SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION OF 2 GERBILLIDAE SPE CIES, MERIONES MERIDIANUS AND MERIONES TAMARISCINUS, COMMUNITY IN KALMYKIA

Spatial distribution of two gerbillid species, Meriones meridianus and M. tamariscinus, within the same habitat was studied in April-June of 1995 in Kalmykia using traps located in corners of squares 10x10 m on a study grid of 1 ha area. Females of both species performed a unifor m distribution and had a strong tendency to use the space exclusively, while males tended to aggregate and share home ranges between themsel ves and with females. The same phenomenon was observed in males in int erspecific relations: males aggregated at female home ranges regardles s of female species. M. tamariscinus males preferred conspecific femal es rather than heterospecific ones, while M. meridianus showed no pref erence. The tendency of exclusive use of the space in females was less pronounced between heterospecifics than between conspecifics. Distrib ution of values of registering females and the used traps appeared not to differ from random one. A lack of marked interspecies territoriali sm and of significant mutual effect on spatial distribution in two clo sely related species are explained in terms of low social activity reg arded as preadaptation for independent cohabiting and a lack of prereq uisites for competition due to different food preferences.