Department of Ecology and Systematics
Division of Population Ecology
University of Helsinki
In this study the competitive relationship between common vole and bank vole was examined, concentrating on the effect of bank vole on several life history traits of common vole. The study was conducted through field experiments in 0.25 ha enclosures, where common vole females and bank voles were kept together and the movements of common voles were monitored by trapping and radio telemetry. Control treatments included common voles only and were run in parallel with the experiment treatments. After the enclosure period the common voles were captured and kept in cages until labour, after which the litters were measured.
The study did not conclusively indicate changes in reproduction of common voles, but clear signs of interaction between the species were detected, including suggestive results of temporal avoidance. Practical considerations of methodology of competition research on rodents in general and this species pair in particular is discussed.
Keywords: interspecific competition; field experiments; common vole; bank vole; Microtus arvalis; Clethrionomys glareolus; two-species system; small mammals; rodents; radio telemetry; trapping; enclosures.