Structure and dynamics of small mammal communities in the valley biotopes at the con uence of the Ob and Irtysh rivers
The research was conducted in variously disturbed areas and nature reserves on the territory of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug - Ugra (Khanty-Mansiysky District) in 2015-2017. Overall, 18 species of insectivores and rodents were identified at the confluence of the Ob and Irtysh rivers. We have established that against the background of low abundance of the water vole, the common shrew and root vole made up the dominant species, while the Eurasian Pygmy shrew and northern red-backed vole were co-dominants. The instability of floodplain communities of small mammals depending on water regime and water vole abundance was shown. The studied biotopes demonstrated a high similarity (ICS > 0.70), as well as the disturbance of their species structure. We conclude that the similarity of communities the differences correlated with the water regime of the territories. The floodplain is suitable for different species of small mammals, especially water-loving species (the root vole, Eurasian water vole). Population dynamics of the Eurasian water vole generally affects the structure of small mammal communities.