Summary
Kin-selection, as evidenced by aggression between individuals with a low coefficient of relation, may be a significant contributing factor in vole population cycles. Demographic and behavioral studies support this idea.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chitty, D.: Mortality among voles (Microtus agrestis) at Lake Vyrnwy, Montgomeryshire in 1936–39. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Ser. B. 236 505–552 (1952)
Chitty, D.: Self-regulation of numbers through changes in viability. Cold Spring Harb. Symp. Quant. Biol. 22, 277–280 (1957)
Chitty, D.: Population processes in the vole and their relevance to general theory. Can. J. Zool. 38, 99–113 (1960)
Chitty, D.: The natural selection of self-regulatory behavior in animal populations. Proc. Ecol. Soc. Australia 2, 51–78 (1967)
Christian, J.J.: Fighting, maturity, and population density in Microtus pennsylvanicus. J. Mammal. 52, 556–567 (1971)
Finerty, J.P.: The population ecology of cycles in small mammals: Mathematical theory and biological fact. (in press: Yale University Press, New Haven (Connecticut) 1980)
Garten, C.T., Jr.: Relationships between aggressive behavior and genic heterozygosity in the oldfield mouse, Peromyscus polionotus. Evolution 30, 59–72 (1976)
Hamilton, W.D.: The genetical evolution of social behavior. J. Theor. Biol. 12, 1–52 (1964)
Hamilton, W.D.: Selection of selfish and altruistic behavior in some extreme models. In: Man and beast: Comparative social behavior (J.F. Eisenberg, W.S. Dillon, eds.), pp. 57–91. Washington: Smithsonial Institution Press 1971
Hamilton, W.D.: Altruism and related phenomena. Ann. Rev. Ecol. and Systematics 3, 193–232 (1972)
Krebs, C.J., Keller, B.L., Tamarin, R.H.: Microtus population biology: demographic changes in fluctuating populations of M. ochrogaster and M. pennsylvanicus in southern Indiana. Ecology 50, 587–607 (1969)
Krebs, C.J., Gaines, M.S., Keller, B.L., Myers, J.H., Tamarin, R.H.: Population cycles in small rodents. Science 179, 34–41 (1973)
Krebs, C.J., Myers, J.H.: Population cycles in small mammals. Adv. Ecol. Res. 8, 267–399 (1974)
Myers, J.H., Krebs, C.J.: Genetic, behavioral, and reproductive attributes of dispersing field voles Microtus pennsylvanicus and Microtus ochrogaster. Ecol. Monogr. 41, 53–78 (1971)
Pitelka, F.A.: Cyclic patterns in lemming populations near Barrow, Alaska. In: Alaskan Arctic Tundra (M.E. Britton, ed.), pp. 199–215. Tech. Paper No. 25. Washington: Arctic Inst. North America 1973
Smith, M.H., Garten, C.T., Jr., Ramsey, P.R.: Genic heterozygosity and population dynamics in small mammals. In: Isozymes. IV. Genetics and evolution, Markert, C.L., ed. New York: Academic Press 1975
Tamarin, R.H.: Dispersal, population regulation and K-selection in field mice. Am. Natur. 112, 545–555 (1978)
Tast, J., Kalela, O.: Comparison between rodent cycles and plant production in Finnish Lapland. Ann. Acad. Sci. Fenn. A, IV Biologica. 186, 1–14 (1971)
Turner, B.N., Iverson, S.L.: The annual cycle of aggression in male Microtus pennsylvanicus, and its relation to population parameters. Ecology 54, 967–981 (1973)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Charnov, E.L., Finerty, J.P. Vole population cycles: A case for kin-selection?. Oecologia 45, 1–2 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346698
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346698