Data from: Predator–vole interactions in northern Europe: the role of small mustelids revised

dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Jyväskylä - Korpela, Katri
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Oulu - Helle, Pekka
dc.contributor.affiliationForest Research Institute - Henttonen, Heikki
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Turku - Korpimäki, Erkki
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Jyväskylä - Koskela, Esa
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Ovaskainen, Otso
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Pietiäinen, Hannu
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Sundell, Janne
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Valkama, Jari
dc.contributor.affiliationForest Research Institute - Huitu, Otso
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Helsinki - Pietiainen, H.
dc.contributor.affiliationUniversity of Turku - Korpimaki, E.
dc.contributor.authorKorpela, Katri
dc.contributor.authorHelle, Pekka
dc.contributor.authorHenttonen, Heikki
dc.contributor.authorKorpimäki, Erkki
dc.contributor.authorKoskela, Esa
dc.contributor.authorOvaskainen, Otso
dc.contributor.authorPietiäinen, Hannu
dc.contributor.authorSundell, Janne
dc.contributor.authorValkama, Jari
dc.contributor.authorHuitu, Otso
dc.contributor.authorPietiainen, H.
dc.contributor.authorKorpimaki, E.
dc.date.accessioned2025-03-24T15:15:28Z
dc.date.issued2014-10-02
dc.date.issued2014-10-02
dc.descriptionThe cyclic population dynamics of vole and predator communities is a key phenomenon in northern ecosystems, and it appears to be influenced by climate change. Reports of collapsing rodent cycles have attributed the changes to warmer winters, which weaken the interaction between voles and their specialist subnivean predators. Using population data collected throughout Finland during 1986–2011, we analyse the spatio-temporal variation in the interactions between populations of voles and specialist, generalist and avian predators, and investigate by simulations the roles of the different predators in the vole cycle. We test the hypothesis that vole population cyclicity is dependent on predator–prey interactions during winter. Our results support the importance of the small mustelids for the vole cycle. However, weakening specialist predation during winters, or an increase in generalist predation, was not associated with the loss of cyclicity. Strengthening of delayed density dependence coincided with strengthening small mustelid influence on the summer population growth rates of voles. In conclusion, a strong impact of small mustelids during summers appears highly influential to vole population dynamics, and deteriorating winter conditions are not a viable explanation for collapsing small mammal population cycles.
dc.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.h3bt7
dc.identifier.urihttps://hydatakatalogi-test-24.it.helsinki.fi/handle/123456789/9752
dc.rightsOpen
dc.rights.licensecc-zero
dc.subjectVole
dc.subjectpopulation growth rate
dc.subjectPopulation cycles
dc.titleData from: Predator–vole interactions in northern Europe: the role of small mustelids revised
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