What specific behavior results in the death of woody plants due to vole activity?
Answer
Girdling the bark around the circumference of the plant
Girdling occurs when a vole chews the bark completely around the circumference of a tree or shrub. This act is physically devastating because it severs the plant's vascular system. The vascular system is responsible for the transportation of water and nutrients between the roots and the leaves. Once this connection is destroyed, the plant can no longer sustain itself and will die, often becoming evident the following spring.
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