Жыңғыл құмтышқанының (Meriones tamariscinus Pallas,1773) қоректенуінің Қазақстанның оңтүстік бөлігіндегі аймақтық ерекшеліктері

Abstract

In the article, the features of the feeding of the tamarisk gerbil inhabiting some regions of Kazakhstan (floodplain tugai of the lower course of Ile River, the Aral Sea sands, Moyinkum, and Southern Balkhash) are considered. During the research, the following methods were used: basic-trap-site and indirect – analysis of the habits of birds of prey. As a result of the study of the digestive tract of the tamarisk gerbil in the floodplain tugai of the lower reaches of the Ile River, it was found that the proportion of seeds occupies an average of 63%, the green part-27%, other parts of plants-10% of the studied stomachs. In the Aral Sea sands, the tamarisk gerbil feeds on seeds (on average, 68%), and green parts (32%) of plants. In early spring, 24 stomachs of this gerbil were examined in the Moyinkum sands and it was found that the proportion of seeds in the digestive tracts of males and females was very high, due to the small abundance of the green part of the plant at this time of year. In the Southern Balkhash region, in summer and autumn, the tamarisk gerbil feeds on mixed feeds (40%), green parts (10%), and seeds (50%). It was found that seasonal changes occur in the composition of feed: in the spring during the breeding season or with a lack of moisture in the body, these rodents also consume insects. In the spring-summer period, the proportion of the green part of the plant increased in the diet, with a shortage of green feeds, the gerbil diligently consumes the underground parts of plants. In such cases, mixed feeds are found in the digestive tract of many rodents. It was found that the composition of the feed of the tamarisk gerbil differs depending on the seasons and habitats. It was found out that from the west to the east of the republic, the frequency of occurrence of the green part of the plant increases in the composition of feeds, the frequency of occurrence of seeds decreases on the contrary, and nutrition with mixed feeds increases from spring to autumn. The results of this work can be used as a basis for further study of the feeding of the tamarisk gerbil in various regions of Kazakhstan.