title

Distribution features of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in the south of Ukraine: a case study of Mykolaiv Oblast

author(s)

Kostiantyn Redinov (orcid: 0000-0003-4903-3586)

affiliation

Kinburn Spit Regional Landscape Park (Ochakiv, Ukraine)

bibliography

Theriologia Ukrainica. 2024. Vol. 28: 129–141.

DOI

language

Ukrainian, with English summary, titles of tables, captures to figs

abstract

Until recently, the natural geographic range of the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) has not covered the area of Mykolaiv Oblast, as opposed to Podillia and the forest-steppe belt of Ukraine. Over the past 40 years, due to artificial and natural dispersal, this dendrophilous rodent species has significantly expanded in range into Mykolaiv Oblast, 93% of which is located within the steppe and 7% within the forest-steppe zones of Ukraine. The squirrels moved from the forest-steppe zone, from the city of Kryvyi Rih and along the Dnipro valley. The dispersal has been gradual, took place in waves, and has become widespread in the last 10–15 years. In the city Pervomaisk on the river the species was observed for the first time in Southern Bug in 1980, in the northeast of the region in 2002, near the city of Mykolaiv — 1997. On the Kinburn Peninsula, the squirrel first appeared as a result of artificial introduction in the 1980s in the adjacent territory of Kherson Oblast. In the 21st century, other subspecies also dispersed naturally into the region along the Dnipro River valley and are now widespread here together with descendants of the ‘common’ and teleutka squirrels. The animals appeared in Ochakiv as a result of introduction in 2020. As of 2024, the squirrels are widespread within the northern steppe subzone of the steppe zone and locally within the middle steppe and dry steppe subzones of the steppe zone. The species is more widespread than scientists considered. The squirrel’s distribution was facilitated by forest reclamation, in particular the planting of forest belts and walnut orchards and other plantations, as well as by its ecological plasticity, introduction, synanthropisation, and the loyal attitude of the majority of the population to the species. In some places, the animals have established themselves and started breeding, such as in the cities of Novyi Buh, Mykolaiv, and Pervomaisk, and also in forest tracts, etc. The species’ natural enemy is the Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). According to the available data, in Mykolaiv Oblast, there are red squirrels from natural populations of the forest-steppe and Podillia of Ukraine, introduced teleutka squirrels, and probably their hybrids as well. As of 2020–2024, the estimated abundance of squirrels in the territory of Mykolaiv Oblast is approximately 250–500 individuals.

keywords

red squirrel, colonisation, geographical distribution, Northern Black Sea region, Ukraine

references

Artamonov, V., S. Legky. 2020. Mammals of the region of the Buzkyi Gard National Park. Novitates Theriologicae, 11: 32–42. [Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.53452/nt1107
Gorchakov, G. O., O. I. Kolyada (1990): Mykolaiv region. Geographical encyclopedia of Ukraine. Vol. 2. Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia M.P. Bazhana Kyiv, 348–353. [Ukrainian]
iNaturalist.2024. Sciurus vulgaris. https://www.inaturalist.org/
Kolomytsev, G., V. Prydatko-Dolin. 2020. Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) habitats change modelling in Eastern Europe in the scope of climate change according to new generation scenarios (SSPs) by 2100. Theriologia Ukrainica, 20: 105–126. [Ukrainian]
Legky, S., V. Artamonov. 2023. Findings of non-murid rodents in the region of the Bug Gard National Nature Park: Sciurus, Spalax, and Myocastor. Novitates Theriologicae, 16: 106–111. [Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.53452/nt1618
Matvieiev, M., M. Drebet. 2022. The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) in natural and anthropogenic habitats of the Podilski Tovtry National Park. Theriologia Ukrainica, 24: 120–130. [Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.15407/TU2411
Mezhzherin, S. V., O. I. Lashkova. 2013. Mammals of Ukraine (reference-book). Naukova Dumka, Kyiv, 1–357. [Ukrainian]
Myhulin, O. O. 1938. Mammals of the Ukrainian RSR (Materials to Fauna). Acad. Sci. of Ukrainian SSR, Kyiv, 1–426. [Ukrainian]
National... 2007. National Atlas of Ukraine. DNVP «Cartography», Kyiv, 1–440. [Ukrainian]
Ognev, S. I. 1940. Mammals of Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Volume 4. Gosizdat, Moskva, Leningrad, 1–615. [Russian]
Pachoskiy, I. K. 1906. Explanatory Catalogue of the Natural History Museum of the Kherson Provincial Zemstvo. Typogr. O. D. Khodushina, Kherson, 1–204. [Russian]
Redinov, K. O., Z. O. Petrovych, D. S. Oliynyk. 2008. Eurasian goshawk (Accipiter gentilis (L.)) in the Mykolaiv oblast. Recent studies of falcons and owls. Proceedings of the III International Scientific Conf. Kryvyi Rih, 326–337. [Ukrainian]
Redinov, K. O., Z. О. Petrovich. 2023. Birds of the Kinburn Spit. Ecological and Faunal Guide. V. M. Shvets Publishing House, Mykolaiv, 1–196. [Ukrainian]
Roman, E. G. 1995. Results of acclimatization and ecological features of the red squirrel in the southern part of the Lower Dnipro region. Ecosystems of wild nature: Protection, nature management, monitoring. Issue 2. Odessa, 30–33. [Russian]
Selyunina, Z. 2014. Changes in the composition of mammal fauna in the Black Sea Reserve region because of invasion of species (history of studying of mammals and economic development of the region). Proceedings of the Theriological School, 12: 69–80. [Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.15407/ptt2014.12.069
Tsyupka, V. O. 2012. Common squirrel, Sciurus vulgaris (Rodentia, Sciuridae), in Ukraine (current state of the population, problems of intraspecific structure). Proceedings of the National Museum of Natural History, 10: 42–52. [Russian]
UkrBIN. 2024. Sciurus vulgaris. In: UkrBIN, Data-base on Biodiversity Information. https://ukrbin.com
Volokh, A. М. 2014. Mammals Hunted in Steppe Ukraine. Book. 1. FLP Grin D. S., Kherson, 1–412. [In Russian]
Zagorodniuk, I. V. 2011. Interspecies hybridization and factors of its formation in the East-European mammalian fauna. Studia Biologica, 5 (2): 173–210. [Ukrainian] https://doi.org/10.30970/sbi.0502.160