DISCONTINUOUS HABITAT CORRIDORS - EFFECTS ON MALE ROOT VOLE MOVEMENTS

1. We tested how movement rates of male root voles were affected by di scontinuities (gaps) in a 1-m wide habitat corridor. 2. Gaps of increa sing size (0.5-4 m) were created experimentally by mowing the vegetati on. Movement rates (recorded by radiotelemetry) were compared between the manipulated corridor and a contemporal, unmanipulated (continuous) control corridor. 3. Male root voles did not respond to gaps until th e gap size became 4 m which is equivalent to approximate to 10-20% of the normal home range diameter. Gap sizes of 4 m in the corridor decre ased the movement rates significantly and to the same degree for two b ehaviourally distinct strains of root voles. 4. The similar responses of the two vole strains indicated that the results may have validity b eyond the particular experimental setting employed.