Long-term pattern of population dynamics in the field vole from central Europe: cyclic pattern with amplitude dampening

摘要: The subject of population cycles is regarded as controversial due to a number unsettled questions such whether or not cyclic patterns are governed by the same processes at high and low latitudes in Europe. Recent evidence suggests that dynamics share common temporal pattern vole referred collapsing cycles. Despite concurrent interest, key contention around causal mechanisms drive remains hot topic ecology. aims this study supplement information on seasonal field Microtus agrestis Czech Republic analysing 25 years time series data. By applying robust estimation procedures, we estimated several parameters describe dynamics, variability, amplitude dampening, cycle period, order structure density dependence. indicate central Europe highly variable, two, with peaks abundance occurring regularly intervals 4–5 years. In addition exhibiting cycles, populations show dampened observed elsewhere Europe, including northern latitudes. trends abundances, growth rates environmental temperatures, did obtain support hypothesis dampening results from negative effect increasingly mild winters winter rates.