Depression of the population of the steppe polecat (<i>Mustela eversmanii</i>) in the Southern Urals

Abstract

Long-term monitoring abundance of the steppe polecat (Mustela eversmanii) in the Chelyabinsk region are considered. The analysis of the abundance dynamics of Mustelidae was carried out on the basis of monitoring data using the method of winter accounting (WA) conducted annually. Over the past few years, the steppe polecat has not been registered during accounting work in the mountain taiga, i. e. its number is either extremely low, or it has completely disappeared. In forest-steppe territories for 12 years, from 2008 to 2020, the abundance of polecats decreased almost 90 times, from 3058. to 34 ind. The data on the number of the main prey species of the steppe polecat – ground squirrel (Spermophilus major) and gray ground squirrel (Spermophilus pygmaeus) and the groundhog (Marmota bobak) are presented. The hypothesis of the influence of the American mink on the number of the steppe polecat is considered.