Microhabitat use by the Meadow Vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus (Ord), on a reclaimed grassland, /

Abstract

I examined the effects of microhabitat quality on the population dynamics and the dispersal behavior ofthe meadow vole, Microtus pennsylvanicus, at the Browning Ferris Industries-Carbon Limestone Landfill/CLD, Mahoning County, Ohio, to identify meadow vole microhabitat selection. Voles were live trapped from May 19, 1998 to October 23, 1998 for a total of 80 traps nights using 72 Sherman traps (4 per 0.04ha) in 16 experimental grassland patches varying in density and quality ofvegetative cover. Plant species distributions were analyzed using Atlas GIS in order to determine relative coverage and dominance relationships. Dry weight biomass of standing crop and litter was used to distinguish patch quality. Grassland patches were categorized into four microhabitat types based on coverage values of the high quality forage species. Plant species present were ranked on a qualitative basis, according to diet preferences of meadow voles. Microhabitat categories with the lowest nutritional quality and vegetative cover had the highest numbers of transient voles and highest mean distance traveled by resident voles. High mean distance traveled for resident voles suggests that quality resources are not located within the microhabitat category and traveling large distances to find quality resources is required. Therefore, it appears that microhabitat quality and nutritional quality, as well as vegetative cover, has significant effects on microhabitat selection by the meadow vole.