scholarly journals The effect of interspecific competition on habitat selection by voles: an experimental approach

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-teh K Lin ◽  
George O Batzli
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Habitat Segregation ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Competition Hypothesis ◽  
Central Illinois

Both meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) prefer habitats with high vegetative cover, but in east-central Illinois, meadow voles tend to be associated with higher cover and prairie voles with lower cover. The competition hypothesis proposes that this pattern of habitat segregation reflects the effects of interspecific competition on habitat selection. To test this hypothesis we conducted field experiments that allowed the two species to select from among several habitats when alone and when together. We expected to find a lower proportion of each species in the habitat most associated with the other species, and a negative correlation between the demography and density of each species and the density of the competing species, but this was not the case. Inter specific competition did affect movement patterns of prairie voles. In the presence of meadow voles, net movement (immigration minus emigration) of prairie voles in high-cover habitats decreased and net dispersal of individuals from high- to low-cover habitats increased. Thus, our results indicated only a weak effect of competition on habitat selection. We suggest that other mechanisms, such as differences in habitat preference (or tolerance), differences in dispersal ability, and the advantage of first residency, need to be considered in conjunction with interspecific competition to explain the habitat segregation observed in these species.

scholarly journals Comparative neurotranscriptomics reveal widespread species differences associated with bonding

BMC Genomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel A. Tripp ◽  
Alejandro Berrio ◽  
Lisa A. McGraw ◽  
Mikhail V. Matz ◽  
Jamie K. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Brain Region ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Species Differences ◽  
Cell Structure ◽  
Bond Formation ◽  
Pair Bonding ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Time Points

Abstract Background Pair bonding with a reproductive partner is rare among mammals but is an important feature of human social behavior. Decades of research on monogamous prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), along with comparative studies using the related non-bonding meadow vole (M. pennsylvanicus), have revealed many of the neural and molecular mechanisms necessary for pair-bond formation in that species. However, these studies have largely focused on just a few neuromodulatory systems. To test the hypothesis that neural gene expression differences underlie differential capacities to bond, we performed RNA-sequencing on tissue from three brain regions important for bonding and other social behaviors across bond-forming prairie voles and non-bonding meadow voles. We examined gene expression in the amygdala, hypothalamus, and combined ventral pallidum/nucleus accumbens in virgins and at three time points after mating to understand species differences in gene expression at baseline, in response to mating, and during bond formation. Results We first identified species and brain region as the factors most strongly associated with gene expression in our samples. Next, we found gene categories related to cell structure, translation, and metabolism that differed in expression across species in virgins, as well as categories associated with cell structure, synaptic and neuroendocrine signaling, and transcription and translation that varied among the focal regions in our study. Additionally, we identified genes that were differentially expressed across species after mating in each of our regions of interest. These include genes involved in regulating transcription, neuron structure, and synaptic plasticity. Finally, we identified modules of co-regulated genes that were strongly correlated with brain region in both species, and modules that were correlated with post-mating time points in prairie voles but not meadow voles. Conclusions These results reinforce the importance of pre-mating differences that confer the ability to form pair bonds in prairie voles but not promiscuous species such as meadow voles. Gene ontology analysis supports the hypothesis that pair-bond formation involves transcriptional regulation, and changes in neuronal structure. Together, our results expand knowledge of the genes involved in the pair bonding process and open new avenues of research in the molecular mechanisms of bond formation.

Habitat selection and interspecific competition in rodents in pampean agroecosystems

Mammalia ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M. BUSCH ◽  
M. R. ALVAREZ ◽  
E. A. CITTADINO ◽  
F. O. KRAVETZ
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Interspecific Competition

Colonization of depopulated crinoids by symbionts: who comes from the bottom and who from the water column?

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (8) ◽  
pp. 1607-1612 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.S. Mekhova ◽  
P.Y. Dgebuadze ◽  
V.N. Mikheev ◽  
T.A. Britayev
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Dispersal Ability ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Sandy Substrate ◽  
Limited Dispersal ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Almost All ◽  
High Degree

Previous experiments with the comatulid Himerometra robustipinna (Carpenter, 1881) demonstrated intensive host-to-host migration processes for almost all symbiotic species both within host aggregations and among hosts separated by several metres. The aim of this study was to check the ability of symbionts to complete long-distance migrations, by means of two in situ experiments which depopulated the crinoid host. Two different sets of field experiments were set up: exposure of depopulated crinoids (set 1) on stony ‘islands’ isolated from native crinoid assemblages by sandy substrate, and (set 2) in cages suspended in the water column. Hosts from set 1 were exposed for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks to assess whether substrate has an influence on the symbionts' long-distance migrations. In set 2 cages were exposed for 10–11 days, aiming to check whether symbionts were able to disperse through the water column with currents. These experiments allow the conclusion that post-settled symbionts can actively migrate among their hosts. Symbionts are able to reach their hosts by employing two different ‘transport corridors’, by drifting or swimming in water column, and by moving on the bottom. Comparison of experimental results allows the division of symbionts into two conventional groups according to the dispersal ability of their post-settled stages: (1) species able to complete long-distance migrations, (2) species unable to migrate or having limited dispersal ability. The finding of the free-living shrimp Periclimenes diversipes Kemp, 1922 in set 2 raises the question about the factors that affect such a high degree of specialization of crinoid assemblages.

Competition betweenElymus elymoidesandTaeniatherum caput-medusae

Weed Science ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 720-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Clausnitzer ◽  
Michael M. Borman ◽  
Douglas E. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Seed Production ◽  
Intraspecific Competition ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Competitive Effects ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Randomized Block Design

Two field experiments were conducted from 1993–1994 through 1995–1996 growing seasons in Harney County, OR, to determine the relative competitive abilities ofElymus elymoides(squirreltail) a native perennial range grass, andTaeniatherum caput-medusae(medusahead), an exotic annual grass weed. The 1993–1994 growing season was very dry, 1994–1995 was dry, and 1995–1996 was wetter than average. One experiment tested seedlings vs. seedlings in each of three seasons. The second experiment tested seedlings plus second- and third-year establishedE. elymoidesplants vs. 77caput-medusaeover 2 yr. Biomass, seed production, and soil moisture utilization 15, 30, 45, and 60 cm deep by the two species were measured. A randomized block design with factorial arrangement was used, with 25 2.25-m2plots per block. Initial seeding densities of each species were 0, 10, 74, 550, and 4,074 seeds m−2in all combinations of density. In the seedling vs. seedling experiment, intraspecific competition by 77caput-medusaeon itself was always significant (P ≤ 0.10) for both biomass and seed production. Interspecific competition byE. elymoidesseedlings onT. caput-medusaebiomass and seed production was not significant (P ≥ 0.10) in 2 of 3 yr and was always less than intraspecific competition by 77caput-medusae. Only 0.4% ofE. elymoidesseed germinated, and no seed was produced in the very dry first year, but 84% of remaining seed was viable for the next year, which had better moisture conditions for germination and establishment. Interspecific competition affected (P ≤ 0.10)E. elymoidesseedling biomass and seed production throughout the study. Intraspecific competition affected (P ≤ 0.10) seedlingE. elymoidesseed production in the dry year but not in the wetter than average year. In the matureE. elymoidesexperiment, intraspecific competition byT. caput-medusaeon weight and seed production per plant was greater than interspecific competition fromE. elymoides. Seedling/matureE. elymoidesreducedT. caput-medusaeweight per plant in the dry year but the effect was not biologically significant. Larger, matureEelymoidesplants produced 600 to 3,000 seeds per plant during the wet year; neither intra- nor interspecific competition was a factor.Taeniatherum caput-medusaewas better able to access deeper soil moisture and was more aggressive at extracting soil moisture than wereE. elymoidesseedlings in the wet year. Cold soils and low oxygen due to wet soils may have restrictedE. elymoidesseedling root activity. MatureE. elymoidesplants did not appear restricted by cold soils or low oxygen. Established second- and third-yearE. elymoidesplants were able to compete for soil moisture down to 45 cm. The generally greater interspecific competitive effects ofT. caput-medusaeonE. elymoidesthan vice versa suggested that it will be difficult to establish anE. elymoidesstand in an existingT. caput-medusaecommunity without first suppressingT. caput-medusae. IndividualE. elymoidesplants did establish and were productive with and withoutT. caput-medusaecompetition.

Meadow voles and prairie voles differ in the percentage of conspecific marks they over-mark

2004 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
MichaelH. Ferkin ◽  
HongZ. Li ◽  
StuartT. Leonard
Keyword(s):  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles

Interspecific Competition among Insect Parasitoids: Field Experiments with Whiteflies as Hosts in Cotton

Ecology ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 83 (3) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos E. Bogran ◽  
Kevin M. Heinz ◽  
Matthew A. Ciomperlik
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Competition ◽  
Field Experiments

SCENT MARKING IN MEADOW VOLES AND PRAIRIE VOLES: A TEST OF THREE HYPOTHESES

Behaviour ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 138 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 1319-1336 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Mech ◽  
M.H. Ferkin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Avoidance Response ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Scent Marking ◽  
Scent Mark ◽  
Scent Marks ◽  
Prairie Voles ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Marking Behaviour

AbstractMost terrestrial mammals deposit scent marks to communicate with conspecifics. We examined the scent marking behaviour of meadow voles and prairie voles, species with different mating systems and social organizations, to determine whether voles scent mark according to the 'targeting' response, the 'avoidance' response, or the 'shotgun' response. The targeting response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an area marked by the first scent donor than in an unscented area. The avoidance response occurs when the second scent donor deposits more of its scent marks in an unscented area than in an area marked by the first scent donor. The shotgun response occurs when the second scent donor deposits a similar number of its scent marks in an area containing scent marks of a conspecific and in an area containing no conspecific scent marks. We allowed voles simultaneous access to an arena containing two arms: one of the arms was scented by a conspecific and the other arm was unscented. We recorded the number of marks deposited by the voles in each arm and the amount of time they spent investigating marks deposited previously in the scented arm. Our data provide no support for the avoidance response, but provide support for the shotgun response and the target response. Species and sex differences in the scent marking behaviours of voles when they encounter the scent marks of conspecifics are discussed within the framework that scent marking responses depend on the voles' social organization and mating system, and that these responses may reflect the tactics males and females use to attract mates and compete with same-sex conspecifics.

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