Wildlife Damage Management, Internet Center for
Date of this Version
March 1982
Abstract
Prior study of water use by the pine vole, Microtus pinetorum, has indicated that these voles require large volumes of water on a daily basis and exhibit rapid turnover of body water relative to other mammals of similar body size (Rhodes and Richmond, 1981). However, the extent to which these animals are tolerant of water deprivation and hence the importance of available water to the members of this species remains unexplored. Similarly, data on rates of body water turnover in free-ranging pine voles are presently unavailable. Thus, this study examines rates of body water turnover and urine concentrations of pine voles during exposure to 3 ambient temperatures, during a restricted water regime, and under field conditions. We present evidence indicating that pine voles exhibit rapid turnover of body water under both laboratory and field conditions and that these animals are very intolerant of water restriction.
Comments
Published in Proceedings of the Sixth Eastern Pine and Meadow Vole Symposium, Harpers Ferry, WV, March 10-12, 1982, Ross E. Byers, editor. Copyright © 1982 Rhodes and Richmond.