Microtus Socialis Research Articles

Dominant Grasses Replaced by Ruderal Forbs in a Vole Year in Undergrazed Mediterranean Grasslands in Israel

A drastic change in vegetation was observed in 1985 in protected and lightly grazed grasslands in northern Israel. The previously dominant tall annual and perennial grasses virtually disappeared locally and were in some areas totally replaced by tall annual forbs. The change was correlated with exceptionally high densities of vole (Microtus socialis) burrows in these sites. Severe vole damage was observed on both annual and perennial grasses. An hypothesis of the processes involved in this phenomenon is presented.