Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Over-winter demography of the gray-tailed vole (Microtus canicaudus) in fragmented and continuous habitats

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/tb09j9681

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  • Large scale disruption of natural habitats worldwide has led to concern over the effects of habitat fragmentation on wildlife populations. Small scale experiments may be a useful tool for discovering effects of fragmentation over larger landscape scales. I sought to explore the potential for using voles as an experimental model system, at a small scale, to discover mechanisms that may affect other species at different spatial scales. I compared over-winter demography of gray-tailed voles, Microtus canicaudus, in two experimental landscapes, consisting of fragmented and continuous habitat, to assess the effects of habitat fragmentation. I chose winter as the time frame of the experiment because it poses harsh conditions for voles and because seasonal bottlenecks may affect population persistence. Population size, population growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, survival and movements, were monitored using mark-recapture methods in 8, 0.2-ha enclosures planted with alfalfa. The habitat within the enclosures was manipulated into 2 configurations of equal area, 1 large continuous patch (625 m²), and a mosaic of 25 small patches (each 25 m²), prior to the introduction of 12 pairs of animals/enclosure. I hypothesized that population size and growth rates, reproduction, recruitment, and survival would be greater for vole populations in continuous habitats than for populations in fragmented habitats. Additionally, I hypothesized that movements would be more restricted within fragmented habitat because the voles would perceive the area between habitat patches as a barrier. I did not detect significant differences between vole populations in continuous and fragmented treatments. However, populations residing in fragmented habitat showed higher variability over the study period. Populations in both treatments decreased throughout the winter period and all became extinct by the end of the study. Reproduction occurred only during the fall period, and there were no significant differences between treatments. Movements were not different between treatments, or between male and female voles, but movements did increase over time. Survival appeared to be higher for male voles in continuous habitat than in fragmented habitat, but female vole survival was similar between treatments. Survival was influenced by weather conditions, and predation. These results contrast with a previous experiment during the summer season, and indicate that seasonal bottlenecks may be important to consider when studying habitat fragmentation. Extinction of populations in both treatments demonstrates that small populations are extremely vulnerable to both environmental and demographic stochastic events.
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