First records on the occurrence of the Common vole Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778) in

Portugal

Rosa Cruz1, Sara Santos2, António Mira3 & Maria da Luz Mathias2 , António Monteiro4,
Fernando Queirós1

1. Escola Superior Agrária de Castelo Branco, Quinta da Senhora de Mércules, Apartado 119, 6001-909
Castelo Branco, Portugal
2. Centro de Biologia Ambiental & Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia, Faculdade de Ciências da
Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Edifício C2, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
3. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada .Departamento de Biologia - Laboratório de Biologia da Conservação da

Universidade de Évora, ....

4. Parque Natural do Douro Internacional, Rua Santa Marinha, 4, 5200-241 Mogadouro, Portugal

The common vole is a not threatened European endemic species, until now distributing
from the northwest of Spain to Central Russia, with isolates on several Atlantic small
islands (Moreno & Balbontín, 1998; Zima, 1999).
Following Zima (1999) the species is common across its range and inhabits
preferentially open cultivated agricultural land, grazed pastures and short meadows.
Recently, the analyses of about 958 pellets of the Barn owl (Tyto alba) from 91
different sites over an area of approximately xxx Km2 in the most north-eastern part of
Portugal has revealed the presence of Microtus arvalis asturianus, confirming previous
suspicions of the occurrence of the species in this country (Fig.1). Species and
subspecies identification was based on Miller (1912), Corbet (1978), (referência do
guia de mamíferos espanhol) and in the comparative study of preserved specimens
from the National Museum of Natural History (Bocage Museum-BM).
The relative abundance of the Common vole in the study area is apparently very low
since among the 4025 preys (of which 2360 were rodent) of the Barn owl recorded
only seven were assigned to Microtus arvalis (four complete crania – skull and
mandibles – plus three fragmented skulls and mandibles ). Cranial measurements of
the four unbroken crania are given below (Table 1). The remaining preys were
identified as Microtus duodecimcostatus (Mediterranean pine vole): 4 specimens,
Microtus lusitanicus (Lusitanian pine vole): 1207 specimens, Microtus cabrerae
(Cabrera’s vole): 34 specimens, Microtus agrestis (Field vole): 21 specimens,
Apodemus sylvaticus (Wood mouse): 366 specimens, Mus spretus (Algerian mouse):
549 specimens, Eliomys quercinus (Garden dormouse): 4 specimens, Mus domesticus
(House mouse): 13 specimens, Arvicola sapidus (Southwestern water vole): 1 specimen,
Rattus sp. (Rat): 1 specimen, Microtus sp. (Pitymys group) : 98 specimens and 46 small
mice (either Mus or Apodemus).

Table 1. Cranial measurements of M. arvalis in Portugal in comparison with specimens

from Spain and ….(BM) (as medições serã feitas esta semana)

Condylobasal Zygomatic Diastema Maxillary

length breath Tooth-row
NE Portugal New data
N=4
Spain Miller, 1912
N=

MUSEU???

Worth to be mentioned is the occurrence of M.cabrerae and M.duodecimcostatus farther

north than so far recorded, leading to the displacement of northern limits of the range of
these species in Portugal and to the definition of a larger area of sympatry between
M.agrestis-M.cabrerae and M.lusitanicus-M.duodecimcostatus. Moreover, the co-
occurrence of M.arvalis and these four Microtus species can partly account for its
reduced abundance. In fact, Moreno & Balbontín (1998) referred that when M.arvalis
and M.cabrerae co-occur the Cabrera vole displaces the former leading to
comparatively much lower densities of the Common vole. Furthermore, in areas of
sympatry between M.agrestis and M.arvalis asturianus this occupies the most
thermopile habitats and the Field vole the most humid. However, in arid habitats
population densities of the Common vole are known to decrease mostly due to the
inadequacy of soils for the excavation of subterranean tunnels (e.g. Moreno &
Balbontín, 1998; ref.??).
The new data here presented not only increase the known range of M.arvalis in Europe
but as well uncovered the interesting zoogeographic character of the study area where
five Microtus species co-occur. Besides, in recent years threatened mammals to
Portugal have been assigned to the same area: Mustela putorius (polecat), Martes
martes (pine marten) and Canis lupus (wolf).
Field studies involving live trapping are now being planned aiming at a more precise
delimitation of the range of M. arvalis in Portugal and the identification of the occupied
habitats and limiting factors for its occurrence.

References
Corbet...(1978)
Miller...(1912)
Moreno, S. & J. Balbontín (1998). Orden roedores, pp.166-273 in Blanco, J.C.
Mamíferos de Espanã II. Editorial Planeta, S.A., Barcelona, 383pp.
Zima, (1999) in Mitchell-Jones