Spatial dynamics in fluctuating vole populations

Summary Patterns and consistency of distribution, spatial and temporal components, and the extent of spatial density-dependence were compared between semi-cyclic and cyclic populations of the vole species Clethrionomys glareolus and Microtus agrestis in south-central and north Sweden. Cyclic populations were less clumped and only C. glareolus showed a consistency in distribution between years. Spatial variation contributed little to the distributions in cyclic populations while the spatial and temporal variations were of the same magnitude in the semi-cyclic populations. The latter populations could be subdivided into areas with different spatial and temporal components. The spatial density-dependence increased from increase to decline years in C. glareolus but not in M. agrestis, which differed conspicuously between reregions in population development. The data imply that spatial dynamics should be considered as much as temporal ones for non-cyclic populations, that the same regulating or limiting factors may be at work in both spatial and temporal components and that, in addition, social behaviour may be important in explaining spatial dynamics. However, the latter effects may be fairly species-specific.     

Spatial dynamics of Microtus vole populations in continuous and fragmented agricultural landscapes

Small mammal populations often exhibit large-scale spatial synchrony, which is purportedly caused by stochastic weather-related environmental perturbations, predation or dispersal. To elucidate the relative synchronizing effects of environmental perturbations from those of dispersal movements of small mammalian prey or their predators, we investigated the spatial dynamics of Microtus vole populations in two differently structured landscapes which experience similar patterns of weather and climatic conditions. Vole and predator abundances were monitored for three years on 28 agricultural field sites arranged into two 120-km-long transect lines in western Finland. Sites on one transect were interconnected by continuous agricultural farmland (continuous landscape), while sites on the other were isolated from one another to a varying degree by mainly forests (fragmented landscape). Vole populations exhibited large-scale (>120 km) spatial synchrony in fluctuations, which did not differ in degree between the landscapes or decline with increasing distance between trapping sites. However, spatial variation in vole population growth rates was higher in the fragmented than in the continuous landscape. Although vole-eating predators were more numerous in the continuous agricultural landscape than in the fragmented, our results suggest that predators do not exert a great influence on the degree of spatial synchrony of vole population fluctuations, but they may contribute to bringing out-of-phase prey patches towards a regional density level. The spatial dynamics of vole populations were similar in both fragmented and continuous landscapes despite inter-landscape differences in both predator abundance and possibilities of vole dispersal. This implies that the primary source of synchronization lies in a common weather-related environment.     

The dynamics of health in wild field vole populations: a haematological perspective

1. Pathogens have been proposed as potentially important drivers of population dynamics, but while a few studies have investigated the impact of specific pathogens, the wealth of information provided by general indices of health has hardly been exploited. By evaluating haematological parameters in wild populations, our knowledge of the dynamics of health and infection may be better understood. 2. Here, haematological dynamics in natural populations of field voles are investigated to determine environmental and host factors associated with indicators of inflammatory response (counts of monocytes and neutrophils) and of condition: measures of immunological investment (lymphocyte counts) and aerobic capacity (red blood cell counts). 3. Individuals from three field vole populations were sampled monthly for 2 years. Comparisons with individuals kept under controlled conditions facilitated interpretation of field data. Mixed effects models were developed for each cell type to evaluate separately the effects of various factors on post-juvenile voles and mature breeding females. 4. There were three well-characterized 'physiological' seasons. The immunological investment appeared lowest in winter (lowest lymphocyte counts), but red blood cells were at their highest levels and indices of inflammatory response at their lowest. Spring was characterized by a fall in red blood cell counts and peaks in indicators of inflammatory response. During the course of summer-autumn, red blood cell counts recovered, the immunological investment increased and the indicators of inflammatory response decreased. 5. Poor body condition appeared to affect the inflammatory response (lower neutrophil and monocyte peaks) and the immunological investment (lower lymphocyte counts), providing evidence that the capacity to fight infection is dependent upon host condition. 6. Breeding early in the year was most likely in females in better condition (high lymphocyte and red blood cell counts). 7. All the haematological parameters were affected adversely by high population densities.     

亚欧美栗疫病菌群体的遗传多样性

从 12 0个随机引物中筛选出条带清晰、主带明显、重复性好的 9个引物 ,对来自不同地域和寄主的 7个群体的 14 2个栗疫病菌菌株进行 RAPD分析。 9个引物共扩增出条带 12 4条 ,其中多态性条带 111条 ,多态性比率为 89.5 2 %。利用 Popgen3.2软件对供试群体进行遗传多样性分析和 UPGMA聚类。结果表明 ,中国地区 4个群体间的遗传相似性较大 ,与美国、意大利和日本群体间的相似性较小 ;美国和意大利群体间的遗传相似性较大 ,且它们与日本群体间的相似性大于与中国群体间的相似性。病原菌群体的遗传变异率为 0 .2 35 1,其中在地区水平上 ,82 .34%由群体内的变异引起 ,17.6 6 %由群体间的差异引起 ,群体间的基因流动值为 2 .3311;而在寄主水平上 ,则 79.4 2 %由群体内的变异引起 ,2 0 .5 8%由群体间的差异引起 ,群体间的基因流动值为 1.92 97     

The role of colonization in the dynamics of patchy populations of a cyclic vole species

The crash phase of vole populations with cyclic dynamics regularly leads to vast areas of uninhabited habitats. Yet although the capacity for cyclic voles to re-colonize such empty space is likely to be large and predicted to have become evolved as a distinct life history trait, the processes of colonization and its effect on the spatio-temporal dynamics have been little studied. Here we report from an experiment with root voles (Microtus oeconomus) specifically targeted at quantifying the process of colonization of empty patches from distant source patches and its resultant effect on local vole deme size variation in a patchy landscape. Three experimental factors: habitat quality, predation risk and inter-patch distance were employed among 24 habitat patches in a 100 × 300-m experimental area. The first-born cohort in the spring efficiently colonized almost all empty patches irrespective of the degree of patch isolation and predation risk, but this was dependent on habitat quality. Just after the initial colonization wave the deme sizes in patches of the same quality were underdispersed relative to Poisson variance, indicating regulated (density-dependent) settlement. Towards the end of the breeding season local demographic processes acted to smooth out the initial post-colonization differences among source and colonization patches, and among patches of initially different quality. However, at this time demographic stochasticity had also given rise to a large (overdispersed) variation in deme sizes that may have contributed to an overshadowing of the effect of other factors. The results of this experiment confirmed our expectation that the space-filling capacity of voles is large. The costs associated with transience appeared to be so low, at least at the spatial scale considered in this experiment, that such costs are not likely to substantially constrain habitat selection and colonization in the increase phase of cyclic patchy populations.     

Tawny owl prey remains indicate differences in the dynamics of coastal and inland vole populations in southern Finland

Some studies suggest that mild winters decrease overwinter survival of small mammals or coincide with decreased cyclicity in vole numbers, whereas other studies suggest non-significant or positive relationships between mild winter conditions and vole population dynamics. We expect for the number of voles to be higher in the rich and low-lying habitats of the coastal areas than in the less fertile areas inland. We assume that this geographical difference in vole abundances is diminished by mild winters especially in low-lying habitats. We examine these relationships by generalized linear mixed models using prey remains of breeding tawny owls Strix aluco as a proxy for the abundance of voles. The higher number of small voles in the coastal area than in the inland area suggest that vole populations were denser in the coastal area. Vole populations of both areas were affected by winter weather conditions particularly in March, but these relationships differed between areas. The mild ends of winter with frequent fluctuations of the ambient temperature around the freezing point (“frost seesaw”) constrained significantly the coastal vole populations, while deep snow cover, in general after hard winters, was followed by significantly lowered number of voles only in the inland populations. Our results suggest that coastal vole populations are more vulnerable to mild winters than inland ones. We also show that tawny owl prey remains can be used in a meaningful way to study vole population dynamics.     

完达山东部地区东北虎主要猎物种群的时空动态模拟

基于能体现直接与间接人为干扰的不同意外死亡率和环境容纳量情景,使用景观尺度的动物种群模型（LAPS）模拟了1990—2009年完达山东部地区东北虎主要猎物种群的时空动态,研究了意外死亡率和环境容纳量对种群动态的影响,并直观展现了研究区内动物集群的时空分布状况,比较了不同生境斑块类型中个体密度的差异.结果表明：意外死亡率对研究区动物种群动态的影响较环境容纳量大;灌丛中动物种群的密度高于阔叶林中的密度.研究结果为有效进行东北虎主要猎物的保护与管理提供了科学依据,但相关的定量验证还需深入研究.     

Metapopulation processes and persistence in remnant water vole populations

We examined the spatial distribution of water vole populations in four consecutive years and investigated whether the regional population processes of extinction, recolonisation and migration influence distribution and persistence. We examined how such regional processes are influenced by spatial variation in habitat quality. In addition, we assessed the relevance of metapopulation concepts for understanding the dynamics of species that deviate from classical metapopulation assumptions and developing conservation measures for them. Populations were patchy and discrete, and the patchy distribution was not static between years. Population turnover occurred even in the absence of predatory mink, which only influenced the network of populations at the end of the study. Most populations were clustered close together in the upper tributaries. Local population persistence was predominantly influenced by population size: large populations were more persistent. Recolonisation rates were influenced by isolation and habitat quality. The isolation estimates which best explained the distribution of water vole populations incorporated straight‐line distances, suggesting water voles disperse overland. The distribution of recolonised sites indicated that dispersing voles actively selected habitat on the basis of its quality. Water voles depart from some of the assumptions made by frequently used metapopulation models. In particular there is no clear binary distinction between suitable and non‐suitable habitat. Accounting for variation in habitat quality before investigating temporal changes in population distribution allowed us to demonstrate that the key metapopulation processes were important. The significance of regional population processes relative to local population processes may have increased in declining, fragmented populations compared to pristine regional populations. We hypothesise that although mink predation is likely to eventually cause regional extinction in many areas, metapopulation processes have delayed this decline. Consequently, conservation measures should take into account mink predation rates and regional population processes, before considering aspects of habitat quality.     

Individual growth rates in natural field vole, Microtus agrestis, populations exhibiting cyclic population dynamics

Rodents that have multi-annual cycles of density are known to have flexible growth strategies, and the “Chitty effect”, whereby adults in the high-density phase of the cycle exhibit larger average body mass than during the low phase, is a well-documented feature of cyclic populations. Despite this, there have been no studies that have repeatedly monitored individual vole growth over time from all phases of a density cycle, in order to evaluate whether such variation in body size is due to differences in juvenile growth rates, differences in growth periods, or differential survival of particularly large or small voles. This study compares growth trajectories from voles during the peak, increase and crash phases of the cycle in order to evaluate whether voles are exhibiting fast or slow growth strategies. We found that although voles reach highest asymptotic weights in the peak phase and lowest asymptotes during the crash, initial growth rates were not significantly different. This suggests that voles attain larger body size during the peak phase as a result of growing for longer.     

Global change and the distributional dynamics of migratory bird populations wintering in Central America

Understanding the susceptibility of highly mobile taxa such as migratory birds to global change requires information on geographic patterns of occurrence across the annual cycle. Neotropical migrants that breed in North America and winter in Central America occur in high concentrations on their non‐breeding grounds where they spend the majority of the year and where habitat loss has been associated with population declines. Here, we use eBird data to model weekly patterns of abundance and occurrence for 21 forest passerine species that winter in Central America. We estimate species’ distributional dynamics across the annual cycle, which we use to determine how species are currently associated with public protected areas and projected changes in climate and land‐use. The effects of global change on the non‐breeding grounds is characterized by decreasing precipitation, especially during the summer, and the conversion of forest to cropland, grassland, or peri‐urban. The effects of global change on the breeding grounds are characterized by increasing winter precipitation, higher temperatures, and the conversion of forest to peri‐urban. During spring and autumn migration, species are projected to encounter higher temperatures, forests that have been converted to peri‐urban, and increased precipitation during spring migration. Based on current distributional dynamics, susceptibility to global change is characterized by the loss of forested habitats on the non‐breeding grounds, warming temperatures during migration and on the breeding grounds, and declining summer rainfall on the non‐breeding grounds. Public protected areas with low and medium protection status are more prevalent on the non‐breeding grounds, suggesting that management opportunities currently exist to mitigate near‐term non‐breeding habitat losses. These efforts would affect more individuals of more species during a longer period of the annual cycle, which may create additional opportunities for species to respond to changes in habitat or phenology that are likely to develop under climate change.     

Comparison of British populations of potato cyst nematodes with populations from continental Europe and South America using RAPDs.

Genetic variation between populations of Globodera pallida, primarily from Britain but including populations from continental Europe and South America and two Globodera rostochiensis populations, was examined using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Fourteen primers were used and 250 amplification products observed. A comparison was made of the similarities between the species and, within G. pallida, between populations from Britain, The Netherlands, Germany, and Switzerland, of the pathotypes Pa2 and Pa3. In addition, one Pa1 population and two others from South America were included. On the basis of the RAPD analysis, all the Pa2-Pa3 populations, except one from Scotland (Luffness), constituted a single group with no clear distinction based on pathotype designation. The Luffness population is known to be distinct in its virulence. The data indicated that the main Pa2-Pa3 group could be subdivided based on geographic origin, but this is not well supported by bootstrap analysis. The Pa1 population and the two populations from South America all formed distinct groups.     

Long-term pattern of population dynamics in the field vole from central Europe: cyclic pattern with amplitude dampening

The subject of population cycles is regarded as controversial due to a number of unsettled questions such as whether or not cyclic patterns are governed by the same processes at high and low latitudes in Europe. Recent evidence suggests that the dynamics at high and low latitudes share the common temporal pattern of vole dynamics referred to as collapsing population cycles. Despite concurrent interest, the key contention around the causal mechanisms that drive population cycles remains a hot topic in ecology. The aims of this study are to supplement information on the seasonal population dynamics of the field vole Microtus agrestis in the Czech Republic by analysing 25 years of time series data. By applying robust estimation procedures, we estimated several parameters to describe population dynamics, such as population variability, amplitude dampening, cycle period, order of the dynamics and the structure of density dependence. The parameters indicate that field vole dynamics in central Europe are highly variable, cyclic dynamics of order two, with peaks in abundance occurring regularly at intervals of 4–5 years. In addition to exhibiting population cycles, the field vole populations show a pattern of dampened amplitude as observed elsewhere in Europe, including northern latitudes. By analysing temporal trends in seasonal abundances, population growth rates and environmental temperatures, we did not obtain evidence to support the hypothesis that amplitude dampening results from the negative effect of increasingly mild winters on winter population growth rates.     

Modeling the dynamics of natural rotifer populations: Phase-parametric analysis

A model of the dynamics of natural rotifer populations is described as a discrete non-linear map depending on three parameters, which reflect characteristics of the population and environment. Model dynamics and their change by variation of these parameters were investigated by methods of bifurcation theory. A phase-parametric portrait of the model was constructed and domains of population persistence (stable equilibrium, periodic and a-periodic oscillations of population size) as well as population extinction were identified and investigated. The criteria for population persistence and approaches to determining critical parameter values are described. The results identify parameter values that lead to population extinction under various environmental conditions. They further illustrate that the likelihood of extinction can be substantially increased by small changes in environmental quality, which shifts populations into new dynamical regimes.     

Dispersal,landscape and travelling waves in cyclic vole populations

Travelling waves (TW) are among the most striking ecological phenomena emerging in oscillating populations. Despite much theory, understanding how real‐world TW arise remains a challenge for ecology. Herein, we analyse 16‐year time series of cyclic vole populations collected at 314 localities covering 2500 km² in France. We found evidence for a linear front TW spreading at a speed of 7.4 km year^?1 along a north‐west/south‐east direction and radiating away from a major landscape discontinuity as predicted by recent theory. The spatial signature of vole dispersal was assessed using genetic data collected at 14 localities. Both data sets were handled using similar autocorrelation approaches. Our results revealed a remarkable congruence of the spatial extent and direction of anisotropy of both demographic and genetic structures. Our results constitute the first empirical evidence that effective dispersal is limited in the direction of TW while most of the individual exchanges occur along the wave front.     

Fox predation on cyclic field vole populations in Britain

The diet of the red fox Vulpes vulpes L. was studied during three winter periods in spruce pklantations in Britain, during which time the cyclic field vole Microtus agrestis L. populations varied in abundance. Field voles and roe deer Capreolus capreolus L. were the two main prey species in the diet of the red fox. The contribution of lagomorphs to fox diet never exceeded 35% and species of small mammal other than field voles were of minor importance. The contribution of field voles was dependent on vole density. The non-linear density dependent relationship with a rather abrupt increase of field voles in fox did when vole density exceeded ca 100 voles ha⁻¹ was consistent with a prey-switching response. The contribution of field voles to fox diet during the low phase of population cycles was lower in Kielder Forest than in other ecosystems with cyclic vole populations. The number of foxes killed annually by forestry rangers was consistent with the evidence from other studies that foxes preying on cyclic small rodents might show a delayed numerical response to changes in vole abundance. Estimates of the maximum predation rate of the fox alone (200–290 voles ha⁻¹ of vole habitat year⁻¹) was well above a previously predicted value for the whole generalist predator community in Kielder Forest. Our data on the functional response of red foxes and estimates of their predation rates suggest that foxes should have a strong stabilising impact on vole populations, yet voles show characteristic 3-4 yr cycles.     

Environmental change and disease dynamics: effects of intensive forest management on Puumala hantavirus infection in boreal bank vole populations

Intensive management of Fennoscandian forests has led to a mosaic of woodlands in different stages of maturity. The main rodent host of the zoonotic Puumala hantavirus (PUUV) is the bank vole (Myodes glareolus), a species that can be found in all woodlands and especially mature forests. We investigated the influence of forest age structure on PUUV infection dynamics in bank voles. Over four years, we trapped small mammals twice a year in a forest network of different succession stages in Northern Finland. Our study sites represented four forest age classes from young (4 to 30 years) to mature (over 100 years) forests. We show that PUUV-infected bank voles occurred commonly in all forest age classes, but peaked in mature forests. The probability of an individual bank vole to be PUUV infected was positively related to concurrent host population density. However, when population density was controlled for, a relatively higher infection rate was observed in voles trapped in younger forests. Furthermore, we found evidence of a "dilution effect" in that the infection probability was negatively associated with the simultaneous density of other small mammals during the breeding season. Our results suggest that younger forests created by intensive management can reduce hantaviral load in the environment, but PUUV is common in woodlands of all ages. As such, the Fennoscandian forest landscape represents a significant reservoir and source of hantaviral infection in humans.     

Geomorphological features drive spatiotemporal dynamics of young-of-the-year brown trout populations in a large New Zealand river catchment

1. Determining the factors driving population dynamics of stream salmonids across broad landscapes is important for understanding stream ecosystem functioning and for the management and conservation of the populations of such fish. A few studies have described the determinants of the early life history of salmonids across catchments, but none of them have examined how this spatial variation develops temporally.
2. We hypothesised that: (1) spatiotemporal dynamics of young-of-the-year (YoY) trout populations vary within the catchment, with loss rates (emigration plus mortality) being higher in lower elevation, downstream reaches than in higher elevation, upstream ones; and (2) loss rate would be density dependent, leading to reduced intra- and inter-cohort competition and supporting establishment of resident populations.
3. We tested the first hypothesis by examining relationships between geomorphic characteristics of spawning streams and temporal dynamics of YoY brown trout density, loss rate and biological traits through an austral summer across the catchment of New Zealand's fourth-longest river, the Taieri River. To test the second hypothesis, we examined whether initial YoY density in spring and other biotic determinants affected loss rate and cohort structure dynamics, resulting in density-dependent self-thinning of YoY fish to avoid resource limitation.
4. Spring YoY density and subsequent loss rate was higher in low elevation sites, corresponding to stream accessibility to migratory spawners. These significant correlations of YoY density and related biotic variables with elevation disappeared later in the season, indicating that regardless of their origin, brown trout YoY tend to form stream resident populations with multicohort structure and densities low enough to limit intraspecific competition.
5. Our findings provide evidence that geomorphological features of the landscape affect temporal dynamics of YoY trout populations driven by density-dependent self-regulatory mechanisms that can control the abundance of growing fish.