Abstract
Bank voles, Clethrionomys glareolus, and field voles, Microtus agrestis, redistribute food hoards and alter the location of their activity upon the introduction of a foreign conspecific in laboratory experiments. This behaviour showed geographic variation in C. glareolus but no clear geographic variation in M. agrestis; north Swedish cyclic C. glareolus were repelled by the new animals while southern non-cyclic C. glareolus were attracted. There were no differences between animals from various population phases at the same locality. The geographic differences were retained in laboratory-born animals kept in an abnormal social environment. Other studies have demonstrated similar differences in M. agrestis. Cyclic voles may be negatively affected by density-related stimuli while non-cyclic ones may instead gather in environments that are fairly safe from predators.
Published Version
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