Monitoring of small mammals of the State National Nature Park “Buiratau”
Vol. 4 No. 50 (2025), Articles
Vol. 4 No. 50 (2025)

Monitoring of small mammals of the State National Nature Park “Buiratau”

Articles
https://doi.org/10.64863/2312-4784/2025-3-50/132-145
Published 29.12.2025
  • Gulnaz Kartbayeva
  • Nurum Sagaliev
Gulnaz Kartbayeva
Nurum Sagaliev
PDF

Keywords

small mammals
monitoring
Buiratau
biotope
range
abundance
biodiversity

Abstract

The article presents the results of a long-term monitoring study of small mammals inhabiting the territory of the Buiratau National Park, specifically within the “Belodymovka” branch. The research was conducted across various biotopes, including steppe, meadow, mountain-forest, forest, arable land, enclosure boundaries, the Karagash tract, and shrub areas, which allowed for a comprehensive characterization of the fauna and assessment of ecological diversity. Standard trapping methods for small mammals were employed, and fieldwork was carried out from May to September 2025. The species diversity and relative abundance of rodents and lagomorphs were identified. The study determined the species composition, analyzed community structure, identified dominant species, and examined the features of their spatial distribution and habitat ranges. Seasonal and interannual dynamics of abundance were assessed, and biotopic preferences and habitat use patterns were revealed. The influence of natural and biotic factors on the formation, stability, and reproductive potential of populations was considered. Special attention was paid to the role of small mammals as indicators of the ecological state of natural ecosystems and as key components maintaining trophic relationships, soil fertility, and biocenotic balance. Comparison of current data with previous studies made it possible to identify trends in population abundance and community structure under conditions of climatic fluctuations and human activities. The presented materials have both scientific and practical significance, forming the basis for long-term ecological monitoring, assessment of ecosystem stability, and the development of effective measures for biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of natural resources within the Buiratau National Park.

https://doi.org/10.64863/2312-4784/2025-3-50/132-145
PDF

References

1. Čepelka & Dokulilová (2025). Ecological roles of small terrestrial mammals in temperate and boreal forests – a review. Forests 16(6):994. https://doi.org/10.3390/f16060994

2. Carter, L., & Johnson, K. (2024). Dietary preferences and foraging behavior in rodents. Animal Behavior, 167, 123–134.

3. Davis, E., & Lee, C. (2022). Habitat selection and population dynamics of shrews. Wildlife Research, 49(2), 101–112.

4. Foster, W., & Green, D. (2023). Reproductive strategies in small carnivores. Biological Reviews, 98(4), 1456–1478.

5. Genetic Fund of Fauna of the Kazakh SSR. Part 1. Vertebrates. Almaty: Nauka. [in Russian].

6. Gromov, I. M., & Yerbayeva, M. A. (1995). Mammals of Russia and neighboring territories: Lagomorphs and rodents. St. Petersburg: ZIN RAS. [in Russian].

7. Harris, P., & White, N. (2024). Conservation challenges for endangered small mammals. Conservation Biology, 38(5), 1201–1215.

8. Jackson, B., & Miller, H. (2022). Genetic diversity and adaptation in micro-mammals. Molecular Ecology, 31(10), 3456–3472.

9. Kalinin, A. A., & Alexandrov, D. Y. (2023). Residents and non-residents: daily activity of small mammals in contrasting biotopes. Ekologiya, 1(1), 1–10.

10. Kucheruk, V. V. Quantitative census of the most important species of rodents and shrews // Methods of census of the number and geographical distribution of terrestrial vertebrates. Moscow: Publishing House of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1952. pp. 9-46. [in Russian].

11. Karaseva, E. V., & Telitsyna, A. Yu. (1996). Methods for studying rodents in field conditions. Moscow: Nauka. [in Russian].

12. Rosenberg, G. S. (2010). Information index and diversity: Boltzmann, Kotelnikov, Shannon, and Weaver. Journal of General Biology, (2), 131–141

13. Kartbayeva, G. T., Bolat, A. B., & Sagaliev, N. A. (2024). Main species of murid rodents in Buiratau National Park. Actual Problems of the Present, 4(46), 93–99. URL: https://journal.bolashaq.edu.kz/APPIS/issue/view/10/7

14. Kartbayeva, G. T., & Sagaliev, N. A. (2023). Biodiversity of Buiratau National Nature Park. Actual Problems of the Present, 4(42), 80–87. URL: https://journal.bolashaq.edu.kz/APPIS/issue/view/14/11

15. Kartbayeva, G. T., Bugembayeva, A. T., & Sagaliev, N. A. (2022). Study of micromammals of Buiratau National Park. Actual Problems of the Present, 4(38), 142–147. URL: https://journal.bolashaq.edu.kz/APPIS/issue/view/18/15

17. Kolesov, S. D., & Shadrina, E. G. (2010). Composition of small mammal communities in the lower course of the Vilyuy River. Advances in Contemporary Natural Science, 7, 22–24.

18. Levykh, A. Yu. (2025). Small mammals in assessment of the current state of landscapes of the Polar Urals. Bulletin of North Kazakhstan University, 1(65), 66–84.

19. Lewis, Z., & Wilson, F. (2024). Behavioral ecology of bats. Journal of Mammalogy, 105(2), 234–245.

20. Litvinov, Yu. N., Senotrusova, M. M., & Demidovich, P. A. (2006). General parameters of forest-steppe rodent communities. Zoologichesky Zhurnal, 85(11), 1362–1369. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-007-9194-9

21. Mashkin, V. I. (2013). Methods of studying game and protected animals in the field: A tutorial. St. Petersburg: Lan Publishing House. [in Russian].

22. Moore, Y., & Young, V. (2022). Parasite-host interactions in small mammals in Germany. Parasitology Today, 38(3), 189–201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04615-7

23. Nguyen, Q., & Zhang, X. (2023). Urbanization effects on small mammal communities. Urban Ecosystems, 26(4), 678–692.

24. Primack, R. (2002). Essentials of Conservation Biology. Moscow: NUMC. [in Russian].

Rowe, K. C. et al. (2014). Spatially heterogeneous impact of climate change on small mammals of montane California. Proc. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 282:20141857. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.1857

25. Sergazinova, Z. M., Makarov, A. V., Toleuzhanova, A. T., Kukusheva, A. N., Arynova, S. Z., & Chidunchi, I. Y. (2025). Comparative characterization of small mammal communities in forest-steppe and steppe landscapes… OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 25(1), 150–162. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3844/ojbsci.2025.150.162

26. Serikbayeva, A. T., Akhmetov, E. M., Sartbayev, Zh. T., & Iskakova, J. A. (2022). Biodiversity of flora and fauna in Charyn National Park. Gylym jäne bilim, 1(1), 1–10. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52578/2305-9397-2022-1-1-165-173%20

27. Zakanova, A., Yerzhanov, N., & Litvinov, Y. (2024). The impact of industrial pollution on the populations of small mammals in Northern Kazakhstan. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, 31(15), 23285. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25836-6