Open AccessDynamics of intestinal coccidia in peak density Microtus agrestis, Microtus oeconomus and Clethrionomus glareolus populations in Finland
Author(s) -
Laakkonen Juha,
Oksanen Antti,
Soveri Timo,
Henttonen Heikki
Publication year - 1998
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.1600-0587.1998.tb00667.x
Subject(s) - microtus , vole , biology , clethrionomys glareolus , ecology , coccidia , eimeria , zoology , transect , population , parasite hosting , demography , sociology , world wide web , computer science , microbiology and biotechnology
Study of seasonal changes in the occurrence of Eimeria spp. in Microtus agrestis, Clethrionomys glareolus and Microtus oeconomus populations in Finland showed distinct seasonal variation in all three host species: the peaks occurred in both prevalence and density of infection in early autumn. The low prevalence and density of eimerian infections before and during the main crash of vole populations in late winter indicate that these organisms, although potentially pathogenic, do not significantly contribute to the drastic decline in cyclic vole populations.