Population fluctuations and spatial synchrony in an arboreal rodent

• DOI: 10.1007/s00442-019-04537-3
• Publication Date: 2019-10-30T21:05:20Z
• Authors: Vesa Selonen; Jaanus Remm; Ilpo K. Hanski; Heikki Henttonen; Otso Huitu; Maarit Jokinen; Erkki Korpimäki; Antero Mäkelä; Risto Sulkava; Ralf Wistbacka
• Keywords: Arboreal locomotion; Population cycle; Extinction (optical mineralogy)

Climatic conditions, trophic links between species and dispersal may induce spatial synchrony in population fluctuations. Spatial increases the extinction risk of populations and, thus, it is important to understand how synchrony-inducing mechanisms affect already threatened by habitat loss climate change. For many species, unclear fluctuations vary over time space, what factors potentially drive this variation. In study, we focus on determining Siberian flying squirrel, Pteromys volans, using long-term monitoring data from 16 Finnish located 2-400 km apart. We found an indication synchronous dynamics a large scale squirrels. However, was not be clearly related distance study sites because seemed strongly affected small-scale local factors. The regularity varied time. were linked changes winter precipitation, which has previously been reproductive success Food abundance (tree mast) predator study. conclude that unequivocally squirrels, as observed earlier studies for more abundant rodent species. Our also emphasises role