CONTENT - International Society of Zoological Sciences

ICZ2008 – Abstracts S18
Siberian chipmunk Tamias sibiricus (Laxmann, 1769) in
Yakutia
Tatyana N. Solomonova
Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, 41
Lenin avenue, 677891 Yakutsk,
Chipmunk is a common forest species. In Yakutia the northern
boundary of its range goes along the latitude 67-69N reaching 71N
in the downstream of the Lena, 69-70°N in the Olenek River basin,
69 along the Yana and the Indigirka and 67 30' in the Kolyma area.
The animal does not occur in the northern thin forests. In the
mountain of the north-east of Yakutia the species inhabit the sites
at the altitude 1300 m a.s.l. Most modern researchers consider
that morphological parameters of the Yakutia chipmunk are within
the size limits of the nominal subspecies T. sibiricus Laxmann. The
Yakutia subspecies s. jacutensis Ognev, described in 1936 has
slight differences, mainly in skin coloring. Chipmunk occupies a
peculiar niche in the forest ecosystems: unlike a tree squirrel
species the animal is a wood-shrub form, inhabits sparse forests
with shrub growth occurring often in the outskirts, makes hollows
and dwelling places on the ground under tree roots, under fallen
trees, in holes not high from the ground. It feeds on seeds of
woody-shrub plants, dog-rose, many herb species, berries,
Vaccinium vitis-iedae, in particular. Larch and pine seeds the
chipmunk gets from the fallen last year cones.
In spring until mid-summer it consumes much greenery. Population
is maintained through reproduction of one but large-sized litter.
Regular hibernation is characteristic of the Yakutia chipmunk
population though it is less expressed unlike larger ground
squirrels and marmots. On the other hand Siberian chipmunk
hibernation is noted for a longer period than in north-American
chipmunks where the climate conditions are more favorable. It
lasts 5 months with repeated arousals in 7-8 days. The
temperature dependence of metabolism rate has been studied in
hibernating chipmunks within the temperature range -5 to 9 °C.
The least metabolism rate is fixed at the temperature 3-5 °C;
amounting 0, 049±0.0017 ml O2/g.hr. Decrease of the ambient
temperature causes a sharp rise of oxygen uptake. Minimal mass
losses are recorded at 3-5 °C, the longest periods of hypothermia
proceed in the same intervals. Duration of a torpid state was much
shorter in the artificial hole with colder temperature conditions.
Bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) in Yakutia (north-eastern
Siberia)
Tatiana N. Solomonova and Andrey I. Anufriev
Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, 41
Lenin avenue, 677891 Yakutsk, Russia
There are 5 Chiroptera species of Vespertilionidae family recorded
in Yakutia. Eptesicus nilssoni is spread over the whole southern
half of the territory. In the Lena River basin Northern bats are
found in the Buotama (tributary) Mouth and in the vicinity of
Olekminsk. The Vilyui basin is rich in this species all along this
river. East of the Lena the Northern bat is sighted in the upper
course of the Tamma; the Ungra River (left confluence of the
Aldan); easternmost of the Zapadny Yangi Mountains; lower
course of the Maya. The northernmost point of this bat finding in
Yakutia is the Vilyui River basin in its midstream in the place of the
Markha River confluence (63 0 30’ N, 119 0 E). Information related to
the Northern bat habitat in the Kolyma River area has not been
confirmed. Plecotus auritus within the limits of Yakutia has been
reported in the Tokko River valley near the Tyanya outfall; the
Tokko valley; on the riverside of the Amga; this species animals
were regularly found among hibernating bats in the gypsum pit.
The northernmost finding of the Common long-eared bat in eastern
Siberia is the neighborhood of Churapcha settlement (62 0 N;
132 0 30’ E). In Yakutia, Myotis brandti was first recorded during
wintering in the gallery of the gypsum pit near Olekminsk (60 0 30’ N;
120 0 30’E) in November, 2002.
In 2006 one specimen of Brandt’s bat was found in summer 100
km south of its wintering range. All places of Мyotis daubentoni
finding are in the southern sector of Yakutia. The northern
boundary line of the area for this species runs along 61-62 0 N. The
animal was recorded in Nyurba situated in the Vilyui basin
(63 0 30’N; 119 0 E), it is the northernmost point of East Siberia.
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5 records of Мyotis ikonnikovi are reported in 3 geographical
points of Yakutia: one specimen was caught as far as 25 km from
Tommot (town) in the upstream of the Aldan (59 0 N; 126 0 E); one
– in the area of the mid-Ungra, the upper part of the Aldan basin
(57 0 30’ N; 124 0 30’ E), three – during wintering in the galleries of
the gypsum pit, respectively.
All Chiroptera species in Yakutia are found during their wintering in
the galleries of the gypsum pit. Experimental research of the
hibernation course in Eptesicus nilssoni, Plecotus auritus and
Мyotis daubentoni showed that Hiroptera survival in the frosty
period without food is maintained due to long-time periods of
hypothermia (97-98% of budget time) and a short-time (1-2%) stay
in normothermia.
Information on Mallophaga fauna of Passeriformes in Yakutia
Olga N. Stepanova and Nickolay I. Germogenov
Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone SB RAS, 41
Lenin avenue, 677980 Yakutsk, Russia
499 individuals from 36 passerine species (28 migratory-breeding
and 8 resident) were examined, of them we found 3383
Mallophaga specimens (34 species) on 323 birds (23). Invasion
extensiveness is 64.7%, abundance index - 6.8 specimens.
Parasites were absent on Brown shrike (n=3), Northern skylark
(n=3), Yellow wagtail (n=5) и Water pipit (n=5), Olive-backed pipit
(n=1), Red-winged thrush (n=1), Siberian rubythroat (n=1), Redflanked
bluetail (n=11), Arctic warbler (n=2), Pallas`s reed bunting
(n=8), Gray bullfinch (n=1), Gray-crowned rosy (n=4), House
sparrow (n=8).
The greatest Mallophaga diversity is recorded on large resident
wintering species - Siberian jay, Northern raven, Carrion crow,
Spotted nutcracker and small migratory – Dusky Thrush, Common
redpoll. Mallophaga fauna complex comprises 6 genera, 3 families
- Menoponidae and Ricinidae from Amblycera suborder,
Philopteridae family from Ischnocera suborder. 12 Mallophaga
species are new for science, not described earlier. Members of
Amblycera are dominant by family number while Ischnocera by the
species number.
8 species of 2 genera represent Mallophaga of Menoponidae
family parasitizing on different hosts (Genus Menacanthus is
mostly rich in species), 1 genus and 4 species of Ricinidae family
are characteristic parasites of buntings and thrushes.
Philopteridae family represented by 3 genera is distinguished with
great species diversity (22). Parasites of this family occur on many
hosts. Philopterus genus is abundant in species number both in
Philopteridae family and in other families.
The Breeding Biology and the Ecology of Grebes
(Podicepiformes) on the Campenesti ponds (Romania)
Alexandru Nicolae Stermin, Alin David and Ioan Coroiu
Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology,
Department of Biology and Ecology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
The focus of this study were three protected species of
Podicepiformes, Podiceps cristatus, Podiceps grisegena and
Tachybaptus ruficollis, species that have never been studied
before in Romania. Observations were made between 2005 -
2007 on the Campenesti Ponds, located in the Feiurdenilor valley,
an area under intense human pressure. Among the studied
aspects of the species were the annual passage, the
distribution, habitat use and the breeding biology, taking into
account the breeding success and the mortality, with the factors
influencing it.
The results show a direct dependence on the total surface and
density of vegetation, and less so on the depth of the water.
Correlations were found on the nest-building strategies, the density
of vegetation and the water depth. The connection between the
temperature and the effective of the population during the annual
passage was also revealed, in the spring and autumn.
On the Campenesti ponds, the breeding success decreases with
the increased vegetation exploitation, with the increase in the
density of submerse vegetation, and with the decrease of water
depth in the ponds.