Sorex Minutus Research Articles

Social personality: a more social shrew species exhibits stronger differences in personality types

Animal personalities have been studied extensively in the last decade. It is still not entirely understood, however, how different personalities evolve and persist. The social niche specialization hypothesis suggests that in group-living animals the combination of social conflicts and alternative options on how to deal with them are of key importance for the development and evolution of animal personality. Here we predicted that, following the social niche specialization hypothesis, a more social species should have more pronounced personality differences. We tested this prediction using four species of shrews that differ in ecology and sociability. Three species (Neomys fodiens, Sorex araneus and Sorex minutus) are strictly solitary outside the breeding season; the fourth species (Neomys anomalus) is intraspecifically more tolerant and able to live in groups. These four species offer a good model to assess our questions as N. anomalus can, in many other respects (e.g. body size, habitat, foraging mode), be considered as an ‘in-between’ species. We tested individuals of all species for their solitary activity and their activity and agonistic behaviour in within- and between-species dyadic encounters. We found that individuals of N. anomalus, but not the other species tested, showed consistent behavioural variation in agonistic behaviour. Consistent individual differences in activity were, however, also present in other species and activity was further correlated between the different contexts in all tested species. Finding more pronounced personality differences in N. anomalus than in the other, less sociable species supports the hypothesis that social niche specialization can influence the evolution of animal personalities.

Diet of the common kestrel <em>Falco tinnunculus</em> in east Cork and west Waterford: an insight into the dynamics of invasive mammal species

The common kestrel Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus is chiefly a predator of small mammals, and breeding density and success often fluctuate in tandem with cyclic population changes of Microtus voles and the common shrew Sorex araneus Linnaeus. Ireland traditionally had four prey species to support its predatory birds and mammals—field mouse Apodemus sylvaticus (Linnaeus), house mouse Mus domesticus (Linnaeus), brown rat Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout) and pygmy shrew Sorex minutus Linnaeus (indigenous species)—but the arrival of bank vole Myodes glareolus (Schreber) and greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula (Hermann) (invasive species) has taken the number to six. The wider range of prey species may positively affect birds of prey, but the impact of invasive species on the ecology of indigenous species may be negative, especially on field mice and pygmy shrews. Negative effects on indigenous species have been shown to be strong to the point of bringing about species replacement in some habitats, with no pygmy shrews present where both invasive species (bank voles and greater white-toothed shrews) were present.

Last Neanderthals and first Anatomically Modern Humans in the NW Iberian Peninsula: Climatic and environmental conditions inferred from the Cova Eirós small-vertebrate assemblage during MIS 3

Cova Eirós is emerging as a reference site in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula for the study of the development of the last Neanderthal populations and the first populations of Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) in MIS 3. Cova Eirós is an archaeological site (with Middle and Upper Palaeolithic levels) located in Cancelo, Triacastela (Lugo, northwestern Iberian Peninsula), which has been systematically excavated from 2008 onwards. The small-vertebrate assemblage analysed came from the archaeo-palaeontological field seasons that took place from 2009 to 2014. At least 18 small-vertebrate taxa have been identified: 1 frog (Rana temporaria), 1 snake (Vipera sp.), 4 insectivores (Sorex minutus, Sorex sp., Talpa cf. occidentalis and Erinaceus europaeus), 4 chiropters (Myotis myotis/blythii, cf. Miniopterus sp., Myotis sp. and Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) and 8 rodents (Apodemus sylvaticus, Arvicola amphibius, Arvicola sapidus, Chionomys nivalis, Microtus (Terricola) lusitanicus, Microtus agrestis, Microtus arvalis and Microtus oeconomus). Using the Habitat Weighting method to reconstruct the palaeoenvironment, we reconstruct a landscape for MIS 3 characterized by open woodland formations. The Mutual Ecogeographic Range (MER) method and the Bioclimatic Model (BM) used for the palaeoclimatic reconstruction show lower temperatures and higher precipitation than at present in the region. Our results from Cova Eirós are compared with the data obtained from several other sites in the Iberian Peninsula; it can be said that Neanderthals and AMH were well adapted to the territory that they occupied, as well as to the surrounding environment and the climatic conditions prevalent in the unstable context of MIS 3 in the Iberian Peninsula.

Ecogeographical patterns of morphological variation in pygmy shrewsSorex minutus(Soricomorpha: Soricinae) within a phylogeographical and continental-and-island framework

Ecogeographical patterns of morphological variation were studied in the Eurasian pygmy shrew Sorex minutus to understand the species’ morphological diversity in a continental and island setting, and within the context of previous detailed phylogeographic studies. In total, 568 mandibles and 377 skulls of S. minutus from continental and island populations from Europe and Atlantic islands were examined using a geometric morphometrics approach, and the general relationships of mandible and skull size and shape with geographical and environmental variables was studied. Samples were then pooled into predefined geographical groups to evaluate the morphological differences among them using analyses of variance, to contrast the morphological and genetic relationships based on morphological and genetic distances and ancestral state reconstructions, and to assess the correlations of morphological, genetic and geographic distances with Mantel tests. We found significant relationships of mandible size with geographic and environmental variables, fitting the converse Bergmann’s rule; however, for skull size this was less evident. Continental groups of S. minutus could not readily be differentiated from each other by shape. Most island groups of S. minutus were easily discriminated from the continental groups by being larger, indicative of an island effect. Moreover, morphological and genetic distances differed substantially, and again island groups were distinctive morphologically. Morphological and geographical distances were significantly correlated, but not so the morphological and genetic distances indicating that morphological variation does not reflect genetic subdivision in S. minutus. Our analyses showed that environmental variables and insularity had important effects on the morphological differentiation of S. minutus.

A synopsis of records of myxozoan parasites (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) from shrews, with additional data on Soricimyxum fegati from common shrew Sorex araneus in Hungary and pygmy shrew Sorex minutus in Slovakia.

Myxozoans (Cnidaria: Myxozoa) are almost exclusively endoparasites of aquatic vertebrates and invertebrates, with the notable exception being two species of Soricimyxum Prunescu, Prunescu, Pucek et Lom, 2007 described from terrestrial shrews (Soricidae) in central Europe. Myxospores of the two parasites are morphologically indistinguishable, but have SSU rDNA sequences that differ by about 4%. Herein, we report additional molecular and histology data from Soricimyxum fegati Prunescu, Prunescu, Pucek et Lom, 2007 from common shrew (Sorex araneus Linnaeus) from Hungary, and add a new geographic record for S. fegati in pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus Linnaeus) from Slovakia. A limited survey of shrews from the northern United States, Blarina brevicauda Say and Sorex sp. from New York, and Sorex spp. from Oregon, did not discover any infections, which is in stark contrast to the relatively high infection rates (up to 66%) in European shrew populations. We also provide a summary and discussion of literature records of species of Soricimyxum and a host survey. Given the lack of distinguishing morphological or morphometric characters between Soricimyxum spp., and the overlap in vertebrate hosts and geographic ranges, unambiguous identification of these closely related shrew parasites can presently only be achieved through sequence comparison of one or more variable SSU rDNA regions.

The generalist tick Ixodes ricinus and the specialist tick Ixodes trianguliceps on shrews and rodents in a northern forest ecosystem--a role of body size even among small hosts.

BackgroundUnderstanding aggregation of ticks on hosts and attachment of life stages to different host species, are central components for understanding tick-borne disease epidemiology. The generalist tick, Ixodes ricinus, is a well-known vector of Lyme borrelioses, while the specialist tick, Ixodes trianguliceps, feeding only on small mammals, may play a role in maintaining infection levels in hosts. In a northern forest in Norway, we aimed to quantify the role of different small mammal species in feeding ticks, to determine the extent to which body mass, even among small mammals, plays a role for tick load, and to determine the seasonal pattern of the two tick species.MethodsSmall mammals were captured along transects in two nearby areas along the west coast of Norway. All life stages of ticks were counted. Tick load, including both prevalence and intensity, was analysed with negative binomial models.ResultsA total of 359 rodents and shrews were captured with a total of 1106 I. ricinus (60.0 %) and 737 I. trianguliceps (40.4 %), consisting of 98.2 % larvae and 1.8 % nymphs of I. ricinus and 91.2 % larvae, 8.7 % nymphs and 0.1 % adult females of I. trianguliceps. Due to high abundance, Sorex araneus fed most of the larvae of both tick species (I. ricinus 61.9 %, I. trianguliceps 64.9 %) with Apodemus sylvaticus (I. ricinus 20.4 %, I. trianguliceps 10.0 %) and Myodes glareolus (I. ricinus 10.9 %, I. trianguliceps 9.5 %) as the next most important hosts. Individual A. sylvaticus and M. glareolus had higher infestation intensity than S. araneus, while Sorex minutus had markedly lower infestation intensity. The load of I. ricinus larvae and nymphs was related to body mass mainly up to ~10 g, while the load of I. trianguliceps was less dependent of body mass. The load of I. trianguliceps was higher in spring than in fall, while the seasonal pattern was reversed for I. ricinus with higher loads in fall.ConclusionsBody mass was important for explaining load of I. ricinus mainly up to a body mass of ~10 g across a range of smaller mammalian hosts. Consistent with earlier work elsewhere in Europe, we found the highest tick infestation intensity on the wood mouse A. sylvaticus. However, this rodent species fed only 20.4 % of all I. ricinus larvae, while the much more abundant S. araneus fed 61.9 %. Our study emphasizes an important quantitative role of the common shrew S. araneus as a main host to I. ricinus larvae and to both I. trianguliceps larvae and nymphs. The partly seasonal distinct attachment pattern of I. ricinus and I. trianguliceps is evidence for niche separation.

Analysis of coupled geographic variation of three shrew species from Southern and Northern Ural taxocenes

Coupled and unidirectional geographical variability of the shape of the mandible in three shrew species of the genus Sorex (araneus, caecutiens, and minutus) has been revealed in a geometric morphometrics-based parallel comparison of cenopopulations forming the Ilmen’ (Southern Urals) and Kytlym (Northern Urals) taxocenes. Mandible centroid size (CS) was significantly larger and significantly more varied in all northern cenopopulations as compared to the southern ones. Discriminant analysis of Procrustes coordinates of the mandible shape in shrews of the southern and northern taxocenes without taking the animal species into account resulted in 94.8% correct assignment of the individuals to local taxocenes. Mandible allometry was detected in the northern cenopopulations of Laxmann’s (caecutiens) and pygmy (minutus) shrews, but not in the southern cenopopulations. Parallelism of geographical variation and high reliability of discrimination between individuals from the southern and northern taxocenes was preserved when the allometric effect was eliminated. The absence of association of this reaction to allometry provides direct proof for similar morphogenetic reactions of these species to climate change in the northern latitudes, and high potential for coevolutionary changes common to all sympatric species of the taxocene.

A novel myxozoan parasite of terrestrial mammals: description of Soricimyxum minuti sp. n. (Myxosporea) in pygmy shrew Sorex minutus from Hungary.

As part of a biodiversity study in northwestern Hungary, we conducted a parasitological survey of small mammals. In both common shrews (Sorex araneus Linnaeus) and pygmy shrews (Sorex minutus Linnaeus), we found myxospores of a species of Soricimyxum Prunescu, Prunescu, Pucek et Lom, 2007 (Myxosporea) and plasmodia in the bile ducts within the liver. Spores from both species of shrewswere morphologically and morphometrically indistinguishable, but differed in their SSU rRNA gene sequences by 3.3%. We identified spores and developmental stages from the common shrew as Soricimyxum fegati Prunescu, Prunescu, Pucek et Lom, 2007, based on morphometric data and DNA sequence similarity. Spores from the pygmy shrew were only 96.7% similar to S. fegati, hence we identified them as a novel myxosporean Soricimyxum minuti sp. n. This is only the second myxosporean parasite species described from mammals.

Communities of small mammals (Soricomorpha, Rodentia) in urbanized environment

AbstractThe study is focused on analyses of the impact of urbanized environment on the occurrence and structure of small mammals that are important with regard to transmission of diseases to man and domestic animals. The city of Nitra (Slovakia) was chosen as a model area, where an urban - rural gradient was determined. It was categorized into three zones, depending on the distance from the city centre. Small mammals were examined by a comprehensive annual research during the seasons. Overall, 12 species of small mammals were found, Microtus arvalis (29.6%), Apodemus sylvaticus (23.1%), Apodemus flavicollis (20.6%) were eudominant. The communities of small mammals showed an increase in species diversity and richness from the suburban to the peripheral zone, and a decrease of diversity and richness with increasing urban conditions from the peripheral to the pericentral zone. The identified species of small mammals were categorized according to their dependence on urban environment as exoanthropic species, avoiding the presence of man and his habitations (A. sylvaticus, A. flavicollis, and Clethrionomys glareolus); hemisynantropic species, which thrive on the edges of towns, with greater or lesser affinity to humans (M. arvalis, Apodemus uralensis, Sorex araneus, Sorex minutus, Mus spicilegus, and Microtus subterraneus); and synanthropic species, tied to human dwellings, very dependent on human resources (Crocidura suaveolens).

Acoustic species identification of shrews: Twittering calls for monitoring

The acoustic signals of shrews (Soricidae) are largely understudied. As shrews are very vocal animals it may be feasible to use acoustic methods in field studies to assess ecological and behavioral data. In this study, we present the first detailed analysis of the twittering calls of six Central European shrew species (Sorex minutus, Sorex araneus, Neomys fodiens, Neomys anomalus, Crocidura russula and Crocidura leucodon). The analysis is based on over 6000 recorded calls from 121 individuals. Our results indicate that there is a large inter-individual variance and a large inter-specific overlap in the acoustic parameters of the calls. Each species uses a large spectral variety of calls without clear species specific call types. A species identification using the Support Vector Machine method on six species shows 66.2% accuracy; however, a pairwise comparison indicates accuracy between 68.5 and 97.3%. We propose to use acoustic monitoring of shrews in comparative studies to estimate the overall shrew activity. Moreover we suggest using the acoustic identification method in areas with few shrew species where the accuracy of the technique can be eligible.

Can the Spatial Point Patterns of Animal Distributions Be Detected Using Sparse Samples? A Case Study of Four Soricomorpha (Mammalia) Species in Poland / Czy Przestrzenny Wzorzec Rozkładu Punktów W Dystrybucji Zwierząt Może Zostać Określony Na Podstawie Rzadkiego Próbkowania? Studium Przypadku Na Czterech Gatunkach Soricomorpha (Mammalia) Występujących W Polsce.

Abstract In the present study, Riley's K function and alternative spatial point process models are calculated and compared for the hybrid distributional records of four Soricomorpha species (Talpa europaea, Sorex araneus, Sorex minutus, and Neomys fodiens) in Poland over different sampling sizes. The following spatial point process models are fitted and compared: homogeneous Poisson process (HPP) and inhomogeneous Poisson process (IPP) models. For IPP models, the covariates explaining the trend are latitude and longitude. Spatial process models and true distributional aggregation status (using K function) of the four species are also calculated based on the full observed data set for the purpose to check how many grids are required to sample so as to reflect the true spatial distributional point patterns. When performind tha sampling, the sanpling size 5, 10, 30, 60 and 100 are considered. For each sampling size, 500 replicates are performed to keep consistence and reduce uncertainty. The results showed that, for the full observed data set over the whole territory of Poland, IPP models were much better than the null HPP model for explaining the distribution of Soricomorpha species. For every sample size, the true aggregation status and the associated spatial point process models of each species over the studied area can be perfectly identified when using the information derived from limiting samples only. Based on the results, it is found that around 20% of grid cells should be used as the minimum threshold for accurately detecting the true spatial point patterns

Co-circulation of soricid- and talpid-borne hantaviruses in Poland

Previously, we reported the discovery of a genetically distinct hantavirus, designated Boginia virus (BOGV), in the Eurasian water shrew (Neomys fodiens), as well as the detection of Seewis virus (SWSV) in the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus), in central Poland. In this expanded study of 133 shrews and 69moles captured during 2010–2013 in central and southeastern Poland, we demonstrate the co-circulation of BOGV in the Eurasian water shrew and SWSV in the Eurasian common shrew, Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) and Mediterranean water shrew (Neomys anomalus). In addition, we found high prevalence of Nova virus (NVAV) infection in the European mole (Talpa europaea), with evidence of NVAV RNA in heart, lung, liver, kidney, spleen and intestine. The nucleotide and amino acid sequence variation of the L segment among the SWSV strains was 0–18.8% and 0–5.4%, respectively. And for the 38 NVAV strains from European moles captured in Huta Dłutowska, the L-segment genetic similarity ranged from 94.1%–100% at the nucleotide level and 96.3%–100% at the amino acid level. Phylogenetic analyses showed geographic-specific lineages of SWSV and NVAV in Poland, not unlike that of rodent-borne hantaviruses, suggesting long-standing host-specific adaptation. The co-circulation and distribution of BOGV, SWSV and NVAV in Poland parallels findings of multiple hantavirus species co-existing in their respective rodent reservoir species elsewhere in Europe. Also, the detection of SWSV in three syntopic shrew species resembles spill over events observed among some rodent-borne hantaviruses.

Hantaviruses in Finnish soricomorphs: Evidence for two distinct hantaviruses carried by Sorex araneus suggesting ancient host-switch

Hantaviruses are emerging viruses carried by rodents, soricomorphs (shrews and moles) and bats. In Finland, Puumala virus (PUUV) was for years the only hantavirus detected. In 2009, however, Seewis virus (SWSV) was reported from archival common shrew (Sorex araneus) samples collected in 1982 in Finland. To elucidate the diversity of hantaviruses in soricomorphs in Finland, 180 individuals were screened, representing seven species captured from 2001 to 2012: hantavirus RNA was screened using RT-PCR, and hantaviral antigen using immunoblotting with polyclonal antibodies raised against truncated SWSV nucleocapsid protein. The overall hantavirus RNA prevalence was 14% (26/180), antigen could be demonstrated in 9 of 20 SWSV RT-PCR positive common shrews. Genetic analyses revealed that four soricomorph-borne hantaviruses circulate in Finland, including Boginia virus (BOGV) in water shrew (Neomys fodiens) and Asikkala virus (ASIV) in pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus). Interestingly, on two study sites, common shrews harbored strains of two different hantaviruses: Seewis virus and a new distinct, genetically distant (identity 57% at amino acid level) virus (Altai-like virus) which clusters together with viruses in the basal phylogroup I of hantaviruses with 62–67% identity at amino acid level. This is the first evidence of coexistence of two clearly distinct hantavirus species circulating simultaneously in one host species population. The findings suggest an ancient host-switching event from a yet unknown host to S. araneus. In addition, phylogenetic analyses of partial S and M segment sequences showed that SWSV in Finland represents a unique genotype in Europe.

Invading and expanding: range dynamics and ecological consequences of the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) invasion in Ireland.

Establishing how invasive species impact upon pre-existing species is a fundamental question in ecology and conservation biology. The greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) is an invasive species in Ireland that was first recorded in 2007 and which, according to initial data, may be limiting the abundance/distribution of the pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), previously Ireland's only shrew species. Because of these concerns, we undertook an intensive live-trapping survey (and used other data from live-trapping, sightings and bird of prey pellets/nest inspections collected between 2006 and 2013) to model the distribution and expansion of C. russula in Ireland and its impacts on Ireland's small mammal community. The main distribution range of C. russula was found to be approximately 7,600 km2 in 2013, with established outlier populations suggesting that the species is dispersing with human assistance within the island. The species is expanding rapidly for a small mammal, with a radial expansion rate of 5.5 km/yr overall (2008–2013), and independent estimates from live-trapping in 2012–2013 showing rates of 2.4–14.1 km/yr, 0.5–7.1 km/yr and 0–5.6 km/yr depending on the landscape features present. S. minutus is negatively associated with C. russula. S. minutus is completely absent at sites where C. russula is established and is only present at sites at the edge of and beyond the invasion range of C. russula. The speed of this invasion and the homogenous nature of the Irish landscape may mean that S. minutus has not had sufficient time to adapt to the sudden appearance of C. russula. This may mean the continued decline/disappearance of S. minutus as C. russula spreads throughout the island.

Invasive alien species disrupt spatial and temporal ecology and threaten extinction in an insular, small mammal community

The impact of invasive bank vole (Myodes glareolus) and greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) on indigenous Irish small mammals, varies with season and habitat. We caught bank voles in deciduous woodland, young coniferous plantations and open habitats such as rank grass. The greater white-toothed shrew was absent from deciduous woods and plantations but did use open habitats with low level cover in addition to field margins. Numbers of both invasive species in field margins during summer were higher than in the previous spring. The indigenous wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus) and pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus), differed in degrees of negative response to invasive species. Wood mice with bank voles in hedgerows had reduced recruitment and lower peak abundance. This effect was less extreme where both invasive species were present. Wood mice numbers along field margins and open habitats were significantly depressed by the presence of the bank vole with no such effect in deciduous woodland or coniferous plantations. Summer recruitment in pygmy shrews was reduced in hedgerows with bank voles. Where greater white-toothed shrew was present, the pygmy shrew was entirely absent from field margins. Species replacement due to invasive small mammals is occurring in their major habitat i.e. field margins and open habitats where there is good ground cover. Pygmy shrew will probably disappear from these habitats throughout Ireland. Wood mice and possibly pygmy shrew may survive in deciduous woodland and conifer plantations. Mitigation of impacts of invasive species should include expansion of woodland in which native species can survive.

New method for visualization of C-heterochromatin in synaptonemal complex spreads

DAPI staining of the metaphase chromosomes pretreated with barium hydroxide generates a C-like banding pattern. In this work a protocol for visualizing similar pattern at the synaptonemal complex (SC) spreads after immunostaining is suggested. This method was used to visualize centromeric and sex heterochromatin at the SC spreads of guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859). The efficiency of this method was further confirmed at SC spreads of the northern red-backed vole (Myodes rutilus (Pallas, 1779)), the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus (Linnaeus, 1758)), and the pigmy shrew (Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766).

Detection of shrew-borne hantavirus in Eurasian pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) in Central Europe

Recently, it was found that not only rodents but also shrews are reservoir hosts of hantaviruses. In Central Europe, only Seewis virus, associated with the Eurasian common shrew (Sorex araneus), has been recognized until now. In the present report, tissue samples from shrews belonging to Crocidurinae and Soricinae subfamilies, trapped in Czech Republic, Germany, and Slovakia, were screened for the presence of novel hantaviruses. Three new hantavirus partial L-segment sequences were obtained from pygmy shrews (Sorex minutus) trapped in Czech Republic and Germany. Complete nucleocapsid protein- and glycoprotein precursor-coding S- and M-segment sequences were then determined for the newly recognized hantavirus strains, CZ/Beskydy/412/2010/Sm, CZ/Drahany/420/2010/Sm, and DE/Dürrbach/1912/2009/Sm. Phylogenetic analyses showed that they represent strains of Asikkala virus (ASIV), a novel hantavirus also found in pygmy shrews from Finland. Our study reveals a broad geographic distribution of ASIV across Europe and indicates pygmy shrew as the primary reservoir host. Future studies will have to determine the pathogenic relevance of ASIV.

Ecological corridors also operate in an urban matrix: A test case with garden shrews

The fragmentation of landscapes, induced by the growing urbanisation, is a major cause of biodiversity loss. Ecological corridors are landscape elements that make up for the negative effects of habitat fragmentation in agricultural or natural landscapes. However, their effectiveness have been rarely assess in an urban context. To do so, we analysed shrews in woodlots, corridors and domestic gardens that are connected or disconnected from a corridor. Indeed, these mammals are very sensitive to fragmentation and could play an important ecological role even in small and isolated areas such as domestic gardens. Ninety-seven shrews, from three species were trapped. In our study, Sorex coronatus, Sorex minutus and Crocidura russula were not widely distributed and mainly occurred in woodlots, corridors and connected gardens. In gardens, shrew occurrences were mainly determined by landscape configuration with negative effects of the distance to the corridor and the distance to the woodlot, stronger for C.russula than Sorex species. At the local scale, garden management and vegetation showed a positive effect mainly for Sorex species. The quality of gardens seems good enough to permit the co-occurrence of several species of shrews and thus competition was not identified as a major process for determining the occurrence. We showed that, as in other ecosystems, ecological corridors in urban context can play an effective role for the distribution of organisms with low dispersal capabilities and should be develop in planning strategies.

Sorex bifidus n. sp. and the rich insectivore mammal fauna (Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha, Mammalia) from the Early Pleistocene of Żabia Cave in Poland

Thirteen species of insectivore mammals, among them the new taxon Sorex bifidus n. sp.and twelve others are described from one of the few middle Early Pleistocene localities of Poland, Żabia Cave. They are: Erinaceus sp. (Erinaceidae), Talpa minor and T. europaea (Talpidae), Paenelimnoecus pannonicus, Sorex minutus, S. runtonensis, S. (Drepanosorex) praearaneus, S. (D.) margaritodon, Asoriculus gibberodon, Neomys newtoni, Petenyia hungarica and Beremendoia fissidens (Soricidae). Measurements, systematic positions, palaeoecological requirements and illustrations are given. The four species of Sorex indicate a humide sylvan paleoenvironment. The abundance of moles is also connected with relatively humid conditions and more or less open areas with soft soils. On the other hand, S. runtonensis is probably an indicator of arid and relatively open biotope and the hedgehog, Erinaceus sp., of forest, shrubs and open areas. Neomys newtoni is connected with open water bodies. This shows a mosaic landscape – forest, open habitat patches and water bodies in the vicinity of the studied cave. The impoverishment of the shrew fauna of Europe during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene caused by the extinction of the Pliocene taxa and the appearance of more numerous species of the genus Sorex are presented.

Distribution of cryptic shrew species of the genus Sorex (Mammalia) on the plain between the Don and Kuban rivers as inferred by molecular markers

Microsatellite and mtDNA markers have been used to identify two pairs of cryptic species Sorex araneus L. (Sorex satunini Ogn.) and Sorex minutus L. (S. volnuchini Ogn.). The new data were obtained on the distribution of these species on the plain between the Don and Kuban rivers. The shrew S. volnuchini and Caucasian mole are distributed on the plain areas up to the Eya River. The endemic species of the Caucasus, the shrews S. satunini and S. volnuchini, are widely distributed across the valleys alongside small streams on the steppe plain. Both species are most abundant on thick grasslands, bushy scrub, and deciduous woodlands. They don't show any clear differences in habitat preferences.