Conserving the Cabrera vole, Microtus cabrerae, in intensively used Mediterranean landscapes

Abstract

In this study, the habitat use by the threatened Cabrera vole, Microtus cabrerae, was assessed in an agricultural landscape of SW Portugal, in order to evaluate agricultural management practices that might favour its populations. Despite the patchy distribution and the sensitivity in relation to human management, average colony size was 1928 m2, and mean nearest neighbour distance was 363 m. Within the selected habitats, the Cabrera vole's activity was concentrated in sites with dense and tall herbs, though appearing to avoid areas where southern water voles, Arvicola sapidus, were present. Activity of Cabrera voles was higher during the winter, confirming the adverse effect of the dry periods for this species. Conservation of the Cabrera vole in agricultural landscapes would require the maintenance of a network of tall and dense herbaceous patches, which could possibly be established along field margins, road verges, and ditches, and supported by agri-environment subsidy schemes.