Small rodents such as bank voles, field voles, and lemmings sometimes reach very high population densities. In other years, the populations may be so small that they seem almost absent from the landscape.
In northern Europe, these changes often happen in regular 3–4-year cycles. These vole cycles are among the long-standing questions in ecology. Why do the populations rise and crash so regularly? We are getting closer, but the full explanation is still an active research topic.
Evenstad has a long tradition of research on small rodent populations, both in experimental enclosures and in natural field populations. In recent years, we have also expanded our work to include winter live-trapping. Much of our current research focuses on food and predator interactions, climate effects, parasite effects, and links between small mammals and owls.
Tengmalm’s owls and sparrow owls occur in our study areas, and we are now setting up monitoring of these species as well. Small rodents are central prey for several predators, so vole cycles affect much more than the voles themselves.
Our study area is mainly spruce-dominated boreal forest. It lies close to several highly protected areas. Although we mostly work with voles, many other animals live in the same landscape, including bears, lynx, pine marten, owls, hares, and least weasels.
The internship
One of the main tasks will be live-trapping small mammals to monitor the community over time. You will mostly meet bank voles, but you may also encounter other small rodents, shrews, and sometimes least weasels.
When a vole is trapped, we identify it, mark it, take measurements, and release it again. Depending on the active projects, this may include species, sex, body mass, parasite load, behavioural traits, and other demographic measurements.
There are few wild mammals that we can study at such close range. This makes the internship a useful opportunity to learn field ecology, animal handling, and long-term monitoring methods.
Fieldwork and other tasks
A normal trapping week lasts four days. It usually includes three evenings and three mornings in the field, starting in the evening. At Evenstad, we normally run one trapping week per month. We also do fieldwork at other locations, but less often.
Trapping days can be long, and you should expect to be tired afterwards. The other days usually have a more regular schedule, and here various types of studies and animals/topics are investigated.
We try to adapt each internship to the interests and needs of the applicant. Depending on the ongoing projects, you may also work with plant communities, climate effects, laboratory work, small experiments, data analysis, owls, hares, snow conditions, personality-related traits, camera-based monitoring of small mammals, or projects linked to other animals.
If you are taking FELASA-accredited courses in animal experimentation for researchers and need practical training, this internship may provide relevant hands-on experience. Please discuss this with us before arrival, so expectations and documentation requirements are clear.
Thesis projects
Some students want to use the internship as part of a bachelor’s or master’s thesis. This may be possible, but it must be agreed uponbefore arrival.
Student life at Evenstad
Evenstad has an active student environment. Outside fieldwork, students organise hikes, trips, parties, sports, and other activities. The campus is small, social, and close to the forest.
When to apply
Get in touch as soon as possible. We have research activity throughout the year, so we welcome applications for internships starting at different times of the year.
Please copy Associate Professor Dr Magne Neby when applying, or contact him directly at: magne.neby (at) inn.no
You may also use the same address for questions about timing, field conditions, thesis links, FELASA practical training, or current project opportunities.