Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2026 number 1

The peculiarities of reproduction and population structure of the northern red-backed vole in the northern taiga of Western Siberia are considered. Rodent trapping was carried out in the snowless period using the method of ditch with pitfalls (guide fences made of polyethylene film) and trap-lines. A total of 2704 northern red-backed vole were recorded in the southern strip of northern taiga over a 9-year period and in the northern strip of northern taiga over a 4-year period. The reproductive participation of females was determined by the presence of embryos and placental scars, the participation of males by the presence of spermatozoa in the epididymis and the size of the testis. The age of voles was determined by M² root development, and mass, body length, and thymus development were used. Adult overwintered voles have a reproductive period of up to five months, and up to three months for young voles. Overwintered males remain sexually active throughout the entire snowless period. Overwintered females of the southern strip bring three litters, and young females two litters. Most overwintered females in the northern strip bring two litters, and in rare cases a third litter is possible, while young females bring two litters. In the southern strip in April-May, and in the northern strip in June, the northern red-backed vole population is represented exclusively by overwintered animals. In August and September are universally dominated by young. Males predominate among adults and young animals, only in late summer and autumn the numerical advantage is shifted towards females among overwintered animals.