The shrew (Soricidae) community organization in high-altitude belts of the Western Sayan mountains

The principles of the shrew species distribution and peculiarities of their community formation in the ecological space of the Western Sayan Mountains are considered. The significant environment space factors are determined with the help of statistical methods. It is shown that differences in species sensitivity to various factors lead to the ecological niche optimum divergence that provides them with a certain degree of independence within the same community. 4 types of shrew communities that are connected with a particular vegetation type and the nature of high altitude belt hydrothermal regime are singled out.