general info about Theriologia Ukrainica

Theriologia Ukrainica
(former Proceedings of the Theriological School)

ISSN 2616-7379 (print) • ISSN 2617-1120 (online)

2019 • Vol. 18 • Contents of volume >>>


download pdfMerzlikin, I. 2019. Rare rodent species in fragmented steppe areas of the right-bank Lower Dnipro region: new records. Theriologia Ukrainica, 18: 133–136.


 

title

Rare rodent species in fragmented steppe areas of the right-bank Lower Dnipro region: new records

author(s)

Ihor Merzlikin

affiliation

Makarenkо Sumy State Pedagogical University (Sumy, Ukraine)

bibliography

Theriologia Ukrainica. 2019. Vol. 18: 133–136.

DOI

http://doi.org/10.15407/pts2019.18.133

   

language

Ukrainian, with English summary, titles of tables, captures to figs

abstract

As part of the project to study the impact of the sites of the Dnipro wind farm on small mammals, the agricultural lands of the Belozersky district of Kherson region were surveyed on 1–3 October 2019, including arable lands, rapeseed fields, winter crops fields, forest strips, as well as the upper part of the Tyaginka steppe balka. For a total of 253 trap-days, 60 specimens of 8 small mammal species were captured. Among them 3 species of rare rodents were found such as the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus), the southern birch mouse (Sicista subtilis) and the grey dwarf hamster (Cricetulus migatorius), which are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. All 3 species were found on the steppe section of the upper part of the Tyaginka balka. The southern birch mouse and the northern mole vole were found in the feather grassland area, while the gray hamster was observed among blackthorn bushes and wild rose in the area of low herbaceous vegetation. The portion of the southern birch mouse in the sample trapped in this balka was 4.8 %, its relative abundance was 2 individuals/100 trap-days, while in the general sample 1.7 % and 0.4 individuals/100 traps-days, respectively. In addition, the gray hamster was caught on a plowed field not far from the forest belt and on the rapeseed field. The portion of the grey hamster in the sample was 3.3%, its relative number was 0.8 individuals /100 trap-days. The new find of the northern mole vole is located 18 km west of the nearest known occurrence of this species. It is within the probable range of the northern mole vole in the Dnipro region. Of these three rare rodent species, only the gray hamster is the most common species, which is found in small numbers both in farmlands and in forest strips. Our studies and literature show that the steppe flora and fauna of agricultural areas of this region is concentrated almost exclusively in the system of balkas that reach the Dnipro. It is necessary to give the status of a local reserve to the upper part of the Tiaginka balka, otherwise this territory will be destroyed (plowed), since the slope of the ravine is rather flat which allows cultivation.

keywords

steppe fauna, rare species,  distribution, Dnipro region, Prydniprovska wind farm, Ukraine.

   

references

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updated: 24.03.2020

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