sevinПОВОЛЖСКИЙ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЙ ЖУРНАЛPovolzhskiy Journal of Ecology1684-73182541-8963Федеральное государственное бюджетное учреждение науки Институт проблем экологии и эволюции им. А. Н. Северцова РАН; Товарищество научных изданий КМК.10.35885/1684-7318-2025-1-31-47sevin-627Research ArticleСтатьиТрансформация растительности как лимитирующий фактор существования популяций грызунов открытых пространств (на примере Spermophilus suslicus)Vegetation transformation as a limiting factor in the existence of rodent populations in open area (using the example of Spermophilus suslicus)https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9508-5008ЛеоноваН. А.LeonovaN. A.

Леонова Наталья Алексеевна, кафедра зоологии и экологии факультета физико-математических и естественных наук 

440026, г. Пенза, ул. Красная, д. 40

Natalia A. Leonova, department of Zoology and Ecology of the Faculty of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences

40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026

na_leonova@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9480-7523КартавовН. А.KartavovN. A.

Картавов Никита Александрович

440026, г. Пенза, ул. Красная, д. 40

Nikita A. Kartavov

40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026

nikitakartavov@yandex.ruhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-8287-9221ЧернышоваО. В.ChernyshovaO. V.

Чернышова Ольга Валерьевна

440026, г. Пенза, ул. Красная, д. 40

Olga V. Chernyshova

40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026

oliarabbit@yandex.ruhttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-4106-7188ВолковаЕ. К.VolkovaE. K.

Волкова Елена Константиновна

440026, г. Пенза, ул. Красная, д. 40

Elena K. Volkova

40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026

elena.dad30@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9634-1157ТитовС. В.TitovS. V.

Титов Сергей Витальевич

440026, г. Пенза, ул. Красная, д. 40

Sergey V. Titov

40 Krasnaya St., Penza 440026

svtitov@yandex.ruПензенский государственный университетРоссияPenza State UniversityRussian Federation202509042025013147Copyright © Леонова Н.А., Картавов Н.А., Чернышова О.В., Волкова Е.К., Титов С.В., 20252025Леонова Н.А., Картавов Н.А., Чернышова О.В., Волкова Е.К., Титов С.В.Leonova N.A., Kartavov N.A., Chernyshova O.V., Volkova E.K., Titov S.V.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://sevin.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/627

Приводится сравнительный анализ состава и структуры растительных сообществ в двух местах былого обитания крапчатого суслика (Spermophilus suslicus) в Николаевском районе Ульяновской области. Анализ современного состояния популяций S. suslicus в Поволжье показал, что на протяжении последних пятидесяти лет наблюдается критическое снижение численности вида, а в ряде регионов – его полное исчезновение. Рядом исследователей отмечается, что определенное влияние на эти процессы оказывают динамические изменения растительности. Поэтому целью нашей работы являлось сравнительное изучение растительности биотопов на момент высокой численности зверьков на фоне интенсивного выпаса и при отсутствии поселений суслика более 15 – 20 лет при отсутствии выпаса. Наши исследования показали, что происходит увеличение видового богатства и структурного разнообразия сообществ за счет внедрения в их состав видов боровой, неморальной и бореальной экологоценотических групп. Фитоценозы остепненных лугов с высоким участием Festuca valesiaca, Poa pratensis, Helictotrichon pubescens, Elytrigia repens после прекращения выпаса сменяются ценозами луговых степей с доминированием Bromopsis riparia, Poa angustifolia, Calamagrostis epigeios. Происходит увеличение общего проективного покрытия травостоя (с 40 до 60 – 70%). Кормовые виды, являющиеся фоновыми на момент высокой численности зверьков, резко сокращают свое участие в травостое. Характерны изменения экологических условий биотопов: современные сообщества формируются в более засушливых, менее богатых азотом и «кислых» местообитаниях. Сохранение и возможное восстановление поселений крапчатого суслика в Поволжье возможно при соблюдении научно обоснованного антропогенного воздействия, реализуемого в форме сенокошения и выпаса.

A comparative analysis of the composition and structure of plant communities in two places of the former habitat of Spermophilus suslicus in the Nikolaevsky district of the Ulyanovsk region is provided. Our analysis of the current state of S. suslicus populations in the Volga region has shown that over the past fifty years there has been a critical decline in the numbers of the species, and even its complete disappearance has been noted in some regions. A number of researchers note that dynamic changes in vegetation have certain influence on these processes. Therefore, the goal of our work was a comparative study of the vegetation of biotopes at the time of high numbers of animals against the background of intensive grazing and in the absence of gopher settlements for more than 15–20 years in the absence of grazing. Our studies have shown an increase in the species richness and structural diversity of communities due to the introduction of species from the upland, nemoral and boreal ecological-coenotic groups into their composition. Phytocenoses of steppe meadows with a high participation of Festuca valesiaca, Poa pratensis, Helictotrichon pubescens, and Elytrigia repens after the cessation of grazing are replaced by cenoses of meadow steppes with the dominance of Bromopsis riparia, Poa angustifolia, and Calamagrostis epigeios. There is an increase in the total projective cover of the grass stand (from 40 up to 60– 70%). Forage species that are background ones when the number of animals is high sharply reduce their participation in the grass stand. Changes in the ecological conditions of biotopes are characteristic, namely: modern communities are formed in drier, less nitrogen-rich and “acidic” habitats. The preservation and possible restoration of spotted ground squirrel settlements in the Volga region is possible subject to scientifically based anthropogenic impact, implemented in the form of haymaking and grazing.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.