Food selection in Microtus arvalis: the role of plant functional traits

0336182 - BÚ 2010 RIV JP eng J - Journal Article
Lantová, P. - Lanta, Vojtěch
Food selection in Microtus arvalis: the role of plant functional traits.
Ecological Research. Roč. 24, č. 4 (2009), s. 831-838. ISSN 0912-3814. E-ISSN 1440-1703
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60050516
Keywords : common vole * Electivity index, * plant functional groups
Subject RIV: EF - Botanics
Impact factor: 1.485, year: 2009

We offered captive common voles (Microtus arvalis) a choice of 11 plant species (representing four ecological groups) growing in vivaria. Selection was evaluated by measuring (1) the biomass of each plant species consumed and (2) functional and life-history plant traits. We assessed whether plant functional traits explain selective foraging in common voles. To explore this, we reanalyzed Holiova's (1959) data about common vole stomach contents and plant trait databases. We suggest that the voles usually consume grasses in the field because grasses are abundant and readily available, but prefer protein-rich forbs when possible.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0180466