University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Mammalogy Papers: University of Nebraska State Museum, University of Nebraska State Museum 8-2013 Oral Presentation Abstracts by Day and Symposium from the 11th International Mammalogical Congress (Belfast, Northern Ireland : August 11-16, 2013) International Mammalogical Congress Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museummammalogy Part of the Biodiversity Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, and the Zoology Commons International Mammalogical Congress, "Oral Presentation Abstracts by Day and Symposium from the 11th International Mammalogical Congress (Belfast, Northern Ireland : August 11-16, 2013)" (2013). Mammalogy Papers: University of Nebraska State Museum. 249. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museummammalogy/249 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Museum, University of Nebraska State at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mammalogy Papers: University of Nebraska State Museum by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Abstracts from the 11th International Mammalogical Congress (Belfast, Northern Ireland : August 11-16, 2013). Copyright 2013, International Federation of Mammalogists and the Mammal Society. Used by permission. Oral Presentation Abstracts by Day and Symposium Day time 3. Exploring population dynamics in community and landscape contexts Lidicker, Berkeley; Saitoh, Sapporo Mon 10:00 Introduction to the symposium and some thoughts on anti-regulation in a community context W.Z. Lidicker, Jr., Mon 10:00 ([email protected]), Mus.Vert.Zoology, Uni.California, Berkeley, USA This symposium explores the forefront of research on population dynamics of mammals by considering population density changes explicitly in the framework of the communities and ecoscapes in which they occur. This approach will not only help us to better understand population Bell behavior, but also will serve to more effectively manage populations of economic and conservation concern. My contribution will explore the role of cooperation and other non-competitive coactions as they may influence population dynamics. Allee effects (anti-regulating influences) are known to affect the behavior of populations especially at high or low numbers. These influences result from stimulation of population growth at high densities and increasing risk of demic extinction at low densities. Four out of the five coaction types seem capable of generating analogous anti-regulating influences in communities, suggesting that population changes will be understood only if the community network of positive and negative interactions is taken seriously into consideration. Climate influences cyclic patterns of vole populations through altering ecological communities: time-series Mon 10:20 analyses of the Hokkaido vole T. Saitoh, ([email protected]), Hokkaido Uni., Sapporo, Japan Abundance of rodents has been investigated at various forests of Hokkaido, Japan, for management purposes. In previous studies on the grey-sided voles, using 225 time series, cyclic populations with delayed density dependence were found in colder areas, whereas in warmer areas voles were less cyclic. Using new statistical techniques, we demonstrate that temperature represented by the warm index, by limiting the abundance of other prey such as the wood mouse (Apodemus speciosus), is a key factor determining the cyclicity and the density dependence structure of vole populations. In cold areas, a 3-year cycle length due to the predator-prey interaction was prevalent. In warmer areas, wood mice were relatively abundant. Where competition with wood mice was moderate, voles experienced an exponential decay in their population growth rate and an elongation of their predator-prey cycle (3-4 years). With severe interspecific competition, a combined cycle with two different lengths was exhibited. Long-term population fluctuations of small mammal populations in a semi-arid mallee ecosystem S. Carthew, Mon 10:40 ([email protected]), Charles Darwin Uni., Darwin , Northern Territories, Australia, L. Engledow, Uni. Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia Populations of mammals in arid areas fluctuate markedly in response to large, unpredictable rainfall events. Less is known about semi-arid systems and the marsupials inhabiting them, even though they are under increasing threat. We present results from a long-term (20 year) study of two marsupials (Cercartetus concinnus, Ningaui yvonneae) in Australian, semi-arid mallee. Trapping was conducted on 54 occasions from 1991 - 2011. The two species showed marked differences in population trends over time, likely related to resource requirements. C. concinnus numbers fluctuated substantially, while N. yvonneae numbers were higher and more stable. C. concinnus captures correlated to rainfall that fell 9-18 months prior, with high rainfall events likely stimulating an increase in floral food resources and triggering reproduction. N. yvonneae numbers were also positively correlated to rainfall 7-9 and 16 months prior, although correlations were weaker, most likely due to differences in diet and life-history. Landscape influences on population and community dynamics of small mammals F. Ecke, ([email protected]), Mon 11:40 Swedish Uni. Agricult. Sci., Skogsmarksgränd, Umeå, Sweden, M. Magnusson, ([email protected]), ([email protected]) Landscape structure is an important determinant of species diversity and abundance. Here, we study the community structure and dynamics of cyclic microtine rodents and shrews (Myodes glarerolus, M. rufocanus, Microtus agrestis, Myopus schisticolor, Sorex araneus, S. caecutiens and S. minutus) at 58 permanent 1 ha trapping plots within a 100×100 km study area. The community features are analyzed along a temporal gradient (1971-2005) and related to a corresponding time series of forestry-induced changes in a) focal forest patch size and b) surrounding forest structure in 2.5×2.5 km landscapes centered on the trapping plots. The small mammal community that includes habitat as well as food generalists and specialists changes over time, e.g. in terms of colonization, species diversity and cyclicity. We explore the relative importance of changes in forest structure at the local and landscape scale for these changes in the community structure and dynamics of the small mammals. Landscape effects in small mammal populations exhibiting density outbreaks and on their interactions with Mon 12:00 predators and parasites P. Giraudoux, ([email protected]), Uni. Franche-Comté/CNRS, Inst.Uni. de France Some species of small mammals (rabbits, prairie dogs, pikas, voles, etc.) have been traditionally perceived as pests and targeted for control on a very large scale despite their importance as key-stone species in their native ecosystems. During the 90s, a number of studies have shown that small mammal population management could be grounded on knowledge of the effects of landscape on population dynamics. Here we present results obtained from the long term and multi-scale study of two grassland species, Microtus arvalis and Arvicola terrestris to illustrate this approach. We describe at which scales landscape variables were found relevant to explain population dynamics and the consequences of the observed population dynamic patterns on the vertebrate community (other small mammal species and predators including species of conservation value) and parasite transmission. This knowledge has practical applications for eco-friendly control of small mammal pests and conservation. Impact or intensive forest management on voles and their predators in Finland S. Savola, (sakeri.savola@helsinki), Mon 12:20 Uni. Helsinki, Viikinkaari, FinIand, H.Henttonen, ([email protected]), Finnish Forest Res. Inst., Vantaa , Finland, H. Lindén, ([email protected]), Finnish Game & Fish. Res. Inst., Helsinki, Finland Voles are the main prey of many mammalian and avian predators. It has been hypothesised that the steep, long-term decline of grouse populations in Finland, is caused by intensive forest management which may increase the abundance of Microtus voles and thus the number of predators preferring and depending on Microtus in their diet. Higher predator densities, in their turn, cause stronger predation pressure on small game. To test this hypothesis, often called alternative prey hypothesis, we surveyed small mammals biannually 2006–2010 in forests representing four successional stages in Taivalkoski, northern Finland, from clear-cuts through successional stages to old forests. We found that that field voles (Microtus agrestis) increased after clear-cutting but bank voles (Myodes glareolus) were more numerous at all stages of succession. Densities of all vole species were lowest in young (24--30yr) forest stands. Current forestry practice in Finland has an impact on the abundances of various vole species. We discuss indirect effects of vole densities on predator and prey populations. Trophic level complexity and its influence on population dynamics and conservation J. Estes, ([email protected]), Mon 12:40 Uni.California, Santa Cruz, USA, J.S. Brashares, ([email protected]), W.J. Ripple, ([email protected]) Except for deep ocean basins, predatory mammals are universal features of the Earth's biosphere. Many of these species have declined in range and abundance as a result of various