eleven capture-mark-recapture surveys were carried out, spanning 22 months. We found that A. azarae males have larger and more mobile home ranges than females, independently of the season. Consequently, males could likely have a more relevant role in the transmission of hantavirus because of their greater exposure both to a higher number of contacts between individuals and viral contamination of the environment. Contrasting, O. flavescens individuals showed negligible displacements of their home range through time, which could limit the range of hantavirus spread in host populations. Since O. flavescens is host to Lechiguanas hantavirus (pathogenic to humans) this result encompasses epidemiological relevance, for it may imply the existence of local foci of infection. Additionally, individuals of both species performed excursions outside their home ranges. These events could enable hantavirus spread over distances beyond the normal range of movements and lead to new hantavirus outbreaks in formerly non-infected rodent populations, favoring the persistence of the virus in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gorosito
- Laboratorio de, Ecología de Poblaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ailén BenÍtez
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Busch
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Poblaciones, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, and Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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8
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Spatial dynamics of a hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) population at different densities. MAMMAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s13364-019-00452-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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9
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Stephens RB, Hobbie EA, Lee TD, Rowe RJ. Pulsed resource availability changes dietary niche breadth and partitioning between generalist rodent consumers. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:10681-10693. [PMID: 31632649 PMCID: PMC6787868 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Identifying the mechanisms that structure niche breadth and overlap between species is important for determining how species interact and assessing their functional role in an ecosystem. Without manipulative experiments, assessing the role of foraging ecology and interspecific competition in structuring diet is challenging. Systems with regular pulses of resources act as a natural experiment to investigate the factors that influence the dietary niches of consumers. We used natural pulses of mast-fruiting of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) to test whether optimal foraging or competition structure the dietary niche breadth and overlap between two congener rodent species (Peromyscus leucopus and P. maniculatus), both of which are generalist consumers. We reconstructed diets seasonally over a 2-year period using stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N) of hair and of potential dietary items and measured niche dynamics using standard ellipse area calculated within a Bayesian framework. Changes in niche breadth were generally consistent with predictions of optimal foraging theory, with both species consuming more beechnuts (a high-quality food resource) and having a narrower niche breadth during masting seasons compared to nonmasting seasons when dietary niches expanded and more fungi (a low-quality food source) were consumed. In contrast, changes in dietary niche overlap were consistent with competition theory, with higher diet overlap during masting seasons than during nonmasting seasons. Overall, dietary niche dynamics were closely tied to beech masting, underscoring that food availability influences competition. Diet plasticity and niche partitioning between the two Peromyscus species may reflect differences in foraging strategies, thereby reducing competition when food availability is low. Such dietary shifts may have important implications for changes in ecosystem function, including the dispersal of fungal spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan B. Stephens
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - Erik A. Hobbie
- Earth Systems Research CenterUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - Thomas D. Lee
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - Rebecca J. Rowe
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
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10
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Casula P, Luiselli L, Amori G. Which population density affects home ranges of co-occurring rodents? Basic Appl Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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11
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Johnsen K, Devineau O, Andreassen HP. Phase- and season-dependent changes in social behaviour in cyclic vole populations. BMC Ecol 2019; 19:5. [PMID: 30683090 PMCID: PMC6347810 DOI: 10.1186/s12898-019-0222-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Social behaviour has been linked to hypotheses explaining multiannual population cycles of small rodents. In this paper we aimed to test empirically that the degree of space sharing among adult breeding female voles is higher during the increase phase than in the crash phase, and that the degree of sociality is positively related to population growth rate as suggested by Lambin and Krebs (Oikos 61:126–132, 1991) and Andreassen et al. (Oikos 122:507–515, 2013). We followed 24 natural bank vole Myodes glareolus populations over an area of 113 km2 by monthly live trapping throughout a complete population cycle of three summers and two winters. Results Using spatially explicit capture-recapture models, we modelled the overlap in adult female home ranges and total population growth rate per season. We identified an increase phase before and during the peak density observation and a crash phase following the peak. Female home range overlap were seasonal- and phase-dependent, while population growth rate was associated with season and female home range overlap. High female home range overlap in the increase phase corresponded to a high population growth rate. Conclusions We suggest that intrinsic social behaviour plays a key role in the increase phase of vole population cycles, as social behaviour leads to an increased growth rate, whereas extrinsic factors (predation and/or food) initiate the crash phase. Our results are consistent with those of other studies in a variety of small rodent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaja Johnsen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Science and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway.
| | - Olivier Devineau
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Science and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway
| | - Harry P Andreassen
- Faculty of Applied Ecology, Agricultural Science and Biotechnology, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, 2480, Koppang, Norway
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Seiler N, Boesch C, Stephens C, Ortmann S, Mundry R, Robbins MM. Social and ecological correlates of space use patterns in Bwindi mountain gorillas. Am J Primatol 2018; 80:e22754. [DOI: 10.1002/ajp.22754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Seiler
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
| | | | - Colleen Stephens
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
| | - Sylvia Ortmann
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research; Berlin Germany
| | - Roger Mundry
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology; Leipzig Germany
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13
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Bogdziewicz M, Zwolak R, Redosh L, Rychlik L, Crone EE. Negative effects of density on space use of small mammals differ with the phase of the masting-induced population cycle. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:8423-8430. [PMID: 28031794 PMCID: PMC5167038 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Home range size generally decreases with increasing population density, but testing how this relationship is influenced by other factors (e.g., food availability, kin structure) is a difficult task. We used spatially explicit capture–recapture models to examine how home range size varies with population density in the yellow‐necked mouse (Apodemus flavicollis). The relationship between population density and home range size was studied at two distinct phases of population fluctuations induced by beech (Fagus sylvatica) masting: post‐mast peak in abundance (first summer after mast, n = 2) and subsequent crash (second summer after mast, n = 2). We live‐trapped mice from June to September to avoid the confounding effects of autumn seedfall on home range size. In accordance with general predictions, we found that home range size was negatively associated with population density. However, after controlling for the effect of density, home ranges of mice were larger in post‐mast years than during the crash phase. This indicates a higher spatial overlap among neighbors in post‐mast years. We suggest that the increased spatial overlap is caused by negative density‐dependent dispersal that leads to high relatedness of individuals within population in the peak phase of the cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michał Bogdziewicz
- Department of Systematic ZoologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznańPoland
| | - Rafał Zwolak
- Department of Systematic ZoologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznańPoland
| | | | - Leszek Rychlik
- Department of Systematic ZoologyFaculty of BiologyAdam Mickiewicz UniversityPoznańPoland
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