A Microtus Population with Supplemental Food

Abstract

Abstract: A low density population of the California vole was provided with unlimited food supplementing the natural forage for 11 months. Numbers at first increased very slowly, then rose abruptly to only a moderate density and then declined rapidly in spite of excellent individual growth rates and a sustained high reproductive rate among the adults. Thus supplemental food was not sufficient to produce a rapidly expanding population or to prevent a decline to low numbers.