Tundra Vole (Alexandromys oeconomus) lives in arctic tundra across Northern Europe and Asia. It feeds on grass and seeds. Its conservation status is Least Concern.
Fascinating facts about the Tundra Vole
- In the western Netherlands the tundra vole persists as a living reminder of the last ice age, having diverged into the distinct subspecies A. This relict population is part of a species that ranges across northern and central Europe, Asia and northwestern North America, including Alaska and northwestern Canada.
- The tundra vole constructs underground burrows that serve as storage chambers for food, hoarding seeds and roots to survive the cold months. Among its cached provisions, licorice root is especially prized, and the vole gathers it alongside other plant material. These burrows are part of a broader seasonal behaviour that includes making surface runways in warm weather and tunnelling through snow in winter.
- Dental wear patterns reveal that the tundra vole habitually consumes more abrasive vegetation than its close relative, the common vole. A mesowear analysis showed the tundra vole's teeth bear greater signs of grinding, reflecting a diet rich in tough grasses, sedges and seeds. These plant foods dominate its year-round feeding, allowing the vole to thrive in damp tundra and moist meadow habitats near water. The abrasive diet is a key aspect of its ecological niche.
- The tundra vole reaches its greatest reproductive output in late spring, with the highest fecundity recorded in May and June, yet it can extend its breeding period right through to the winter months. Females are capable of producing three to six litters over a season, each litter containing three to nine offspring that develop in a shallow burrow.
- Genetic exchange among tundra vole populations is hampered by the physical gaps that develop between separate colonies, which curtails gene flow across the landscape. These distances have led to a measurable decline in heterozygosity within isolated groups, indicating reduced genetic diversity.
Sources
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At a glance
RangeNorthern Europe and Asia
HabitatArctic tundra
DietGrass and seeds
About the Tundra Vole
In the harsh, Arctic expanse, the tundra vole weaves a secret life, its diminutive form belied by a fierce resilience that allows it to thrive in one of the planet's most unforgiving landscapes. As it scurries through the low-lying vegetation, its tiny paws barely disturbing the permafrost, the vole embodies a quiet, unassuming tenacity, its very existence a testament to the boundless adaptability of life. With each fleeting glimpse, the tundra vole vanishes into the tussocks, leaving behind only the faintest whisper of its presence, a haunting reminder of the mysteries that lie just beyond our grasp.
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