Skip to main content
Log in

Social organization of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus, Schreber 1780) and its demographic consequences: a model

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

A unified model of social organization, spatial distribution, and demographic parameters in the bank vole was developed. It is based on social relations among females, among males and also between reproductive females and males. In the model, social status and reproductive condition of an individual depend exclusively on interactions with its nearest neighbours. A result of interactions between two neighbours remains “local”, i.e., it cannot affect other, more distant individuals. The simulated variables show similar trend and scatter as those found in a growing real population of the bank vole. The relevance of the model for theories of population dynamics is discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Boer PJ den (1968) Spreading of risk and stabilization of animal numbers. Acta Biotheor 18:165–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boer PJ den (1985) Fluctuations of density and survival of carabid populations. Oecologia 67:322–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1970) Reproduction stabilizing elements in an island population ofClethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780). Acta Theriol 15:381–412

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1973) The role of spacing behaviour among females in the regulation of reproduction in the bank vole. J Repr Fert [Suppl] 19:463–472

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1975) The effect of supplementary food on some parameters in an island population ofClethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780). Bull Acad Pol Sci, Ser Sci Biol Cl II, 23:23–28

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1983) Reproduction. In: Petrusewicz K (ed) Ecology of the bank vole. Acta Theriol 28, [Suppl] 1:148–161

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1985a) Fluctuations in an island bank vole population in the light of the study on its organization. Acta Theriol 30:3–49

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1985b) Regulation of female maturation inClethrionomys species, with special reference to an island population ofC. glareolus. Ann Zool Fennici 22:331–342

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1985c) Sex ratio in an island population ofClethrionomys glareolus. Acta Theriol 31:71–78

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G (1988) Life history consequences of territoriality in the bank vole. In: Boyce MS (ed) Evolution of life histories of mammals. Yale University Press, New Haven, pp 75–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G, Janion SM (1981) Bank vole response to an increase of environmental capacity. bull Acad Pol Sci, Ser Sci Biol, Cl II, 29:129–133

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G, Mieszkowska D (1984) Distribution of individuals and captures in an island population of the bank vole. Acta Theriol 29:147–158

    Google Scholar 

  • Bujalska G, Andrzejewski R, Petrusewicz K (1968) Productivity investigations of an island population ofClethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780). II Natality. Acta Theriol 17:33–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Burt WH (1943) Territoriality and home range concepts as applied to mammals. J Mammal 24:346–352

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christian JJ (1956) Adrenal and reproductive responses to population size in mice from freely growing populations. Ecology 37:258–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grüm L (1988) W sprawie pojecia “areal osobniczy” i zasad prownywania jego charakterystyki (On the “home range” concept and principles of comparability of its aspect estimates). Wiad Ekol 39:61–71

    Google Scholar 

  • Holling CS (1966) The functional response of invertebrate predators to prey density. Mem Ent Soc Canada 48:1–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karlsson AF (1986) Effect of conspecifics on winter movements and dispersion in an overwintering bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) population. Can J Zool 64:593–598

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lloyd M (1967) “Mean crowding”. J Anim Ecol 36:1–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazurkiewicz M (1971) Shape, size and distribution of home ranges ofClethrionomys glareolus (Schreber 1780). Acta Theriol 16:23–60

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrusewicz K (1963) Population growth induced by disturbance in ecological structure of the population. Ekol Pol, Ser A 11:87–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenseth NC (1985) Models of bank vole and wood mouse populations. In: Flowedew JR, Gurnell J, Gipps JWH (eds) The ecology of woodland rodents, bank voles and wood mice. Zool Soc Symp Lond 55:339–376

  • Tanaka R (1953) Home ranges and territories in aClethrionomys population on a peat-bog grassland in Hokkaido. Bull Kochi Wom Coll 2:10–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Viitala J (1977) Social organization in cyclic subrctic population of the volesClethrionomys rufocanus (Sund.) andMicrotus agrestis (L.). Ann Zool Fennici 14:53–93

    Google Scholar 

  • Wierzbowska T (1972) Statistical estimation of bome range size of small rodents. Ekol Pol, Ser A, 20:781–831

    Google Scholar 

  • Wierzbowska T (1975) Review of methods for estimating the parameters of the home range of small rodents from aspect of sample size. Acta Theriol 20:3–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiger R (1979) Demography of a cyclic population of the bank vole,Clethrionomys glareolus. Oikos 35:373–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolton RJ, Flowerdew JR (1985) Spatial distribution and movements of wood mice, yellow-necked mice, and bank voles. In: Flowerdew JR, Gurnell J, Gipps JWH (eds) The ecology of woodland rodents, bank voles and wood mice. Zool Soc Symp London 55:249–275

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bujalska, G., Grüm, L. Social organization of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus, Schreber 1780) and its demographic consequences: a model. Oecologia 80, 70–81 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00789934

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00789934

Key words

Navigation