Small mammal fluctuations, predator responses, and indirect trophic interactions

Voles and lemmings typically exhibit large-amplitude multiannual fluctuations in abundance (population cycles). Not only are rodent cycles quite puzzling, but they also have far-reaching effects: they influence both the demography of their predators (mustelids, foxes, raptors and skuas) and that of alternative prey species such as gamebirds. I have worked on

• Predator demography and life-history evolution in connection to prey/environmental variation

• How rodent dynamics affects alternative prey species

  • Data analysis and modelling of lemming/vole population dynamics

This work involves mathematical models for population cycles, such as Maynard-Smith and Slatkin's deterministic difference equation model simulated in the right panel. I also work with stochastic time series models and differential equation models.