Ecological processes determining the distribution dynamics of vole populations during forest succession

Oecologia
Hélène Le BorgneDaniel Fortin

Abstract

The size and distribution of animal populations may vary drastically over time following a disturbance event. While both competition and predation can control the size of animal populations, changes in the relative importance of these two density-dependent processes remain poorly documented during ecological succession. Here, we combined habitat selection and optimal foraging theory to identify the processes that can explain the increase in red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) during post-logging forest succession in boreal ecosystems. Specifically, we assessed the extent to which changes in intra- and interspecific competition and in predation risk can explain variation in abundance and distribution of voles during post-harvest forest succession. We estimated the abundances of the red-backed vole and of its main competitor, the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), in adjacent pairs of logged (5-66 years old) forest stands and uncut stands (> 120 years old). We found that voles increased their preference for uncut stands with increasing conspecific density. Foraging experiments revealed that in early-seral forest stands, voles increased their feeding effort in the presence of deer mice, particularly in safer food patches. This beh...Continue Reading

References

Oct 1, 1977·Theoretical Population Biology·R D Holt
Aug 30, 2008·Ecology·Mark AndruskiwJames A Baker
May 13, 2009·Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences·Douglas W MorrisSom B Ale
Sep 14, 2010·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Miguel ClaveroSergi Herrando
Jun 5, 2013·Journal of Fish Biology·M PinaultR Galzin
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