Social organization of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus, Schreber 1780) and its demographic consequences: a model.

A unified model of social organization, spatial distribution, and demographic parameters in the bank vole was developed. It is based on social relations among females, among males and also between reproductive females and males. In the model, social status and reproductive condition of an individual depend exclusively on interactions with its nearest neighbours. A result of interactions between two neighbours remains "local", i.e., it cannot affect other, more distant individuals. The simulated variables show similar trend and scatter as those found in a growing real population of the bank vole. The relevance of the model for theories of population dynamics is discussed.