Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spatial dynamics of Microtus vole populations in continuous and fragmented agricultural landscapes

  • Population Ecology - Original Paper
  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Small mammal populations often exhibit large-scale spatial synchrony, which is purportedly caused by stochastic weather-related environmental perturbations, predation or dispersal. To elucidate the relative synchronizing effects of environmental perturbations from those of dispersal movements of small mammalian prey or their predators, we investigated the spatial dynamics of Microtus vole populations in two differently structured landscapes which experience similar patterns of weather and climatic conditions. Vole and predator abundances were monitored for three years on 28 agricultural field sites arranged into two 120-km-long transect lines in western Finland. Sites on one transect were interconnected by continuous agricultural farmland (continuous landscape), while sites on the other were isolated from one another to a varying degree by mainly forests (fragmented landscape). Vole populations exhibited large-scale (>120 km) spatial synchrony in fluctuations, which did not differ in degree between the landscapes or decline with increasing distance between trapping sites. However, spatial variation in vole population growth rates was higher in the fragmented than in the continuous landscape. Although vole-eating predators were more numerous in the continuous agricultural landscape than in the fragmented, our results suggest that predators do not exert a great influence on the degree of spatial synchrony of vole population fluctuations, but they may contribute to bringing out-of-phase prey patches towards a regional density level. The spatial dynamics of vole populations were similar in both fragmented and continuous landscapes despite inter-landscape differences in both predator abundance and possibilities of vole dispersal. This implies that the primary source of synchronization lies in a common weather-related environment.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2a–b
Fig. 3
Fig. 4a–b
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aars J, Ims RA (2002) Intrinsic and climatic determinants of population demography: the winter dynamics of tundra voles. Ecology 83:3449–3456

    Google Scholar 

  • Abbott KC (2007) Does the pattern of population synchrony through space reveal if the Moran effect is acting? Oikos 116:903–912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bellamy PE, Rothery P, Hinsley SA (2003) Synchrony of woodland bird populations: the effect of landscape structure. Ecography 26: 338–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein C, Kacelnik A, Krebs CJ (1991) Individual decisions and the distribution of predators in a patchy environment. II. The influence of travel costs and structure of the environment. J Anim Ecol 60: 205–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein C, Auger P, Poggiale JC (1999) Predator migration decisions, the ideal free distribution, and predator-prey dynamics. Am Nat 153:267–281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bjørnstad ON, Stenseth NC, Saitoh T (1999a) Synchrony and scaling in dynamics of voles and mice in northern Japan. Ecology 80:622–637

    Google Scholar 

  • Bjørnstad ON, Ims RA, Lambin X (1999b) Spatial population dynamics: analyzing patterns and processes of population synchrony. Trends Ecol Evol 11:427–432

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blasius B, Huppert A, Stone L (1999) Complex dynamics and phase synchronization in spatially extended systems. Nature 399:354–359

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cattadori IM, Hudson PJ, Merler S, Rizzoli A (1999) Synchrony, scale and temporal dynamics of rock partridge (Alectoris graeca saxatilis) populations in the Dolomites. J Anim Ecol 68:540–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Debinski DM, Holt RD (2000) A survey and overview of habitat fragmentation experiments. Conserv Biol 14:342–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Roos AM, McCauley E, Wilson WG (1991) Mobility versus density-limited predator–prey dynamics on different spatial scales. Proc R Soc Lond B 246:117–122

    Google Scholar 

  • Diffendorfer JE, Gaines MS, Holt RD (1995) Habitat fragmentation and movements of 3 small mammals (Sigmodon, Microtus and Peromyscus). Ecology 76:827–839

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FMI (1994) Monthly climate observations in Finland. Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki

  • Fuller MR (1981) Methods of detecting and counting raptors: a review. Stud Avian Biol 6:235–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Grenfell BT, Wilson K, Finkenstädt BF, Coulson TC, Murray S, Albon SD, Pemberton JM, Clutton-Brock TH, Crawley MJ (1998) Noise and determinism in synchronized sheep dynamics. Nature 391:674–677

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanski I, Hansson L, Henttonen H (1991) Specialist predators, generalist predators, and the microtine rodent cycle. J Anim Ecol 60:353–367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson L (1975) Comparison between small mammal sampling with small and large removal quadrats. Oikos 26:398–404

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hansson L (1994) Vertebrate distributions relative to clear-cut edges in a boreal forest landscape. Landscape Ecol 9:105–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansson L, Henttonen H (1985) Gradients in density variations of small rodents: the importance of latitude and snow cover. Oecologia 67:394–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heikkilä J, Below A, Hanski I (1994) Synchronous dynamics of microtine rodent populations on islands in Lake Inari in northern Fennoscandia: evidence for regulation by mustelid predators. Oikos 70:245–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holyoak M (2000) Habitat patch arrangement and metapopulation persistence of predators and prey. Am Nat 156:378–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holyoak M, Lawler SP (1996) The role of dispersal in predator–prey metapopulation dynamics. J Anim Ecol 65:640–652

    Google Scholar 

  • Huffaker CB (1958) Experimental studies on predation: dispersion factors and predator–prey oscillations. Hilgardia 27:343–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Huitu O, Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (2003) Landscape effects on temporal and spatial properties of vole population fluctuations. Oecologia 135:209–220

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huitu O, Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (2004) Competition, predation and interspecific synchrony in cyclic small mammal communities. Ecography 27:197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huitu O, Laaksonen J, Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (2005) Spatial synchrony in vole population fluctuations—a field experiment. Oikos 109:583–593

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ims RA, Andreassen HP (2000) Spatial synchronization of vole population dynamics by predatory birds. Nature 408:194–196

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ims RA, Andreassen HP (2005) Density-dependent dispersal and spatial population dynamics. Proc R Soc Lond B 272:913–918

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kendall BE, Bjørnstad ON, Bascompte J, Keitt TH, Fagan WF (2000) Dispersal, environmental correlation, and spatial synchrony in population dynamics. Am Nat 155:628–636

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • King CM, Edgar RL (1977) Techniques for tracking and trapping stoats (Mustela erminea); a review and a new system. NZ J Zool 4:193–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemola T, Korpimäki E, Norrdahl K, Tanhuanpää M, Koivula M (1999) Mobility and habitat utilization of small mustelids in relation to cyclically fluctuating prey abundances. Ann Zool Fenn 36:75–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Klemola T, Huitu O, Ruohomäki K (2006) Geographically partitioned spatial synchrony among cyclic moth populations. Oikos 114:349–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig WD (1999) Spatial autocorrelation of ecological phenomena. Trends Ecol Evol 14:22–26

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig WD (2002) Global patterns of synchrony and the Moran effect. Ecography 25:283–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korpimäki E, Norrdahl K (1991) Numerical and functional responses of kestrels, short-eared owls, and long-eared owls to vole densities. Ecology 72:814–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korpimäki E, Norrdahl K, Rinta-Jaskari T (1991) Responses of stoats and least weasels to fluctuating vole abundances: is the low phase of the vole cycle due to mustelid predation?. Oecologia 88:552–561

    Google Scholar 

  • Korpimäki E, Norrdahl K, Klemola T, Pettersen T, Stenseth NC (2002) Dynamic effects of predators on cyclic voles: field experimentation and model extrapolation. Proc R Soc Lond B 269:991–997

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korpimäki E, Norrdahl K, Huitu O, Klemola T (2005) Predator-induced synchrony in population oscillations of co-existing small mammal species. Proc R Soc Lond B 272:193–202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korslund L, Steen H (2006) Small rodent winter survival: snow conditions limit access to food resources. J Anim Ecol 75:156–166

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewontin RC (1966) On the measurement of relative variability. Syst Zool 15:141–142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liebhold A, Koenig WD, Bjørnstad ON (2004) Spatial synchrony in population dynamics. Ann Rev Ecol Syst 35:467–490

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lillegård M, Engen S, Sæther BE (2005) Bootstrap methods for estimating spatial synchrony of fluctuating populations. Oikos 109:342–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Littell RC, Milliken GA, Stroup WW, Wolfinger RD (1996) SAS® system for mixed models. SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC

    Google Scholar 

  • Manly BFJ (1997) Randomization, bootstrap and Monte Carlo methods in biology, 2nd edn. Chapman & Hall/CRC, Boca Raton, FL

  • Moran PAP (1953) The statistical analysis of the Canadian lynx cycle. I: Structure and prediction. Aust J Zool 1:163–173

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers JH (1998) Synchrony in outbreaks of forest Lepidoptera: a possible example of the Moran effect. Ecology 79:1111–1117

    Google Scholar 

  • Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (1993) Predation and interspecific competition in two Microtus voles. Oikos 67:149–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (1995) Effects of predator removal on vertebrate prey populations: birds of prey and small mammals. Oecologia 103:241–248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (1996) Do nomadic avian predators synchronize population fluctuations of small mammals? A field experiment. Oecologia 107:478–483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (2002) Seasonal changes in the numerical responses of predators to cyclic vole populations. Ecography 25:428–438

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Norrdahl K, Korpimäki E (2005) Survival through bottlenecks of vole cycles: refuge or chance events? Evol Ecol 19:339–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paradis E, Baillie SR, Sutherland WJ, Gregory RD (1999) Dispersal and spatial scale affect synchrony in spatial population dynamics. Ecol Lett 2:114–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petty SJ, Lambin X, Sherratt TN, Thomas CJ, Mackinnon JL, Coles CF, Davison M, Little B (2000) Spatial synchrony in field vole Microtus agrestis abundance in a coniferous forest in northern England: the role of vole-eating raptors. J Appl Ecol 37:136–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta E, Lindström J, Lindén H (1995a) Synchrony in tetraonid population dynamics. J Anim Ecol 64:767–776

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta E, Kaitala V, Lindström J, Lindén H (1995b) Synchrony in population dynamics. Proc R Soc Lond B 262:113–118

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta E, Kaitala V, Lindström J (1999) Spatially autocorrelated disturbances and patterns in population synchrony. Proc R Soc Lond B 266:1851–1856

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ranta E, Lundberg P, Kaitala V (2006) Ecology of populations. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Ripa J (2000) Analysing the Moran effect and dispersal: their significance and interaction in synchronous population dynamics. Oikos 90:175–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rueness EK, Stenseth NC, O’Donoghue M, Boutin S, Ellegren H, Jakobsen KS (2003) Ecological and genetic spatial structuring in the Canadian lynx. Nature 425:69–72

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ryall KL, Fahrig L (2006) Response of predators to loss and fragmentation of prey habitat. Ecology 87:1086–1093

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz MK, Mills LS, McKelvey KS, Ruggiero LF, Allendorf FW (2002) DNA reveals high dispersal synchronizing the population dynamics of Canada lynx. Nature 415:520–522

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sherratt TN, Lambin X, Petty SJ, Mackinnon JL, Coles CF, Thomas CJ (2000) Use of coupled oscillator models to understand synchrony and travelling waves in populations of the field vole Microtus agrestis in northern England. J Appl Ecol 37:148–158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solantie R (2000) Snow depth on January 15th and March 15th in Finland 1919–98, and its implications for soil frost and forest ecology (Meteorological Publications no. 42). Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki

  • Solantie R, Drebs A, Hellsten E, Saurio P (1996) Timing and duration of snow cover in Finland during 1961–1993 (Meteorological Publications no. 34). Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki

  • Steen H, Ims RA, Sonerud GA (1996) Spatial and temporal patterns of small-rodent population dynamics at a regional scale. Ecology 77:2365–2372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stenseth NC, Chan K-S, Tong H, Boonstra R, Boutin S, Krebs CJ, Post E, O’Donoghue M, Yoccoz NG, Forchhammer MC, Hurrell JW (1999) Common dynamic structure of Canada lynx populations within three climatic regions. Science 285:1071–1073

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stenseth NC, Ehrich D, Rueness EK, Lingjærde OC, Chan K-S, Boutin S, O’Donoghue M, Robinson DA, Viljugrein H, Jakobsen KS (2004a) The effect of climatic forcing on population synchrony and genetic structuring of the Canadian lynx. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:6056–6061

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stenseth NC, Shabbar A, Chan K-S, Boutin S, Rueness EK, Ehrich D, Hurrell JW, Lingjærde OC, Jakobsen KS (2004b) Snow conditions may create an invisible barrier for lynx. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101:10632–10634

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sundell J, Huitu O, Henttonen H, Kaikusalo A, Korpimäki E, Pietiäinen H, Saurola P, Hanski I (2002) Large-scale spatial dynamics of vole populations in Finland revealed by the breeding success of vole-eating avian predators. J Anim Ecol 73:167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sutcliffe OL, Thomas CD, Moss D (1996) Spatial synchrony and asynchrony in butterfly population dynamics. J Anim Ecol 65:85–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turchin P (2003) Complex population dynamics: a theoretical/empirical synthesis. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ

  • Viitala J, Korpimäki E, Palokangas P, Koivula M (1995) Attraction of kestrels to vole scent marks visible in ultraviolet light. Nature 373:425–427

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Williams DW, Liebhold AM (2000) Spatial synchrony of spruce budworm outbreaks in eastern North America. Ecology 81:2753–2766

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • With KA, Pavuk DM, Worchuck JL, Oates RK, Fisher JL (2002) Threshold effects of landscape structure on biological control in agroecosystems. Ecol Appl 12:52–65

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolff JO, Schauber EM, Edge WD (1997) The effects of habitat fragmentation on the demography and social structure of the gray-tailed vole. Conserv Biol 11:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ydenberg RC (1987) Nomadic predators and geographical synchrony in microtine population cycles. Oikos 50:270–272

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We wish to thank Lauri Nikkinen for trapping assistance and Narssjön Camping, the Kauhajoki Hunting Society and family Ikola for accommodation during trapping visits. The study was financially supported by the Academy of Finland (grants no. 106036 to OH, 111195 to TK and 206140 to EK), the Graduate School in Evolutionary Ecology (grant to OH) and the Turku University Foundation (grant to OH). All aspects of this study comply with the current laws of Finland.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland

    Otso Huitu, Jesse Laaksonen, Tero Klemola & Erkki Korpimäki

  2. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Suonenjoki Research Unit, Juntintie 154, 77600, Suonenjoki, Finland

    Otso Huitu

Authors
  1. Otso Huitu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jesse Laaksonen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tero Klemola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Erkki Korpimäki
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Otso Huitu.

Additional information

Communicated by Hannu Ylönen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huitu, O., Laaksonen, J., Klemola, T. et al. Spatial dynamics of Microtus vole populations in continuous and fragmented agricultural landscapes. Oecologia 155, 53–61 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-007-0885-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-007-0885-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation