Intraspecific variation in spruce seed palatability perceived by bank voles

Mast seeding in Norway spruce (Picea abies) provides an abundant food source for rodents, such as bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus). While seed quantity effects are well known, intraspecific variation in seed palatability is not. In this study, I tested whether voles show preferences for spruce seeds from different batches of seeds (sampled from different mast years). In controlled trials, voles did not show significant preferences for seeds from different years, suggesting limited variation in seed characteristics detectable by voles. The results support that variations in the small spruce seeds may be primarily a quantitative burst of food (i.e., during mast seeding) rather than a qualitative variation that influences foraging behavior. Understanding these dynamics contributes to our knowledge of resource-driven rodent ecology and the role of mast seeding on granivore behavior.