Community of Small Mammals in the Patchy Landscape of Northern Kulunda (Western Siberia)

Abstract

An analysis of the community of rodents and insectivores in five biotopes of the southern forest steppe of Northern Kulunda has been carried out. High biodiversity is typical for the coastal strip with dense herbage near the lake, and low biodiversity is typical for the feather grass–forb steppe. At the beginning of the 21st century, there was a change in dominants of the community of small mammals, and the species richness increased. Of the five shrew species, only the common, tundra, and Eurasian pygmy shrews inhabit all biotopes. Their total proportion in each biotope varied between 16 to 38%. Among the 11 rodent species, the narrow-headed vole is the dominant species. Its total proportion in the community of small mammals was 38.3%. This species is characterized by a peculiar cycle of abundance. The reduction of steppe habitats has led to a decrease in the number of steppe lemming and a change in its population cycle. The proportion of other rodent species in the community of small mammals is low.