Vs. Gromov et al., THE SEASONAL DYNAMICS OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND SPATIAL STRUCTURE IN THE POPULATIONS OF TAMARISK GERBILS (MERIONES TAMARISCINUS) IN SOUTHERN KALMYKIA, Zoologiceskij zurnal, 75(3), 1996, pp. 413-428
The method of marking and recaptures on a study area of 7.4 ha and adj
acent territory of 0.5 sq. km. was used to obtain the data on seasonal
dynamics of demographic and spatial structure of a local populations
of gerbils. The data on the sex-age structure of the population, repro
duction, mobility of individuals, size and structure of home ranges ar
e given. The high rate of seasonal and yearly renovation of the reside
nt part of the population (up to 90%) was revealed. The adult females
occupy isolated home ranges in all the seasons. The home ranges of adu
lt males throughout the reproductive period are considerably overlappi
ng among themselves and with the female ones and are considerably larg
er than these latter. The home ranges of some adult males are formed b
y several separate areas lying far from each other and connected with
home ranges of receptive females. These males are characterized by sig
nificant moves whithin the range of population (up to 700 m or, probab
ly, more). The ''drift'' of home ranges of resident individuals is rev
ealed, its possible causes are discussed. In autumn, the gerbils irres
pective of their sex and age occupy isolated home ranges to some exten
t overlapping only in some part of youngs of the year. The mean areas
of the home ranges in autumn are as follows (M +/- SE): males (n = 23)
- 1140 +/- 260 sq. m, females (n = 33) - 1470 +/- 200 sq. m. The stra
tegies of the use of space by the individuals of different sex and age
are discussed. The obtained data confirm the existing assumption abou
t the solitary mode of life of tamarisk gerbils.