title

Synanthropic mammal fauna in cities of the Eurasian continent

author(s)

Igor Evstafiev (orcid: 0000-0003-1586-8411)

affiliation

Crimean Republican Sanitary and Epidemiological Station (Simferopol, AR Crimea)

bibliography

Theriologia Ukrainica. 2026. Vol. 31: 3–31.

DOI

language

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

abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the formation, structure, and functioning of urban ecosystems, as well as the place and role of animal species closely associated with towns and cities. The aim of the work is to summarise current ideas about animal biodiversity in Eurasian cities, the mechanisms of their adaptation to the urban environment, and the ecological consequences of the interaction between humans and the urban fauna. The article discusses the characteristics of urban ecosystems, which are specific anthropogenically transformed ecosystems with a high level of fragmentation of natural biotopes, a mosaic environment, and significant anthropogenic impact. New ecological niches are created in populated areas, which are colonised by various groups of mammals. The main focus is on synanthropic species that have adapted to living alongside humans and successfully use the trophic and spatial resources of the urban environment. The main groups of synanthropic fauna in Eurasian cities are considered: small mammals (mice, rats, and hedgehogs), predatory mammals (foxes, martens) and some bats. It is shown that the level of synanthropisation of different species is determined by their ecological plasticity and behavioural adaptations, which help them to successfully use food resources and anthropogenic shelters provided by modern urbanised landscapes. It is noted that cities (e.g., Istanbul) create a specific urban gradient—from natural and peri-urban areas to dense development and industrial zones—along which the species composition and structure of synanthropic species communities change. The paper also briefly discusses the ecological and sanitary-epizoo­tolo­gical aspects of the existence of synanthropic species in cities, as well as their importance in the functioning of urban ecosystems. Part of the synanthropic fauna, especially feral domestic predators (cats and dogs), as well as some wild mesopredators, participate in regulating the numbers of other synanthropic organisms. Thus, the urban ecosystems of the Eurasian continent form complex and dynamic ecological systems that have their own characteristics in different natural and climatic zones, in which synanthropic fauna plays an important structural and functional role. The study of such communities is important for understanding the processes of urbanisation, biodiversity conservation, and the development of strategies for the ecologically balanced development of cities.

keywords

synanthropy, synurbisation, urban ecology, commensalism, biodiversity, adaptation

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