Table 2. Summary of the details of the experiments.
Experiment | Number of pairs | Number of voles Males Females | Criteria for pairing | Response variable in the statistical analysis | |
Vole population size | 5 | 25 | 25 | Same sex, approximately the same initial body mass. | Difference in the number of voles between E+ and E− in a enclosure pair after four and a half months. |
Vole body mass | 36 | 42 | 30 | Same sex, approximately the same initial body mass. | Difference in body mass (g) between E+ and E− in a vole pair after feeding the voles seven days. |
Prey preference of weasel | 24 | 36 | 12 | Same sex and length of the feeding period, approximately the same initial body mass. | Difference in the number of belt crossings per hour between E+ and E− in a vole pair |
Prey preference of weasel | 17*) | 24 | 10 | Same sex and length of the feeding period, approximately the same initial body mass. | E+ vole captured in a pair of voles fed on E+ and E− (yes, no) |
Odour preference of weasel | 21*) | 42 | 0 | Same sex and length of the feeding period, approximately the same initial body mass. | Bedding of E+ vole chosen in a E+ and E− bedding pair (yes, no) |
*)Also the number of least weasels.