Factors affecting life expectancy of the prairie vole, Microtus ochrogaster

We determined life expectancy (to within approximately 3 d) of 1457 prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, in a free-living population over a period of 6 yr. During this time the population underwent four cycles of abundance, with peak densities of 160, 250, 350, and 624 individuals per ha. Life expec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Oikos Vol. 80; no. 2; pp. 362 - 370
Main Authors:	Getz, L.L, Simms, L.E, McGuire, B, Snarski, M.E
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Oxford Munksgaard International Publishers, Ltd 01-11-1997 Blackwell
Subjects:	Animal and plant ecology Animal nesting Animal traps Animal, plant and microbial ecology Animals Biological and medical sciences CAMPAGNOL CAMPO CHAMP CICLO VITAL CONTROLE CONTINU CYCLE DE DEVELOPPEMENT Demecology DENSIDAD DE LA POBLACION DENSITE DE POPULATION DESCENDANCE Female animals FIELDS Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology High temperature LIFE CYCLE Life expectancy LONGEVIDAD LONGEVITE LONGEVITY Mammalia MEDICAGO SATIVA MONITORING POPULATION DENSITY Prairies Precipitation PROGENIE PROGENY SEASONAL VARIATION Social groups SUPERVIVENCIA SURVIE SURVIVAL TEMPS METEOROLOGIQUE TIEMPO METEOROLOGICO TOPILLOS VARIACION ESTACIONAL VARIATION SAISONNIERE Vertebrata VIGILANCIA VOLES WEATHER Vertebrata Climate Mammalia Seasonal variation Rodentia Microtus ochrogaster Environmental factor Population dynamics Longevity Social organization Reproductive cycle Population density
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Summary:	We determined life expectancy (to within approximately 3 d) of 1457 prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster, in a free-living population over a period of 6 yr. During this time the population underwent four cycles of abundance, with peak densities of 160, 250, 350, and 624 individuals per ha. Life expectancy was calculated based on the interactions of season, phase of the population cycle, population density, type of natal social group, and weather conditions 21 and 30 d before and after birth. Life expectancy was greatest for animals born (1) in autumn, (2) during the increase phase of the population cycle, (3) at population densities > 100/ha, and (4) into communal groups. The combination of these factors appears to result in a surge in population density in late autumn. The short life expectancy of animals born during the peak and decline phases of the population cycle may accelerate the rate of the decline phase. During periods of high temperatures before birth in summer, life expectancy increased with increased precipitation. There was no such interaction of precipitation and temperature after birth. In both summer and autumn, high precipitation after birth resulted in lower life expectancy, possibly reflecting increased mortality of young forced to leave flooded underground nests.
Bibliography:	P01 1998020223 ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23
ISSN:	0030-1299 1600-0706
DOI:	10.2307/3546604