Voles M. agrestis

Anal gland secretion of male short-tailed voles, M. agrestis, stimulates plasma testosterone, body weight, and anal gland size in other males. The biological significance of this effect is unclear (Khan and Stoddart, 1986). 

In Sweden, phenols did not protect introduced lodgepole pines, Pinus contorta, particularly well against debarking by the vole M. agrestis. Being an alien tree species may be an important factor (Hansson etal, 1986). The authors pointed out that, in general, any natural defense will work only at low browsing pressure by voles. 

Khan, T. Y. and Stoddart, D. M. (1986). Demonstration of an odorous intramale primer effect in short-tailed vole, Microtus agrestis L. Journal ofChemical Ecology 12,2097-2106. 

De Jonge, G. 1983. Aggression and group formation in the voles, Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis and Clethrionomys glareolus in relation to intra- and interspecific competition. Behaviour, 84, 1—73. 

Small rodents depend on detection of a predator prior to actual contact. Thus, voles are sensitive to the scent of potential predators and respond to such odors without the necessity for other cues. In the wild, field voles Microtus agrestis) have been observed to avoid traps tainted with either weasel (Mustela nivalis) anal gland secretion or red fox (Vulpes vulpes) feces (Dickman Doncaster, 1984 Stoddart, 1976). Similarly, meadow and montane voles (M pennsylvanicus and M. montanus) were observed to avoid traps treated with the principal odiferous component of fox feces, 2,5-dihydro-2,4,5-trimethyl thiazoline (Sullivan, Crump Sullivan, 1988). The laboratory experiments discussed in the present chapter provided a quantitative assessment of locomotor activity levels following exposure to predator odor in laboratory-bred meadow voles. 

Microtus agrestis. Table lb shows that a significantly smaller number of captures of M. agrestis are effected in traps scented with conspecific odor than in odorless traps. These data further confirm Stoddart s (1982a) data suggesting vole odor acts as an inhibitor to trap entry behavior. 

M agrestis. Voles were presented with paired traps—one scented with their own body odor and the other with body odor of another vole. The number choosing the trap in which they themselves had been held previously was statistically significantly higher than those choosing the other trap (n = 204, x = 9.49, o = < 0.005 > 0.001). I conclude from these two sets of data that odor discrimination occurs and can be demonstrated to occur under field conditions by observing the pattern of trap choice. 

M agrestis. When presented with a choice between equal numbers of heterospecifically scented and conspecifically scented traps, significantly more voles enter the conspecifIcally scented traps (Table 2b). Although the data are few, which influences the level of statistical significance, more than twice as many voles entered conspecific as heterospecific traps. 

M agrestis. The results of 383 entries by adult voles into traps scented either with heterosexual of ipisexual odor were analyzed and a significant departure from the expected frequency of trap choice was detected (Table 4). More males than expected entered traps scented with female... 

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