Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards
With only periodic and incomplete studies of its diet over time, all with differing methods and conclusions, the degree of omnivory in the bank vole (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>) is not fully clear. We assessed the trophic niche of the species using isotopic (<i>δ</i><s...
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Serija: | Agriculture |
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| Online pristup: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/9/1308 |
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| author | Linas Balčiauskas Vitalijus Stirkė Andrius Garbaras Raminta Skipitytė Laima Balčiauskienė |
| author_facet | Linas Balčiauskas Vitalijus Stirkė Andrius Garbaras Raminta Skipitytė Laima Balčiauskienė |
| author_sort | Linas Balčiauskas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With only periodic and incomplete studies of its diet over time, all with differing methods and conclusions, the degree of omnivory in the bank vole (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>) is not fully clear. We assessed the trophic niche of the species using isotopic (<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C) compositions from hair samples and analysed how <i>C. glareolus</i> shares trophic space with herbivores, granivores and insectivores living syntopically. According to the numbers trapped, <i>C. glareolus</i> was the fourth most numerous species in the apple orchards that we investigated, accounting for 14.4% of all trapped small mammals with a relative abundance of 1.12 individuals per 100 trap nights. The average values of both <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C in the hair of <i>C. glareolus</i> differed from the other trophic groups, with the average of <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N in orchards and neighbouring habitats (6.55–6.95‰) being closest to that of insectivores. Intraspecific trophic niche differences (depending on age, gender and reproductive status) were not expressed, while correlations between body mass, body condition index and both <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C values were not consistent. In comparison to analysed basal resources, isotopic signatures in the hair were closest to the values in invertebrates and apple seeds. The degree of omnivory in <i>C. glareolus</i> was not the same in different habitats. This may be an indication of ecological plasticity within the species, allowing its inclusion/success in multi-species small mammal communities. |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-0472 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:02:21Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Agriculture |
| spelling | doaj.art-3204c211d3734038a06f7b46a9141d212023-11-23T14:31:47ZengMDPI AGAgriculture2077-04722022-08-01129130810.3390/agriculture12091308Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple OrchardsLinas Balčiauskas0Vitalijus Stirkė1Andrius Garbaras2Raminta Skipitytė3Laima Balčiauskienė4Nature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaCenter for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekio av. 3, 02300 Vilnius, LithuaniaCenter for Physical Sciences and Technology, Saulėtekio av. 3, 02300 Vilnius, LithuaniaNature Research Centre, Akademijos 2, 08412 Vilnius, LithuaniaWith only periodic and incomplete studies of its diet over time, all with differing methods and conclusions, the degree of omnivory in the bank vole (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>) is not fully clear. We assessed the trophic niche of the species using isotopic (<i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C) compositions from hair samples and analysed how <i>C. glareolus</i> shares trophic space with herbivores, granivores and insectivores living syntopically. According to the numbers trapped, <i>C. glareolus</i> was the fourth most numerous species in the apple orchards that we investigated, accounting for 14.4% of all trapped small mammals with a relative abundance of 1.12 individuals per 100 trap nights. The average values of both <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C in the hair of <i>C. glareolus</i> differed from the other trophic groups, with the average of <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N in orchards and neighbouring habitats (6.55–6.95‰) being closest to that of insectivores. Intraspecific trophic niche differences (depending on age, gender and reproductive status) were not expressed, while correlations between body mass, body condition index and both <i>δ</i><sup>15</sup>N and <i>δ</i><sup>13</sup>C values were not consistent. In comparison to analysed basal resources, isotopic signatures in the hair were closest to the values in invertebrates and apple seeds. The degree of omnivory in <i>C. glareolus</i> was not the same in different habitats. This may be an indication of ecological plasticity within the species, allowing its inclusion/success in multi-species small mammal communities.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/9/1308<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>isotopic nicheabundanceapple orchards |
| spellingShingle | Linas Balčiauskas Vitalijus Stirkė Andrius Garbaras Raminta Skipitytė Laima Balčiauskienė Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards Agriculture <i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i> isotopic niche abundance apple orchards |
| title | Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards |
| title_full | Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards |
| title_fullStr | Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards |
| title_full_unstemmed | Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards |
| title_short | Stable Isotope Analysis Supports Omnivory in Bank Voles in Apple Orchards |
| title_sort | stable isotope analysis supports omnivory in bank voles in apple orchards |
| topic | <i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i> isotopic niche abundance apple orchards |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/12/9/1308 |
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