Biodiversity Data Journal : Data Paper (Biosciences)
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Data Paper (Biosciences)
Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)
expand article infoSvetlana Mukhacheva, Yulia Davydova, Artëm Sozontov
‡ Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE UB RAS), Ekaterinburg, Russia
Open Access

Abstract

Background

The dataset contains records of small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) collected in the background (unpolluted) areas in the vicinity of Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia) and the territory of the Sultanovskoye deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development. Data were collected during the snowless periods in 2007 (18 sampling plots), 2008–2010 (13 plots annually), 2011 (30 plots) and 2012–2014 (19 plots annually). The capture of animals was carried out in different types of forests (pine, birch, mixed and floodplain), sparse birch stands, reed swamps, marshy and dry meadows, border areas, a household waste dump, areas of ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp. Our study of small mammals was conducted using trap lines (snap and live traps). During the study period, 709 specimens of small mammals were caught, which belonged to five species of shrews and 13 species of rodents. The dataset may be highly useful for studying regional fauna and the distribution of species in different habitats and could also be used as reference values for environmental monitoring and conservation activities.

New information

Our dataset contains new information on occurrences of small mammals. It includes the peculiarities of their habitat distribution in the background areas in the vicinity of the large copper smelter and the deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development (Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia). All occurrence records of 18 mammal species with georeferencing have been published in GBIF.

Keywords

data paper, occurrence records, insectivores, rodents, biological diversity, landscape-habitat diversity, environmental heterogeneity, industrial pollution

Introduction

Small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) are ubiquitous, abundant, fertile, have a short life cycle and respond quickly to abiotic and biotic factors (Lidicker 1988, Krebs 1996, Lidicker 1999). Therefore, animals of these groups are traditionally used as the model objects of various ecological studies, including studies focusing on the monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems that have been affected by anthropogenic impacts (Sheffield et al. 2001).

It is well known that structural re-arrangements occur in the communities of small mammals in response to anthropogenic impacts. The magnitude and direction of these re-arrangements depend on the type, intensity and duration of such impacts, as well as on the specific characteristics of the species that make up these communities (Burel et al. 2004, Asfora and Pontes 2009, Krojerová-Prokešová et al. 2016, Volpert and Shadrina 2020, Mukhacheva and Sozontov 2021). According to popular understanding, the animal communities exhibiting the greatest diversity and abundance are those which inhabit natural areas where there is little or no human impact. As anthropogenic load increases, more and more negative changes are observed in communities; these can often be non-linear in nature (Lukyanova and Lukyanov 1998, Kataev 2005, Kozlov et al. 2005, Mukhacheva 2013, Mukhacheva 2021).

Long-term studies of biodiversity in communities of small mammals in areas affected by industrial pollution have convincingly demonstrated that the use of different methodological approaches to the analysis of animal communities in the same territories leads to fundamentally different conclusions. The data obtained when studying small mammals in one or two variants of dominant habitats indicated a significant depletion in species richness and a multiple decrease (by a factor of 10) in the total abundance as the technogenic load increased (Mukhacheva et al. 2010b, Mukhacheva 2013). In simultaneously examining a large range of habitats, it was found that the γ-diversity of the communities of background and most-polluted areas was similar and the total abundance of animals differed only by a factor of 2 (Mukhacheva et al. 2012). Based on the results obtained, it was concluded that it is necessary to take into account the heterogeneity of the environment in studies of the spatiotemporal dynamics of biodiversity of small mammal communities.

We managed to find the most suitable environmental conditions for this approach in the Southern Urals, in the Chelyabinsk Oblast. The territory of the region – located on the border of Europe and Asia – is distinguished by a wide variety of natural conditions, which determine the complexity and heterogeneity of the vegetation cover. The boundaries of several geographical landscape zones converge here: to the south is the forest zone, to the north lies the steppe zone and between them is a transitional strip of forest-steppe landscape.

The high diversity of animals in the Southern Urals is attributed to the existence of various natural conditions and a long (since the Neogene period) history of faunistic complexes being formed. Here, there is a mixture of European and Asian species, polar and desert fauna representatives and endemic and relict species. The modern fauna of the Chelyabinsk Oblast comprises 80 species of mammals, including 13 species of insectivores and 33 species of rodents. The Red Book of this region currently includes 17 species of mammals, including one species of Eulipotyphla – Russian desman (Desmana moschata, Eulipotyphla) and seven species of Rodentia: Siberian flying squirrel (Pteromys volans), garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus), great jerboa (Allactaga major), grey hamster or migratory hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), Eversmann's hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni), Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus) and wood lemming (Myopus schisticolor) (Bolshakov 2017).

At the same time, the region is characterised by significant economic growth, as well as considerable industrial development (mainly metallurgy and mechanical engineering). In the northwest was (until 2017) a nickel-cobalt smelter ("Ufaleinickel"), in the east is the Kyshtym copper electrolytic plant, in the central area is the Karabash copper smelter and in the south are a number of large-scale ferrous metallurgy and engineering enterprises. In addition, in the northeast is the East Ural Radioactive Trace (EURT), an area which became contaminated in 1957 due to an accident at the Mayak chemical plant. As a result, for many decades, the ecological situation in the region remained one of the most tense in Russia (Ministry of Ecology of the Chelyabinsk oblast 2020). This significantly complicated the selection of reference (background) sites that had not undergone technogenic transformations. It was important to survey small mammal communities in the main habitats (forest, open, near-water), taking into account the high biotopic diversity of the studied territory.

By the beginning of our work (2007), detailed systematic studies of small mammal communities in the Chelyabinsk Oblast had not yet been carried out, with the exception of the territory of the Ilmensky Nature Reserve, which is also located in the eastern foothills of the Southern Urals in the pine-birch forest subzone (Tsetsevinsky 1975, Kiseleva 1989, Ushkov 1993, Samoilova 2005, Samoilova 2006). The modern fauna of the Reserve comprises 48 species of mammals, including six species of insectivores and 20 species of rodents (Ushkov 1993). Valuable sources of information on the habitat distribution of small mammals in this area are numerous ecological studies of mass species, such as herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis), bank vole (Myodes glareolus), field vole (Microtus agrestis), as well as species requiring special methods of trapping – the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus) or European mole (Talpa europaea), for example (Kolcheva and Olenev 1991, Olenev 1995, Evdokimov 2002, Maklakov et al. 2004, Grigorkina et al. 2008, Nesterkova 2014, Modorov 2016, Olenev and Grigorkina 2016, Orekhova and Modorov 2016, Cheprakov and Chernousova 2020, Orekhova 2020) .

In our research, we present data on the distribution of 18 species of small mammals over five districts of the Chelyabinsk Oblast (Kyshtymsky, Karabashsky, Kunashaksky, Argayashsky and Miassky) in 14 main habitats. These results may be of interest primarily for ecotoxicologists as reference communities of various habitats under conditions of minimal anthropogenic loads. Data from the area of the Sultanovskoye copper-pyrite ore deposit can be used to assess the environmental disturbances resulting from the operation of the mine. The quality of the material collection also enables the data to be used to study regional and global patterns of small mammal’s biodiversity.

General description

Purpose: 

The purpose is to describe a dataset comprising the occurrence records of small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) in the main habitat types in the background (unpolluted) areas of the Chelyabinsk Oblast (Southern Urals, Russia). This dataset is part of our long-term research of small mammal communities inhabiting areas with different levels of industrial pollution.

Project description

Title: 

Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)

Personnel: 

Svetlana Mukhacheva, Yulia Davydova, Artëm Sozontov

Study area description: 

Most of the research was conducted in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (KaCS), located 90 km northwest of Chelyabinsk (the Southern Urals) and in operation since 1910. The KaCS is one of Russia’s largest point sources of environmental pollution by heavy metals and sulphur dioxide. An industrial wasteland has arisen in its immediate surrounding area; this is a barren "moonscape" almost devoid of vegetation. According to our data, habitat quality becomes satisfactory for most insectivores and rodents at a distance of 9–11 km from the source of emissions (Mukhacheva et al. 2010a, Mukhacheva et al. 2010b). Background test plots (n = 62, Table 1) were located in four separate districts of the Chelyabinsk Oblast (Kyshtymsky, Karabashsky, Argayashsky and Miassky) at different distances (from 18 to 32 km) from the source of emissions (Figs 1, 2). Additional information on the occurrence of small mammals in various types of background (unpolluted) habitats (18 test plots) was obtained in 2007 during a single environmental examination of the Sultanovskoye copper-pyrite ore deposit before its development (near the village of Muslyumovo, Kunashaksky District, Chelyabinsk Oblast). At present, this area is a technogenic landscape, formed by a system of quarries.

Table 1.

Sampling plots.

Sampling plot

Latitude

Longitude

County

Habitat

Sampling years

1s

55.63148

61.74432

Kunashakskiy District

pine forest

2007

2s

55.61350

61.71573

Kunashakskiy District

birch forest

2007

3s

55.61736

61.71042

Kunashakskiy District

dry meadow

2007

4s

55.61721

61.70884

Kunashakskiy District

marshy meadow

2007

5s

55.62418

61.73577

Kunashakskiy District

dry meadow

2007

6s

55.62523

61.72468

Kunashakskiy District

birch forest

2007

7s

55.62683

61.72033

Kunashakskiy District

marshy meadow

2007

8s

55.62558

61.70976

Kunashakskiy District

birch forest

2007

9s

55.62596

61.70952

Kunashakskiy District

dry meadow

2007

10s

55.62556

61.70694

Kunashakskiy District

marshy meadow

2007

11s

55.63427

61.74694

Kunashakskiy District

reed swamp

2007

12s

55.63260

61.74485

Kunashakskiy District

forested bog

2007

13s

55.62936

61.74715

Kunashakskiy District

ruderal vegetation

2007

14s

55.63150

61.74605

Kunashakskiy District

swamp-pine forest border

2007

15s

55.63488

61.74713

Kunashakskiy District

birch-dry meadow border

2007

16s

55.62822

61.76285

Kunashakskiy District

birch forest

2007

17s

55.63005

61.76425

Kunashakskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine)

2007

18s

55.63327

61.74768

Kunashakskiy District

shift camp

2007

301

55.71472

60.47073

Kyshtymskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

302

55.71302

60.46700

Kyshtymskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

303

55.71779

60.46803

Kyshtymskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

304

55.59158

60.40092

Karabashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

305

55.59119

60.40091

Karabashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

306

55.58982

60.40098

Karabashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

316

55.23212

60.12398

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

317

55.23134

60.12361

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

318

55.23277

60.12412

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

319

55.23752

60.20392

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

320

55.23627

60.20299

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

321

55.23734

60.20294

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2008, 2009, 2010

341

55.34162

60.24627

Karabashskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

342

55.34129

60.24649

Karabashskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

343

55.34112

60.24716

Karabashskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

344

55.32039

60.22241

Miasskiy District

mixed forest, slope

2011

345

55.32118

60.22233

Miasskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine), slope

2011

346

55.32111

60.22355

Miasskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine), slope

2011

347

55.32419

60.23483

Miasskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine), top

2011

348

55.32476

60.23354

Miasskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine), top

2011

349

55.32385

60.23339

Miasskiy District

mixed forest (birch and pine), top

2011

350

55.34194

60.22300

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

351a

55.30433

60.19909

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2010

351b

55.34179

60.22341

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

352

55.34209

60.22369

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

353

55.32389

60.22787

Miasskiy District

dry meadow

2011

354

55.3244

60.2286

Miasskiy District

dry meadow

2011

355

55.32387

60.22878

Miasskiy District

dry meadow

2011

356

55.24191

60.20079

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2011

357

55.24111

60.19806

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2011

358

55.24377

60.20291

Argayashskiy District

birch forest

2011

359

55.3354

60.18121

Miasskiy District

reed swamp

2011

360

55.33494

60.18161

Miasskiy District

reed swamp

2011

361

55.33452

60.18199

Miasskiy District

reed swamp

2011

362

55.27402

60.19184

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2011

363

55.27112

60.19796

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2011

364

55.27384

60.20291

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2011

365

55.33676

60.1895

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2011

366

55.34293

60.21609

Miasskiy District

dump of household waste

2011

367

55.34279

60.21607

Miasskiy District

dump of household waste

2011

368

55.34288

60.21574

Miasskiy District

dump of household waste

2011

369

55.23809

60.18916

Miasskiy District

dry meadow

2011

370

55.23739

60.19237

Miasskiy District

dry meadow

2011

419

55.32284

60.22602

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2012, 2013, 2014

420

55.32258

60.22582

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2012, 2013, 2014

421

55.32233

60.22544

Miasskiy District

birch forest

2012, 2013, 2014

422

55.34348

60.22613

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2012, 2013, 2014

423

55.34378

60.22665

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2012, 2013, 2014

424

55.34362

60.2272

Miasskiy District

floodplain forest

2012, 2013, 2014

425

55.34342

60.21677

Miasskiy District

dump of household waste

2012, 2013, 2014

426

55.34404

60.21731

Miasskiy District

dump of household waste

2012, 2013, 2014

427

55.33613

60.18226

Miasskiy District

reed swamp

2012, 2013, 2014

428

55.33680

60.18255

Miasskiy District

reed swamp

2012, 2013, 2014

429

55.34257

60.20763

Miasskiy District

marshy meadow

2012, 2013, 2014

430

55.34241

60.20563

Miasskiy District

marshy meadow

2012, 2013, 2014

431

55.34334

60.20609

Miasskiy District

marshy meadow

2012, 2013, 2014

432

55.34345

60.20563

Miasskiy District

sparse birch stand

2012, 2013, 2014

433

55.34280

60.20547

Miasskiy District

sparse birch stand

2012, 2013, 2014

434

55.34301

60.20486

Miasskiy District

sparse birch stand

2012, 2013, 2014

435

55.34341

60.20853

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2012, 2013, 2014

436

55.34376

60.20887

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2012, 2013, 2014

437

55.34353

60.20919

Miasskiy District

pine forest

2012, 2013, 2014

Figure 1.  

General map of the studied region and its position in the European part of Russia (see insert). Yellow polygons show urban areas of the following cities: A – Miass, B – Karabash, C – Kyshtym, D – Ozersk, E – Kasli, F – Argayashskoe, G –Chelyabinsk.

Figure 2.  

Maps of the sampling plots (local scale) near the following localities: A – Novotagilka, B – Sultanovskoye, С – Novoandreevka, D – Sugomak.

According to geobotanical zoning, all surveyed areas are located in the pine-birch forests subzone on the eastern slopes of the Urals (Kulikov 2005). A total of 14 main habitat types – differing in terms of terrain and vegetation – were surveyed; these encompassed forests, sparse birch stand, meadow, swamp, borderland, a household waste dump, ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp.

The identification of different variants of habitats is based on a preliminary geobotanical survey of the background areas. For example, the studies of 2012–2014 used 42 variables to produce a comparative description of the test plots (n = 19); these comparised seven variables for characterising landscape and climatic conditions, 25 – for vegetation and soil and 10 – for assessing the degree of toxic pollution of territories (Table 2).

Table 2.

Characteristics of the variables used to describe the parameters of the micro-environment in the vicinity of Karabash copper smelter (2012–2014).

No

Variable

Units

Calculation procedure

1

Height above sea level

m

Determination of indicators using a GPS navigator (eTrex Legend Cх, Garmin, USA) and a level (С410, Sokkia, Japan).

2

Slope ratio

degrees

3

Average daily temperature in July

°С

Thermologgers (n = 61) Thermochron iButton DS1921G were installed on the soil surface (1–2 for each test plot) for 340 days (from July 2012 to June 2013). The readings were recorded 6 times a day (every 4 hours). Measurement range from –40°С to + 85°С, accuracy ± 0.5°C.

4

Minimal daily temperature in July

°С

5

Maximum daily temperature in July

°С

6

Daily temperature amplitude

°С

7

Volume humidity of the horizons of A0+A1

%

Measurements with the HH2 Field Moisture Analyzer and ThetaProbe ML2 (Delta-T, UK). For all, checkpoints were performed in the same time frame (in dry weather).

8

Soil humidification

score

Phyto-indication analysis using ecological scales D.N. Tsyganov and the IBIS 6.1 programme.

9

Salt soil regime

score

10

Rich soils with nitrogen

score

11

Number of the wood tier species

sample

Based on full geobotanical descriptions of each test plot with a size of 625 m2 (25m × 25 m or 62.5 × 10 m)

12

Number of the shrub tier species

sample

13

Number of the grass-bush tier species

sample

14

Average diameter of trees

m

The arithmetic mean for all trees at three test plots of each habitat. The diameter of each tree (more than 0.05 m in diameter) was measured at chest level using a caliper with an accuracy of 0.01 m.

15

Average height of trees

m

The arithmetic mean for all trees at three test plots of each habitat. The height of each tree (more than 0.05 m in diameter) was calculated using the trunk diameter (in m) and the height equations.

16

Density of the woodland

sample/ha

The number of trees (with a diameter of more than 0.05 m) on three test plots per 1 ha.

17

Wood standing stock

m3/ha

The volume of wood, according to the data of a continuous enumeration for three test plots per 1 ha.

18

Stumps area

%

The test plot's relative total cross-sectional area of all stumps (more than 0.05 m in diameter). The diameter of the stump was measured at the base in two directions using a caliper.

19

Walleye area

%

The relative total cross-sectional area of trees that died within the test plots taking into account the degree of their decomposition and diameter.

20

Drywall area

%

21

Projective coverage of the undergrowth

%

The relative total area occupied by this group, determined for each test plot, based on complete geobotanical descriptions.

22

Projective coverage of the shrub tier

%

23

Projective coverage of the grass-bush tier

%

24

Projective coverage of the mosses

%

25

Projective coverage of horizon A0 or rags

%

The relative area of the projected forest litter or substratum, determined for each test plot.

26

Average height of the shrub tier

m

Arithmetic means based on 10 measurements (differentiated for each tier), determined for each test plot.

27

Average height of the grass-bush tier

m

28

Average horizon power A0

m

Arithmetic means based on 20 measurements in 5–7 m, determined for each test plot.

29

Bare soil projective cover

%

The relative area devoid of vegetation and forest litter, determined for each test plot.

30

Projective stone coverage

%

Relative area occupied by stones, determined for each test plot.

31

Garbage

%

The relative area occupied by garbage, determined for each test plot

32

Illumination

%

Calculated based on photographs of the projection of the crowns of woody plants (n = 315) at the height of 40–50 cm from the soil surface at random points (7–10 test plots) with further image processing in the SIAMS Photolab package (v.4.0.4.x).

33

pHwater А0

unit рН

The measurements were carried out on a pH-410 potentiometer at a substrate/water ratio of 1:25 for forest litter and 1: 5 for mineral horizons.

34

pHwater А1

unit рН

35

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

Concentration of Cu in А0

Concentration of Zn in А0

Concentration of Cd in А0

Concentration of Pb in А0

Concentration of Cu in А1

Concentration of Zn in А1

Concentration of Cd in А1

Concentration of Pb in А1

mkg/g

Mobile forms of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) were extracted from the samples with 5% nitric acid. The concentration of mobile forms of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry on an ASS-6 Vario instrument (Analytik Jena, Germany).

Design description: 

The dataset includes the occurrence of species of small insectivores (Eulipotyphla) and rodents (Rodentia) within five administrative districts of the Chelyabinsk Oblast (Southern Urals, Russia). The collection of animals was carried out for eight years (2007–2014) during the snowless periods: this being either June–July (2007, 2011–2014) or September-October (2008–2010). In total, there were 62 observed test plots, covering a total of 14 main habitat types: forests (pine, birch, mixed and floodplain), sparse birch stand, meadows (marshy, dry), swamps (reed, bogged), border areas (pine forest-reed swamp, birch forest-dry meadow), a household waste dump, ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp.

Funding: 

The research was supported by the Ecological Monitoring Program (no. 2007-10008), the Russian Foundation for Basic Research RFBR (projects no. 08-04-91766, no. 12-05-00811).

Sampling methods

Description: 

The dataset (Mukhacheva et al. 2021) is based on the records from the field logs. The coordinate reference to each mammal occurrence is given for the first time in the dataset. The majority of the dataset was obtained in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (KaCS) during 2008–2014 (Mukhacheva et al. 2010a, Mukhacheva et al. 2010b, Mukhacheva et al. 2012, Mukhacheva and Davydova 2016). Moreover, some data were obtained in 2007 during a single environmental examination of the Sultanovskoye copper-pyrite ore deposit before its development (Kunashaksky District, Chelyabinsk Oblast) (Mukhacheva et al. 2009).

Sampling description: 

Sampling was designed to cover the main habitat types for small mammals. The animals were caught using wooden traps (snap or live traps) arranged in lines (each line consisting of 10 to 25 traps) at a distance of 7–10 m from each other and exposed for 2–4 days, inspected once a day. Pieces of black bread with unrefined sunflower oil were used as bait for snap-traps. Live traps were baited with carrot, apple, oats and grass or moss to provide food and thermal comfort for captured specimens. In the period 2012–2014, modified lines were used to capture animals, consisting of alternating snap traps and live traps (in a ratio of 3:1). Thus, it was possible to keep records of animals in small-sized areas (which fit into the selected habitat options with highly mosaic environmental conditions), while, at the same time, catching species that "prefer" different trapping methods.

All collected animals were examined to determine their sex, age and reproductive status. In addition, the main exterior features (body weight, body, tail and foot length) and interior features (liver, kidney, heart, stomach and reproductive organs mass) were also evaluated. The identification by species of the sampled animals was carried out in the laboratory for ecotoxicology of populations and communities of the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, RAS. Latin species names and their order of mention in Table 3 are in accordance with Mammal Species of the World (Wilson and Reeder 2005).

Table 3.

Occurrence (number of individuals) of the studied species in different types of habitats (1 – birch forest; 2 – pine forest; 3 – mixed forest; 4 – floodplain forest, 5 – sparse birch stand; 6 – dry meadow; 7 – marshy meadow; 8 – reed swamp; 9 – bogged swamp; 10 – birch-dry meadow border; 11 – swamp-pine forest border; 12 – household waste dump; 13 – temporary camp; 14 – ruderal vegetation. Latin species names and their order are given according to Mammals Species of the World (Wilson and Reeder 2005).

Species

Type of habitats

Total

individ.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

Neomys fodiens Pennant, 1771

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758

70

0

8

15

0

4

10

11

0

0

0

5

0

0

123

Sorex caecutiens Laxmann, 1788

40

1

0

4

3

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

51

Sorex isodon Turov, 1924

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Sorex minutus Linnaeus, 1766

1

0

0

9

2

0

3

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

18

Tamias sibiricus Laxmann, 1769

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Sicista betulina Pallas, 1779

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Arvicola amphibius Linnaeus, 1758

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

0

3

Microtus agrestis Linnaeus, 1761

5

0

2

9

10

0

16

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

44

Microtus arvalis Pallas, 1779

3

0

2

0

0

33

2

0

0

0

0

24

0

0

64

Alexandromys oeconomus Pallas, 1776

1

0

0

9

0

5

2

17

4

0

0

5

0

0

43

Stenocranius gregalis Pallas, 1779

0

0

0

0

0

8

1

1

0

1

0

0

0

0

11

Myodes glareolus Schreber, 1780

84

4

2

76

3

0

0

3

0

0

0

7

0

0

179

Myodes rutilus Pallas, 1779

3

4

0

1

1

0

2

0

0

0

4

0

0

0

15

Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3

Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811

24

6

5

51

3

1

2

11

0

0

0

35

4

0

142

Micromys minutus Pallas, 1771

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

Mus musculus Linnaeus, 1758

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

6

Tissue samples were taken from most individuals for genetic and chemical analysis (in order to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in the liver, kidneys, skeleton and stomach contents). In addition, organ and tissue samples (from the liver, kidneys, testes) were taken from the most widespread "model" species (Apodemus uralensis, Myodes glareolus, Myodes rutilus, Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis) for histological analysis.

All applicable international, national and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. This research was approved by the local ethics committee of the IPAE RAS.

Quality control: 

Collected materials (skulls and samples of organs) are stored at the Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE UB RAS, Yekaterinburg). All captured animals were determined to species level by qualified technicians using regional field guides (Gromov and Erbaeva 1995, Zaitsev et al. 2014).

Geographic coverage

Description: 

The data were collected on five administrative districts (Kyshtymsky, Karabashsky, Kunashaksky, Argayashsky and Miassky) of the Chelyabinsk Oblast Russia. All background areas were located in the central mountains, in the pine-birch forest subzone (Kulikov 2005). Most of the test plots (n = 62) were located along the macroslope of the South Urals, extending for almost 80 km from north to south. Geographical position, orography and soil and vegetation types all had an influence on the high faunistic richness of this site.

The geographical references were carried out by fixing the coordinates of the meeting point of the animals using a GPS Navigator (eTrex Legend Cх, Garmin, USA); the measurement error of the coordinates ranged from 10 to 70 m. In all records, the WGS-84 coordinate system was used.

Coordinates: 

55.231 and 55.718 Latitude; 60.124 and 61.764 Longitude.

Taxonomic coverage

Description: 

Our dataset contains records of 18 species of small mammals, including five insectivorous species (Eulipotyphla) of one family (Soricidae) and 13 rodent species (Rodentia) of four families (Sciuridae, Dipodidae, Muridae and Cricetidae). We identified all the mammals to the species level, with the exception of the common vole (Microtus arvalis) and the East European vole (M. levis). These two twin species of rodents occur sympatrically on the territory of the Chelyabinsk Oblast, but cannot be separated morphologically. Genetic studies of these species have not been conducted; therefore, the records of the occurrence of M. arvalis include those of M. levis. The taxonomic identification of animals (to the species level) was determined according to specialised guidelines (Gromov and Erbaeva 1995, Zaitsev et al. 2014) and is included in this database according to GBIF.

The family Cricetidae accounted for both the highest number of species represented in the dataset (seven species, 39%) and the largest fraction of individual specimens in the generalised sample (more than 50%, 359 individuals). The second-highest number of species (five species, 28% of the total) and proportion of specimens (28%, 195 individuals) came from the Soricidae family of small insectivores. The third place in this list is occupied by representatives of the family Muridae, with four species (22% of the species list) and 152 individuals (21% of the total). The list is completed by representatives of the families Sciuridae and Dipodidae, with one species of each being found sporadically in the surveyed territories.

The distribution of species of small mammals in different habitats in the background areas was representative of the landscape and ecological state of the study territory and animal communities as a whole. The occurrence of different species in the studied variants of habitats is shown in Table 3.

Amongst the studied habitats, the largest number of species was recorded in birch forest (12 species), followed by floodplain forests and reed swamps (each with 11 species) and the household waste dump (nine species). By contrast, the smallest number of species was recorded in areas with ruderal vegetation (0) and in the temporary camp area and border zones (one each). The probable reason for this was the short catching period (comprising one recording session on the first test plot in each habitat variant).

The herb field mouse (Apodemus uralensis) is a prime example of a generalist species. It was recorded in most variants (10 out of 14) of the studied habitats, being found in forests (mainly birch), open habitats and the temporary camp. A large group of species – representatives of the genera Sorex, Myodes and Microtus – were found in 5–7 habitat variants (Table 3). At the same time, some species (Sorex isodon, Neomys fodiens, Tamias sibiricus, Sicista betulina, Micromys minutus, Apodemus agrarius), due to their stenotopic and/or low abundance in this area, were recorded only in one of the habitats.

Taxa included:
Rank Scientific Name Common Name
kingdom Animalia Animals
class Mammalia Mammals
order Eulipotyphla Insectivores
family Soricidae Shrews
order Rodentia Rodents
family Sciuridae Squirrels
family Dipodidae Dipodids
family Muridae Murids
family Cricetidae Hamsters

Temporal coverage

Notes: 

2007-06-23 through to 2014-07-17

Usage licence

Usage licence: 
Other
IP rights notes: 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License.

Data resources

Data package title: 
Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)
Number of data sets: 
1
Data set name: 
Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)
Data format: 
Darwin Core
Description: 

The dataset contains records of small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) collected on the background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia) and the territory of the Sultanovskoye deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development (Mukhacheva et al. 2021). Data were collected during the snowless periods in 2007 (18 sampling plots annually), 2008–2010 (13 plots annually), 2011 (30 plots) and 2012–2014 (19 plots annually). The capture of animals was carried out in different types of forests (pine, birch, mixed and floodplain), sparse birch stands, swamp (reed, bogged), marshy and dry meadows, border areas, a household waste dump, areas of ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp. Our studies of small mammals were conducted by trap lines (snap and live traps). During the study period, 709 specimens of small mammals were caught, which belong to five species of shrews and 13 species of rodents. The dataset may be highly useful for studying regional fauna and the distribution of species in different habitats and could also be used as reference values for environmental monitoring and conservation activities. We have published several faunal and analytical works, based on the materials collected in 2007 (Mukhacheva et al. 2009), in 2008–2010 (Mukhacheva et al. 2010a, Mukhacheva et al. 2010b, Mukhacheva and Davydova 2012), in 2011 (Mukhacheva et al. 2012); and 2012–2014 (Mukhacheva and Davydova 2016).

Column label Column description
occurrenceID An identifier for the Occurrence (as opposed to a particular digital record of the occurrence). In the absence of a persistent global unique identifier, construct one from a combination of identifiers in the record that will most closely make the occurrenceID globally unique. A variable.
type The nature or genre of the resource. A variable.
modified The most recent date-time on which the resource was changed. A constant ("DD-MM-YYYY").
language A language of the resource. A constant ("en" = English).
licence A legal document giving official permission to do something with the resource. A constant ("CC_BY_4_0" = Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 Licence).
bibliographicCitation A bibliographic reference for the resource as a statement indicating how this record should be cited (attributed) when used. A variable.
references A related resource that is referenced, cited or otherwise pointed to by the described resource. A variable.
institutionCode The name (or acronym) in use by the institution having custody of the object(s) or information referred to in the record. A constant ("Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE), UB RAS").
datasetName The name identifying the dataset from which the record was derived. A constant ("Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)").
basisOfRecord The specific nature of the data record. A variable.
catalogNumber An identifier (preferably unique) for the record within the dataset or collection. A variable.
recordNumber An identifier given to the Occurrence at the time it was recorded. Often serves as a link between field notes and an Occurrence record, such as a specimen collector's number. A variable, constructed by sample plot name ("L.") and catalogue number ("No.").
recordedBy A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups or organisations responsible for recording the original Occurrence. The primary collector or observer, especially one who applies a personal identifier (recordNumber), should be listed first. A constant ("Mukhacheva S.V. | Davydova Yu.A").
individualCount The number of individuals present at the time of the Occurrence. A constant ("1").
sex The sex of the biological individual(s) represented in the Occurrence. A variable.
lifeStage The age class or life stage of the Organism(s) at the time the Occurrence was recorded. A variable.
occurrenceStatus A statement about the presence or absence of a Taxon at a Location. A variable.
preparations A list (concatenated and separated) of preparations and preservation methods for a specimen. A variable.
disposition The current state of a specimen with respect to the collection identified in collectionCode or collectionID. A variable.
occurrenceRemarks Comments or notes about the Occurrence. A variable.
identifiedBy A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups or organisations who assigned the Taxon to the subject. A variable.
dateIdentified The date on which the subject was determined as representing the Taxon. A variable.
identificationReferences A list (concatenated and separated) of references (publication, global unique identifier, URI) used in the Identification. A constant ("Gromov, Erbaeva 1995 | Zaitsev et al. 2014").
identificationRemarks Comments or notes about the Identification. A variable.
scientificName The full scientific name, with authorship and date information, if known. When forming part of an Identification, this should be the name in the lowest level taxonomic rank that can be determined. This term should not contain identification qualifications, which should instead be supplied in the IdentificationQualifier term. A variable.
acceptedNameUsage The full name, with authorship and date information, if known, of the currently valid (zoological) or accepted (botanical) taxon. A variable.
kingdom The full scientific name of the kingdom in which the taxon is classified. A constant ("Animalia").
phylum The full scientific name of the phylum or division in which the taxon is classified. A constant ("Chordata").
class The full scientific name of the class in which the taxon is classified. A constant ("Mammalia").
order The full scientific name of the order in which the taxon is classified. A variable.
family The full scientific name of the family in which the taxon is classified. A variable.
genus The full scientific name of the genus in which the taxon is classified. A variable.
specificEpithet The name of the first or species epithet of the scientificName. A variable.
taxonRank The taxonomic rank of the most specific name in the scientificName. A constant ("SPECIES").
scientificNameAuthorship The authorship information for the scientificName, formatted according to the conventions of the applicable nomenclaturalCode. A variable.
parentEventID An identifier for the broader Event that groups this and potentially other Events. A variable.
eventID An identifier for the set of information associated with an Event (something that occurs at a place and time). May be a global unique identifier or an identifier specific to the dataset. A variable, constructed by sample plot name ("l.") and event date ("DD-MM-YYYY").
fieldNumber An identifier given to the event in the field. Often serves as a link between field notes and the Event. A variable.
eventDate The date-time or interval during which an Event occurred. For occurrences, this is the date-time when the event was recorded. Not suitable for a time in a geological context. A variable ("DD-MM-YYYY").
year The four-digit year in which the Event occurred, according to the Common Era Calendar. A variable.
month The integer month in which the Event occurred. A variable.
day The integer day of the month on which the Event occurred. A variable.
habitat A category or description of the habitat in which the Event occurred. A variable.
samplingProtocol The names of, references to, or descriptions of the methods or protocols used during an Event. A variable.
sampleSizeValue A numeric value for a measurement of the size (time duration, length, area or volume) of a sample in a sampling event. A variable.
sampleSizeUnit The unit of measurement of the size (time duration, length, area or volume) of a sample in a sampling event. A variable.
samplingEffort The amount of effort expended during an Event. A variable.
higherGeography A list (concatenated and separated) of geographic names less specific than the information captured in the locality term. A constant ("Urals | South Ural").
continent The name of the continent in which the Location occurs. A constant ("Europe | Asia").
country The name of the country or major administrative unit in which the Location occurs. A constant ("Russia").
countryCode The standard code for the country in which the Location occurs. A constant ("RU").
stateProvince The name of the next smaller administrative region than country (state, province, canton, department, region etc.) in which the Location occurs. A constant ("Chelyabinsk").
county The full, unabbreviated name of the next smaller administrative region than stateProvince (county, shire, department etc.) in which the Location occurs. A variable.
locality The specific description of the place. A variable.
minimumElevationInMetres The lower limit of the range of elevation (altitude, usually above sea level), in metres. A variable.
maximumElevationInMetres The upper limit of the range of elevation (altitude, usually above sea level), in metres. A variable.
decimalLatitude The geographic latitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in geodeticDatum) of the geographic centre of a Location. Positive values are north of the Equator, negative values are south of it. Legal values lie between -90 and 90, inclusive. A variable.
decimalLongitude The geographic longitude (in decimal degrees, using the spatial reference system given in geodeticDatum) of the geographic centre of a Location. Positive values are east of the Greenwich Meridian, negative values are west of it. Legal values lie between -180 and 180, inclusive. A variable.
geodeticDatum The ellipsoid, geodetic datum or spatial reference system (SRS) upon which the geographic coordinates given in decimalLatitude and decimalLongitude are based. A constant ("WGS84").
coordinateUncertaintyInMetres The horizontal distance (in metres) from the given decimalLatitude and decimalLongitude describing the smallest circle containing the whole of the Location. Leave the value empty if the uncertainty is unknown, cannot be estimated or is not applicable (because there are no coordinates). Zero is not a valid value for this term. A variable.
georeferencedBy A list (concatenated and separated) of names of people, groups or organisations who determined the georeference (spatial representation) for the Location. A constant ("Davydova Yu.A., Mukhacheva S.V.").
georeferencedDate The date on which the Location was georeferenced. A constant ("27-08-2021").
rightsHolder A person or organisation owning or managing rights over the resource. A constant ("Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE), UB RAS").

Additional information

Mukhacheva S, Davydova Yu, Sozontov A (2021). Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia). v.1.3. Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology (IPAE). Dataset/Samplingevent. http://gbif.ru:8080/ipt/resource?r=small_mammals_2021&v=1.3

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to our colleagues K.I. Berdyugin, I.A. Kshnyasev, D.V. Nesterkova and G.Yu. Smirnov for their participation in zoological research.

Author contributions

Svetlana Mukhacheva – small mammals sampling, species identification, data preparation, manuscript preparation.

Yulia Davydova – small mammals sampling, georeferencing, data preparation, manuscript preparation.

Artëm Sozontov – data preparation, georeferencing, manuscript preparation.

References

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