Field size as a determinant of common vole population density

Environmental heterogeneity in agricultural landscapes is a key driver of biodiversity and ecological processes, yet its role in shaping the population dynamics of pest species remains insufficiently studied. In central Europe, post-war collectivisation led to widespread homogenisation of farmland, notably through the enlargement of arable fields. This study examined the effects of this structural simplification by assessing the relationship between field size, a key configurational component of landscape heterogeneity in farmland, and the abundance of the common vole (Microtus arvalis), a major agricultural pest, monitored in forage fields over 7 years in the Czech Republic.

Linear mixed models, accounting for season, crop type and altitude, revealed a robust, nonlinear positive relationship between field size and vole population density, with the most pronounced effect in fields smaller than 20 ha. Alfalfa fields consistently supported the highest vole densities in autumn, indicating that both habitat quality and patch size jointly influence vole abundance.

This study provides the first empirical evidence of a positive density-area relationship in voles, challenging theoretical expectations and previous field evidence predicting negative or neutral responses in ground-dwelling species. The findings have important implications for nationwide pest management and landscape planning, suggesting that reducing field size could help mitigate crop damage while promoting more resilient and ecologically balanced agroecosystems. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.