Adaptive strategies of sibling species of the Caucasian pine voles (Rodentia, Arvicolinae, Microtus) under sympatry conditions

   Features of the ecology of the sibling species M. (T.) majori and M. (T.) daghestanicus in some places of their contact on the Greater and Lesser Caucasus were studied. An analysis of symbiotopic samples of the sibling species from two localities in the Karachay-Cherkessia (the right bank of the Kizgich River and the vicinity of the village of Verkhny Arkhyz) and a mixed sample from the sympatry zone in the vicinity of the village Ankavan in Armenia was made. The obtained priority data make it possible to assert that an important condition for the coexistence of the sibling species M. (T.) majori and M. (T.) daghestanicus is their separation by residence stations, as well as by a number of environmental features. It has been shown that differences in the peculiarities of the population structure (age and sex composition), as well as in the reproduction strategy, allow the sibling species of the Caucasian pine voles to coexist in places of their contact, even under symbiotopy conditions. The previously known craniometric features, confirming differences between the sibling species of the Caucasian pine voles in food specializations, which may also be one of the factors ensuring their coexistence at the places of contact, are discussed.

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