Duckling production of the Oldsquaw in relation to spring weather and small-rodent fluctuations

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (9) ◽  
pp. 1835-1841 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olof Pehrsson
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Time Of Arrival ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Brood Production ◽  
Ephemeral Lakes ◽  
Alternative Prey Hypothesis ◽  
Clangula Hyemalis

The duckling production of the Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) was studied between 1969 and 1974 in Torne Lapmark in northern Sweden. The degrees of relationship among various indices of reproductive output, climatic factors, and fluctuations in small rodents were estimated. Total brood and duckling production were calculated. A correlation between first observations of broods and time of arrival of spring indicated that the Oldsquaw breeds as early as possible, an adaptation to the utilization of ephemeral lakes. Peaks in duckling production correlated well with peaks in the abundance of small rodents but not as well with climatic variables. Twice as many ducklings were produced during the rodent peak years as during the intervening years, and the densities of the Oldsquaw population were highest the year after these peaks in brood production. The positive correlation between duckling production and population size in small rodents seems to be analogous to grouse–rodent cycles, and both are best explained by the predator-shift or the alternative prey hypothesis.

scholarly journals Population cycles and outbreaks of small rodents: ten essential questions we still need to solve

Oecologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry P. Andreassen ◽  
Janne Sundell ◽  
Fraucke Ecke ◽  
Stefan Halle ◽  
Marko Haapakoski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Large Amplitude ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Rodent Population ◽  
The World ◽  
Essential Questions ◽  
Rodent Populations

AbstractMost small rodent populations in the world have fascinating population dynamics. In the northern hemisphere, voles and lemmings tend to show population cycles with regular fluctuations in numbers. In the southern hemisphere, small rodents tend to have large amplitude outbreaks with less regular intervals. In the light of vast research and debate over almost a century, we here discuss the driving forces of these different rodent population dynamics. We highlight ten questions directly related to the various characteristics of relevant populations and ecosystems that still need to be answered. This overview is not intended as a complete list of questions but rather focuses on the most important issues that are essential for understanding the generality of small rodent population dynamics.

Small rodent communities (Muridae) in Gabonese savannas: species diversity and biogeographical affinities

Mammalia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Mboumba ◽  
Maxime R. Hervé ◽  
Véronique Guyot ◽  
Frederic Ysnel
Keyword(s):  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
South West ◽  
New Information ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Mus Minutoides ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Coastal Basin

Abstract The study contributes to the knowledge of species composition and biogeographical affinities of savannas rodent in Gabon. Unlike small rodents in Gabonese forests, there is little data on the diversity of small rodents in Gabonese savannas. The diversity and distribution of rodent murid communities was studied in four different types of savanna in Gabon: Coastal Basin (South-West), Lopé/Okanda (in the Center), Batéké Plateaux (Southeastern) and Ngougnié/ N’yanga (in the South). A total of 428 individuals representing six species were captured over 11,920 trap nights. Trap success was highly variable (2.2–6.9 %). The most abundant species were Mus minutoides (69%) followed by Lemniscomys striatus (21.5%). Indices of species richness varied from 2 to 5 and diversity (Shannon and Weaver) was low in the four savannas with the highest value at Ngougnié/N’yanga (H′ = 1.2). Species distributions show that Gabonese savanna small rodents conform to four distribution types, with one species known from Zambesian savannas exhibiting austral affinities (Pelomys campanae: occurs in three southern savannas). This new information provides important insight into the biogeography of small rodents at a local and regional level. Moreover, the correspondence analysis highlighted an influence of local ecological factors on population abundance.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynamics in the Montane Vole Microtus Montanus

2005 ◽  
Vol 29 ◽  
pp. 49-51
Author(s):  
Alita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Small Measure ◽  
Long Term Studies

A variety of hypotheses has been proposed to explain multiannual fluctuations in population density ("cycles") of small rodents (for reviews see Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). Doubtless, such cycles - known since antiquity (Elton 1942) - result from an interaction of a multitude of factors. However, the inability of extant hypotheses, alone or in combination, to explain the causality of cycles rests in no small measure with the fact that long-term studies of the phenomenon are notoriously uncommon.

Fertility control of rodent pests

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Jacob ◽  
Grant R. Singleton ◽  
Lyn A. Hinds
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Simulation Models ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Fertility Control ◽  
Reproductive Period ◽  
Future Research ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Small Rodents

Ricefield rats (Rattus argentiventer) in south-east Asian rice fields and house mice (Mus domesticus) in Australian grain fields are major pest species. They cause damage before and after harvest and carry zoonotic diseases. For both species, management techniques have been pursued using the approach of immunocontraceptive vaccination. We review results from a series of enclosure and field studies conducted with these species to assess the effects of fertility control in small rodents. In the experiments, fertility control was simulated by tubal ligation, ovariectomy or progesterone treatment. A once-off sterilisation of 50–75% of enclosed founder females considerably reduced reproductive output of ricefield rat populations until the end of the reproductive period. In house mice, similar success was achieved when a sterility level of 67% of female founders and offspring was maintained. Repeated antifertility treatments are required because of the much longer breeding period of house mice versus ricefield rats. Comparing the results of enclosure trials with the outcome of simulation models suggests that partial compensation of treatment effects can occur through enhanced reproduction of the remaining fertile females and improved survival of juveniles. However, such compensatory effects as well as behavioural consequences of sterility in field populations are not likely to prevent the management effect at the population level. The challenge for effective fertility control of small rodents in the field is the wide-scale delivery of an antifertility treatment to founders at the beginning of the breeding season and to fertile immigrants that are recruited into the population, which otherwise contribute to the reproductive output at the population level. Future research efforts should focus on species-specific techniques and on agents that can be effectively delivered via bait.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynamics in the Montane Vole, Microtus montanus

1991 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 162-164
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study

Multiannual fluctuations in population density ("cycles") of small rodents have been known since antiquity (Elton 1942). Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon (for reviews see Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). However, none of these hypotheses, alone or in combination, have been able to explain the causality of cycles. The objectives of this long-term study are to determine whether environmental variables, possibly acting through reproductive responses, contribute to the multiannual fluctuations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynamics in the Montane Vole, Microtus montanus

1987 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 103-105
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study

Multiannual fluctuations in population density of small rodents have been known since antiquity. However, factors responsible for this phenomenon remain unknown (Krebs and Myers 1974, Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). The objectives of this long-term study are to determine whether environmental variables, possibly acting through reproductive responses, contribute to the multiannual fluctuations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.

scholarly journals Climatic Factors, Reproductive Success and Population Dynaimcs in the Montane Vole, Microtus Montanus

1995 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 73-75
Author(s):  
Aelita Pinter
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Microtus Montanus ◽  
Long Term Study

Multiannual fluctuations in population density ("cycles") of small rodents have been known since antiquity (Elton 1942). Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon (for reviews see Finerty 1980, Taitt and Krebs 1985). However, none of these hypotheses, alone or in combination, has been able to explain the causality of cycles. The objectives of this long-term study are to determine whether environmental variables, possibly acting through reproductive responses, contribute to the multiannual fluctuations of the montane vole, Microtus montanus.

Postdispersal fruit and seed removal by forest-dwelling rodents in a lowland rainforest in Mexico

1998 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
VICTOR SÁNCHEZ-CORDERO ◽  
ROBERTO MARTÍNEZ-GALLARDO
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Seedling Recruitment ◽  
Floristic Composition ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Seed Removal ◽  
Los Tuxtlas ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Brosimum Alicastrum

This study examined whether postdispersal fruit and seed removal by terrestrial mammals of common plant species was affected by the type of item, item density (low, medium, high), and habitat (gap, mid-succession, mature). Fruits of Brosimum alicastrum and Ficus yoponensi (Moraceae), Astrocaryum mexicanum (Palmae), and Nectandra ambigens (Lauraceae), and seeds of Omphalea oleifera (Euphorbiaceae) and Cymbopetalum baillonii (Annonaceae) were tested at the Los Tuxtlas rainforest in Mexico. Item removal from 108 experimental patches (N = 2340 fruits or seeds for each plant species tested) after 5 d was lower for F. yoponensis (6.6%) than for N. ambigens (68.8%), B. alicastrum (67.8%), C. baillonii (64.0%) and A. mexicanum (60.0%). No seeds of O. oleifera were removed. A higher fruit or seed removal was observed from high density than low density food patches in A. mexicanum, C. baillonii and N. ambigens, but not in B. alicastrum and F. yoponensis. A higher fruit or seed removal was observed from food patches in mature forest than in gaps in all plant species tested. Similar removal values between open (open to all terrestrial mammals) and caged (open to small rodents) fruit and seed patches, abundant rodent live-trapping, and a scarcity of large terrestrial mammals, indicated that forest-dwelling small rodents were the main postdispersal removal agents. Differences in plant species seedling recruitment resulting from small rodent food choices can partially determine long-term forest floristic composition at the Los Tuxtlas rainforest.

scholarly journals Comunidad de pequeños roedores en una milpa tradicional del centro de Yucatán, México.

2007 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
José Cimé-Pool ◽  
Silvia F. Hernández-Betancourt ◽  
Juan Chablé-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Key Words ◽  
Plant Species ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Small Rodent ◽  
Small Rodents ◽  
Palabras Clave ◽  
Cultivated Plant

Abstract. A small rodent species was studied in two agroecosystems from Yucatan: (1) a traditional cornfield and (2) an induced grassland. A total of 87 individuals of six species in two families (Heteromyidae y Cricetidae) were captured rendering an effort of  2,544 nights/trap. Heteromys gaumeri and Peromyscus yucatanicus were the most abundant species with 57.5% and 17.2% of total captures, respectively. Highest captures were recorded in the traditional cornfield and the highest species richness was obtained in the grassland. No significant differences in diversity were found between sites (p > 0.05). It seems that the cornfield plays an important role on both the diversity and population dynamics of small rodents because it presents the highest values in captures, density, recruitment, and in reproductive individuals. This may be related to a greater variety of cultivated plant species in this agroecosystem. Key words: Small mammals, rodents, Cornfield, Grassland, Yucatan, Mexico. Palabras clave: Pequeños mamíferos, roedores, milpa, pastizal, Yucatán, México.

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