Population variation of the lesser common field mouse in middle mountains of the Western and Central Caucasus

Population characteristics of the lesser common field mouse in the Western and Central Caucasus (the northern macroslope) are studied. The samples were taken in three sites, two of which (vicinity of Elbrus village and Bezengi village) are in the Central Caucasus, and one site (vicinity of Lagonaki plateau) is in the Western Caucasus. The similar metabolism intensification that can be characterized as “stressed” is registered in the animals of the Elbrus population and Lagonaki population. The revealed unfavorable conditions affect the numbers and population structure in different ways: in the Elbrus population reproduction is more intensive, and females predominate in the adult group. Absence of metabolism intensification and at the same time, increase in number of pregnant females in the vicinity of the Bezengi village and the highest rate of hibernating animals characterize the conditions of the studied area as optimum for the lesser common field mouse. Thus, essential differences relating to the effect of combining diverse ecological and geographical factors (annual average temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, vegetation period duration) are revealed in population characteristics of the lesser common field mouse in middle mountains of the Central and Western Caucasus.