Influence of crop type on common vole abundance in Central European agroecosystems

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment Vol. 315; p. 107443
• Main Authors: Heroldová, Marta, Šipoš, Jan, Suchomel, Josef, Zejda, Jan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.08.2021
• Subjects: Agricultural landscape; Burrow index; Crops; Microtus arvalis; Population fluctuation; Agricultural landscape; Microtus arvalis; Burrow index; Population fluctuation; Crops
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2021.107443

In the Czech Republic, the abundance (burrow index (BI) of the common vole (Microtus arvalis), an herbivorous pest rodent in Central Europe, were collected in vole-suitable agricultural crops in spring and autumn. We used a 20-year data set that we predicted would cover enough spatial and temporal variations in the natural population fluctuations to allow us to test the effect of main crops. We found that permanent and perennial (i.e. alfalfa and clover) crops hosted the most abundant common vole populations among all studied crops. Among winter crops the population reached the greatest abundance in winter rape. In the growing season, (a) permanent and perennial crops, and to a lesser extent winter rape, maintained a high vole population during autumn and winter; (b) their population in winter cereals (winter barley and winter wheat) was consistently smaller compared to previous crops; (c) in sugar beet, in comparison with other crops, the population reached the highest level in two months of autumn (September and October) and (d) their population in spring barley reached a number comparable to winter cereals in only three months (March, April and May) of spring. We also revealed that the mild winter season positively influenced the common vole’s abundance. Fluctuations in the common vole’s BI in various crops over the 20-year time period were correlated and resulted in significant synchronisation. This led to the conclusion that permanent crops can serve as a good indicator for the prediction of the future development of species density and prevention. •Twenty years data on common vole abundances (BI – burrow index) in agricultural crops were analysed to show its suitability for this species.•Permanent and perennial crops support most of common vole population.•Winter crops support vole overwintering population, especially the winter rape.•Spring crops as spring barley and sugar beet support common vole during the vegetation period.•Fluctuations of the common vole in crops correlated, offering BI counting method simplification.