Diet variation of common buzzards in Finland supports the alternative prey hypothesis

• Published in: Ecography (Copenhagen) Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 267 - 274
• Main Authors: Reif, Vitali, Tornberg, Risto, Jungell, Sven, Korpimäki, Erkki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Copenhagen Munksgaard International Publishers 01.06.2001; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Autoecology; Aves; Biological and medical sciences; Birds; Birds of prey; Buteo buteo; Diet; Finland; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Grouse; Hares; Mammals; Microtus; Owls; Predators; Rodents; Vertebrata; Voles; Europe; Finland; Predator prey relation; Rodentia; Multiyear variation; Raptor; Feeding; Prey; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Faunal survey; Diet; Seasonal variation; Muridae; Aves; Buteo buteo; Population density

The regional synchrony of short-term population fluctuations of small rodents and small game has usually been explained by varying impacts of generalist predators subsisting on both voles and small game (the "alternative prey hypothesis" APH). APH says that densities of predators increase...