Common vole

Ricankova, V., Sumbera, R. and Sedlacek, F. (2007) Familiarity and partner preferences in female common voles, Microtus arvalis. J. Ethol. 25, 95-98. 

Bolhuis, J. J., Strijkstra, A. M., Moore, E., and van der Lende, K. (1988). Preferences for odors of conspecific non-siblings in the common vole, Microtus arvalis. Animal Behaviour 36,1551-1553. 

High-mountainous focus first was identified in 1958. The main reservoir here is the common vole Microtus arvalis main vectors are Callopsylla caspia, Nosopsillus consimilis, and Ctenophthalmus teres. 

Chautidze, A., Manvelian, D., Tarasov, M., Goncharov, A. Observation on restoring the quantity of common vole after deep depression on Javakheti Plateau. Especially dangerous infections. Stavropol Russia, 1987. pp. 314-315. 

URINE MARKING AND SOCIAL STRUCTURE IN GROUPS OF RELATED AND UNRELATED FEMALE COMMON VOLES (MICROTUS ARVALIS)... 

The common vole, Microtus arvalis (PALLAS, 1779), is one of the most important agricultural pest mammals in central Europe. Female common voles are territorial (Reich-... 

Male and female dominance is associated with reproductive success (e.g. Chovnick, Yasukawa, Monder Christian, 1987). Furthermore, urine has been shown to act as a vehicle for pheromones which regulate the reproductive activity of young females (Drickamer, 1982 Jemiolo, Gubemick, Yoder Novotny, 1994 Rozenfeld Denoel, 1994). The second hypothesis of the present study predicts that, in female groups of common voles, only the dominant female will reproduce, while subordinate females will remain reproductively suppressed, due to the release of relevant pheromones excreted in the urine of the dominant female. 

In order to test the two hypotheses, marking intensity and reproductive activity were investigated in enclosed groups of female common voles with different degrees of relatedness. 

Urine Marking and Social Structure in Female Common Voles (Microtus arvalis)... 

In the present study, I have indirectly investigated the existence of hierarchies in groups of female common voles on the basis of their urine marking behavior and reproductive activity. 

In mature individuals, the preference for family odors wanes and they are attracted to the odors from an opposite-sex conspecific. Similarly, attraction to opposite-sex con-specifics was found in mature male and female common voles, Microtus arvalis (Bolhuis, Strijkstra, Moor van der Lende, 1988). The attraction of mature pine voles to odors from an opposite-sex conspecific instead of those from their family suggests that dispersal may be the preferred option at this age. Coppola and O Connell (1989) suggested a similar function of changing attraction to grouped female versus male odor cues in house mice. 

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