A collaborative team from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences found that seasonal patterns of climate change affect the outbreak of Brandt's vole populations in the grassland

In recent years, climate change has become a major event affecting the stability of global ecosystems and the sustainable development of human society

Rodents are widely distributed in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia in our country and are very sensitive to climate change

A cooperative team led by researcher Zhang Zhibin from the Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, established 24 large-scale ecological factor simulation experimental fences (fence size: 60 meters * 80 meters) in Maodeng Ranch, Xilinhot City, Xilin Gol League, Inner Mongolia, using Brandt's vole as research For the object (Figure 1), 12 fences were selected to study the impact of changes in climate change falling water patterns on the outbreak of Brandt's vole population (Figure 1)

At the beginning of the experiment (2010-2015), the team focused on verifying the traditional theory that precipitation is a key factor in the outbreak of rodent populations in arid areas.

At present, under the background of global warming, the seasonal distribution patterns of precipitation are not the same all over the world

The research was published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on October 14, 2021

Figure 1 Brandt's voles and sprinkler irrigation facilities (a), individual drowning due to excessive precipitation (b), and large-scale experimental fences in the field (c)

Figure 2 The effects of different rainfall patterns on Brandt's vole population (a), reproduction (b) and growth (c)