Explore the vast range of titles available.

Hantaviruses are RNA viruses (order Bunyavirales, family Hantaviridae) found in rodent, bat and insectivore reservoir-hosts and have been reported as an emerging significant zoonotic risk in Europe. As part of two native semiaquatic rodent restoration projects, tissue and urine samples were tested for hantavirus from water voles (Arvicola amphibius) (n=26, in 2015) and Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber) (n=20, covering 2010–2015) using a pan-hantavirus nested real-time PCR test. Kidney and lung samples were also analysed by light microscopy after haematoxylin and eosin staining of formalin-fixed paraffin wax sections. Individuals selected included those forming the source of release animals and from those already free-living in Britain in areas targeted for release, to identify existing reservoirs. For water voles all tested individuals were from Britain (n=26); for beavers some were from Britain (Scotland) (n=9) and some were samples from wild Norwegian (Telemark region) (n=6) and German (Bavaria region) animals (n=5) that formed the source of accepted wild populations currently present in Scotland. All samples tested from both species were negative for hantavirus RNA and showed no significant histopathological changes suggesting that reservoir infection with hantavirus in water voles in Britain and Eurasian beavers present in Britain, Norway and Bavaria, Germany, is unlikely.

Tula orthohantavirus (TULV) is a rodent-borne hantavirus with broad geographical distribution in Europe. Its major reservoir is the common vole (Microtus arvalis), but TULV has also been detected in closely related vole species. Given the large distributional range and high amplitude population dynamics of common voles, this host–pathogen complex presents an ideal system to study the complex mechanisms of pathogen transmission in a wild rodent reservoir. We investigated the dynamics of TULV prevalence and the subsequent potential effects on the molecular evolution of TULV in common voles of the Central evolutionary lineage. Rodents were trapped for three years in four regions of Germany and samples were analyzed for the presence of TULV-reactive antibodies and TULV RNA with subsequent sequence determination. The results show that individual (sex) and population-level factors (abundance) of hosts were significant predictors of local TULV dynamics. At the large geographic scale, different phylogenetic TULV clades and an overall isolation-by-distance pattern in virus sequences were detected, while at the small scale (<4 km) this depended on the study area. In combination with an overall delayed density dependence, our results highlight that frequent, localized bottleneck events for the common vole and TULV do occur and can be offset by local recolonization dynamics.

Patch occupancy models are extremely important and popular tools for understanding the dynamics, and predicting the persistence, of spatially structured populations. Typically this endeavor is facilitated either by models from classic metapopulation theory focused on spatially explicit, dispersal-driven colonization-extinction dynamics and generally assuming perfect detection, or by more recent hierarchical site occupancy models that account for imperfect detection but rarely include spatial effects, such as dispersal, explicitly. Neither approach explicitly considers local demographics in a way that can be used for future projections. However, despite being arguably of equal importance, dispersal and connectivity, local demography, and imperfect detection are rarely modeled explicitly and simultaneously. Understanding the spatiotemporal occurrence patterns of spatially structured populations and making biologically realistic long-term predictions of persistence would benefit from the simultaneous treatment of space, demography, and detectability. We integrated these key ideas in a tractable and intuitive way to develop a demographic and spatially realistic patch occupancy model that incorporates components of dispersal, local demographic stage-structure, and detectability. By explicitly relating stage-specific abundances to measurable patch properties, biologically realistic projections of long-term metapopulation dynamics could be made. We applied our model to data from a naturally fragmented population of water voles Arvicola amphibius to describe observed patch occupancy dynamics and to investigate long-term persistence under scenarios of elevated stage-specific local extinction. Accounting for biases induced by imperfect detection, we were able to estimate: stable, and higher than observed metapopulation occupancy; high rates of patch turnover and stage-specific colonization and extinction rates (juvenile and adult, respectively); and juvenile dispersal distances (average 2.10 km). We found that metapopulation persistence in the presence of elevated extinction risk differed depending on which life stage was exposed, and was more sensitive to elevated juvenile rather than adult extinction risk. Predictions of persistence when dynamics are stage-specific suggest that metapopulations may be more resilient to changes in the environment than predicted when relationships are based on patch size approximations rather than population sizes. Our approach allows explicit consideration of local dynamics and dispersal in spatially structured and stage-structured populations, provides a more detailed mechanistic understanding of metapopulation functioning, and can be used to investigate future extinction risk under biologically meaningful scenarios.

Grassland voles pose significant challenges to agriculture and public health due to their population outbreaks. Traditional monitoring methods are labor-intensive and costly, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes. This study integrates Sentinel-2 satellite imagery with field data to develop a predictive framework for monitoring fossorial water vole ( Arvicola scherman ) populations in northwestern Spain. We present a high-resolution habitat suitability model (97% accuracy) and an Optimized Damage Index that accounts for climatic variability to reliably infer fossorial water vole abundance based on vegetation damage of grasslands and meadows. April and August were identified as optimal monitoring periods, as they coincide with opposing grass conditions and vole activity. Our approach enables early detection of outbreak zones, even in the absence of continuous field surveys, and supports scalable, cost-effective vole management. The framework improves decision-making for vole population control, optimizes resource allocation, and can be adapted to other species or regions. These findings highlight the value of remote sensing for proactive, real-time vole management, enhancing sustainable crop protection strategies.

The water vole ( Arvicola amphibius ) is widespread throughout Eurasia. In 2020, 17 specimens were collected from the islands of the White Sea during the field expedition of the Karelian Research Centre. It was the first record of this species for White Sea island fauna since the 1950s. Among the captured voles, there were two different colour variants of the animals: almost black and reddish-brown. We tend to classify the black type of colour as melanism. This type of colouration is new for the species in the region, according to data from long-term monitoring of continental populations of small mammals. All reddish-brown samples, with the exception of one juvenile male, presented white spots on various parts of the body. The white-spotting patterns of reddish-brown colouration were also first recorded for water voles in the region. Individuals with different colouration types inhabited islands separated by about 50 kms of water.

Like many rodents, the water vole is able to reach high densities in meadows. During outbreaks, voles cause significant changes in plant communities. Although water voles consume a wide variety of plant species, dandelions have a unique position: they are selected by voles year‐round and serve as a key resource during winter. Voles harvest all parts of the dandelion and store the roots in almost monospecific food stores. As dandelions are perennial plants that take years to grow, vole activity can significantly affect dandelion populations. Our aim was to estimate the influence of dandelion density on vole space use, particularly habitat selection during natal dispersal. We tested the hypothesis that voles select dandelion‐rich plots for settlements. We also measured the variation in dandelion density due to new colonies' settlements to assess potential feedback effects. We hypothesized that voles decrease dandelion populations. To achieve that, we used a drone to monitor dandelions and voles over 2 years. We monitored 52 quadrats, each half a hectare, three times a year. We analyzed each image using remote sensing to locate voles and dandelions, and then examined the interactions between their locations over time. We found that dandelion‐rich plots were more likely to colonize. In plots with low dandelion density, areas denser than the plot average were also more likely to be colonized. We observed a decrease in the number of dandelions after colony settlement. Finally, we found evidence that existing burrows were more likely to be reused by new voles if dandelions were still present. This study demonstrates that dandelion density is a strong criterion in habitat selection for water voles and that vole colonies rapidly deplete this resource after establishment. These findings provide insight into plant–herbivore interactions and offer valuable perspectives for further exploration of the plant hypothesis, particularly with respect to the dynamics of resource availability and its role in cyclic population fluctuations. Dandelion‐rich plots are more likely to be colonized by voles. In plots with low dandelion density, areas denser than the plot average are also more likely to be colonized. We also found evidence that existing burrows are more likely to be reused by new voles if dandelions were still present.

In Europe, bromadiolone, an anticoagulant rodenticide authorized for plant protection, may be applied intensively in fields to control rodents. The high level of poisoning of wildlife that follows such treatments over large areas has been frequently reported. In France, bromadiolone has been used to control water voles (Arvicola terrestris) since the 1980s. Both regulation and practices of rodent control have evolved during the last 15 years to restrict the quantity of poisoned bait used by farmers. This has led to a drastic reduction of the number of cases of poisoned wildlife reported by the French surveillance network SAGIR. During the autumn and winter 2011, favorable weather conditions and high vole densities led to the staging of several hundreds of Red Kites (Milvus milvus) in the Puy‐de‐Dôme department (central France). At the same time, intensive treatments with bromadiolone were performed in this area. Although no misuse has been mentioned by the authorities following controls, 28 Red Kites and 16 Common Buzzards (Buteo buteo) were found dead during surveys in November and December 2011. For all these birds, poisoning by bromadiolone as the main cause of death was either confirmed or highly suspected. Other observations suggest a possible impact of bromadiolone on the breeding population of Red Kites in this area during the spring 2011. French regulation of vole control for plant protection is currently under revision, and we believe this event calls for more sustainable management of rodent outbreaks. Based on large‐scale experiments undertaken in eastern France, we propose that direct control of voles at low density (with trapping or limited chemical treatments) and mechanical destruction of vole tunnels, mole control, landscape management, and predator fostering be included in future regulation because such practices could help resolve conservation and agricultural issues. Envenenamiento No Intencional de Fauna Silvestre y Propuestas para un Manejo Sustentable de Roedores.

The southernmost population of Eurasian water vole (Arvicola amphibius) inhabited Lake Hula in the upper Jordan Valley until the lake was drained in the 1950s. Considering the continuous conservation and restoration initiatives in the Hula Valley, we set out to verify the extinction of the Hula water vole population using trap surveys, field sign surveys, and owl pellets’ content. Having confirmed its recent extirpation, we used museum and archaeological specimens to study the morphological and genetic similarity of the extirpated Hula water voles to both modern conspecifics in Eurasia and to local Pleistocene specimens. Our results suggest that the Hula population represented an admixture of extinct local Pleistocene and extant, probably European, ancestors. The recent anthropogenic extirpation of this unique population could justify its reintroduction. Species distribution modelling, however, suggests future deterioration of habitat suitability over the coming decades. This calls for careful consideration of how sustainable a reintroduction would be.

Rodent bark gnawing is common during winter in times of low or unavailable food supply. During the growing season, it is a rare phenomenon, but can occur due to low food supply and/or poor food quality resulting from climatic influence. We evaluated this unusual damage of apple tree (Malus domestica) orchards by rodents in two localities in the Czech Republic. In 2019, 24% of trees in the orchard in Brno were gnawed by the common vole (Microtus arvalis) population. Damage in the Holovousy orchard by water vole (Arvicola amphibius) was inspected in 2020 and showed that 15% of trees were damaged with massive root gnawing. These findings were compared with gnawing in forest beech plantations in 2019, with up to 13% of trees damaged. Three rodent species (Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis and Clethrionomys glareolus) participated in the damage. Detailed description of the various vole species’ damage in vegetation period, which somehow differs from winter time damage, may help in the future in early recognition and early application of plant protection in times when this phenomenon may reappear.

According to ecological theory, the coexistence of competitors in patchy environments may be facilitated by hierarchical spatial segregation along axes of environmental variation, but empirical evidence is limited. Cabrera and water voles show a metapopulation-like structure in Mediterranean farmland, where they are known to segregate along space, habitat, and time axes within habitat patches. Here, we assess whether segregation also occurs among and within landscapes, and how this is influenced by patch-network and matrix composition. We surveyed 75 landscapes, each covering 78 ha, where we mapped all habitat patches potentially suitable for Cabrera and water voles, and the area effectively occupied by each species (extent of occupancy). The relatively large water vole tended to be the sole occupant of landscapes with high habitat amount but relatively low patch density (i.e., with a few large patches), and with a predominantly agricultural matrix, whereas landscapes with high patch density (i.e., many small patches) and low agricultural cover, tended to be occupied exclusively by the small Cabrera vole. The two species tended to co-occur in landscapes with intermediate patch-network and matrix characteristics, though their extents of occurrence were negatively correlated after controlling for environmental effects. In combination with our previous studies on the Cabrera-water vole system, these findings illustrated empirically the occurrence of hierarchical spatial segregation, ranging from withinpatches to among-landscapes. Overall, our study suggests that recognizing the hierarchical nature of spatial segregation patterns and their major environmental drivers should enhance our understanding of species coexistence in patchy environments.