Features of Station Distribution of Mouse-Like Rodents in Foothill Zone of the Republic of Dagestan

Abstract

The features of the spatial distribution of four species of Mouse-Like rodents (Sylvaemus fulvipectus, Cricetulus migratorius, Microtus socialis, and Dryomys nitedula) in the forest associations of the foothill zone of the Republic of Dagestan are analyzed. Sixteen environmental parameters are selected, of which ten significantly showed interspecific differences. The distribution of rodent species is demonstrated relative to the environmental characteristics taken into account in the descriptions; the preferences and requirements for the environment of each species are revealed. Thus, the yellow-bellied mouse and gray hamster were found at all stations, whereas the forest dormouse and social vole were more selective in their choice of stations. As a result, the width of the spatial niches for the yellow-bellied mouse and gray hamster is greater than that of the forest dormouse and social vole. The results of pairwise comparison of the spatial niches of studied rodent species reveal low values of their overlap.