POPULATION-DYNAMICS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN PINE VOLE (MICROTUS-DUODECIMCOSTATUS)

Five populations of Mediterranean pine voles were studied with capture -recapture in southern France. The study lasted four years and allowed to conclude that this rodent does not display multiannual fluctuation s in density as is known in several species like the common vole (Micr otus arvalis) or the water vole (Arvicola terrestris). An hypothesis i s formulated about the regulating mechanisms of Mediterranean pine vol e populations. The critical factors involved in this hypothesis are di spersal, spatial structuring of habitat, and synchronism among populat ions.