Meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) in farm landscapes, II. Movements among habitats

Two microlandscapes were constructed for use in a live trapping study designed to investigate how meadow vole movement behaviour is affected by landscape structure. Each experimental system was composed of both barley and forage habitats separated by a central habitat of old-field successional meadow. Vole movement patterns in the landscapes were related to differences in the quality and boundary characteristics of each habitat. Habitat quality was shown to be an important determinant of both within- and between-habitat vole movement dynamics. Meadow voles preferred moving within habitats of higher quality and perceived boundaries between habitats of more similar quality as more permeable. Boundaries were in general avoided, thus affecting the voles' spatial distribution. Meadow voles functioning in farm mosaics will be limited in their ability to fulfill their resource needs by the presence of low quality habitats and by increase in the numbers of distinct boundaries.