A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
Younger bank voles are more vulnerable to avian predation
Tekijät: Meri T, Halonen M, Mappes T, Suhonen J
Kustantaja: NATL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA-N R C RESEARCH PRESS
Julkaisuvuosi: 2008
Lehti:: Canadian Journal of Zoology
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE ZOOLOGIE
Lehden akronyymi: CAN J ZOOL
Vuosikerta: 86
Numero: 9
Aloitussivu: 1074
Lopetussivu: 1078
Sivujen määrä: 5
ISSN: 0008-4301
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/Z08-087
Tiivistelmä
The importance of predation on prey populations is mainly determined by the number of eaten prey. However, the total impact of predation might also be determined by the selection of certain prey individuals, e. g., different sexes or age categories. Here we tested selective predation by an avian predator, the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum (L., 1758)), on bank voles (Myodes (Clethrionomys) glareolus (Schreber, 1780)). We compared the sex, age, and mass of hoarded prey with the animals snap-trapped from the field. There were no differences in the sex ratio between hoarded bank voles and those available in the field. However, hoarded voles were significantly younger than ones in the field sample. There was no statistically significant difference in mass between animals from larders and from the field. We suggest that the greater vulnerability of younger animals to predation might be due to their higher activity, or alternatively, they might be forced to forage in less safe habitats.
The importance of predation on prey populations is mainly determined by the number of eaten prey. However, the total impact of predation might also be determined by the selection of certain prey individuals, e. g., different sexes or age categories. Here we tested selective predation by an avian predator, the pygmy owl (Glaucidium passerinum (L., 1758)), on bank voles (Myodes (Clethrionomys) glareolus (Schreber, 1780)). We compared the sex, age, and mass of hoarded prey with the animals snap-trapped from the field. There were no differences in the sex ratio between hoarded bank voles and those available in the field. However, hoarded voles were significantly younger than ones in the field sample. There was no statistically significant difference in mass between animals from larders and from the field. We suggest that the greater vulnerability of younger animals to predation might be due to their higher activity, or alternatively, they might be forced to forage in less safe habitats.
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