Winter use of food by fenced voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

Abstract

Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) were housed in fenced plots over the winter to establish whether intense grazing in the summer could affect their winter diet and thereby reduce their chances of survival. Intense grazing in the summer was simulated by removing 14% of the fall biomass. In November 1992, voles were introduced into two clipped plots and two unclipped plots. Two other plots were used to follow changes in biomass not associated with intense grazing. In January 1993, population densities and chemical constituents of fecal samples were significantly reduced as a result of experimental and winter environmental conditions. Over time, the vole feces contained increasing proportions of phenolics and neutral detergent solubles, and their diet became more diversified. These effects were more evident in the clipped plots, suggesting that the removal of fall biomass caused a rapid decline in vole numbers and the increased use of low-quality food during winter.