It is raining mice and voles: which weather conditions influence the activity of Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus?

Wróbel, Aleksandra; Bogdziewicz, Michał

doi:10.1007/s10344-014-0892-2

Cited by 42 publications

(56 citation statements)

References 35 publications

(59 reference statements)

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“…For example, meteorological conditions are known to directly affect the population size and activity of rodents (e.g., squirrels in Kneip et al. , wood mice in Wróbel and Bogdziewicz , Sunyer et al. ) and ungulates (Servanty et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond predator satiation: Masting but also the effects of rainfall stochasticity on weevils drive acorn predation

et al. 2017

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Escaping seed predation is a classic “economy of scale” hypotheses (predator satiation hypothesis, Psh) to explain the selection for the synchronous production of massive and nil seed crops (masting) in plants. The Psh postulates that predator satiation occurs through a combination of (1) “functional satiation,” as not all seeds can be consumed during a massive crop, and (2) “numerical satiation,” as predator populations collapse during poor crop years. Many studies advocate for the Psh, but few have investigated the importance of masting compared to other factors for the control of predation extent. Namely, environmental cues prompting masting could also determine predator's success and, ultimately, influence directly and independently seed predation intensity. We explored this question in Mediterranean oaks, as they exhibit strong masting behavior; acorns are heavily predated upon by weevils; and rainfall stochasticity drives masting and the emergence of adult weevils from the soil. Results of two mid‐term studies (4 and 11 yr) showed that acorn production and predation were highly variable across years, while the abundance of adult weevils was positively related to autumn rainfall and to the number of infested acorns the previous years. Ultimately, acorn predation was negatively influenced by inter‐annual fluctuation of seed production (masting) yet, mainly and positively, prompted by autumn rainfall and acorn crop size (only in one site). Our results highlight the relevance of masting to reduce seed predation. Yet evidences that rainfall stochasticity directly determines the success of weevils, and it independently influences seed predation extent, indicate that environmental cues prompting masting may also fine‐tune the output of this reproductive behavior. Additionally, local differences suggest that the relevance of masting may change with tree characteristics (low vs. high seed production) and landscape structure (isolated vs. dense forests). We also discuss what can be the effects of increasing drought in Mediterranean areas for this antagonistic interaction, triggered by rainfall.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beyond predator satiation: Masting but also the effects of rainfall stochasticity on weevils drive acorn predation

et al. 2017

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“…It should be noted that the overall percentage of acorns that were consumed in this study was low compared to other acorn removal experiments performed at the same site in other years [21][22][23], especially given that here acorns were left on the ground instead of buried [10,33]. This can partially be explained because of the cold weather conditions during the study, which likely reduced the activity of rodents [34]. Besides, snow precluded monitoring the experiment for longer, which It should be noted that the overall percentage of acorns that were consumed in this study was low compared to other acorn removal experiments performed at the same site in other years [21][22][23], especially given that here acorns were left on the ground instead of buried [10,33].…”

Section: Acorn Predationmentioning

confidence: 57%

“…Besides, snow precluded monitoring the experiment for longer, which It should be noted that the overall percentage of acorns that were consumed in this study was low compared to other acorn removal experiments performed at the same site in other years [21][22][23], especially given that here acorns were left on the ground instead of buried [10,33]. This can partially be explained because of the cold weather conditions during the study, which likely reduced the activity of rodents [34]. Besides, snow precluded monitoring the experiment for longer, which would most likely have yielded greater acorn removal rates.…”

Section: Acorn Predationmentioning

confidence: 63%

Effectiveness of Diesel as a Mammal Repellent for Direct Seeding of Acorns

Leverkus

Carrión

Molina‐Morales

et al. 2017

Forests

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Abstract:The assisted regeneration of oaks can be achieved through seeding or planting. Whereas direct seeding of acorns has several advantages over planting nursery-grown seedlings, the problem of seed predation by mammals precludes its widespread application. We investigated the potential of diesel as a mammal repellent to prevent the consumption of Holm oak acorns. We tested the effect of submerging acorns in diesel for 0, 6, 12, and 24 h on acorn predation in a field experiment in the Sierra Nevada Natural Park (Granada province, Spain), and the potential effect of the same treatments on seedling emergence and growth in a nursery experiment. The field experiment showed no reduction in acorn predation through diesel. On the other hand, submersion in diesel hindered the germination of one in every four sown acorns regardless of submersion time. Our results are in line with many failed attempts to protect acorns with chemical repellents and suggest that an effective, universally-abundant, inexpensive, and easy-to-apply acorn protector to enhance the success of seeding operations is yet to be found.

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“…Each session lasted 72 h (i.e., three days and three nights). Trapping was conducted under favourable weather conditions to minimize trap mortality and pick a higher activity of rodents (Wróbel & Bogdziewicz 2015). A square trapping grid of 100 points (10×10 m spacing) was established in each study plot (Fig.…”

Section: Trapping Of Rodentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Response of the dominant rodent species to close-to-nature logging practices in a temperate mixed forest

et al. 2016

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Lešo P., Lešová A., Kropil R., Kanuch P., 2016. Response of the dominant rodent species to close-to-nature logging practices in a temperate mixed forest. Ann. For. Res. 59(1): 259-268.Abstract. The paper aims to answer the question whether differences exist in microhabitat preferences of the yellow-necked mouse and the bank vole between the natural forest and close-to-nature managed forest in the phase of stand regeneration. The two species were live-trapped during two periods in 2006 and 2007 on a square trapping grid established in a managed forest and a natural one. Ten microhabitat variables of each trapping point were measured to analyse their influence on the spatial distribution of the two species. At trapping points, the number of capture records for each species as a dependent variable was modelled using Generalised Linear Models. The herbal cover and a distance to the nearest woody debris were the most important measured microhabitat variables which affect the spatial distribution of both species. In the natural forest, the number of captures in both species increased significantly (p < 0.05) with a decreasing number of trees, increasing undergrowth coverage and decreasing distance to the nearest woody debris. In the managed forest, an increasing distance to the nearest tree and increasing herbal cover had a negative effect on the yellow-necked mouse occurrence (p < 0.001), while in contrast, the increase in values of the same variables increased frequency of occurrence of the bank vole (p < 0.001). Moreover, the bank vole was more frequent in the presence of woody debris (p < 0.002). The study demonstrated clearly that these species modify their spatial activity depending on the management of the woodland.

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It is raining mice and voles: which weather conditions influence the activity of Apodemus flavicollis and Myodes glareolus?

Cited by 42 publications

References 35 publications

Beyond predator satiation: Masting but also the effects of rainfall stochasticity on weevils drive acorn predation

Beyond predator satiation: Masting but also the effects of rainfall stochasticity on weevils drive acorn predation

Effectiveness of Diesel as a Mammal Repellent for Direct Seeding of Acorns

Response of the dominant rodent species to close-to-nature logging practices in a temperate mixed forest

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