Effect of the Current Climate Warming on the Terms of Key Phenological Stages in the Population of Spermophilus pygmaeus Pallas, 1778 (Rodentia, Mammalia) in the Ergenin Upland Territory

The paper presents the results of comparative analysis of the terms and duration of phenological phases in the little gopher population in the central part of the Ergenin Upland in 1926–1932, 1972–1982, and 2000–2015. It was observed that in 1926–1932 all the main phenological stages of vital activities in the little gopher populations took place exclusively during the spring-summer period (March–August). It was substantiated that under the influence of the current climate warming conditions in 2000–2015, as compared to 1926–1932, the emergence from hibernation had started to occur in winter months (January–February). The start and end of the gestation period was registered between the first ten days of February and the third ten days of March. Respectively, the preparation to hibernation (battening) among the adult specimens happened earlier (March–April) and terminated, predominantly, in May. The first appearance of the young stock on the surface and its dissemination started to take place in April–May. Young animals’ going dormant in mass was noted in late June-early July. An upward trend, as compared to the period of 1926–1932, in the total duration of young stock hibernation (July–January or February) was noted. The lower intensity of feeding migrations among adult gopher individuals to topographically low areas was also revealed.

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