The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England

Water voles are nationally protected as one of Britain’s most endangered wild mammals. However conflict can arise where works are required along short sections of riverbank. Vegetation removal is commonly used with the aim of displacing water voles towards safety prior to development, despite a lack...

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Main Authors: Gelling, M, Harrington, A, Dean, M, Haddy, E, Marshall, C, Macdonald, D
Format: Journal article
Published: University of Cambridge 2018
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author Gelling, M
Harrington, A
Dean, M
Haddy, E
Marshall, C
Macdonald, D
author_facet Gelling, M
Harrington, A
Dean, M
Haddy, E
Marshall, C
Macdonald, D
author_sort Gelling, M
collection OXFORD
description Water voles are nationally protected as one of Britain’s most endangered wild mammals. However conflict can arise where works are required along short sections of riverbank. Vegetation removal is commonly used with the aim of displacing water voles towards safety prior to development, despite a lack of evidence demonstrating its efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the movement and fate of water voles in response to vegetation removal, by radio-tracking individuals during spring and autumn at 12 experimental and four control sites. Vegetation was removed to ground level from 50 m of riverbank at experimental sites, and observed home ranges were compared before and after vegetation removal. There was no significant net movement of water voles out of areas where vegetation had been removed in either spring or autumn, although movement of individuals both in and out of the works area did occur. There was no impact of treatment on water vole survival in either season.
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spelling oxford-uuid:c75713aa-be45-483c-ac74-09c1ead3f2b92022-03-27T06:44:16ZThe effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland EnglandJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:c75713aa-be45-483c-ac74-09c1ead3f2b9Symplectic Elements at OxfordUniversity of Cambridge2018Gelling, MHarrington, ADean, MHaddy, EMarshall, CMacdonald, DWater voles are nationally protected as one of Britain’s most endangered wild mammals. However conflict can arise where works are required along short sections of riverbank. Vegetation removal is commonly used with the aim of displacing water voles towards safety prior to development, despite a lack of evidence demonstrating its efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the movement and fate of water voles in response to vegetation removal, by radio-tracking individuals during spring and autumn at 12 experimental and four control sites. Vegetation was removed to ground level from 50 m of riverbank at experimental sites, and observed home ranges were compared before and after vegetation removal. There was no significant net movement of water voles out of areas where vegetation had been removed in either spring or autumn, although movement of individuals both in and out of the works area did occur. There was no impact of treatment on water vole survival in either season.
spellingShingle Gelling, M
Harrington, A
Dean, M
Haddy, E
Marshall, C
Macdonald, D
The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title_full The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title_fullStr The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title_full_unstemmed The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title_short The effect of using ‘displacement’ to encourage the movement of water voles Arvicola amphibius in lowland England
title_sort effect of using displacement to encourage the movement of water voles arvicola amphibius in lowland england
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