Effects of prior population density on use of space by meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus

Abstract

We examined the effect of prior population density on use of space by meadow voles, Microtus pennsylvanicus, by maintaining two replicates each of populations of voles at low, medium, and high density in 0.16-ha fenced enclosures in southeastern New York for 20 months. All voles were then removed by live-trapping and equal numbers of new animals were introduced into each enclosure and monitored by biweekly live-trapping for 7 months. We determined patterns of space use of these voles using radiotelemetry. If previous density had a long-lasting effect on habitat quality, voles placed in enclosures that previously maintained high-density populations should have had larger home ranges with greater overlap than individuals in enclosures that previously maintained low-density populations. We found no significant effect of previous density on home-range size and overlap, or interfix movement distance. These results do not support the herbivore-resource mechanism for delayed density-dependence in meadow voles.