We studied the dynamics of mouse-like rodent communities in the area of self-growing vegetation, which had undergone deforestation. The research is based on the results of continuous monitoring conducted from 1978 to 2019. Pitfall traps was the method of catching small mammals during the monitoring period. We used Simpson’s Diversity Index to quantify species diversity. The community similarity was evaluated by the percentage of species through Czekanowski-Sørensen Index. The studies were carried out near the “Azhendarovo” Biological Station (54°45ʹ N, 87°01ʹ E). The results of the studies showed that natural primeval communities of the taiga zone before deforestation were characterized by a multidominant structure. The dominant group included the Alexandromys oeconomus Pallas, 1776, and codominant species are represented by the genus Clethrionomys. A characteristic feature of the small mammals’ population of taiga forests is the preponderance of the Apodemus peninsulae (Thomas, 1907) over the Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771. On meadowlands, the genus Microtus voles prevailed. These were largely the Al. oeconomus, which accounted for 43% of all mouse-like rodents. After the deforestation, the structure changed. In the early stage of deforestation, the dominant species among rodents was the Al. oeconomus. The composition of dominant species in the recovering areas of cut-down taiga began to approach to the original state 40 years after the deforestation. Meadow communities followed the path of transformation, having no analogs in the initial period and were characterized by a significant amount of ruderal vegetation.
The larval descriptions of 'Uranotaenia (Pseudoficalbia) sp. indet.' by Ramos & Ribeiro (1975) and 'the atypical larvae of Ur. (Pfc.) fusca Theobald,1907' by Mattingly (1954) actually refer to Uranotaenia (P.) nigripes (Theobald, 1905). Characters to the separation of 4th-stage larvae of nigripes and fusca are given. The known distribution of nigripes, confined to the West African (Guinean-Congolese) subregion, is shown on a map. The species is recorded for the first time from Kenya and Angola. The ratio saddle height/saddle length in the 4th-stage larva of fusca decreases clinally in the direction southwest to northeast in the southern part of its range.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.