The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine)
The north of Odesa Oblast, as well as the whole Northern Black Sea Region and southern areas of Podillia do not belong to the current range of the steppe marmot, which is distributed mainly in the east of Ukraine, although successful attempts of introduction took place in these regions. The disper...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Theriologia Ukrainica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts17-wolf/pts1713-datsiuk-marmot.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811212754741100544 |
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| author | Vasyl Datsiuk |
| author_facet | Vasyl Datsiuk |
| author_sort | Vasyl Datsiuk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The
north of Odesa Oblast, as well as the whole Northern Black Sea Region and southern areas of Podillia do
not belong to the current range of the steppe marmot, which is distributed mainly in the east of Ukraine, although successful attempts of introduction took place in these regions. The dispersal of the steppe marmot,
Marmota bobak, in the north of Odesa Oblast occurred in 1979–1980. The Stepanivskyi Nature Reserve (later
its status was changed to hunting grounds of Ivanivka Village Council) was created in the territory of three
villages of Liubashivka Raion, which became entirely unpopulated, in which roe deer, pheasants and marmots
were relocated. The first steppe marmots were brought here in summer 1979 from Askania Nova, although
part of the animals did not survive the heat and transportation, while the others could not acclimatize. The
second group of marmots was transferred from Luhansk Oblast (then Volosylovhrad Oblast) in autumn 1979.
The absence of natural enemies and careful attitude of people from neighbouring villages allowed marmots
increasing in number from 25 animals in 1980 to 415 in 2010, although later a population decline occurred.
Many marmots died because of burning of reed and dry grass. The appearance of a large number of foxes also
affected the colony’s abundance and migration of surviving marmots closer to humans. The preying of kites
on young marmots was also an important factor affecting the population. In 2013, the abundance of the marmot colony was only 50 specimens and the species extinction was expected in case of further existence of influencing factors. Therefore, in 2013, measures were taken in order to support and restore the steppe marmot
colony, which as of 1 December 2016 consisted of ca. 500 specimens, while in early 2019 there number was
1700. Management experience shows that correctly planned measures on maintaining local populations along
with regulation of preying demonstrate a sufficient and constant increase, which allows expecting further
population growth. The “Lubashivka colony” of steppe marmots currently is stable thus we can consider the
species present in the fauna of Podillia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:34:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8176df9bcdb948e3bf751aecd7745251 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2616-7379 2617-1120 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T05:34:38Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural History |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Theriologia Ukrainica |
| spelling | doaj.art-8176df9bcdb948e3bf751aecd77452512022-12-22T03:45:55ZengNational Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. National Museum of Natural HistoryTheriologia Ukrainica2616-73792617-11202019-07-0117929610.15407/pts2019.17.092The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) Vasyl Datsiuk0Odesa Regional Laboratory Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (Odesa, Ukraine)The north of Odesa Oblast, as well as the whole Northern Black Sea Region and southern areas of Podillia do not belong to the current range of the steppe marmot, which is distributed mainly in the east of Ukraine, although successful attempts of introduction took place in these regions. The dispersal of the steppe marmot, Marmota bobak, in the north of Odesa Oblast occurred in 1979–1980. The Stepanivskyi Nature Reserve (later its status was changed to hunting grounds of Ivanivka Village Council) was created in the territory of three villages of Liubashivka Raion, which became entirely unpopulated, in which roe deer, pheasants and marmots were relocated. The first steppe marmots were brought here in summer 1979 from Askania Nova, although part of the animals did not survive the heat and transportation, while the others could not acclimatize. The second group of marmots was transferred from Luhansk Oblast (then Volosylovhrad Oblast) in autumn 1979. The absence of natural enemies and careful attitude of people from neighbouring villages allowed marmots increasing in number from 25 animals in 1980 to 415 in 2010, although later a population decline occurred. Many marmots died because of burning of reed and dry grass. The appearance of a large number of foxes also affected the colony’s abundance and migration of surviving marmots closer to humans. The preying of kites on young marmots was also an important factor affecting the population. In 2013, the abundance of the marmot colony was only 50 specimens and the species extinction was expected in case of further existence of influencing factors. Therefore, in 2013, measures were taken in order to support and restore the steppe marmot colony, which as of 1 December 2016 consisted of ca. 500 specimens, while in early 2019 there number was 1700. Management experience shows that correctly planned measures on maintaining local populations along with regulation of preying demonstrate a sufficient and constant increase, which allows expecting further population growth. The “Lubashivka colony” of steppe marmots currently is stable thus we can consider the species present in the fauna of Podillia.http://www.terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts17-wolf/pts1713-datsiuk-marmot.pdfsteppe marmotmarmota bobakartificial colonyanthropogenic influencepodillia |
| spellingShingle | Vasyl Datsiuk The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) Theriologia Ukrainica steppe marmot marmota bobak artificial colony anthropogenic influence podillia |
| title | The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) |
| title_full | The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) |
| title_fullStr | The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) |
| title_full_unstemmed | The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) |
| title_short | The steppe marmot (Marmota bobak) in the north of Odesa Oblast (Ukraine) |
| title_sort | steppe marmot marmota bobak in the north of odesa oblast ukraine |
| topic | steppe marmot marmota bobak artificial colony anthropogenic influence podillia |
| url | http://www.terioshkola.org.ua/library/pts17-wolf/pts1713-datsiuk-marmot.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vasyldatsiuk thesteppemarmotmarmotabobakinthenorthofodesaoblastukraine AT vasyldatsiuk steppemarmotmarmotabobakinthenorthofodesaoblastukraine |