ANALYSIS OF THE BIOTOPIC DISTRIBUTION OF NORWAY (RATTUS-NORVEGICUS) AND BLACK (R-RATTUS) RATS IN DIFFERENT ALTITUDINAL ZONES OF ADZHARIA (THE CAUCASUS)

Biotopic distribution of Norway and black rats in settlements and adja cent open areas in different altitudinal zones of Adzharia was studied . In the regions inhabited only by black rat (the upper zone), it live s in buildings of different types and uses the whole buildings, from g arrets to basements. In the middle zone where Norway rat is present, a bundance of black rat significantly decreases and it occurs only in pl aces unaccessible for Norway rat. This fact can bc considered as an ev idence of competition of these species Norway rat dominating. In open areas (the lower zone), the habitats of these species are mainly separ ated and they coexist only in places of contacts of biotopes preferred by each of the species. Where big groups of black rats exist in natur al conditions (exantropic habitats), both of the species can live in b uildings for a long time without distinct spatial isolation.