Chernyshova O.V., Kuzmin A.A., Simakov M.D., Kartavov N.A., Titov S.V.
RJEE Vol. 4 (3). 2019 | DOI: 10.21685/2500-0578-2019-3-3
Abstract | PDF (Rus) | Additional files
Receipt date 15.05.2019 | Publication date 26.09.2019
O. V. Chernyshova
Penza State University, 40 Krasnaya street, Penza, 440026, Russia
E-mail: oliarabbit@yandex.ru
A. A. Kuzmin
Penza State Technological University,1a / 11 pr. Baidukova / ul. Gagarina, Penza, 440039, Russia
E-mail: kuzmin-puh@yandex.com
M. D. Simakov
Penza State University, 40 Krasnaya street, Penza, 440026, Russia
E-mail: maksimakov@bk.ru
N. A. Kartavov
Penza State University, 40 Krasnaya street, Penza, 440026, Russia
E-mail: svtitov@yandex.ru
S. V. Titov
Penza State University, 40 Krasnaya street, Penza, 440026, Russia
E-mail: svtitov@yandex.ru
Abstract. Relevance and goals. The existence of a population is unthinkable if there is absence of informational links between individuals. For ground squirrels whose settlements are confined to open landscapes, sound signaling performs two important population functions: the scream by an individual is an identification mark of its spatial presence and it warns the population of the imminent danger. Studies of the intraspecies variability of this important population feature at the level of the structured habitat area allows us to take a fresh look at the mechanisms of adaptation of the species to rapidly changing modern living conditions. Since the 50s of the last century, the russet ground squirrel, which until then was considered the vicariate of the speckled ground squirrel (Citellus suslicus) along the Volga river bed, has been stably living on the right bank of the Volga, continuing its resettlement to the west. As a result of this expansion of new habitats, an extensive sympatry zone of the russet ground squirrel with the indigenous speckled ground squirrel was formed, where both their contact settlements and cases of interspecies hybridization were revealed.The aim of the study was to study the individual and population variability of sound signals of russet ground squirrels in the Volgaright-bank regions and adjacent territories, taking into account the fragmentation of its range and the nature of intraspecies relations with speckled ground squirrels.Materials and methods. Weanalayzed 1230 signals warning of danger andmadebyrussetgroundsquirrels (n = 269) from 46 populations, whichform 14 geographicalgroups (metapopulations). The signals were recorded using a Marantz PMD 670 tape recorder and a SONY ECM737 microphone directly from live traps. Frequency (initial – Fstart, maximum – Fmax, minimum (final) frequency – Fmin, modulation depth – Hmod, kHz) and time (duration D1, D2, D3, Dtotal, ms) signal characteristics were obtained using programs Avisoft-Sonographand AdobeÓAuditionver. 1.0. Statistical data processing was made with the help of MicrosoftOfficeExcel 2010 and STATISTICA 10.0. packages.Results.Analysis of the sound signal indicators made by russet ground squirrels with the help of standard procedures of multiple comparison revealed their rather varied directions of variability and population specifics. The performed multivariate analysis allows us to identify some features of the population and environmental variability of bioacoustic indicators of russet ground squirrels in the study area. Russet ground squirrels that live in southern or steppe areas (Urals, left-bank Volga regions) are characterized by lower and longer sound signals. Ground squirreld living in the right-bank areas of the Ulyanovsk region have higher and shorter sound signals. A rather ambiguous position of the centroids of the distribution ellipses of the Penza, Chuvash and Samara Bend populations is most likely related to the introduction or migration history of their formation.Conclusions. A statistical analysis of bioacoustic indicators samples of russet ground squirrel individuals revealed a diverse population polymorphism of thisfeature, associated with high fragmentation of the habitat, and confirms the existence of a subdivided (metapopulation) structure of its range in the Middle Volga and adjacent territories.
Keywords: russet gound squirrel, bioacoustic characteristic, variability, population, right-bank Volga region.
For citation: Chernyshova O.V., Kuzmin A.A., Simakov M.D., Kartavov N.A., Titov S.V. Bioacoustic characteristics of the populations of russet ground squirrels (SPERMOPHILUS MAJOR) in THE Volga region and any bordering territories. Russian Journal of Ecosystem Ecology. 2019;4(3). (In Russ.). Available from: https://doi.org/10.21685/2500-0578-2019-3-3