‘MateFrag’ – Impacts of habitat fragmentation on social and mating systems: testing ecological predictions for a monogamous vole through non-invasive genetics

Intensification of agriculture has caused severe loss and fragmentation of semi-natural habitats worldwide. Studies of the effects of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity have revealed large impacts on species distribution and abundance patterns. Although they provide important conservation guidelines to counteract the negative impacts of habitat fragmentation, inferences from these studies are mostly correlative, and inherently unable to identify causation. A greater focus on the demographic and behavioural processes that determine species vulnerability to fragmentation is thus required to properly understand population viability in fragmented landscapes.

The project “MateFrag” aims to analyse how habitat fragmentation impacts intra-populational processes that affect reproductive success, and thus population persistence of a near-threatened, monogamic vole endemic to the Iberian peninsula, the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae). Traits related to social interactions, mating strategies, kin-group structure, survival and dispersion will be inferred from non-invasive genetic sampling of voles faeces in agricultural landscapes with different levels of habitat fragmentation, in order to test the general idea that habitat fragmentation reduces reproductive output, thus increasing the likelihood of extinction.

The results will be used to formulate conservation prescriptions to mitigate the impacts of habitat fragmentation on social interactions and mating strategies employed by monogamous mammal species in landscapes facing strong agricultural intensification.