Changes in the composition of mammal fauna in the Black Sea Reserve Region because of invasion of species (History of studying of mammals and economic development of the region)

• Main Author: Z. V. Selyunina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History 2014-12-01
• Series: Праці Теріологічної школи
• Subjects: history; region; mammals; researches; invasion; acclimatization
• Online Access: http://terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts12-divers/pts12-24-seliunina-blacksea-aliens.pdf

The Black Sea Coast fauna research had begun together with development of these territories. These territories attracted a special attention of scientists in the beginning of the 20th century. Five annotated lists of mammals of the region were made during the last century. Much research was dedicated to the study of certain species and their distribution. There are only few investigations dedicated to the analysis of dynamics and development of the mammal assemblages. However, a significant number of published works gives an opportunity to analyze the changes in the regional mammal assemblages caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. According to the published data, human economic activity caused extinction of more than 10 mammal species in the Ukrainian steppe, most of them are ungulates and carnivores. Recovery and enrichment of the region’s mammal fauna in the twentieth century occurred under the direct influence of anthropogenic invasion by species in human-transformed habitats, introduction and re- introduction. At present, invasive species account for about 20 % of the total species list mammals region of the BSBR, including species introduced in Ukraine. Currently, almost 10 % of the species composition of animals of the region are alien species.