Boreal species Microtus agrestis and Sicista betulina in the region of the Ukrainian Carpathians: a review

• Date: 2017
• Main Author: Barkaszi, Z.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Національний науково-природничий музей НАН України 2017
• Series: Праці теріологічної школи
• Subjects: Поширення ссавців
• Online Access: https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/165939
• Journal Title: Digital Library of Periodicals of National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• Cite this: Boreal species Microtus agrestis and Sicista betulina in the region of the Ukrainian Carpathians: a review / Z. Barkaszi // Праці Теріологічної школи. — 2017. — Т. 15: Теріологічні дослідження 2017. — С. 86-93. — Бібліогр.: 43 назв. — англ.

The paper deals with the peculiarities of distribution of the field vole (M. agrestis) and the northern birch mouse (S. betulina) in the region of the Ukrainian Carpathians, which are the southern range edge of these species. The present review is based on results obtained by analysis of records and sightings of these species and over 220 collection samples have been examined from leading zoological museums of Ukraine. It has been revealed that the range of the field vole on the northern megaslope of the Ukrainian Carpathians (i.e. Ciscarpathia [=Prykarpattia] and, partly, Bukovina) is practically continuous up to the krummholz and subalpine zones where the species has the highest abundance. Its distribution extends further to the southern megaslope down to the zone of deciduous forests, but the species does not penetrate the adjacent plains. On the contrary, records and sightings of the northern birch mouse are associated with highland biotopes (subalpine meadows and krummholz) of central massifs, foremost of Chornohora and Gorgany, and partly of the Skole Beskids. Moreover, the spatial distribution of records of S. betulina is similar to insular at the southern edge of its geographical range.