L'utilisation de ressources alimentaires avec ou sans composés secondaires connus par une population cyclique de Campagnols des champs (Microtus pennsylvanicus)

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Abstract
Results from 3 years of plant sampling and diet analyses in a cyclic population of meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) have shown that animals use a lot of plants with known toxic by-products while the population is in its growth and peak phases, whereas voles from the low density phase of the population almost exclusively eat plants without such by-products. Considering the fact that plants which contain toxic by-products are "bad resources" for herbivores, while plants which do not are "good resources," one can infer from the results that the quantity of good resources available becomes very limited; this explains the appearance of bad resources in the diet at times when the population density becomes very high. There is no evidence in the literature of acute or chronic toxic effects in meadow voles resulting from the ingestion of plants with toxic by-products; thus at present one can only note the importance of such resources in their diet and speculate on the cost–benefits of such a feeding habit.[Journal translation]