Partitioning of trophic resource on example of the rodent community dwelling in the high mountain zone of the Eastern Caucasus

• Main Author: Magomedov Magomedrasul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2021-01-01
• Series: BIO Web of Conferences
• Online Access: https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2021/07/bioconf_metc2021_00016.pdf

Quantitative and qualitative feeding characteristics of some rodent species co-living in the high mountain zone of the Eastern Caucasus (Republic of Daghestan) were investigated. The diet of S. uralensis consisted of 23 plant species, C. gud – 22 plant species, M. arvalis – 27 plant species, C. migtatorius – 26 plant species and D. nitedula – 19 plant species. The largest dietary breadths were M. arvalis and C. migtatorius and the least was S. uralensis. In spring, Carex spp. predominated in the diets of rodent species; in summer, the diets consisted mainly of cereals, and the autumn rodents diets consisted mainly of forbs and legumes. The maximum values of the dietary niches overlapping were found in pairs of the following species: S. uralensis C. gud, C. gud - C. migtatorius, M. arvalis C. migtatorius. Average values of the dietary niches overlapping for all rodents were 0.529, 0.277, 0.459, respectively, in spring, summer and autumn.