Predation by specialist mammalian predators has been hypothesized to be the primary cause of multi-annual density fluctuations (‘population cycles’) in voles. Using a series of replicated field experiments, Isla Graham and Xavier Lambin have now shown that specialist mammalian predators are neither necessary nor sufficient to drive field vole Microtus agrestis population cycles. These findings ...

Electrical stimulation of the anterior hypothalamus of the vole, Microtus agrestis, usually results in ovulation, whereas stimulation of areas in the posterior hypothalamus do not. Ovulation can also be elicited by injections of sheep median-eminence extracts, and by preparations ofsheep luteinizing hormone. Observations on the number of corpora lutea formed, and ripe Graafian follicles remaini...

The article provides information about rare and newly described species for the flora of Urals adjacent territories, namely: Astragalus saphronovae Kulikov, Atraphaxis decipiens Jaub. et Spach., Carex amgunensis F. Schmidt, Galium densiflorum Ledeb., Jovibarba globifera (L.) J. Parn., Najas minor All., Potamogeton nodosus Poir., Pseudorchis albida Á. Löve D. Löve, Salix myrsinites L., Veronica ...

Plant poisoning of livestock is responsible for considerable economic losses in southern Africa. Six plant species of the Rubiaceae family are known to cause gousiekte, a cardiac syndrome of ruminants induced by ingestion of the toxic compound pavettamine. Progress in understanding the etiology of this disease is largely hampered by the variable toxicity of the plants and the absence of a quant...

The heligmonellid nematode Carolinensis minutus (Dujardin, 1845) Travassos, 1937 is recorded for the first time in Microtus agrestis (Linnaeus, 1761) United Kingdom. Small heligmosomoid specimens were recovered from a M. vole inhabiting mole ( Talpa europaea Linnaeus, 1758) tunnels mid Wales. identity of these was confirmed as C. by >99% nucleotide with internally transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 ...