Partitioning of trophic resource on example of the rodent community dwelling in the high mountain zone of the Eastern Caucasus

Magomedrasul Magomedov,F.A Tembotova

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20213500016

Magomedrasul Magomedov, F.A Tembotova

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20213500016

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Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative feeding characteristics of some rodent species co-living in the high mountain zone of the Eastern Caucasus (Republic of Daghestan) were investigated. The diet of S. uralensis consisted of 23 plant species, C. gud – 22 plant species, M. arvalis – 27 plant species, C. migtatorius – 26 plant species and D. nitedula – 19 plant species. The largest dietary breadths were M. arvalis and C. migtatorius and the least was S. uralensis. In spring, Carex spp. predominated in the diets of rodent species; in summer, the diets consisted mainly of cereals, and the autumn rodents diets consisted mainly of forbs and legumes. The maximum values of the dietary niches overlapping were found in pairs of the following species: S. uralensis C. gud, C. gud - C. migtatorius, M. arvalis C. migtatorius. Average values of the dietary niches overlapping for all rodents were 0.529, 0.277, 0.459, respectively, in spring, summer and autumn.

Highlights

The coexistence of similar species within the same ecosystem may occur owing to different resource use
54 plant species were identified in the diets of the model rodent community species
The diet of S. uralensis consisted of 23 plant species, C. gud – 22 plant species, M. arvalis – 27 plant species, C. migtatorius – 26 plant species and D. nitedula – 19 plant species

Summary

Introduction

The coexistence of similar species within the same ecosystem may occur owing to different resource use. Revealing of utilization mechanisms of vegetation food between ecologically and taxonomically similar species sheds light on the issues of sustainability and functioning of communities in the modern ecology. Among the many factors that forming a community structure food resource is considered as key one [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. According to the niche theory, coexisting species must exhibit ecological differences in at least one niche dimension, such as space, food or time. There is a mechanism that allows species to segregate key factors or resources which the food is definitely thought main one; differences in qualitative or quantitative diet composition, consumption in space and time, etc [5, 6]

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