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Voles — Small Graminivores with Polyphasic Patterns

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Activity Patterns in Small Mammals

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 141))

Abstract

Obviously, the activity behaviour in microtine rodents is extraordinarily flexible as far as small mammals are concerned. This flexibility, which is not due an arrhythmic habit but to various distinct and interacting rhythms instead, must be seen in relation to the specific living conditions of microtines, of which the high and ever present predation risk is probably the most demanding. Other peculiarities are wide distribution ranges with consequent high diversity of ecological situations, and the dramatically changing social environment in the course of the population cycles in the north. All this might require high adaptability in general, which includes temporal strategies to maximise survival and fitness under various constraints.

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Authors
  1. Stefan Halle
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany

    Stefan Halle

  2. Department of Biology Division of Zoology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1050, Blindern, 03160 Oslo 3, Norway

    Nils Christian Stenseth

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Halle, S. (2000). Voles — Small Graminivores with Polyphasic Patterns. In: Halle, S., Stenseth, N.C. (eds) Activity Patterns in Small Mammals. Ecological Studies, vol 141. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18264-8_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-18264-8_13

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-62128-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-18264-8

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