Studies of the Distribution of Mustelids over the Southern Urals with the Help of Noninvasive Methods
N. V. KISELEVA1,2, P. A. SOROKIN1,2
1V. I. Lenin Ilmen State Reserve UrB RAS, 456317, Miass, Chelyabinsk Region
nаtakis17@gmail.com
2A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, 119071, Moscow, Leninsky ave., 33
molecoldna@gmail.com
Keywords: noninvasive methods, the Southern Urals, American mink, common marten, spatial arrangement, photo captures
Abstract
Noninvasive methods (polling, collection of excrements, DNA analysis, photo capturing) allowed us to reveal the most widespread mustelid species and evaluate the character of their distribution over the territory of the region. Two mustelid species – American mink and common marten – are most usual in the Southern Urals. American mink during the summer and autumn season tends to brooks flowing into large rivers, while common marten more frequently occurs at the banks of forest brooks and rivers with channel width not more than 3 m. Under usual conditions, there is a trend of space separation between different mustelid species, while under the critical conditions multi-species communities are formed on the banks of water flows. Mutual avoidance is achieved in these communities through the separation of diurnal activity.
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