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- Title
Population biology: Keep off the grass.
- Abstract
The article discusses the study on the interactions between the vole Microtus agrestis and its main winter food source which is the Deschampsia caespitosa in a forest in northern England. In the study, the grasses contained the most silica where the density of voles had high in the previous spring has declined. Researchers proposes that munching voles moved grasses to store more silica which reduces the ease with which the voles can digest the plants. Little silica was found where the vole population has been low during the spring and the grasses reduce their silica content and the cycle begins again.
- Subjects
NORTHERN England; ANIMAL-plant relationships; MICROTUS agrestis; VOLE behavior; GRASSES; POPULATION biology; SILICON compounds; LIFE sciences; FORAGE plants
- Publication
Nature, 2008, Vol 453, Issue 7194, p430
- ISSN
0028-0836
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/453430f