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The diet composition of the social vole at the beginning stage of colonization of a zonal plain in a clayey semidesert of the Trans-Volga region
Abstract
The botanical composition and the ratio of various plants in the diet of Microtus socialisPall. were determined by microhistological cuticular-coprological analysis of undigested remains. Microtus socialis disappeared from the zonal plain of the Volga-Ural interfluve in the early 1970s and appeared again in 2009. The role of grains in their nutrition became more important, and the ratio of wormwoods sharply decreased. The feeding patterns observed are caused by the long-term absence of these massive phytophages and reflect significant changes in the habitat over the last 40 years.
... To date, there has been only sporadic information on the digestion in the social voles (Khashaeva, 1993;Abaturov & Khashaeva, 1995). There are few studies about different aspects of nutrition of this rodent in nature (Rodionov, 1924;Voronov, 1935a, b;Formozov & Kiris, 1937;Kokhiya, 1968;Polishchuk, 1985;Larionov et al., 2011;Magomedov, 2017). One of the main features of the feeding of the social vole is that when the quality of the forage deteriorates, the digestibility of the ingested food decreases sharply (Abaturov & Khashaeva, 1995). ...
... The microhistological analysis of feces was used to determine the species composition of food plants (Stewart, 1967;Phillipson et al., 1983;Larionov et al., 2011;Okulova et al., 2015). The fresh feces of the social vole were collected in the five colonies at the hole entries during a few days in April, May, and October. ...
... In the steppes, the food storage of the social vole consists mainly of several types of grasses -Agropyrum sibiricum, Bromus japponicum, Hordeum murinum (Rodionov, 1924). In the clay semideserts of the Volga region, these monocots account for about 50% of the diet of the social vole (Larionov et al., 2011). The dominance of grasses in the diet and significantly lower consumption of forbs were also observed in the common vole (Luthi et al., 2010). ...
... Работы по оценке питания общественной полевки в природе немногочисленны [Родионов 1924;Воронов 1935;Формозов, Кирис 1937;Кохия 1968;Полищук 1985;Larionov et al. 2011]. ...
... Для определения видового состава кормовых растений применяли микрогистологический кутикулярный анализ экскрементов [Stewart 1967;Larionov et al. 2011]. Помет общественных полевок собирали у входа в нору. ...
Цель настоящего исследования — определить состав летнего рациона Microtus socialis Pall. (общественная полевка). Материал и методы. Материалы по составу летнего рациона Microtus socialis Pall. получены на территории Черных земель (северо-западный Прикаспий) Республики Калмыкия с использованием метода кутикулярного микрогистологического анализа экскрементов. Результаты. В рационе общественной полевки выявлено 26 видов растений. Основу летнего рациона составляют злаки (54 %), преимущественно Poa bulbosa. Разнотравье потребляется общественной полевкой в несколько меньшем количестве (46 %), но также играет важную роль в питании в летний период. Выводы. Основу летнего рациона Microtus socialis Pall. на Черных землях составляют вегетативные и генеративные органы эфемероида Poa bulbosa. Преобладание мятлика луковичного в летнем рационе связано с тем, что и после завершения вегетации луковицы этого вида сохраняются до начала нового вегетационного сезона, являясь легкодоступным кормом.
Helle P., 1980: Food composition and feeding habits of the roe deer in w inter in central Finland. Acta theriol., 25, 32: 395—402 [With 3 Tables & 1 Fig.]. The food composition and feeding habits of the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758) were studied from October to A pril in the w inters of 1975/76 and 1976/77 at Muhos in Finland (ca. 65°N, 26°E). The food composition was determ ined microscopically from pellets and by tracing tracks of the roe deer in the snow. Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Betula sp., Populus trem ula and Parmelia physodes w ere the most commonly eaten plant species. About 30% of the food w as dug up from under or inside the snow during th e period of deepest snow in December—April. The roe deer consumed considerable am ounts of arboreal lichens, but barking was not observed. The m ost favoured w inter habitats were Picea forests and river valleys, the areas with the thinnest snow cover locally. Reduced snow cover, shelter and an adequate food supply are th e m ain factors in w inter h ab itat selection for the roe deer in the northern p arts of its distribution range. [Dept. Zool., Univ. Oulu, K asarm intie 8, SF-90100, Oulu 10, F in land].
Evaluation of climate was made on the base of decade data of precipitation, temperature, moisture and calculated values of evaporation, moisture deficit for the period of 1952-1998. Comparison of mean climate indexes of the first and second part of the XX centuries didn't reveal sharp changes. Under more detailed analyses of indexes for the period of 1952-1998 two sub-periods were fixed (1952-1977 and 1978-1998), which differed according to the moistening degree and some other indexes. Second sub-period calculated with Caspian sea level change and with the rise of ground waters on examined territory is characterized by the increase of precipitation for 50 mm during the warm period warming on 1.3Γ, on winter-spring season lowering of evaporation on 70 mm during warm season, decreasing of decades with small and, increase of decades with moderate and strong precipitation.
The composition of plants consumed by saiga (Saiga tatarica) on Kalmykian Chernye Zemli during a year was studied. The diet composition of 96 animals was determined on the basis of microscopic analysis of their feces. At the present time, in the plant cover of Chernye Zemli - the main habitat of saiga - monocotyledons (Gramineae and sedges) with the dominant Stipa capillata prevail. They are less preferable plants for feeding of saiga. Dicotyledons (xerophilous dwarf shrubs) occupy a subordinate position. The yield of the aboveground phytomass does not exceed 10 centners per hectare; the share of dicotyledons is 10%, feather grasses (mainly Stipa capillata) 80%. Monocotyledons predominate in the saiga diet and amount, on average, to 56% in all the seasons. The low reserves of dicotyledons - the main forage plants of saiga - are a reason for their low participation or absence in the animal's diet. In winter, saiga pasture on areas exposed to summer fires. In autumn and mild winters, these areas are intensely overgrown with plants.
Techniques for evaluating fecal analysis were investigated using examples from studies on European waterfowl. Visual classification of droppings in the field on the basis of color or the presence of macroscopically identifiable material gave a good indication of the use of particular foods. Quantitative microscopic analysis techniques were investigated in detail. Identification of epidermis in waterfowl fecal material posed no great problems with relatively small numbers of plant species. Point sampling gives an accurate area measurement, and corrections can be made for differential fragmentation of plants and for differences in weight/surface area ratio of food items. Much work is needed before diet analysis can be accurately related to the energy budget of wild birds.
Phillipson, J., Sarrazin-Comans M. & Stomatopoulos C., 1983: Food consumption by Microtus agrestis and the unsuitability of faecal analysis for the determination of food preference. Acta theriol., 28 26: 397—416 [With 6 Tables, 4 Figs. & Plate XIII] In the laboratory adult Microtus agrestis (Linnaeus, 1761) consumed an average of 21.4 g wet wt. (=6.3 g dry wt.) of fresh grass indiv"1 d" 1 with an annual mean digestibility of 52.8%. When four common species of food grass were on offer consumption in Autumn and Winter was directly proportional to availability. A preference for the more "succulent" species was exhibited in Spring and Summer. Over the year digestibility coefficients ranged between 33.6 and 67.8%, the highest values occurring in Spring and Summer. Faecal analysis suggested an order of food preference different to that determined by direct observation, the differences being attributable to the differential "desirability" and "digestibility" of the food grasses during the course of the year.
In the clay semidesert of the Caspian Lowland, the surface runoff is transformed to soil runoff due to the presence of a system
of social vole (Microtus socialis Pall.) passageways in the soils that promotes the retention of soil moisture and prevents the development of soil erosion.
A quantitative assessment of this process is given. We describe the mechanism of intense soil erosion arising after the disturbance
of vole underground passageways responsible for the formation of specific relief elements and plant communities.
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