Threatened mammals of steppe ecosystems in the North Caucasus

Steppe ecosystems in the Central Cis-Caucasus actually refer to threatened ones. Increasing anthropogenic pressure has caused reduction of suitable habitats and their fragmentation, and as a result, decrease in the numbers of steppe animals as natural components of these ecosystems. This work gives data on ecology and necessary protection measures of xerophilous mammals suggested to be included into a new edition of the Red Book of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic.