Small Mammal Species Composition Research Articles

Preliminary checklist on species composition of small mammals and birds in Marine Research Excellence Centre (MAREC), Pulau Tuba.

Located in Langkawi archipelago, Andaman Sea, Pulau Tuba is one of the islands that is densely protected as a forest reserve. We investigated and documented the species composition of small mammals and birds at two different sites in the forest of UiTM Marine Research Excellence Centre (MAREC). Wire cage traps were used to capture non-volant small mammals while mist nets were used to capture bats and understorey birds. A total of 35 individuals were captured consisting of four species of small mammals and four species of birds. Among the most abundant species captured were Rattus tiomanicus, Leopoldamys sabanus and Cynopterus brachyotis. The calculated Shannon diversity index was 1.58 indicating a low diversity of small mammals and birds within the area. Our current study stipulated that few individuals were caught due to the rainy season affecting Pulau Tuba during the study period. Further surveys and studies should be conducted for a longer period in different seasons so that more species of fauna can be documented.

Population and Species Composition of Rodents and Insectivores in Settlements of the West Kazakhstan Region Located in the Plague Enzootic Territory

The aim of the study was to analyze the abundance, species composition, dissemination of mouse-like rodents and other small mammals in the settlements of the West Kazakhstan Region over the past 6 years and the factors contributing to the change in the numbers in the long-term aspect.Materials and methods. We utilized the data obtained by employees of the Uralsk Plague Control Station, affiliated branch of the Republican State Enterprise “National Scientific Center of Particularly Dangerous Infections named after Masgut Aikimbaev” during a scheduled epizootiological survey of plague foci located in the West Kazakhstan Region.Results and discussion. The average annual number of rodents and insectivores in the settlements on the plague-enzootic territory of the West Kazakhstan Region was 5.1 in spring season, 8.1 in autumn, with 30.0 % occupancy of the facilities. In outbuildings, the number of rodents was three times higher than in residential buildings and amounted to 11.5 (residential buildings – 3.7). The general species composition of small mammals caught in the settlements was represented by seven species, among which the house mouse was a predominant one (97.5 %). The second place was occupied by the small shrew (1.7 %). There is a downward trend in the number of rodents in the steppe foci of plague (over 18 years – an average of 22.0 %). A slight increase in the number of animals by 2.0 % has been registered in the sandy focus.

Small mammal abundance and diversity along an altitudinal gradient in the Simien Mountains National Park, Ethiopia

Abstract Species richness, abundance, diversity, and distribution of rodents and shrews along altitudinal gradients in the Simien mountains national park, Ethiopia, were studied using Sherman traps. Rodents and shrews were trapped at four altitudinal ranges (2,800 m a.s.l., 3,200 m a.s.l., 3,600 m a.s.l. and 4,000 m a.sl.). A total of 202 individuals were captured, comprising 184 rodents and 18 shrews. In total, there were eight species of rodents and one shrew species. The relative abundances of Lophuromys simensis and Stenocephalemys albipes were the highest in the early dry season, dry season, and wet season. The relative abundances of Desmomys harringitoni (7.43%), Dendromys lovati (4.46%), and Mus imberbis (1.98%) were the lowest across the study area. The highest species diversity was recorded at an altitude of 2,800 m a.s.l. (H’ = 1.82). Species composition of rodents and shrews found at altitudes of 2,800 m a.s.l. and 3,200 m a.s.l. were highly similar (Sij = 0.97363). In contrast, the least similar species composition was between altitudes of 2,800 m a.s.l. and 4,000 m a.s.l. (Sij = 0.15632). The abundance, distribution, and diversity of rodents and shrews were significantly correlated with altitude (p = 0.000). Species abundance, distribution, and diversity in the Simien Mountains National Park were significantly correlated with altitude (0.377) and habitat types (0.306). Species composition of small mammals varied among altitudes, seasons, and habitat types, with six rodents and one shrew species being endemic. Notably, the park is subjected to various environmental disturbances, such as fires, grazing, and agriculture, which can negatively impact these small mammals, particularly the endemic species.

Pests or prey? Micromammal species within an ancient anthropic environment at the Norse settlement site of Tuquoy (Westray, Orkney).

Micromammals, like rodents and shrews, adapt rapidly to take advantage of new food sources, habitats and ecological niches, frequently thriving in anthropogenic environments. Their remains, often retrieved during archaeological investigations, can be a valuable source of information about the past environmental conditions as well as interspecies interactions and human activity. However, the research on such finds rarely covers multiple approaches, often relying on single species or data type (e.g. identification/information for proxy studies). Here we investigate micromammal remains from the Norse and medieval (AD tenth-fourteenth centuries) archaeological site at Tuquoy, Orkney, to elucidate the relationships between micromammals, humans and other species present using a variety of data. Four micromammal species were identified, and their species dynamics as well as relationships with humans could be inferred by tracking changes in spatial and temporal location of remains, from their taphonomic history and by age estimation for individual animals. A larger, predatory assemblage was also identified, with species composition differing from that in the rest of the archaeological assemblage, and possibly therefore representing small mammal species composition in the wild. The assemblage was probably deposited by a diurnal raptor, though identification to species is not certain due to post-depositional processes.

The impact of industrial pollution on the populations of small mammals in Northern Kazakhstan.

The relevance of the article lies in the significant reduction of the mammal population in the areas of heavy industry enterprises located in Kazakhstan. The aim of the research is to investigate the technogenic pollution's impact level on the representatives of the species of Rodents and Insectivores order in Northern Kazakhstan. The result of the work on the analysis of the species composition of small mammals in the technogenic territories of Northern Kazakhstan in comparison with the control zone in 2021 is presented. Technogenic sites were located in the vicinity of industrial enterprises. The following methods were used in the study: complex analysis, the method of record lines, and the method of statistical data processing. During the study, 15 species of animals were noted at all sites: 11 species of the Rodentia order and 4 species of representatives of the Eulipotyphla order. The registered animals were classified according to their distance from the emission sources. The dominance index was calculated. The calculation results were marked by low indicators in the impact and buffer territories and an increase in the background and control areas. All plots have dominant species. With the increase in anthropogenic influence and the approximation of the sources of emissions, the number of small mammal species decreases, the structure is simplified, and biodiversity is reduced.

Вплив осушувальної меліорації на кількісний та видовий склад дрібних ссавців

The article is devoted to the research on the abundance and species composition of small mammals in the territory of central Ukraine (Cherkasy, Poltava, and Kyiv oblasts) affected by land development by drainage. The drainage areas of the studied region are located mainly in fens, which in most cases are connected with river valleys. The vegetation there used to be represented by reed sets with thickets of reed–mace as well as various sedges and horsetails. The drainage process consists of several stages. It is possible to outline four of them within the studied areas. The aim of the research was to analyse the influence drainage has on the abundance and species composition of small mammals. In total, 4161 rodents and shrews were captured at a sampling effort of 60 890 trap-days. It was found that drainage is a strong anthropogenic factor that shapes the abundance and species composition of small mammals within the drained lands of central Ukraine. It was revealed that the species diversity of small mammals decreases essentially as the area of drainage grows. In general, with drainage, the number of hydrophilous species decreases sharply or they become extinct, whereas the number of species that prefer open habitats increases. At the same time, the general diversity index (H) reaches the greatest value in areas of the second stage of drainage, and, as drainage works expand, the species diversity decreases significantly. The abundance dynamics of small-mammal species both by habitats and drainage stages is presented. The research results make it possible to understand some patterns drainage causes to the fauna of shrews and rodents, and, accordingly, the specifics of adaptation of the latter to those patterns. The obtained data can be used to estimate and foresee the number of small mammals within different regions of Ukraine, to develop measures to control harmful rodents in drainage areas, to predict the real scale of economic damage caused by them, and to elaborate some theoretical issues in biogeography.

Distribution and functional traits of small mammals across the Mediterranean area: landscape composition and structure definitively matter

• Small mammals’ taxonomic and functional composition vary with landscape pattern. • Species assemblages tend to be simpler in anthropogenic landscapes. • Seminatural and anthropogenic landscapes influence functional composition. • Understanding community assembly could help prioritise conservation actions. Mediterranean landscapes constitute a biodiversity hotspot where species distribution and composition have been shaped by a long history of traditional land use. In this work, we investigated the effects of landscape patterns on community composition and the functional, morphological, and ecological traits of 21 small mammal species in the Mediterranean region. We extracted species abundance and trait data from 86 georeferenced Common Barn-owl pellet sites collected in Central Italy, covering 33,000 km 2 , and stored in the OpenMICE database. Additionally, we measured 12 landscape metrics on land cover maps produced at intervals coeval with pellet collection dates. We explored the variation in species composition against landscape pattern metrics using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Moreover, we analysed the relationships among small mammals’ occurrence, their life history traits, and landscape pattern metrics using the fourth-corner model approach. Our results highlighted the key role of landscape composition and configuration in shaping small mammal species composition and their functional traits. Species and trait composition varied along two main landscape gradients, with a simplification of species assemblage towards increasing human pressure (i.e., artificial surfaces and agricultural areas) and decreasing cover of seminatural areas. The observed variability of species assemblages and functional traits across Mediterranean landscape gradients highlights the need to preserve diverse ecosystems and land cover types to maintain small mammal biodiversity and related ecosystem functioning.

Urbanization influences small mammal composition, but not species richness in forest fragments in Accra, Ghana.

The Accra Plain of Ghana is experiencing rapid urbanization, but there is scant information on its impact on local biodiversity. We assessed the changes in land use/land cover of the Accra Plain since 1991 and evaluated how the observed changes have influenced local small mammals in forest fragments. We applied supervised classification and intensity analysis time-series Landsat imagery data to assess land use/land cover changes between 1991 and 2017. Small mammals were surveyed in two forest fragments, the Pinkwae and Adumanya forests from June 2019 to January 2020, using capture-mark-recapture technique. We compared our data with baseline data gathered in 1991-1992, when large areas of the city remained mostly undeveloped. Our data revealed that the urban area has increased by 832%, while the forest area declined by 85% between 1991 and 2017. The Pinkwae and Adumanya forests, which covered 120 and 1.5ha, respectively, in 1991 have each been reduced to < 1ha. We found changes in the small mammal species composition in the forest fragments, but not species richness due to species turnover. Grammomys poensis and Dephomys defua are first records for the Accra Plain. Our data suggested that small forest fragments within the urbanizing landscape are important for maintaining the local small mammal species. For the conservation of local small mammals in urbanizing landscapes, it is important to maintain the greatest possible number of small forest fragments and establish policies that prevent forest remnants from being further depleted.

Население мелких млекопитающих подтайги Южного Зауралья

On the basis of materials obtained using two generally accepted counting methods, data on the species composition of small mammals, the ratio of background and dominant species, the total abundance in the main groups of biotopes of the South Trans-Ural region are presented. The differences in the community structure of small mammals in the subtaiga and forest-steppe sub-zone of the South Trans-Ural region have been analysed. The paper discusses materials on the community of small mammals in the sub-taiga of the South Trans-Ural region. A brief history of the study of this group of animals is reviewed. The use of two counting methods (the ditch with pitfalls and trap-lines) allowed the most complete identification of the species composition of insectivores and rodents in the sub-taiga of the South Trans-Ural region in 2021. In terms of species, the ditch with pitfalls were more effective, with 17 species identified; trap-lines counted 13 species. The abundance of animals in 2021 was very low. In our opinion, was determined by the abnormally hot spring and summer period. On average, only rare and very rare species have been recorded in the snap-trap counts in the study area. Numerous species were absent in the average meaning regardless of the method of capture. The core of small mammals of the sub-taiga of the South Trans-Ural region consisted of species typical of humid habitats and small-leaved forests, such as the Laxmann's shrew Sorex caecutiens, common shrew S. araneus and Eurasian pygmy shrew S. minutus rodents, as well as the common vole Microtus arvalis and harvest mouse Micromys minutus (surveys using the ditch with pitfalls). The common shrew was predominant in the snap-trap counts, accounting for about 45% of the total abundance of all animals recorded. In pine forests with poor productivity and in open spaces, the total abundance of insectivores and rodents is lowest. The species composition of small mammals of the sub-taiga and forest-steppe subzone of the South Trans-Ural region are largely similar (83% of the total species). Specific features of the taiga subzone were determined by the taiga shrew Sorex isodon and Siberian chipmunk Eutamias sibiricus, unusual for the forest-steppe and herb-bunchgrass steppe subzone of the South Trans-Ural region. A characteristic feature of the sub-taiga of the South Trans-Ural region is a specific proportion of the northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus and European bank vole M. glareolus, their abundance is comparable, or the M. glareolus predominates, which is not observed in the forest-steppe. In the sub-taiga, in the surveys using ditch with pitfalls among insectivores and rodents, the Laxmann's shrew prevailed, its share was approximately one fourth of all recorded animals, although in general the community of small mammals is polydominant, in contrast to the surveys using the trap-line method, where one species dominated – the common shrew. In 2021 (sub-taiga) as well as in 2020 (forest-steppe) the territory of the South TransUral region was characterized by a deep depression of water vole Arvicola amphibius numbers, which was completely absent in the counts.

Habitat Specificity Modulates the Response of Small Mammals to Habitat Fragmentation, Loss, and Quality in a Neotropical Savanna

Landscape conversion of natural environments into agriculture and pasture are driving a marked biodiversity decline in the tropics. Consequences of fragmentation might depend upon habitat amount in the landscape, while the quality of remnants can also affect some species. These factors have been poorly studied in relation to different spatial scales. Furthermore, the impacts of these human-driven alterations may go beyond species loss, possibly causing a loss of ecosystem function and services. In this study, we investigated how changes in landscape configuration (patch size and isolation), habitat loss (considering a landscape gradient of 10, 25, and 40% of remnant forest cover), and habitat quality (forest structure) affect small mammal abundance, richness, taxonomic/functional diversity, and species composition in fragmented landscapes of semideciduous forests in the Brazilian Cerrado. Analyses were performed separately for habitat generalists and forest specialists. We live-trapped small mammals and measured habitat quality descriptors four times in 36 forest patches over the years 2018 and 2019, encompassing both rainy and dry seasons, with a total capture effort of 45,120 trap-nights. Regression analyses indicated that the effect of landscape configuration was not dependent on the proportion of habitat amount in the landscape to determine small mammal assemblages. However, both patch size and habitat loss impacted different aspects of the assemblages in distinct ways. Smaller patches were mainly linked to an overall increase in small mammal abundance, while the abundance of habitat generalists was also negatively affected by habitat amount. Generalist species richness was determined by the proportion of habitat amount in the landscape. Specialist richness was influenced by patch forest quality only, suggesting that species with more demanding habitat requirements might respond to fragmentation and habitat loss at finer scales. Taxonomic or functional diversity were not influenced by landscape structure or habitat quality. However, patch size and habitat amount in the landscape were the major drivers of change in small mammal species composition in semideciduous forests in the Brazilian savanna.

Население мелких наземных позвоночных животных памятника природы «Чеускинский бор» (Ханты-Мансийский автономный округ - Югра)

There are 25 specially protected natural areas of various status have been organized on the territory of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug Ugra. Despite their great nature conservation value, the degree of study of flora and fauna, as well as the ecology of plants and animals in the territory of most of them, remains relatively low. Until now, special studies of small terrestrial vertebrates inhabiting the Cheuskinsky Bor have been carried out. In 2020, our research of small terrestrial vertebrates were carried out. The purpose of the study is to identify the species composition and some features of ecology (abundance, biotopic distribution) of small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The research was carried out in July-September 2020. Metal cones were used to catch most of the vertebrate species. A total of 7400 cone-days have been worked out. 10 species of small mammals and 3 of amphibians are registered. The species composition of small mammals at the Cheuskinsky Bor site is relatively poor, 10 species were captured by cones, 3 were marked visually. The group of dominants included the common shrew and the red-backed vole. They accounted for 22% and 77%, respectively, of all recorded animals. Reptiles in the 2020 season were not registered in the counts, however, according to the literature, the habitat of the common European adder and viviparous lizard is known. Among amphibians, the moor frog and Siberian salamander are rare, the European toad is common. In the future, when conducting annual studies, the list of small mammals can be supplemented by 714 species of insectivores, bats and rodents, the list of amphibians 1 species.

Influence of altitude and climate on species richness and endemism: A study case with non‐volant small mammals in the Atlantic Forest, Brazil

AbstractElevational gradients usually help to explain the potential factors underlying global biodiversity, as changing altitude leads to strong habitat changes in a relatively small area. We tested the influence of the altitude gradient on the small non‐volant mammal’s community along the regional landscape of the Atlantic Forest located of the Espírito Santo state, Brazil. We trapped non‐volant small mammals from January 2017 to October 2018 in 12 locations distributed along an altitude gradient ranging from sea level to 2100 m above sea level (asl). We ordered the non‐volant small mammal species by using a Non‐Metric Multidimensional Scaling analysis using the Bray–Curtis metric. To understand how the altitude, vegetation types and climate variables influence the richness and abundance of species, we fitted generalised linear model. We observed that small mammal species composition differed according to altitude, with higher richness in locations with intermediate altitude between 500–1500 m asl. In locations with higher altitude, between 1501–2200 m asl, we recorded a lower species richness, but higher endemism. Our results suggest altitude influenced the community of non‐volant small mammals. However, altitude direct influence on other variables is not evaluated in the present study, such as food availability. In addition, we found a high endemism in higher altitude areas, pointing out the importance of conserving these mountain areas for the preservation of endemic species. Thus, highlighting the importance of this study to suggest areas that deserve greater attention in the development of management and conservation plans.

Species composition of small mammals in key biotopes near Kolomak (Kharkiv Oblast)

The study of the species composition and biotope preferences of small mammals around Kolomak had been carried out for four years (2017–2020). During the study period, 9 species of mouse-like rodents and 3 species of insectivores were found. No Cricetulus migratorius, Terricola subterraneus or Microtus oeconomus were found from the theoretically expected species already known for this area. Around Kolomak, 11 biotopes were investigated, including maple-linden oak forest, agrocenoses, dry and flooded meadows, which are located along the banks of a pond and in a gully-ravine system. The first year of research was in a year of high abundance (2017), and then 9 species were immediately discovered, but species with small abundance, such as Crocidura suaveolens, Sorex minutus, and Micromys minutus, were found in years with a small relative abundance of small mammals. Myodes glareolus, Sylvaemus tauricus and Sylvaemus uralensis are dominant species in the captures. According to the trapping results, 2017 was the year of high relative abundance of small mammals, 2018 was the year of the lowest relative abundance, 2019 and 2020 were years with an average relative abundance. During the study period, 6 species were identified in forest biotopes (Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus tauricus, Sylvaemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Sorex araneus, and Dryomys nitedula). In ecotones with floodplain biotopes, 8 species were found (Apodemus agrarius, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, Sylvaemus uralensis, Mus musculus, Micromys minutus, Myodes glareolus, and Sorex araneus). Four species (Mus musculus, Sylvaemus sylvaticus, Sylvaemus uralensis, and Microtus levis) were discovered near human settlements. In general, biotopes with the greatest species diversity and number of caught individuals are ecotones of dry and floodplain meadows. In years of high abundance, both species diversity and the number of individuals caught in the oak forest and in ecotones near the pond increased. It should be noted that Myodes glareolus was caught in clear-cuts during the two years (2019-2020) only in the summer of 2020. Earlier, not a single specimen of this species was caught there, although there is a dense weed grass cover in this area and the shrub layer has also grown up in some places, and the clear-cut is surrounded by oak forest.

Small mammals of the suburban areas of Warsaw in the diet of the tawny owl Strix aluco

We investigated the composition of small mammals at nine locations in the southwestern suburban zone of Warsaw (central Poland) through the analysis of the pellets of the Tawny owl Strix aluco. In total, we recorded 611 individuals of 15 species of small mammal communities in the diet. Rodents constituted the most numerous mammalian order. Among the most abundant prey we recorded were Myodes glareolus (63 individuals = 10.3% of all mammals), Apodemus agrarius (56 individuals = 9.2%) (173), Apodemus flavicollis (54 individuals = 8.8%), Mus musculus (48 individuals = 7.9%) and Microtus arvalis (44 individuals = 7.2%). We recorded also some species rarely captured by the tawny owl: Nyctalus noctula and Mustela nivalis. Species composition of small mammals of the study area resembled city parks, with several species typical for anthropogenic landscape.

The New Pleistocene Ulan-Zhalga Key Section in Western Transbaikalia

This work presents the first results of a multidisciplinary study of the new Pleistocene Ulan-Zhalga section (51°29′40.75″ N, 107°20′18.11″ E), discovered in Western Transbaikalia in 2017. Based on the paleontological, paleomagnetic, and lithological data, the Early, Middle, and Late Pleistocene deposits were distinguished in the section. The analysis of the species composition of small mammals allowed us to trace the paleoenvironmental and climatic changes in the region during the Quaternary. The unique succession of 19 faunal horizons and 11 horizons of buried soils in the section and a high degree of correlation of the paleomagnetic and paleontological data allow us to state that the studied Ulan-Zhalga section can serve as an important object for paleogeographical reconstruction and biostratigraphy. In addition, the new data obtained allow us to refer this section as one of the Upper Cenozoic key sections of the southern Eastern Siberia.

Fire affects the occurrence of small mammals at distinct spatial scales in a neotropical savanna

Fire is a major disturbance event that affects biomes worldwide, altering vegetation structure and flora and fauna assemblages. Here, we investigated the effects of an extensive wildfire (~ 6240 ha) on small mammal assemblages in savanna woodland (cerradao) at two spatial scales (meso- and macrohabitat) in a neotropical savanna (Brazilian Cerrado). At each spatial scale, we assessed relationships between habitat structure and small mammal species composition and abundance before and after the fire in four natural patches (one burned, three unburned) using partial redundancy analysis. From July 2009 to October 2013, we captured 1319 individuals belonging to 14 species. Our results showed that the fire had consequences for small mammal assemblage at both scales. After the fire, the burned patch differed from the other patches in vegetation attributes and species composition. At a fine scale, fire increased the herbaceous layer and decreased the litter layer and understory obstruction. On a larger scale, the main consequences of fire on vegetation structure were increased variation in litter depth, tree diameter, and distance to the nearest tree. We observed a relationship between mesohabitat structure and the abundance of species with different habitat requirements during the post-fire succession. Fire favored the invasion of generalist species from open Cerrado habitats (rodents Calomys tener, Calomys expulsus, Cerradomys scotti, and Necromys lasiurus) at the expense of more specialized forest species. Our results reinforce the relevance of incorporating multi-scale habitat heterogeneity in future studies assessing the effects of fire on wildlife.

Small mammals in cornfields and associated peripheral habitats in central Nebraska

In the Great Plains, many native grasslands have been converted to agricultural fields during the last two centuries. Peripheral habitats along edges of crop fields generally consist of linear habitats along roads, with many of these habitats used by native fauna. Our study examined capture rates and species composition of small mammals in cornfields, herbaceous roadside ditches, and wooded shelterbelts in central Nebraska. We captured nine species of small mammals. The Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) and Western Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys megalotis) were captured almost exclusively in roadside ditches, the White-footed Deermouse (Peromyscus leucopus) was captured most often in wooded shelterbelts, and the North American Deermouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) was common to abundant in all three habitats. Capture rates of small mammals were greatest in roadside ditches and least in cornfields. Herbaceous roadside ditches contained the greatest species richness with seven species, whereas shelterbelts and cornfields each had five species. Species composition of rodents differed in shelterbelts comprised solely of eastern red-cedars (Juniperus virginiana) compared to those with a mixture deciduous and coniferous trees. Our study demonstrated that roadside ditches associated with agricultural fields serve as habitats for many prairie species whereas wooded shelterbelts along agricultural fields support both woodland and prairie species in central Nebraska. Cornfields mainly were inhabited by North American Deermice but did not support many other species of small mammals. Although agricultural practices have reduced the quantity of grasslands for prairie species across the region, habitats associated with periphery of fields appear to serve as alternative habitats for small mammals throughout the Great Plains.

Small mammal community response to early meadow\u2013forest succession

BackgroundWith farmland afforestation becoming common policy in many European Union countries, we studied how early forest succession (from meadow to young stand) influences small mammal species composition, diversity, abundance and biomass. Despite numerous investigations into forest succession, almost no attention has been given to the small mammal community change in the early-successional forest ecosystems, starting with the pre-forest habitat and ending with stand formation and the establishment of tree dominance. We compared small mammal communities in meadows at the initial stage of regrowth (with saplings less than 10 cm in height), in young forest (5–10 years old) and more advanced forest (15–20 years) in both cases of human-induced forest succession, where the trees had been planted, and natural forest succession, where natural regrowth of meadows had occurred.ResultsThe greatest diversity of small mammal species was recorded in the meadow (H = 2.95), with a lower diversity found in the young forest (H = 2.61) and even lower in the advanced forest (H = 2.04), the last habitat being the most monodominantic. The order of species dominance from Microtus sp. (M. arvalis, M. agrestis), Myodes glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis, Sorex araneus, A. agrarius in the meadow changed to M. glareolus, S. araneus, M. arvalis, M. agrestis in the young forest and to M. glareolus, A. flavicollis, S. araneus in the advanced forest. The lowest relative abundance of small mammals was recorded in the meadow (18.19 ± 2.27 ind. Per 100 trap-days), with Microtus voles being the most abundant. Relative abundance was higher in the young forest (22.72 ± 2.25 ind. Per 100 trap-days), with Myodes glareolus being the most abundant (7.59 ± 0.96 ind. Per 100 trap-days) and at its highest in the advanced forest (23.91 ± 2.77 ind. Per 100 trap-days), again with M. glareolus being the most abundant (15.54 ± 2.35 ind. Per 100 trap-days).ConclusionsThus, our analysis suggests that that during early meadow-forest succession, the diversity of the small mammal community declines – the number of species decreases as typical meadow species are lost due to the transformation of the habitat and one or a few species became dominants. However, the relative abundance of the small mammals increases. Biological indices of small mammal communities differed between natural and human-induced meadow-forest succession.

Epizootic Activity and Epidemic Manifestation of Natural Fod of Tularemia in Voronezh Region

Tularemia natural foci were investigated in the 15 districts of the Voronezh region. 1533 small mammals of 11 species were captured in 2011, 2014 and 2015 to identify antigen and/or DNA of tularemia pathogen. In all the studied areas there are continuous epizootic of tularemia among small mammals. In the region there are permanent natural meadow-field, floodplain- swamp and forest foci. We can assume the existence of another focus, it is a steppe type. The most active foci observed in Kashirsky, Novokhopyorsky, Petropavlosky and Ramonsky districts. The stability and activity of natural foci is maintained by alternating different biocenoses with different animals and complex pathogen exchange between foci. The most active is meadow-field and floodplain-swamp foci. Common vole is the primary carrier of the infection in the meadow-field foci during the year. In the near-water habitats of the epizootic process in strong support of field mouse and common voles. Varied species composition of small mammals provides a long time functioning and epizootic activity of natural tularemia foci. The epidemiological situation is rather calm and stable for tularemia natural foci in the Voronezh region. In the region registered a low incidence of tularemia population. There has been an increase in the incidence of the urban population. Permanent vaccination and revaccination of the population remains the main preventive anti-epidemic measures against tularemia. The results indicate the functioning and epizootic activity of tularemia natural foci in Voronezh region. It requires constant monitoring of the territory and preventive interventions, primarily vaccination of people live tularemia vaccine.

Biotopical Expansion of Small Mammals in the Steppe Zone of the Zavolzhye

The current status of the species composition, abundance, and expansion of small mammals in various habitats of the steppe zone of the Saratov Zavolzhye is examined. An almost complete similarity of the species composition of small mammals in natural habitats and anthropogenically transformed territories is displayed. A typical feature of the population of Zavolzhye steppe zone is the high population density of the small wood mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis). In addition, there has been an increase in recent years in the num-ber of steppe species: the steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus) and the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus). The highest species diversity is observed in the deposits of various stages of succession.