A new method for assessing food quality in common vole
(Microtus arvalis) populations

J 2015

A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations

JANOVA, E., Josef BRYJA, D. CIZMAR, L. CEPELKA, M. HEROLDOVA et. al.

Basic information

Original name

A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations

Authors

JANOVA, E. (203 Czech Republic), Josef BRYJA (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), D. CIZMAR (203 Czech Republic), L. CEPELKA (203 Czech Republic) and M. HEROLDOVA (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

European Journal of Wildlife Research, Springer, 2015, 1612-4642

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

Impact factor

Impact factor: 1.403

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/15:00093618

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0873-5

UT WoS

000348219700006

Keywords in English

NIRS; Nitrogen; Rodent; Food quality; Food supply

Abstract

V originále

Food quality is an important factor influencing the demography of small rodents. While there have been numerous studies on food supply during small mammal population cycles, studies on quality of food consumed are rare due to technical difficulties in estimating nitrogen in small samples, such as stomachs or faeces. In this study, we use a new method, near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), for estimating nitrogenous compounds (NC) in stomachs of common voles (Microtus arvalis). Samples were taken from two populations over two 3-year periods. Vegetation cover (managed alfalfa/set-aside field), and thus also food supply, differed significantly between the two periods. In analysing the effects of food supply and individual attributes (i.e. sex, body size, reproduction) on NC in stomachs, we were able to show that nitrogen varied uniformly and that sex, body size and season had no effect. No significant difference in NC intake was observed between the two study periods, despite individuals being smaller and the population less abundant during the second period. During the peak densities, however, reproducing females consumed food with a significantly higher level of nitrogen than all other individuals. Our results indicate that changes in food supply do not affect the overall quality of food consumed but that maintenance of nutritional quality may require higher energetic release, which may affect body condition. We confirm that NIRS represents a useful new tool opening new possibilities in small-mammal ecology studies.

Citovat

JANOVA, E., Josef BRYJA, D. CIZMAR, L. CEPELKA and M. HEROLDOVA. A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations. European Journal of Wildlife Research. Springer, 2015, vol. 61, No 1, p. 57-62. ISSN 1612-4642. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0873-5.

@article{1373155,
   author = {Janova, E. and Bryja, Josef and Cizmar, D. and Cepelka, L. and Heroldova, M.},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0873-5},
   keywords = {NIRS; Nitrogen; Rodent; Food quality; Food supply},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1612-4642},
   journal = {European Journal of Wildlife Research},
   title = {A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations},
   volume = {61},
   year = {2015}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1373155
AU  - Janova, E. - Bryja, Josef - Cizmar, D. - Cepelka, L. - Heroldova, M.
PY  - 2015
TI  - A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations
JF  - European Journal of Wildlife Research
VL  - 61
IS  - 1
SP  - 57-62
EP  - 57-62
PB  - Springer
SN  - 16124642
KW  - NIRS
KW  - Nitrogen
KW  - Rodent
KW  - Food quality
KW  - Food supply
N2  - Food quality is an important factor influencing the demography of small rodents. While there have been numerous studies on food supply during small mammal population cycles, studies on quality of food consumed are rare due to technical difficulties in estimating nitrogen in small samples, such as stomachs or faeces. In this study, we use a new method, near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS), for estimating nitrogenous compounds (NC) in stomachs of common voles (Microtus arvalis). Samples were taken from two populations over two 3-year periods. Vegetation cover (managed alfalfa/set-aside field), and thus also food supply, differed significantly between the two periods. In analysing the effects of food supply and individual attributes (i.e. sex, body size, reproduction) on NC in stomachs, we were able to show that nitrogen varied uniformly and that sex, body size and season had no effect. No significant difference in NC intake was observed between the two study periods, despite individuals being smaller and the population less abundant during the second period. During the peak densities, however, reproducing females consumed food with a significantly higher level of nitrogen than all other individuals. Our results indicate that changes in food supply do not affect the overall quality of food consumed but that maintenance of nutritional quality may require higher energetic release, which may affect body condition. We confirm that NIRS represents a useful new tool opening new possibilities in small-mammal ecology studies.
ER  -

JANOVA, E., Josef BRYJA, D. CIZMAR, L. CEPELKA and M. HEROLDOVA. A new method for assessing food quality in common vole (Microtus arvalis) populations. \textit{European Journal of Wildlife Research}. Springer, 2015, vol.~61, No~1, p.~57-62. ISSN~1612-4642. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-014-0873-5.

Detailed Information on Publication Record