Brusentsova N. Spatial structure of populations of fossorial carnivorans in oak forests of Slobozhanshchina

According to the research results, it has been found out that in the oak forests of Slobozhanshchina, most of the underground shelters are dug by the badgers. Foxes settle mainly in badger setts and sometimes the two species use the same burrows at the same time. It was found that burrows of fossorial carnivorans in oak forests are distributed in groups. The burrows that are used by foxes are distributed randomly. The burrows that are used by badgers, are distributed in groups. Badgers used the largest number of setts in spring. Foxes visited the largest number of different burrows in winter. A method to determine the boundaries of badger and fox family home ranges by using the average nearest neighbor distance between burrows has been proposed. It has been found out that the spatial structure of badger populations is stable from year to year, although the activity of animals varies by seasons. The spatial structure of fox populations, in the contrast, can change significantly. Using the regression analysis it was determined that, among natural factors, forest conditions affect the most the burrow density of foxes and badgers in oak forests. The anthropogenic factor plays a prominent role in the use of underground shelters by fossorial carnivorans. Schematic maps of territories favorable for the living of the studied species and scheme for organizing monitoring of populations of fossorial carnivorans using geoinformation technologies has been developed.