Results of mapping of settlements of steppe marmot Marmota bobak Muller, 1776 and associated mammalian species on the territory of the Biosphere Reserve "Askania-Nova" (Kherson region, Ukraine)

Study Extent

The territory covered by the dataset includes Biosphere Reserve "Askania-Nova" named after F.E. Falz-Fein, Kakhovka district, Kherson region, Ukraine. Since the beginning of the full-scale armed aggression of the Russian Federation on February 24, 2022 and at the time of preparation of this data set (July 2024), the territory of the biosphere reserve is under occupation. The author of the mapping is the well-known teriologist and conservationist Igor Kostyantynovich Polishchuk (April 20, 1952 – March 9, 2024). From 1978 to 1991, he worked in the Department of Population Ecology and Conservation of Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, heading a scientific station for regular monitoring of populations of pest rodents in the village of Chaplynka, Kherson Region. In 1991, he was appointed to the position of a junior researcher at the laboratory of biological monitoring and protected steppe at the Ukrainian Scientific Research Institute of Livestock Breeding of Steppe Regions named after M.F. Ivanov "Askania-Nova". From 1995 to March 2024, he held the position of senior researcher of the laboratory of biomonitoring and protected steppe of the Biosphere Reserve "Askania-Nova" named after F.E. Falz-Fein of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine. The work on this dataset had been completed by the colleagues of the mentioned researcher. For a long time, I.P. Polishchuk studied the dynamics of changes in the population of the steppe marmot in the Askanian steppe and, since the beginning of the 2000s, predicted the possible disappearance of this species in the territory of the biosphere reserve. Today, the population has really degraded. The data set is therefore of historical significance, important for modelling, studying the past distribution and recovery of the local population of a vulnerable species. In general, there are opposing opinions regarding the nature of the marmot in Askania-Nova. The first researchers in the 1920s and 30s believed that the marmot really lived in this area in the past, but was exterminated. Subsequently, the opinion was expressed that marmots never lived here and were acclimatized. In fact, in Askania-Nova the marmot was imported and released from the beginning of the 20th century (owner of the estate F. Falz-Fein), then - in 1934 and during 1967-1971. In 1967, the release of dragonflies took place without prior delay and turned out to be ineffective (Vedenkov, 1983). During the period from 1967 to 1971, 155 animals were released (Vedenkov, Polishchuk, 1997). In 1982, the Askanian colony of the marmots had 200 individuals, in 1985 – 400. The number of animals grew progressively until 1989 and amounted to 620 individuals, and in 1990–1995 the number fluctuated between 400–700 individuals (Polishchuk, Vedenkov, 1997 ). Researchers assumed that a self-reproducing population was formed here, which existed in balance with the environment. At the same time, an important role was played by the heterosis effect, which appeared as a result of crossing two spatially isolated populations (Velikoburlutska and Striltsivska). Unfortunately, the later observations of I.K. Polishchuk (2006) showed that since 2001, a rapid decline in the number of steppe marmots began in Askania-Nova. In 2004, the author counted only 17 families (in 2000, there were 69 of them).

Sampling

Searching for burrows and mapping were carried out by the author in 2008–2015, by means of a field survey of the area in the section of the quarter network of the "Southern" and "Northern" sections of the natural core of the Biosphere Reserve "Askania-Nova". In some cases, important notes were made regarding the functional purpose of particular burrows, their settlement by other species of burrowing mammals, adjacent objects, etc. Coordinates were documented using a Lowrance iFinder GPS navigator.

Quality Control

The data set represents well-documented data collected and structured by an experienced teriologist with big experience in working in field on the studied territory.

Method steps

1. Collecting of data from the field.
2. Mapping of marmots' settlements.
3. Identification of species.
4. Georeferencing.
5. Creating of the dataset according to the Darwin Core standards.

The dataset consists exclusively of mammals.,

1. Animalia
   rank: kingdom
2. Chordata
   rank: phylum
3. Mammalia
   rank: class
4. Rodentia
   rank: order
5. Carnivora
   rank: order
6. Mustelidae
   rank: family
7. Canidae
   rank: family
8. Sciuridae
   rank: family

The datset covers the territory of Kherson administrative region of Ukraine.