Abstracts

Diversity of the Fauna

Since 1994 Dept. of Biogeography of Institute of Geography RAS and Biodiversity Conservation Center create the world biggest bank of digital ranges of terrestrial vertebrates for the territory ranging from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) to the Eastern Hemisphere. The bank performs both reference and analytical functions. At present, there are 691 ranges of the mammals in the bank.

The table below presents some results of calculation of species richness (SR): the FSU's areas with highest mammal diversity for separate orders. In most cases, one might distinguish three major peaks: western, middle and eastern.

The bats show closer connection with warmth and moisture -- their SR falls greater at low meanings of these parameters. The maximum diversity of bats and rodents is displaced to the west, whereas the maximum diversity of carnivores, ungulates and lagomorphs is displaced to the east.

Note. Abstracts are published in author's edition

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