A Bocage Landscape Restricts the Gene Flow of Pest Vole Populations

Abstract

The population dynamics of most animal species inhabiting agro-ecosystems may be determined by landscape characteristics, with agricultural intensification and the reduction of natural habitats influencing dispersal and hence limiting gene flow. Increasing landscape complexity would thus benefit many endangered species by providing different ecological niches, but it could also lead to undesired effects in species that can act as crop pests and disease reservoirs. We tested the hypothesis that a highly variegated landscape influences patterns of genetic structure in agricultural pest voles. Ten populations of fossorial water vole, Arvicola scherman, located in a bocage landscape in Atlantic NW Spain were studied using DNA microsatellite markers and a graph-based model. The results showed a strong isolation-by-distance pattern with a significant genetic correlation at smaller geographic scales, while genetic differentiation at larger geographic scales indicated a hierarchical pattern of up to eight genetic clusters. A metapopulation-type structure was observed, immersed in a landscape with a low proportion of suitable habitats. Matrix scale rather than matrix heterogeneity per se may have an important effect upon gene flow, acting as a demographic sink. The identification of sub-populations, considered to be independent management units, allows the establishment of feasible population control efforts in this area. These insights support the use of agro-ecological tools aimed at recreating enclosed field systems when planning integrated managements for controlling patch-dependent species such as grassland voles.

Do Fossorial Water Voles have a Functional Vomeronasal Organ? A Histological and Immunohistochemical Study

“…This species inhabits grasslands and orchards in the main mountain massifs of Europe, including the northern Iberian Peninsula, the Alps, the mountains of central Europe and the Carpathians, and is considered one of the most important agricultural pests in these areas (Somoano 2020). Fossorial water voles show a high reproductive potential (Somoano et al 2016; Somoano et al 2017) and can reach high population densities of more than 1,000 individuals per hectare during population peaks (Giraudoux 1997), being able to spread unhindered in grassland-dominated landscapes (Somoano et al 2022). This species may also pose a danger to human health because it can play an important role as reservoir of zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira spp.…”

“…Fossorial water voles show a high reproductive potential (Somoano et al 2016;Somoano et al 2017) and can reach high population densities of more than 1,000 individuals per hectare during population peaks (Giraudoux 1997), being able to spread unhindered in grassland-dominated landscapes (Somoano et al 2022). This species may also pose a danger to human health because it can play an important role as reservoir of zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira spp.…”

Do fossorial water voles have a functional vomeronasal organ? A histological and immunohistochemical study

“…This species inhabits grasslands and orchards in the main mountain massifs of Europe, including the northern Iberian Peninsula, the Alps, the mountains of central Europe and the Carpathians, and is considered one of the most important agricultural pests in these areas (Somoano, 2020). Fossorial water voles show a high reproductive potential (Somoano et al, 2016(Somoano et al, , 2017) and can reach high population densities of more than 1000 individuals per hectare during population peaks (Giraudoux, 1997), being able to spread unhindered in grassland-dominated landscapes (Somoano et al, 2022). This species may also pose a danger to human health because it can play an important role as reservoir of zoonotic pathogens such as Leptospira spp.…”