Beitrag zur Säugetierfauna der Ostmongolei

Authors

Davaa Lchagvasuren, National University of MongoliaFollow
Annegret Stubbe, Martin-Luther-UniversitätFollow
Michael Stubbe, Martin-Luther-Universität
Hermann Ansorge, Senckenberg Museum of Natural History GörlitzFollow
Dietrich Dolch, RadenslebenFollow

Date of this Version

2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

Erforschung biologischer Ressourcen der Mongolei (2021) band 14: 71-94.

Comments

Copyright 2021, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle Wittenberg, Halle (Saale). Used by permission.

Abstract

Between 2008 and 2014, four Mongolian-German Biological Expeditions worked for short periods in East Mongolia. The results related to mammalian fauna were summarized. Investigation areas were parts of the Daurian steppe, Buir-nuur- and Nömrög-gol-region. Chiroptera were recorded with four species. Especially, Vespertilio sinensis has to be considered as a characteristic species of the eastern steppes. Aggregations of some thousand individuals were found in the Buir-nuur-region. The other three species were Plecotus ognevi, Myotis petax, and Myotis aurascens. It is to expect, that in eastern Mongolia some more Chiroptera-species will re-covered in future.

The degree of investigation of insectivores is also insufficient. We recovered Mesechinus dauuricus, Sorex tundrensis, and Sorex caecutiens as well as Crocidura shantungensis. From the family Sciuridae we collected only Spermophilus dauricus and Tamias sibiricus. The Muridae are represented by Rattus norvegicus, Mus musculus, and Apodemus agrarius et peninsulae. From these species exist representative sample series. In literature is documented, that East Mongolia belongs to the autochthonic center of Rattus norvegicus. In the '30s and '40s of the last century, Manchuria and East Mongolia were occupied by Japanese military that used Rattus norvegicus and its ectoparasites as biological weapons to transfer plague, anthrax and other pathogenic agents to humans. It would be useful to study the DNA of the recent wild Rattus norvegicus to reveal their genetically origin.

The Spalacidae are represented by Myospalax psilurus and M. aspalax without any new investigation result of our expeditions. Microtus fortis and Microtus gregalis are the only recorded species of the Arvicolidae as well as Cricetulus barabensis and Phodopus campbelli for the Cricetidae. Morphometric data, remarks on reproduction state and habitat structures and requirements are subsumed here.

In East Mongolia, we can expect many further mammalian species, which are to recover. Stationary research is recommendable, concentrated on micromammalian communities, reproduction cycles of different species and their feeding ecology. The study of the economic importance and relevance as well as the effectiveness of the great new agro-ecosystems in eastern Mongolia and the consequences of the change from natural into culture steppes is--and must be--a great challenge for the Mongolian sciences and scientists.