MANAGEMENT, BREEDING, AND REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF PINE VOLES

Pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) serve as an interesting rodent model f or studies of fossorial adaptation and mammalian mating systems. They are unusual among rodents in displaying a cooperative system of breedi ng. Here we describe the management of a breeding colony of pine voles . This species is relatively easy to maintain in the laboratory, altho ugh care must be taken to provide sufficient water in their diet. Deta ils of reproduction, as well as growth and development of the young, a re included. Pine voles have a smaller litter size (2.3 +/- 0.9 pups a t birth) than do other arvicoline rodents but are still prolific breed ers, producing, on average, a litter per month for more than 12 months . These rodents are useful for comparison with other arvicoline rodent s, as well as providing an opportunity to investigate the behavior, ph ysiology, and reproduction of an easily managed cooperatively breeding mammal.