Seasonal Forcing on the Dynamics of Clethrionomys rufocanus: Modeling the Geographic Gradient in Population Dynamics

Researches on Population Ecology (1998) 40:85-94

Abstract

We interpret the gradient in population dynamics from the southwestern part of the island of Hokkaido to its northeastern part within the framework of a phenomenological model. In Hokkaido, as in other northern regions, both spring and fall is considered as short transition periods between the two main seasons - summer (the primary breeding season) and winter (the non-reproductive or secondary breeding season). We show that the geographic transition in dynamics may be understood as the combined consequence of different patterns of density-dependence during summer and winter, and geographically varying season lengths. Differences are shown to exist between summer and winter with respect to strength of density-dependence. Direct density-dependence, in particular, is stronger during winter than during summer. A model is presented to show how relative lengths of seasons can induce both stable and periodically fluctuating population dynamics. The results are compared and contrasted with what is otherwise known about the gradient in rodent dynamics in Fennoscandia.

Key words: density-dependence, length of summer and winter, phenomenological model, seasonal and annual dynamics, the grey-sided vole.