Land use patterns and types of common vole ( Microtus arvalis) population kinetics

Abstract

Various observed patterns of common vole ( Microtus arvalis) population kinetics have been classified into five types according to two criteria: the time period of changes in abundance (season or year) and the presence or absence of local extinction. Some types may be subdivided into categories depending on the duration of population fluctuations. They can be ordinate along a gradient correlated to the importance of permanent grassland in farmland and we suggest that this correlation is mainly due to the fact that a major predator ( Mustela nivalis) can use grassy landscape elements as refuges and easily disrupt population kinetics from low abundance and smooth variations to large amplitude cycles with pullulation periods. Thus major shifts in land use patterns towards a dominance of grassland can enhance the abundance of a pest species such as the common vole. Local extinctions and recolonization as observed in type IV are characteristics of metapopulation. Further field data of local vole populations will be very useful in the development of predictive models.