Abundance dynamics of the Siberian weasel (Mustela sibirica) and their determinants on the northeastern periphery of its geographic range (Yakutia, Russia)

Zakharov E.S., Safronov V.M., Zakharova N.N., Petrov R.E., Filippova V.V., Koryakina L.P., Kruse S.

P. 153-161

Long-term changes in the harvesting of the Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica in Yakutia indicate a relatively stable population of this species from the end of the 19th century to the beginning of the 21st century. In the 2000s, prolonged depression of water vole and mountain hare populations caused a reduction in Siberian weasel numbers (i.e., abundance), despite the presence of its other prey species: mouse-like rodents and muskrats. The change of the main prey species altered the cyclicity of this predator’s population. With the decrease in Siberian weasel abundance, the percentage of young animals diminished (from 85.6% to 60.8%), as did the yield of young animals per mature female (from 11.4 to 5.0); meanwhile, among young animals, the proportion of females went up (to 60.0%), but among adults, there was an increase in the proportion of males (to 69%). Anthropogenic causes of the recent reduction in Siberian weasel abundance are listed. Competition with the sable had an additional negative influence.DOI: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.21.2.06

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