Dandelion and vole interaction

Like many rodents, the water vole is able to reach high densities in
meadows. During outbreaks, voles cause significant changes in plant
communities. Although water voles consume a wide variety of plant species,
dandelions have a unique position: they are selected by voles year-round
and serve as a key resource during winter. Voles harvest all parts of the
dandelion and store the roots in almost monospecific food stores. As
dandelions are perennial plants that take years to grow, vole activity can
significantly affect dandelion populations. Our aim was to estimate the
influence of dandelion density on vole space use, particularly habitat
selection during natal dispersal. We tested the hypothesis that voles
select dandelion-rich plots for settlements. We also measured the
variation in dandelion density due to new colony settlements to assess
potential feedback effects. We hypothesized that voles decrease dandelion
populations. To achieve that, we used a drone to monitor dandelions and
voles over two years. We monitored 52 quadrats, each half a hectare, three
times a year. We analysed each image using remote sensing to locate voles
and dandelions, and then examined the interactions between their locations
over time. We found that dandelion-rich plots were more likely to
colonize. In plots with low dandelion density, areas denser than the plot
average were also more likely to be colonised. We observed a decrease in
the number of dandelions after colony settlement. Finally, we found
evidence that existing burrows were more likely to be reused by new voles
if dandelions were still present. This study demonstrates that dandelion
density is a key criterion in habitat selection for water voles and that
vole colonies rapidly deplete this resource after establishment. These
findings provide insight into plant-herbivore interactions and offer
valuable perspectives for further exploration of the plant hypothesis,
particularly with respect to the dynamics of resource availability and its
role in cyclic population fluctuations.