Predicting stable and cyclic populations of Clethrionomys

We develop a hypothesis predicting when populations consisting of territorial individuals will fill up the space available to them based on the idea of J. L. Brown of territorial establishment of birds in habitats of varying quality. The hypothesis has three main premises incorporating territoriality, heterogeneity of population space, and dispersal. These premises are claimed to be satisfied by Clethrionomys species. We analyse the biology of Clethrionomys in light of the hypothesis and show that differences in the degree of habitat quality may be important in determining whether populations will fill up population space or not. We present preliminary evidence suggesting that cyclic populations of Clethrionomys occur in areas where population space is less variable than it is where stable populations occur.

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