Environmental Preferences of the Bank Vole (Clethrionomys Glareolus Schreber, 1780) under Different Biotopical Conditions in the Protected Territory of the Middle Urals

Abstract

The environmental preferences of the bank vole were studied in the protected area of the Middle Urals in different biotope conditions formed as a result of the consequences of natural catastrophic events. According to the abundance of the population, the “success” of the existence of the species in four biotopes with varying degrees of disturbance by wind and pyrogenic effects was assessed. A statistically highly significant level of differences between the compared biotopes was shown for six microenvironmental variables that assess the food-protective conditions of animal habitats. In general, the biotopic variability turned out to be higher than the chronographic (interannual) variability. Over the long period of the study, the bank vole prevailed in numbers in the undisturbed biotope, which was distinguished among the studied biotopes by high values of microenvironmental indicators that assess mainly the food resources of animal habitats: the coverage of areas by shrubs and herbaceous vegetation. Habitat conditions in the biotope undisturbed by natural catastrophic factors are most consistent with the environmental preferences of the bank vole.