Behavioural dominance of grey-sided voles over bank voles in dyadic encounters

Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) and grey-sided voles (C. rufocanus) occur sympatrically in northern Europe and are considered competitors. Due to its larger size, the grey-sided vole is believed to be dominant. In this study, arena tests were used to study the inter-specific dominance relationship between reproducing C. glareolus and C. rufocanus females early in the breeding season. The study was conducted in the natural environment of the two species, in an area where they occur sympatrically. We found that the two species behaved similarly in dyadic tests meeting a conspecific, but that grey-sided voles behaved more dominant and bank voles more defensive in interspecific tests.