Experimental translocation of juvenile water voles in a Scottish lowland metapopulation |
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Authors: | Diana O Fisher Xavier Lambin Sonja M Yletyinen |
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Institution: | (1) Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK;(2) Present address: School of Integrative Biology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia;(3) Department of Biology, Section of Ecology, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland |
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Abstract: | Population density affects dispersal success because residents can hinder or facilitate immigration into a new site, via a
“social fence effect” or “social attraction” (or “conspecific attraction”), respectively. These mechanisms can affect the
dynamics of fragmented populations and the success of translocations. However, information on the settlement behaviour of
dispersers is rare. We conducted a manipulative field experiment using wild water voles, which exist in metapopulations along
waterways in Scotland. We translocated 17 young of dispersal age into either an occupied site or a vacant site containing
good habitat, which had recently become extinct due to a feral predator (American mink) moving through. We monitored the movements
of translocated voles using radio telemetry. Translocated voles were less likely to settle in occupied sites with higher densities
of residents, suggesting a possible social fence effect at high density. There was evidence of a social attraction mechanism,
because voles never remained at new sites unless another individual arrived soon after translocation, and they were more likely
to settle in occupied or colonised sites than vacant ones. Voles remained in the transient phase of dispersal for many days,
and often followed a “stepping stone” trajectory, stopping for several days at successive sites. We suggest that trajectories
followed by dispersing water voles, the time scale and long dispersal distances found in this species are conducive to locating
conspecifics at low density and colonising vacant habitat. These results are encouraging for prospects of metapopulation persistence
and future translocation success. |
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Keywords: | Dispersal Immigration Metapopulation dynamics Social fence Translocation Water vole |
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