Tundra vole

The tundra vole (Alexandromys oeconomus) or root vole is a medium-sized vole found in Northern and Central Europe, Asia, and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada.^[2] In the western part of the Netherlands, the tundra vole is a relict from the ice age and has developed into the subspecies Alexandromys oeconomus arenicola.

Tundra vole
Tundra vole in Alaska
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Mammalia
Order:	Rodentia
Family:	Cricetidae
Subfamily:	Arvicolinae
Genus:	Alexandromys
Species:	A. oeconomus
Binomial name
Alexandromys oeconomus (Pallas, 1776)
Synonyms[1]
Microtus oeconomus (Pallas, 1776) Mus oeconomus Pallas, 1776

Description

The tundra vole has short ears and a short tail. Its fur is yellowish brown with paler sides and white underparts. It is typically about 18 cm (7.1 in) long with a 4 cm (1.6 in) tail and a weight of about 50 grams (1.8 oz).

The tundra vole displays sexual dimorphism, with males being larger than the females observably as adults.^[3]

Habitat

The tundra vole is found in damp tundra or moist meadows, usually near water.^{[citation needed]}

Behaviour and diet

This species makes runways through the surface growth in warm weather and tunnels through the snow in winter. It feeds on grasses, sedges and seeds. It is active year-round. It also digs burrows where it stores seeds and roots, especially licorice root, for the winter.^{[citation needed]}

Breeding

Female voles have three to six litters of three to nine young in a shallow burrow. The tundra vole has its highest fecundity during May and June, but can prolong its mating season all the way until winter.^[4]

Subspecies

Subspecies are as follows:^[5]

• A. o. amakensis - Amak Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. arenicola - Dutch tundra vole - Netherlands
• A. o. elymocetes - Montague Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. finmarchicus - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
• A. o. innuitus - St. Lawrence Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. medius - Norwegian tundra vole - Norway
• A. o. mehelyi - Central European tundra vole - Austria, Hungary and Slovakia
• A. o. oeconomus - nominate subspecies - widespread
• A. o. popofensis - Shumagin Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. punakensis - Punuk Islands tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. sitkensis - Alexander Archipelago tundra vole - Alaska, United States
• A. o. unalascensis - Unalaska Island tundra vole - Alaska, United States

Genetic variability

The large number of subspecies of Alexandromys oeconomus is due to the changing environment that they have had to endure since the glacier/ice-age, as well as the isolation of populations.^[6] Human interaction also greatly affects the environment of this species.^[7] As a result, voles have lost genetic diversity as seen through a lessened heterozygous population for certain genes within separated populations.^[6] Roads and structures do not necessarily limit species interaction, but it is the distance created between other communities of voles that limit gene flow.^[7]