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1 July 2001 Are Female Voles Food Limited? Effects of Endophyte-infected Tall Fescue on Home Range Size in Female Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster)
G. M. FORTIER, M. A. OSMON, M. ROACH, K. CLAY
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Abstract

Space use patterns of female voles may or may not be related to quality and quantity of food available. We examined the relationship between food quality and home range size in female prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster) by radiotracking voles on grids of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Four grids were infected with a fungal endophyte (Neotyphodium coenophialum) while three grids of uninfected fescue served as references. This endophyte is known to lower food quality for mammalian herbivores, affecting growth rates and reproductive success. We predicted that home range sizes would be larger on endophyte-infected grids if range size is affected by access to food resources. Conversely, if space use is unrelated to food availability, changes in food quality should not change the home range size of female voles. We found no difference in home range size of voles on endophyte-infected and uninfected grids. Our results indicate that patterns of space use in female meadow voles may be driven by factors other than food.

G. M. FORTIER, M. A. OSMON, M. ROACH, and K. CLAY "Are Female Voles Food Limited? Effects of Endophyte-infected Tall Fescue on Home Range Size in Female Prairie Voles (Microtus ochrogaster)," The American Midland Naturalist 146(1), 63-71, (1 July 2001). https://doi.org/10.1674/0003-0031(2001)146[0063:AFVFLE]2.0.CO;2
Received: 16 October 2000; Accepted: 1 February 2001; Published: 1 July 2001
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