FRONTIERS IN POPULATION ECOLOGY OF MICROTINE RODENTS - A PLURALISTIC APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF POPULATION ECOLOGY

Current challenges for the study of population ecology of microtine ro dents are reviewed. Comparisons with other taxonomic groups (other mam mals, birds and insects) are given throughout. A major challenge is to link patterns and processes (i.e. mechanisms) better than is the case today. Other major challenges include the furthering of our understan ding of the interaction between deterministic and stochastic processes , and as part thereof, the interaction between density-dependent and d ensity-independent processes. The applicability of comparative studies on populations exhibiting different temporal dynamical patterns is, i n this connection, emphasized. Understanding spatiotemporal dynamical patterns is another major challenge, not the least from a methodologic al point of view. Long-term and large-scale ecological data on populat ion dynamics (in space and time) are critical for this purpose. Lookin g for consistency between hypothesized mechanisms and observed pattern s is emphasized as a good platform for further empirical and theoretic al work. The intellectual feedback process between different approache s to the study of microtine population ecology (observational studies, experimental manipulative studies, statistical modeling and mathemati cal modeling) are discussed. We recommend a pluralistic approach (invo lving both observational and experimental as well as theoretical studi es) to the study of small rodent ecology.