Effects of Food Quality on Feeding Patterns of Meadow Voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) along a Community Gradient

Abstract

Diet selectivity by meadow voles (Microtus pennyslvanicus) was examined relative to nutritional characteristics of plants in 5-, 20-, and 30-year-old meadows. Food selection was correlated negatively with lignin content of plants in 5-year-old meadows, positively with the ratio of protein to acid-detergent lignin in 5- and 20-year-old habitats, and positively with protein levels and negatively with total phenolics or condensed tannins of plants in 30-year-old meadows. Total content of phenolics in plants increased consistently with age of meadows, reflecting an apparent general decline in overall nutritive quality of plants from early to late successional stages.