Control of Small Mammals on a Hardwood Plantation by Poison-Bait Feeders

1977 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-99
Author(s):  
Arthur M. Martell ◽  
Andrew Radvanyi
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Southern Ontario

Poison-bait feeder stations were placed on a hardwood plantation in southern Ontario in 1973 to attempt long-term control of a meadow vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus) population by continuous dispensing of poisoned grain. Baiting by means of feeders successfully reduced the numbers of meadow voles and maintained them at a low density, about 3-6/ha (1.2-2.4/acre), through April 1976. During the same period, the density of meadow voles on surrounding unpoisoned areas declined from a 1973 peak to about the same as that found on the poisoned plot by fall and winter 1975-76. Despite that low density, less than 4/ha (1.6/acre), severe gnawing and girdling of young hardwoods occurred during winter. Poison-bait feeders are efficient at reducing meadow vole populations from high to low density, but it cannot be assumed that even those low-density populations will not damage hardwood plantations.

Winter coexistence of voles in spruce forest: relevance of seasonal changes in aggression

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (8) ◽  
pp. 1004-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian N. Turner ◽  
Michael R. Perrin ◽  
Stuart L. Iverson
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Spruce Forest ◽  
Vole Population ◽  
Reproductive Condition ◽  
Interspecific Aggression ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Short Period

Beginning in November 1973, numerous meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) moved onto a spruce forest grid occupied by red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). A resident meadow vole population resulted, the two species coexisting until April 1974, when most meadow voles disappeared from the grid during a relatively short period. Interspecific aggression levels, as determined from voles temporarily removed from the populations and tested in paired encounters in a laboratory arena, were low during the winter, but increased when males of both species entered reproductive condition in the spring. Microtus was generally dominant in early breeding period encounters, but this dominance declined concurrently with the meadow voles' disappearance from the forest. It is argued that meadow voles did not leave the forest to breed, or because the snow cover melted, since this species will live and reproduce in forest in the absence of Clethrionomys. The results are interpreted as support for an earlier hypothesis that competitive habitat exclusion varies seasonally with reproduction-related aggression. Thus, these species apparently may coexist in either of their preferred habitats when interspecific aggression is low (the nonbreeding season), but this relationship terminates when interspecific aggression levels increase with the resumption of breeding in the spring.

Comparative studies of Giardia spp. in small mammals in southern Ontario. III. Duration and cyst production in natural and experimental infections

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Grant ◽  
Patrick T. K. Woo
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Experimental Infections ◽  
Cyst Production ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
Giardia Muris ◽  
Rats And Mice

Experimental infections of Giardia-free laboratory rats and mice with their respective parasites (Giardia simoni in rats and Giardia muris in mice) demonstrated that the infections persisted for the duration of the study period (4 months). Similarly, naturally infected meadow voles (with Giardia microti) and deer mice (with Giardia peromysci) retained their infections during their captivity (6 months). Rigorous precautions were taken to prevent contamination and coprophagy. The relative numbers of cysts in consecutive faecal samples varied considerably and there were periods when the numbers of cysts were extremely low. The excretions of cysts were cyclical and there were periods of 7 and 8 days between peaks in laboratory rats and mice infected with G. simoni and G. muris respectively.

scholarly journals Breeding performance in captivity of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) from decline- and increase-phase populations

1992 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 1561-1566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Mihok ◽  
Rudy Boonstra
Keyword(s):  
Prior Experience ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Small Field ◽  
Breeding Performance ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Decline Phase ◽  
The Poor ◽  
In Captivity ◽  
Two Generations

A major enigma in understanding microtine cycles is the failure of decline-phase animals to increase. We compared the performance of wild-caught meadow voles and their progeny from Pinawa, Manitoba, collected from a decline year (1985) with that of animals from an increase year (1986) by breeding them in the laboratory in Pinawa (animals from both years) and in the field and laboratory in Toronto (only F1 and F2 animals from 1985). Overall only 35% of the 1985 females or their progeny bred in the laboratory in Pinawa compared with 100% of the 1986 females. The interval between pairing with a male and birth of litters was 2–7 months for the 1985 females compared with 3–4 weeks for the 1986 females. The poor breeding performance of 1985 females occurred only in the laboratory; in small field enclosures in Toronto all F1 and F2 females conceived and had litters within 3–4 weeks. In contrast, 1985 males readily sired litters either with 1986 females in the laboratory or with Toronto females in the field. We conclude that the prior experience of decline-phase females had long-term detrimental consequences for the performance of the first two generations under laboratory conditions.

L'utilisation de ressources alimentaires avec ou sans composés secondaires connus par une population cyclique de Campagnols des champs (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

1984 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-607 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Marie Bergeron
Keyword(s):  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Feeding Habit ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Cost Benefits ◽  
Diet Analyses ◽  
Plant Sampling ◽  
The Cost ◽  
By Products ◽  
Very High

Results from 3 years of plant sampling and diet analyses in a cyclic population of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) have shown that animals use a lot of plants with known toxic by-products while the population is in its growth and peak phases, whereas voles from the low density phase of the population almost exclusively eat plants without such by-products. Considering the fact that plants which contain toxic by-products are "bad resources" for herbivores, while plants which do not are "good resources," one can infer from the results that the quantity of good resources available becomes very limited; this explains the appearance of bad resources in the diet at times when the population density becomes very high. There is no evidence in the literature of acute or chronic toxic effects in meadow voles resulting from the ingestion of plants with toxic by-products; thus at present one can only note the importance of such resources in their diet and speculate on the cost–benefits of such a feeding habit.[Journal translation]

Comparative studies of Giardia spp. in small mammals in southern Ontario. I. Prevalence and identity of the parasites with a taxonomic discussion of the genus

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 1348-1359 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Grant ◽  
Patrick T. K. Woo
Keyword(s):  
Rattus Norvegicus ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Deer Mice ◽  
Laboratory Mice ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Wistar Strain ◽  
Brown Rat ◽  
Giardia Muris

Giardia microti Kofoid and Christiansen, 1915 was identified in 98.8% (322 of 326) of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and G. peromysci Filice, 1952 emend, in 98% (48 of 49) of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) that were livetrapped at six locations in southern Ontario. One feral brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) was infected with Giardia simoni Lavier, 1924 and Giardia muris Grassi, 1881. Laboratory rats (Wistar strain) harboured only G. simoni and laboratory mice (C3H strain) were infected with G. muris. Golden hampsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were infected with Giardia mesocricetus Filice, 1952 emend.Giardia spp. were separated into two morphologically distinct groups. Trophozoites of G. muris and G. mesocricetus were almost as wide as long and had round or oval centrally situated median bodies. Trophozoites of G. microti, Giardia peromysci, and G. simoni were elongate with long curved median bodies lying perpendicular to the long axis of the trophozoite.Further differentiation of species was not possible by comparing trophozoite morphology but was accomplished by comparing the average lengths and widths of trophozoites.

Seasonal variations in the mass and composition of brown adipose tissue in the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus

1969 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 547-555 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Didow ◽  
J. S. Hayward
Keyword(s):  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Brown Adipose Tissue ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Relative Mass ◽  
Laboratory Studies ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Percentage Composition ◽  
Brown Adipose

Wild meadow voles were collected each month of the year and analyzed for the mass and composition of their brown adipose tissue. The relative mass of brown adipose tissue decreased with increasing body weight in both summer and winter.Seasonal changes in the relative mass of brown adipose tissue were inversely related to seasonal changes in ambient temperature. In mature voles, the relative mass of brown adipose tissue was lowest during summer (0.5%) and increased rapidly to a level of 1.7% in early winter. Similarly, immature voles had their lowest relative mass in summer (1.0%) and increased this to 2.3% in winter. Both groups showed some decrease in the winter amount of the tissue when the subnivean environment became established. The percentage composition of brown adipose tissue with respect to water, lipid, and protein did not change significantly through the year.The results provide corroboration for laboratory studies which show that the mass and composition of brown adipose tissue are related to the requirement for cold thermogenesis. In voles, this requirement was present throughout the year and varied only in degree.

Similarities between female meadow voles mating during post-partum oestrus and raising two concurrent litters and females raising only one litter

2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 751 ◽  
Author(s):  
Javier delBarco-Trillo ◽  
Michael H. Ferkin
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Maternal Care ◽  
Post Partum ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Gestation Length ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Litter Weight ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Males And Females

In many species of small mammals, females undergo post-partum oestrus soon after delivering a litter, becoming pregnant while suckling the previous litter. Females raising two concurrent litters need to allocate many more resources to reproduction than females raising only one litter. Consequently, there may be differences between litters raised concurrently or singly. We investigated this issue in the meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, a species in which most females in the wild reproduce during post-partum oestrus. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that the development of pups in two concurrent litters differs from that of pups in a single litter. To test this hypothesis, we measured the following variables for concurrent and singly reared litters: gestation length; litter size; sex ratio; bodyweight of males and females at different ages; total litter weight at weaning; growth rates; and intra-litter variation in body mass. Except for bodyweight of males at 60 days of age, which was higher in the first of the concurrent litters, none of the variables differed among the litters. These results indicate that females are able to adjust to differing loads of maternal care to provide equivalent resources to concurrent litters and singly reared litters.

Macrogeographic variation in mitochondrial DNA of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yves Plante ◽  
Peter T. Boag ◽  
Bradley N. White
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dna ◽  
Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Population Fluctuations ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Mtdna Sequence ◽  
Nucleotide Divergence ◽  
Phenotype Diversity ◽  
Single Locality

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 99 meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) collected in 13 localities and from 2 Townsend's voles (M. townsendii) from a single locality was assayed for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with 13 restriction endonucleases. There was evidence of extensive mtDNA sequence heterogeneity within and among meadow vole populations. Thirty-eight different mtDNA composite phenotypes were found. Two common mtDNA composite phenotypes were shared among five populations, the other mtDNA composite phenotypes being characteristic of individual populations. Estimates of nucleon diversity (ĥ) were high (0.303–0.893), as were measures of intrapopulational nucleotide divergence (px values ranged from 0.0 to 0.038). Population fluctuations and periodic dispersal are the likely mechanisms maintaining high mtDNA composite phenotype diversity in meadow vole populations. Overall interpopulational nucleotide divergence (pxy) was also high (values ranged from 0.007 to 0.045). Cluster analysis clearly separates M. pennsylvanicus and M. townsendii and suggests the separation of the meadow vole populations into eastern and central groups, but there is little evidence of structure within the regional groups. Based on the zoogeography of the populations sampled, the mtDNA RFLP data support the differentiation of Microtus pennsylvanicus into at least two previously described subspecies.

A method of estimating diet digestibility in wild meadow voles

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1020-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra L. MacPherson ◽  
Frederick A. Servello ◽  
Roy L. Kirkpatrick
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Chemical Analyses ◽  
Meadow Voles ◽  
Digestible Energy ◽  
Microtus Pinetorum

Regression equations for estimating diet digestibility in meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were developed using laboratory digestion trials and chemical analyses of diets and stomach contents. These equations were used to obtain estimates of the apparent digestible dry matter (DDM) and apparent digestible energy (DE) in the diets of wild meadow voles. The estimated DDM and DE in the diets of two wild meadow vole populations varied between 62.9 and 75.2% and 62.0 and 74.2%, respectively, and were similar to those reported previously for pine voles (Microtus pinetorum).

scholarly journals Demography of Microtus pennsylvanicus in Southern Ontario: enumeration versus Jolly–Seber estimation compared

1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 1174-1180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudy Boonstra
Keyword(s):  
Population Size ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Microtus Pennsylvanicus ◽  
Meadow Vole ◽  
Vole Population ◽  
Maternal Condition ◽  
Southern Ontario ◽  
Almost All

A meadow vole population near Toronto went through a cycle in numbers from July 1978 to May 1982. The population never reached a density less than 96 voles/ha or greater than 630 voles/ha. Jolly–Seber estimates differed from total enumeration counts by an average of 10.6% in population size and by less than 0.03 per 2 weeks in survival rates for almost all periods. Sharp spring declines occurred in both sexes in both the increase and the peak years, but only among females in the decline year. Dispersal occurred more frequently during the spring of the increase and peak than of the decline, was associated with maturation, and was biased towards males. The breeding season lasted 9 months in the increase and decline but only 5 months in the peak. Survival of adults during the decline summer was no different from that in other years. Survival of young during the increase and peak was moderately high, but was extremely poor during the decline. Since most young failed to be captured in either pitfalls or live-traps, I conclude that they died shortly before or after weaning and suggest that maternal condition was impaired by prior events in the peak and that this may apply to other cyclic microtine populations.

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