Biodiversity Data Journal :
Data Paper (Biosciences)
|
Corresponding author: Svetlana Mukhacheva (mukhacheva@mail.ru)
Academic editor: Dmitry Schigel
Received: 06 Oct 2021 | Accepted: 17 Dec 2021 | Published: 13 Jan 2022
© 2022 Svetlana Mukhacheva, Yulia Davydova, Artëm Sozontov
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Mukhacheva S, Davydova Y, Sozontov A (2022) Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia). Biodiversity Data Journal 10: e76215. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.e76215
|
|
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.
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.
data paper, occurrence records, insectivores, rodents, biological diversity, landscape-habitat diversity, environmental heterogeneity, industrial pollution
Small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) are ubiquitous, abundant, fertile, have a short life cycle and respond quickly to abiotic and biotic factors (
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 (
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 (
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) (
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 (
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 (
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.
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.
Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)
Svetlana Mukhacheva, Yulia Davydova, Artëm Sozontov
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 (
Sampling plot |
Latitude |
Longitude |
County |
Habitat |
Sampling years |
1s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
pine forest |
2007 |
2s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
birch forest |
2007 |
3s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
dry meadow |
2007 |
4s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2007 |
5s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
dry meadow |
2007 |
6s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
birch forest |
2007 |
7s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2007 |
8s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
birch forest |
2007 |
9s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
dry meadow |
2007 |
10s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2007 |
11s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
reed swamp |
2007 |
12s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
forested bog |
2007 |
13s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
ruderal vegetation |
2007 |
14s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
swamp-pine forest border |
2007 |
15s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
birch-dry meadow border |
2007 |
16s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
birch forest |
2007 |
17s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine) |
2007 |
18s |
|
|
Kunashakskiy District |
shift camp |
2007 |
301 |
|
|
Kyshtymskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
302 |
|
|
Kyshtymskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
303 |
|
|
Kyshtymskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
304 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
305 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
306 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
316 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
317 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
318 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
319 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
320 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
321 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2008, 2009, 2010 |
341 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
342 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
343 |
|
|
Karabashskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
344 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest, slope |
2011 |
345 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine), slope |
2011 |
346 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine), slope |
2011 |
347 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine), top |
2011 |
348 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine), top |
2011 |
349 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
mixed forest (birch and pine), top |
2011 |
350 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
351a |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2010 |
351b |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
352 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
353 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dry meadow |
2011 |
354 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dry meadow |
2011 |
355 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dry meadow |
2011 |
356 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2011 |
357 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2011 |
358 |
|
|
Argayashskiy District |
birch forest |
2011 |
359 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
reed swamp |
2011 |
360 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
reed swamp |
2011 |
361 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
reed swamp |
2011 |
362 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2011 |
363 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2011 |
364 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2011 |
365 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2011 |
366 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dump of household waste |
2011 |
367 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dump of household waste |
2011 |
368 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dump of household waste |
2011 |
369 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dry meadow |
2011 |
370 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dry meadow |
2011 |
419 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
420 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
421 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
birch forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
422 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
423 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
424 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
floodplain forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
425 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dump of household waste |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
426 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
dump of household waste |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
427 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
reed swamp |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
428 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
reed swamp |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
429 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
430 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
431 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
marshy meadow |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
432 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
sparse birch stand |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
433 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
sparse birch stand |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
434 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
sparse birch stand |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
435 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
436 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
437 |
|
|
Miasskiy District |
pine forest |
2012, 2013, 2014 |
According to geobotanical zoning, all surveyed areas are located in the pine-birch forests subzone on the eastern slopes of the Urals (
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
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). |
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.
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).
The dataset (
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
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 (
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.
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 (
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 (
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.
55.231 and 55.718 Latitude; 60.124 and 61.764 Longitude.
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 (
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
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
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 |
2007-06-23 through to 2014-07-17
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License.
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 (
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"). |
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
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.
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.