Experimental Alterations of Sex-Ratios in Populations of Microtus oregoni, the Creeping Vole

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Experimental manipulations of the sex-ratio of 2 populations of the creeping vole, M. oregoni, were made between July, 1972-July, 1974 to investigate the effect of sex-ratio changes on the population dynamics of these voles. The sex-ratio of the control population averaged 21% males. This is one of the lowest sex-ratios yet recorded for a small mammal. Manipulations were done by transferring specific proportions of either the male of female populaiton. The sex-ratio manipulations had significantly disrupted the social organization of the voles, and this disruption in social order destroyed the normal regulatory machinery of the species. Creeping voles apparently have an asocial dispersed system, and spacing behavior is not sex-specific. M. oregoni has a social system which is materially different from M. townsendii. Sex is a less important component of social organizaiton in M. oregoni than in M. townsendii.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: