THE IMPACT OF SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD ON MOVEMENTS OF PRAIRIE VOLES (MICROTUS-OCHROGASTER)

Intraspecific variation in movements may reflect availability of resou rces and social systems. We supplemented food of prairie voles (Microt us ochrogaster) on two of four grids and tested for reduced movements, measured as the mean-squared distance from the center of activity, of females. Movements of reproductive voles exceeded those of nonreprodu ctives and movements of males exceeded those of females on both contro l and supplemented grids, but, contrary to our predictions, movements of both sexes were greater on supplemented grids than on controls. Mal es >40 g moved farther than males <40 g, whereas the opposite pattern was found for females, Supplemental food produced no pronounced differ ences in sexual diethism of movements.