Journal article

Publication year: 1990

Pages: 106-114

Journal: Zeitschrift für Säugetierkunde = International journal of mammalian biology

Volume number: 55

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 0044-3468

Publisher: Urban & Fischer

Abstract: 
Investigated were the food preferences of a population of the common European vole Microtus arvalis (Rodentia, Microtidae) inhabiting permanent meadow. The stomach contents of 363 individuals (186 .female..female., 177 .male..male.) caught in 1984-7 with baited snap traps were microscopically analyzed. Plant species were determined using a new reference catalogue of photomicrographs taken from the epidermal structures of the 48 plant species of the volus'' territory. Species composition of the diet of the voles was not correlated to species composition of the vegetation, i.e. voles fed selectively on various plant species. The results indicate that the 48 available species may be divided into four categories, according to their importance as diet components: 1. Major food species (taken very frequently and at high volume percentage): 8 species, 2. minor food species (taken frequently, but only with low to medium volume percentage): 12 species, 3. casual diet (taken rarely and with low volume percentage): 20 further species, and 4. species totally avoided: 8 species. Taraxacum officinale and Trifolium pratense were by far the most important food species concerning the frequency of occurrence as well as the volume percentage.

Harvard Citation style: RINKE, T. (1990) NUTRITION ECOLOGY OF MICROTUS ARVALIS (PALLAS, 1779) ON PERMANENT MEADOW .1. GENERAL FOOD PREFERENCES, ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SAUGETIERKUNDE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY, 55(2), pp. 106-114

APA Citation style: RINKE, T. (1990). NUTRITION ECOLOGY OF MICROTUS ARVALIS (PALLAS, 1779) ON PERMANENT MEADOW .1. GENERAL FOOD PREFERENCES. ZEITSCHRIFT FUR SAUGETIERKUNDE-INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN BIOLOGY. 55(2), 106-114.