Diet Quality Limits Summer Growth of Field Vole Populations
Forbes, K. M., Stuart, P., Mappes, T., Hoset, K. S., Henttonen, H., & Huitunen, O. (2014). Diet Quality Limits Summer Growth of Field Vole Populations. Plos One, 9(3), Article e91113. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0091113
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2014Copyright
© 2014 Forbes et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Marked variation occurs in both seasonal and multiannual population density peaks of northern European small mammal
species, including voles. The availability of dietary proteins is a key factor limiting the population growth of herbivore
species. The objective of this study is to investigate the degree to which protein availability influences the growth of
increasing vole populations. We hypothesise that the summer growth of folivorous vole populations is positively associated
with dietary protein availability. A field experiment was conducted over a summer reproductive period in 18 vegetated
enclosures. Populations of field voles (Microtus agrestis) were randomised amongst three treatment groups: 1) food
supplementation with ad libitum high protein (30% dry weight) pellets, 2) food supplementation with ad libitum low protein
(1% dry weight; both supplemented foods had equivalent energy content) pellets, and 3) control (no food
supplementation), n = 6 per treatment. Vole density, survival, demographic attributes and condition indicators were
monitored with live-trapping and blood sampling. Highest final vole densities were attained in populations that received
high protein supplementation and lowest in low protein populations. Control populations displayed intermediate densities.
The survival rate of voles was similar in all treatment groups. The proportion of females, and of those that were pregnant or
lactating, was highest in the high protein supplemented populations. This suggests that variation in reproductive, rather
than survival rates of voles, accounted for density differences between the treatment groups. We found no clear association
between population demography and individual physiological condition. Our results demonstrate that dietary protein
availability limits vole population growth during the summer growing season. This suggests that the nutritional quality of
forage may be an underestimated source of interannual variation in the density and growth rates of widely fluctuating
populations of herbivorous small mammals.
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as © 2014 Forbes et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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