Phenetic analysis of craniological characters in the lesser common field mouse (Sylvaemus uralensis Pall.) under heavy metals pollution in highland regions of the Central Caucasus

The effect of technogenic pollution and altitudinal gradient on morphogenesis of the lesser common field mouse in highland regions of the Central Caucasus has been studied. It's revealed that the altitude above sea level and related environments have even more unfavourable impact on the organism of the lesser common field mouse, and produce, correspondingly, much stress than industrial pollution from Tyrnyauz integrated tungsten-and-molybdenum works. The relatively higher level of fluctuating asymmetry (FAnm) found in animals from the highest altitude (1800 m a.s.l.) provides indirect support for this fact. It is suggested that the moderate level of FAnm in the impact sample, in comparison with control samples, is likely to be determined by the population adaptation to anthropogenically transformed environments in connection with prolonged habitation of the lesser common field mouse (more than 100 generations) in the territory polluted by technogenic wastes.