Open AccessSynchronous and nonsynchronous population fluctuations of some predators and their prey in central Sweden
Author(s) -
Small Robert J.,
Marcström Yidar,
Willebrand Tomas
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
ecography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.973
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1600-0587
pISSN - 0906-7590
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0587.1993.tb00225.x
Subject(s) - grouse , predation , vole , ecology , population , biology , population cycle , numerical response , predator , zoology , functional response , habitat , demography , sociology
To test the alternative prey hypothesis (APH), we examined 29‐yr time series of bank voles (indexed by snap‐trapping) and 6 game species (indexed by bag records) from Gavleborg county, central Sweden, for the occurrence of synchronous population fluctuations Only voles and the 3 grouse species exhibited cyclic fluctuations, grouse fluctuations were highly synchronous, and positively correlated with vole fluctuations Although hares were positively correlated with grouse, they were negatively correlated with voles Fox were positively correlated with voles and grouse, however, a strong negative relationship was observed between fox and hares During a sharp decline in fox numbers during the early 1980's due to sarcoptic mange, both grouse and hares exhibited a strong positive numerical response, but, not in synchrony In addition, grouse exhibited large fluctuations during the fox decrease whereas hares did not Due to the contradictory predator‐prey interactions observed, these results provide only partial support for APH