USING HISTORICAL DATA IN STUDIES ON CYCLES IN SMALL RODENT AND SMALL GAME POPULATIONS - A REPLY

The value of future studies on population cycles based on historical r eports and hunting yield statistics is questioned. This is due to unce rtainties in the relationship between the data sets and the population development, and to difficulties in separating cause and effect. Alth ough a Norwegian country-wide extermination programme during the first half of the 1900's led to lower populations of many predatory species , the data are difficult to use to evaluate possible effects on small rodent cycles and small game numbers.