Tundra vole
| Tundra vole | |
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_(9-4-08)_gambell,_ak_-2_(2834490753).jpg)
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| Tundra vole in Alaska | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Subfamily: | Arvicolinae |
| Genus: | Alexandromys |
| Species: | A. oeconomus
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| Binomial name | |
| Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776)
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| Synonyms[1] | |
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The tundra vole (Alexandromys oeconomus) or root vole is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada.[2] In the western part of the Netherlands, the tundra vole is a relict from the ice age and has developed into the subspecies Alexandromys oeconomus arenicola.
Description
[edit]The tundra vole has short ears and a short tail. Its fur is yellowish brown with paler sides and white underparts. It is typically about 18 cm (7.1 in) long with a 4 cm (1.6 in) tail and a weight of about 50 grams (1.8 oz).
The tundra vole displays sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than the females observably as adults.[3]
Habitat
[edit]The tundra vole is found in damp tundra or moist meadows, usually near water.[citation needed]
Behaviour and diet
[edit]This species makes runways through the surface growth in warm weather and tunnels through the snow in winter. It feeds on grasses, sedges and seeds. It is active year-round. It also digs burrows where it stores seeds and roots, especially licorice root, for the winter.[citation needed]
Breeding
[edit]Female voles have three to six litters of three to nine young in a shallow burrow. The tundra vole has its highest fecundity during May and June, but can prolong its mating season all the way until winter.[4]
Subspecies
[edit]Subspecies are as follows:[5]
- A. o. amakensis - Amak Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. arenicola - Dutch tundra vole - Netherlands
- A. o. elymocetes - Montague Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. finmarchicus - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
- A. o. innuitus - St. Lawrence Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. medius - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
- A. o. mehelyi - Central European tundra vole - Austria, Hungary and Slovakia
- A. o. oeconomus - nominate subspecies - widespread
- A. o. popofensis - Shumagin Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. punakensis - Punuk Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. sitkensis - Alexander Archipelago tundra vole - Alaska, United States
- A. o. unalascensis - Unalaska Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
Genetic variability
[edit]The large number of subspecies of Alexandromys oeconomus is due to the changing environment that they have had to endure since the glacier/ice-age, as well as the isolation of populations.[6] Human interaction also greatly affects the environment of this species.[7] As a result, voles have lost genetic diversity as seen through a lessened heterozygous population for certain genes within separated populations.[6] Roads and structures do not necessarily limit species interaction, but it is the distance created between other communities of voles that limit gene flow.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Linzey, A.V.; Shar, S.; Lkhagvasuren, D.; Juškaitis, R.; Sheftel, B.; Meinig, H.; Amori, G. & Henttonen, H. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Microtus oeconomus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T13451A115113894. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T13451A22347188.en. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776)". ASM Mammal Diversity Database. American Society of Mammalogists.
- ^ Balčiauskas, L.; Balčiauskienė, L. (2024). "Sexual Body Size Dimorphism in Small Mammals: A Case Study from Lithuania". Biology. 13 (12): 1032. doi:10.3390/biology13121032.
- ^ Starikov, V.P.; Kravchenko, V.N.; Volodina, O.Y. (2023). "Breeding and Population Structure of the Root Vole Alexandromys oeconomus Pallas, 1776 (Cricetidae, Rodentia) in the Southern Trans-Ural Region". Biol Bull Russ Acad Sci. 50 (10): 2782–2790. Bibcode:2023BioBu..50.2782S. doi:10.1134/S1062359023100266.
- ^ Witte van den Bosch, R. and Bekker, D. (2009). Verdwijnt de oer-Hollandse lemming? Geschiedenis en toekomst van de noordse woelmuis. Zoogdier 20-4: p.p 3-7. (in Dutch)
- ^ a b Kelemen, K. A.; Urzi, F.; Buzan, E.; Horváth, G. F.; Tulis, F.; Baláž, I. (2021). "Genetic variability and conservation of the endangered Pannonian root vole in fragmented habitats of an agricultural landscape". Nature Conservation. 43: 167–191. doi:10.3897/natureconservation.43.58798.
- ^ a b Prakas, P.; Butkauskas, D.; Balčiauskienė, L.; Balčiauskas, L. (2024). "Low Genetic Variability of the Tundra Vole in Lithuania". Animals : An Open Access Journal from MDPI. 14 (2): 270. doi:10.3390/ani14020270. PMID 38254439.