Results of the Long-Term Monitoring of Small Mammal Communities in the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Region (Drūkšiai LTER Site)

Abstract

The paper presents data on the number of small mammal (SM) species, diversity indices of their communities, and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) reproduction disturbances in 1981–1990 in the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Region (Drūkšiai LTER site). The most polydominantic SM communities were registered in meadows; the most monodominantic in forests and bogs of the region. The average SM abundance in the region was 11.77 ± 0.58 (in autumn, 21.26 ± 1.20) individuals per 100 trap-nights. The bank vole was the dominating species (68% of all trapped individuals). In 1986–1988, the diversity of SM communities significantly decreased, while dominance increased. After the year 1984, significant bank vole breeding disturbances were observed in the form of non-implantation and embryo resorption. Such disturbances involved 68.4% of all breeding bank vole females in 1984, 45.1% in 1985, 36.7% in 1986, 46.5% in 1987, 56.7% in 1988, 27.9% in 1989, and 22.7% in 1990.