Abstract

We investigated migrations of mouse-like rodents in the Eastern Urals Radioactive Trace (EURT) zone using the method of small mammal group marking by tetracycline (additionally to the data of radionuclide self-marking). The originality of small mammals' population in the EURT zone is defined by a configuration of radioactively polluted area and features of animals' migrations. The tetracycline label is detected in the dentine of upper incisors fluorescing in UV light. A high migration activity of rodents is observed both in the EURT zone and adjacent areas. When migrating, rodents used the certain ways of moving. Our new data allowed us to conclude that the EURT zone, as well as any other areas, is inhabited by a population with a constantly changing set of individuals, i.e. a flowing population. It is the convincing evidence of the absence of any isolation. Migrations of small mammals in the narrow and extended EURT zone (1) considerably decrease the probability that certain adaptive changes may be fixed and inherited in a series of generations; (2) are the base of transmission of radio-induced effects in adjacent areas. The fact of a flowing population should be taken into account in a wide spectrum of investigations when analyzing the remote consequences of chronic radiation influence.

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