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. 2018 Sep 17;8(19):9697–9711. doi: 10.1002/ece3.4399

Table 1.

Plant functional groups used as predictor variable for each rodent species. “Composition” describes which taxa were included in the group and “Function” describes the extent to which food and shelter was likely provided by the plant group

Growth form Plant functional group Tundra vole Grey‐sided vole Lemming
Composition Function Composition Function Composition Function
Forbs Forbs All forbs—excluding Rumex acetosa Preferred food, shelter (forbs in meadow habitats can be large) All forbs Preferred food, unlikely shelter (forbs in heath habitat are small) All forbs Food, unlikely shelter (forbs in heath habitat are small)
Rumex Rumex acetosa Preferred food, unlikely shelter NAF (included in forbs) NAF (included in forbs)
Shrubs Shelter shrubs Betulaceae, Ericaceae Shelter, occur rarely in diets, not selected for Betulaceae, evergreen Ericaceae, Salicaceae Shelter, occur in diets but not selected for Betulaceae, Ericaceae Shelter, occur rarely in diets
Palatable shrubs Salicaceae Preferred food, shelter Deciduous Ericaceae Preferred food, shelter Salicaceae Food, shelter
Graminoids Palatable grasses Poaceae excluding silica‐rich species Preferred food, unlikely shelter NAF Minor diet component Poaceae excluding silica‐rich species Food, unlikely shelter
Shelter grasses Tussock‐forming grasses (Deschampsia cespitosa) Shelter NAF Low abundance in heath NAF Low abundance in heath
Sedges NAF NAF Cyperaceae, Juncaceae Food

NAF: not analysed for.