EFFECT OF LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE ON COMMON VOLE (MICROTUS-ARVALIS) DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE AT SEVERAL SPACE SCALES

This paper aims to answer the following question: are the fluctuations of abundance of Common Vole (Microtus arvalis) specific to different types of landscapes? The research was carried out in landscapes where grass land was dominant. The sampling method was based upon a partitio n in both landscape types and landscape units. Tracking of vole indice s was used to evaluate their relative abundance. Six landscape transec ts were sampled during two successive years. Results show that populat ion variation and diffusion of demographic states are closely related to landscape types. The possible causes of this are discussed. The lan dscape units can be used as global variables to assess outbreak risk a nd landscape design can be used to prevent them.