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Periodic Changes in the Abundance of Laxmann’s Shrew (Sorex caecutiens, Eulipotyphla) and Factors of Its Population Dynamics in the Foothill Taiga of the Northern Urals

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Abstract—

Long-term data on fluctuations in the abundance of Laxmann’s shrew (Sorex caecutiens Laxmann) in the foothill taiga of the Northern Urals (Pechora-Ilych State Biosphere Reserve) have been evaluated using spectral analysis of time series. Periodic components in the population dynamics of the species have been revealed, including a statistically significant component that had a period of 3 years but was not highly regular. Analysis of factors accounting for variation in abundance parameters has shown that the population dynamics of S. caecutiens are influenced by both weather conditions and mechanisms of density-dependent regulation.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Dr. K.V. Maklakov (Laboratory of Population Ecology and Modeling, Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences) for his help in the statistical processing of time series and interpretation of the results.

Funding

This study was performed as part of the program “Dynamics of Animal Diversity on the Western Macroslope of the Urals and in the Adjacent Plain Part of Northeastern European Russia under Environmental Change” (project no. 18-4-4-30, registration no. AAAA-A17-117112850234-5) and supported by the Integrated Research Program of the Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (project no. 18-4-4-28).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pechora-Ilych State Biosphere Reserve, 169436, Yaksha, Komi Republic, Russia

    A. V. Bobretsov

  2. Institute of Biology, Komi Scientific Center, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 167982, Syktyvkar, Russia

    A. V. Bobretsov, A. N. Petrov & N. M. Bykhovets

  3. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 620144, Yekaterinburg, Russia

    L. E. Lukyanova

Authors
  1. A. V. Bobretsov
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  2. L. E. Lukyanova
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  3. A. N. Petrov
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  4. N. M. Bykhovets
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Correspondence to A. V. Bobretsov.

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Statement on the welfare of animals. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

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Translated by N. Gorgolyuk

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Bobretsov, A.V., Lukyanova, L.E., Petrov, A.N. et al. Periodic Changes in the Abundance of Laxmann’s Shrew (Sorex caecutiens, Eulipotyphla) and Factors of Its Population Dynamics in the Foothill Taiga of the Northern Urals. Russ J Ecol 51, 282–287 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413620030030

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1067413620030030

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