6533b82efe1ef96bd12944cd

RESEARCH PRODUCT

A Comparative Study of Phenotypic Changes in Microtus Social Organization

Jussi ViitalaJyrki Pusenius

subject

Bank voleeducation.field_of_studybiologyHome rangePopulationSeasonal breederZoologyMicrotusbiology.organism_classificationeducationMating systemPolygynyPopulation density

description

Monogamy, polygyny, and promiscuity have been found in populations of M. oeconomus and M. agrestis in different environmental situations in northern Finland. Thus the mating systems seem to be more variable both between and within species in Microtus than in Clethrionomys. Spacing behavior in Microtus caused a temporary decline in population density in mid-summer, but in Clethrionomys a decline occurred only in the beginning of the breeding season. Habitat quality affected spacing behavior in similar ways in Microtus and Clethrionomys but did not affect differences in breeding limitation. Despite the differences in population regulation, both Clethrionomys and Microtus populations cycle synchronously in northern Fennoscandia.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
1990-01-01
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-6416-9_13