Fecal Analysis of Two Red-backed Voles, <i>Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae</i> THOMAS and <i>C. rutilus mikado</i> THOMAS

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  • SUGA Tomoko
    Institute of Applied Zoology, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University

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  • 糞によるエゾヤチネズミとミカドネズミの食性分析
  • フン ニヨル エゾヤチネズミ ト ミカドネズミ ノ ショクセイ ブンセキ

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Abstract

The efficiency of fecal analysis the study of food habits was compared with that of stomach contents for two red-backed voles, Clethrionomys rufocanus bedfordiae THOMAS and C. rutilus mikado THOMAS in Hokkaido. Among plant foods, Gramineae, Cyperaceae and Equisetum arvense were identified by presence of epidermal cells and stomata, while no other plants could be identified. Animal foods were not divided into any group or species. Plants of Gramineae and Cyperaceae appeared more often in the feces than in the stomach. Relative appearance of insect remains in the stomach and feces greatly varied with the seasons. In view of food preference, however, fecal analysis was more representative of the difference in food habits of the vole species. Seasonal variation in the food habits of C. rufocanus bedfordiae coincided with that of planst, i.e., the most abundant plants in a season were mainly consumed. In contrast, C. rutilus mikado rather preferred specific kinds of foods throughout the seasons, suggesting that the former species accepts a wider range of food than the latter species.

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