ON THE SPATIAL POPULATION-STRUCTURE OF TA MARISK GERBILS MERIONES TAMARISCINUS DURING A NONREPRODUCTIVE SEASON IN SOUTHERN KALMYKIA

The structure and the spatial distribution of a population of gerbils M. tamariscinus were studied in September and October using the method of marking and repeated trapping of marked animals. 30 resident indiv iduals were observed within the study area of 7.4 ha, including 5 over wintered individuals, 22 adult animals of both sexes which did not par ticipate in reproduction and 3 juveniles. The sex ratio (males to fema les of was 1 :1.7. The average population density an the study area wa s 4 individuals per 1 ha. The home ranges of females partly overlapped . The home ranges of males did not overlap being located sometimes at long distances from each other. Average size of home ranges of males w as half the size of these of females (644:1411 sq.m resp.). The obtain ed data show, that gerbils M. tamariscinus are solitary. The spatial i solation of male home ranges, the lack of distinct boundaries between them, and amorphous spatial structure in females suggest the lack of d efence of territories in gerbils at least during nonreproductive seaso n.