Abstracts - Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft

Ecology Posters 143P EC.9 - ENFood preferences of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) in relation to the chemicalcomposition of willow clones (Salix phylicifolia and Salix myrsinifolia)Esther Verjans, Caroline Stolter, Jörg-Uwe GanzhornDepartment of Animal Ecology and Conservation, Hamburg UniversityBank voles (Myodes glareolus) feed on the bark of different trees, and can cause severe damage toforests in winter. Especially in northern regions (e.g. Scandinavia) bank voles use willows as a foodresource in winter. Therefore, we tested food preferences of bank voles in relation to the chemicalcomposition (nitrogen, total phenolics and condensed tannins) of different willow clones of Salixphylicifolia and S. myrsinifolia. In addition, we tested for possible deterrent effects of three differentphenolics (salicin, (+)catechin and chlorogenic acid) on bank voles. To address inter- or intraspecificdifferences in the chemical composition of the different clones, we conducted latin-squaredesigned feeding experiments with six different willow clones under laboratory conditions. Wefound strong indications of individual differences concerning the consumption of these Salix clones.Especially the clone with high nitrogen content and average concentrations of total phenolics andcondensed tannins was preferred. None of the tested individual phenolics had a significant negativeeffect on food consumption. In contrast, voles preferred food with an intermediate concentration of(+)catechin (1%). Therefore, we conclude that food with high nitrogen concentrations is preferred byvoles and that secondary plant metabolites have no severe deterrent effects. The role of (+)catechinin the voles’ diet might be the subject of further research.P EC.10 - ENThe influence of secondary plant metabolites of coniferous trees on bank volesCaroline Stolter, Monika Averdung, Sara Billerbeck, Sarah Deventer, Birgit Kleinschmidt, DorotheeKremers, Anne-Lone Ostwald, Anna Otte, Miriam Waldmann, Sara YousefTierökologie und Naturschutz, Universität HamburgBank voles (Myodes glareolus) prefer pine to spruce as food. This preference might be caused bydifferences in the composition of plant secondary metabolites (e.g. terpenoids). In the tissue of coniferoustrees essential oils are found, which consist of high amounts of volatile monoterpenoids.Therefore the deterrent effect might be caused by the smell in the first place. The aim of the studywas to test the influence of the odour of essential oil of pine, and spruce, and their main plantsecondary compounds (monoterpenoids) on the behaviour of bank voles. Therefore 16 male bankvoles were used in a two times 8x8 latin square design cafeteria experiment where they had thechoice between one room with odour and a scentless room. Additionally we tested the differencebetween the deterrent effects of pine vs. spruce essential oil. Next to the essential oils we used fivedifferent monoterpenoids: α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, limonene and myrcene. For 100 minutesthe behaviour was reported, e.g. time spend and food eaten in the rooms. In general voles stayedlonger in the room without odour. Moreover they fed less in the room with odour than in the scentlessroom, with the exception of pine’s essential oil. If the voles had the choice between spruce’sand pine’s essential oil they stayed longer in the room with the odour of pine oil and fed more. Themonoterpenoids β-pinene and camphene did not show strong deterrent properties compared to theother compounds.