THE INVASIONS OF THE COMMON VOLE SIBLING SPECIES
The review of own and literary data on invasions of sibling species Microtus from the group “arvalis” (East European, M. rossiaemeridionalis, common, M. arvalis and Altai, M. obscures voles) is given. It has been established two stages of invasions differing in duration which defined formation of modern ranges of these species and had an influence on evolutionary processes. The first stage is connected with agricultural development of Eurasia from the early Neolithic before broad plowing of lands in the second half of the 20th century. Expansion of the range in the northern direction after deforestation for plowing of lands and in southern one, as a result of irrigation of arable lands, is peculiar to all three sibling species. The second stage is caused by expansion of transport network and growth of traffic flows in the 20th century. The last is characteristic for M. rossiaemeridionalis . The natural and historical reasons of formation of a contact zone between M. arvalis and M obscurus are reconstructed. The original maps showing modern distribution of sibling species Microtus of the arvalis group are given, and the natural and historical factors that influenced the formation of their ranges are discussed.