Reaction of small mammal communities to different degrees of forest phytocenosis urbanogenic transformation
N. F. Chernousova
Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Ekaterinburg, Russia
Keywords: urbanization, forest phytocenosis, small mammals, park-forest, park, gradient of community change
Abstract
Urbanization ongoing around the world leads to changes in ecosystems, and wildlife is forced to respond by adapting to this impact. First of all, plant communities change, which are actively being transformed inside and around the city what, with the stress of human presence, does not remain indifferent and for animals. For animals this often leads to decrease in biodiversity in the sites exposed to anthropogenic stress. However, for some mammalian species (especially small ones) what are more resistant to stress from human presence, urbanization has some advantages by creating modified habitats and reducing competition with natural forest species that are more sensitive to urbanogenic effects. For several years, we have been investigating the influence of the megalopolis located in the forest zone (Ekaterinburg city) on phytocenoses and communities of small mammals. The objects were two park-forests - areas of pine forest of the city outskirts, altered to varying degrees depending on the proximity to urban development, as well as the remains of a pine forest in the Central Park of Culture and Recreation. The forest phytocenoses were found have been changed through all park-forests area, especially strongly in places adjacent or close to buildings at the cost of weed vegetation and introduced plant species, as well as under the influence of recreation. In addition to the forest species, small mammals uncharacteristic for the forest of this zone were present at all sites. In outlying park-forest places where the anthropogenic load is much lower, forest mammal species are found in greater numbers, although and the presence of hemisynanthropic species, which in our forests include small wood mouse and striped field mouse, remains. In some cases, this might lead to an increase in community diversity indices. Naturally, the conditions of the plant environment affect the ability of rodents and shrews to form steady micropopulations and communities in the forest sites of the city, although and the disquiet factor plays a material role.
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