Alien species of mammals and their impact on natural ecosystems in the biosphere reserves of Russia.

The paper analyses the results of a survey of 37 Russian biosphere reserves using questionnaires concerning the presence of alien species of mammals, their pathways of penetration, and their impacts on protected ecosystems. The penetration of alien mammals into terrestrial ecosystems of Russia is extensive, both in places with maximum human environmental impact (inhabited areas and agricultural lands) and in biosphere reserves with minimal human impact. There are 62 mammal species registered as alien in Russian ecosystems and they account for 22% of the terrestrial mammal fauna of Russia.

Diversity of the rodent communities in the Turan Desert region.

We assessed the diversity of rodent communities in the deserts of Russia, Kazakhstan, and Central Asia using geographic information system technology. There are 66 species of rodents, belonging to eight faunistic complexes, inhabiting this area. We discuss the geographical changes occurring in taxonomic and zoogeographic diversity at both species and community levels.