Changes over Time in the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Cyclic Populations of Field Voles (Microtus agrestisL.)

We demonstrate changes over time in the spatial and temporal dynamics of an herbivorous small rodent by analyzing time series of population densities obtained at 21 locations on clear cuts within a coniferous forest in Britain from 1984 to 2004. Changes had taken place in the amplitude, periodicity,...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American naturalist 2006-04, Vol.167 (4), p.583-590
Main Authors: Bierman, Stijn M., Fairbairn, Jonathan P., Petty, Steve J., Elston, David A., Tidhar, David, Lambin, Xavier
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal populations
Animals
Arvicolinae - physiology
Autumn
Climate
Data collection
Density estimation
Microtus agrestis
Periodicity
Population Density
Population Dynamics
Population growth
Population growth rate
Rodents
Seasons
Spatial Behavior
Studies
Summer
Time Factors
Time series
Time windows
Traveling waves
Voles
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:We demonstrate changes over time in the spatial and temporal dynamics of an herbivorous small rodent by analyzing time series of population densities obtained at 21 locations on clear cuts within a coniferous forest in Britain from 1984 to 2004. Changes had taken place in the amplitude, periodicity, and synchrony of cycles and density‐dependent feedback on population growth rates. Evidence for the presence of a unidirectional traveling wave in rodent abundance was strong near the beginning of the study but had disappeared near the end. This study provides empirical support for the hypothesis that the temporal (such as delayed density dependence structure) and spatial (such as traveling waves) dynamics of cyclic populations are closely linked. The changes in dynamics were markedly season specific, and changes in overwintering dynamics were most pronounced. Climatic changes, resulting in a less seasonal environment with shorter winters near the end of the study, are likely to have caused the changes in vole dynamics. Similar changes in rodent dynamics and the climate as reported from Fennoscandia indicate the involvement of large‐scale climatic variables.
ISSN:0003-0147
1537-5323
DOI:10.1086/501076