HIGH POPULATION-DENSITY IN BANK VOLES STIMULATES FOOD HOARDING AFTER BREEDING

The effects of conspecific density (i.e. risk of intraspecific competi tion) on hoarding behaviour were studied in breeding pairs of bank vol es, Clethrionomys glareolus. I simulated high population density by us ing odours of conspecifics, to exclude the direct effects of exploitat ion or interference competition for food. The pairs of bank voles hoar ded only at the end of their breeding season. Hoarding was not correla ted with whether the voles had a litter during the experiment or their litter size, but was more likely at the high population density and f or pairs with small females. This may indicate that smaller females es pecially make caches in the autumn, possibly to ensure better winter s urvival under high population density. I discuss the hoarding behaviou r of bank voles in relation to their territorial behaviour and food re sources during the breeding season End predictable population changes during winter. (C) 1998 The Association for the Study of Animal Behavi our.