Skip to content

Nature

Mystery Orkney Islands genetics

by Paul Robinson 09 Sep 2013
Mystery Orkney Islands genetics

The common European vole is much less diverse across its range than the 5 island populations (no longer sub-species) found on the Orkneys. Go figure that out!; Field vole image; Credit: © Shutterstock

While we gave you the friendly water vole (in "The Wind in the Willows") the other day, the common vole, Microtus arvalis must have had his moment in the limelight. Many thousands of years ago, people transported this species in 3100 BC from the area now called Belgium to the islands of Orkney. The result is the Orkney vole. These animals have such numerous genetic variations that they are more diverse than the European vole population from which they originally came.

The meaning of all this is that female bank voles must have been taken across the length of the North Sea on boats with hay (bedding for domestic animals) or some other farming produce. They may have formed this "ark" of ancient diversity because they were treasured by the farmers who carried them. The endless reasons include use as pets or for religious purposes. The post-Neolithic European gene pool may have been badly affected by disease epidemics or badly affected by human land use change.

We do possess a genetic snapshot of the original vole's diversity in Europe because of the offshore islands' ability to preserve diversity in a way that "the island effect" on isolated islands does not. That is to say that the model island species normally suffer from genetic loss known as genetic bottlenecks where selection (and lack of predation or competition) causes them to become smaller, specialised and this makes island species ideal for evolutionary studies; but this novel situation seems to infer even more reasons for investigating if great variation could exist on such offshore islands, or maybe on peninsula that have suffered from isolation.

Why did Neolithic people bring these voles to Orkney and not to the rest of the British Isles. When archaeology is brought into the equation, then we must remember that these people were building ancient stone circles in Orkney at this time and elsewhere too. The long-distance travel has been mentioned in association with the circle-builders before, but the voles could help solve (or create) more problems for students of ancient history as well as the more obvious diverse evolutionary processes. We look forward to the next piece of evidence on these vole antiques.

Natália Martinková and her colleagues publish the paper and findings.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping