Travaux du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle © 30 Décembre Vol. LIV (2) pp. 555–561 «Grigore Antipa» 2011 DOI: 10.2478/v10191-011-0033-z

DISTRIBUTION OF SHREWS FROM GENUS SOREX LINNAEUS, 1758 (MAMMALIA: INSECTIVORA) ON THE TERRITORY OF REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA

VICTORIA NISTREANU

Abstract. The studies were accomplished between 2003-2007 in various natural and anthropogenic ecosystem types from different zones of R. Moldova. At the whole 127 Common shrews (Sorex araneus) and 98 Lesser shrews (S. minutus) were collected. Statistical, body and cranial morphological parameters were studied. S. araneus is common and the most spread species and more tolerant to the environment conditions and to anthropogenic activity by comparing to other shrew species. It was recorded in the majority of studied natural and anthropogenic biotopes (frequency = 94%). The lesser shrew is also rather spread all over the republic territory (frequency = 88%), but it is less numerous (abundance = 33% among shrews).

Résumé. Les études ont été réalisées entre 2003-2007, dans différents types d’écosystèmes naturels et anthropiques de différentes zones de R. Moldova. Les animaux ont été capturés par des pièges à ressort. Ont été prélevés 127 individus de musaraigne carrelet (Sorex araneus) et 98 de musaraigne pygmée (S. minutus). Les paramètres corporels et crâniens morphologiques ont été étudiés et processés statistiquement. S. araneus est une espèce commune et la plus répandue chez les musaraignes, elle est plus tolérante à l’environnement et envers les conditions de l’activité anthropique en comparaison aux autres espèces de musaraignes. Il a été enregistré dans la majorité des biotopes naturels et anthropiques étudiés (fréquence = 94%). Le musaraigne pygmée est également assez répandue dans le territoire de la République (fréquence = 88%), mais elle est moins nombreuse (abondance = 33% chez les musaraignes).

Key words: common shrew, lesser shrew, distribution, ecology.

Introduction The insectivores are a wide spread group of mammals and are of great importance in nature and in human economy. They are a very important link within the animal trophic chain: they use for food different invertebrates, reptiles and small rodents, at their turn they serve as trophic source for many bird and mammalian predators. In the past century, in Republic of Moldova, this group was rather poorly studied in comparison with other mammals. Until present we don’t know exactly the distribution of shrew species over the republic territory. Data regarding the shrews can be found in the monograph “Animal world of Moldova” in “Mammals” volume (Lozan, 1979) and in some other papers, where shrew species are mentioned (Averin, 1975; Averin et al., 1984; Munteanu & Savin, 1992). The most serious paper concerning the insectivore species in Moldova was published by Lozan 556 VICTORIA NISTREANU (1975), where data on distribution, ecology, morphology, paleontology of shrews can be found. More fundamental and extended studies of this group of mammals started after 2000. In several papers shrew species are mentioned as components of small mammal communities in natural reserves, agricultural ecosystems and urban ecosystems (Munteanu, 2005, 2007; Tikhonov, Kotenkova et al., 2009; Tikhonov, Munteanu et al., 2009; Tikhonova et al., 2009). In the last years, shrew species were studied more detailed from zoogeographical, ecological, morphological point of view (Nistreanu, 2007, 2008; Nistreanu et al., 2008, 2009). The paper contains some data concerning the distribution and ecology of two shrew species of genus Sorex on the territory of Moldova.

Materials and methods The studies were accomplished in 2003-2007 in various ecosystems from different zones of Republic of Moldova. In the northern region of Moldova the studies were accomplished in Soroca, Râşcani, Briceni, Glodeni, Edineţ, Rezina, Drochia, Făleşti, Ocniţa districts, in the centre of the republic – in Orhei, Străşeni, Călăraşi, Ungheni, Nisporeni, Anenii-Noi, Criuleni districts and Chişinău city with suburbs; in the southern region in Ştefan-Vodă, Căuşani, Cahul, Cantemir. The studies were performed on the territory of „Codri”, „Plaiul Fagului”, „Pădurea Domnească” and „Prutul de Jos” forest reserves, in various types of woods, meadows, pasture ecosystems, as well as in anthropogenic ecosystems. The shrew species were collected with snap-traps. The data were statistically processed using the indexes of abundance (dominance, D) and frequency (F).

Results and discussions At the whole 127 Common shrews (Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758) and 98 Lesser shrews (S. minutus Linnaeus, 1766) were collected. The common and the pigmy shrews were recorded in all studied districts, in the most of the ecosystems (Fig. 1). Sorex araneus is common and the most spread species among shrews (D = 43%). It is more tolerant to the environment conditions and to anthropogenic activity by comparing to other shrew species. It was recorded in the majority of studied natural and anthropogenic biotopes (F = 94%). In the southern zone of Moldova the species was registered in natural reserves “Codrii Tigheci”, “Prutul de Jos” (Beleu Lake), on the coast of Manta Lake and in agroecosystems near the lake, in swampy sectors, in humid ditches with hygrophilous vegetation, in woods, at forest edges and in forest shelter belts, in reed vegetation from the districts Cahul, Cantemir, Ştefan Vodă, Căuşani. In the center of the republic the species is wide spread in “Codri” and “Plaiul Fagului” reserves in various types of biotopes. The common shrew was also recorded in different natural and anthropogenic ecosystems of districts Străşeni, Orhei, Ungheni, Nisporeni, Hânceşti, Criuleni, Anenii-Noi. In Chişinău district SHREWS FROM GENUS SOREX I N MOLDOVA 557

Arable land

Sorex araneus Forests

Sorex minutus Pastures

Orchards and vineyards

Fig. 1 - Distribution of Sorex shrew species on the territory of Moldova. the species was recorded on river and lake banks, in woods, in humid ditches with hygrophilous vegetation of localities Ialoveni, Durleşti, Dănceni, Sociteni, Horăşti, as well as within city limit near water basins. In the northern zone S. araneus is widespread on the territory of “Pădurea Domnească” reserve, in majority of studied ecosystems. It was also registered in woods, forest edges, acacia stands, insular forests, near aquatic basins (ponds, lakes, fish farms, rivers) of districts Râşcani, Glodeni, Briceni, Rezina, Drochia, Făleşti, Ocniţa, Soroca, as well as in various types of agroecosystems (Fig. 1). Previously, the Common shrew was recorded in “Codri” forest reserve (Averin et al., 1984; Lozan, 1979), in “Plaiul Fagului” (Munteanu, 2005), „Pădurea Domnească” (Munteanu, 2007) forest reserves, in forest shelter belts (Munteanu & Savin, 1992), mostly in those with high humidity conditions situated near the forest stands. After the study of shrew collection from the Museum of Terrestrial Vertebrates laboratory of the Institute of Zoology of ASM (Nistreanu, 2007) we 558 VICTORIA NISTREANU also established that the Common shrew was widely spread on the whole territory of “Codri” forest reserve. The distribution of this species in Nistru and Prut meadow, in the insular woods from the northern part of the republic, in lower Nistru and Prut was recorded in the previous years by other researchers (Lozan, 1979). The Pigmy shrew (S. minutus) is also rather spread all over the republic territory with a frequency of 88%, but it is less abundant (D = 33%). It prefers the same habitats as the Common shrew and in biotopes that satisfy the ecological needs of the species, it can be even more abundant than the common one. Thus, the Lesser shrew was recorded in all the studied districts and in the majority of studied ecosystems. In the southern zone of Moldova the species were registered in natural reserves “Codrii Tigheci”, “Prutul de Jos” (Beleu Lake), on the coast of Manta Lake and in agroecosystems near the lake. The species was observed in swampy sectors, in humid ditches with hygrophilous vegetation, in woods, at forest edges, in reed vegetation from the districts Cahul, Cantemir, Ştefan Vodă, Căuşani. In the center and northern part of Moldova the species is widespread in “Codri”, “Plaiul Fagului” and “Padurea Domnească” reserves in various types of biotopes. In woods the preferred habitats are the humid abrupt valleys, swampy sectors, humid ditches with hygrophilous vegetation, forest edges; it avoids forest shelter belts and acacia plantations. Unlike the Common shrew the lesser one avoids the recreational sectors of the forests. Near aquatic basins and on their banks the Lesser shrew is often more abundant that the common one. It can be rather often met in agroecosystems, but only in those situated near some water source. In Chișinău city the species was found even in people’s gardens situated near Bic River. Within city limits and its suburbs the lesser shrew was found on the banks of lakes and rivers, in woods with recreational sectors, in forest edges, in humid gullies with hygrophilous vegetation of the localities Ialoveni, Durleşti, Dănceni, Sociteni, Horăşti, as well as within the city limits near aquatic basins (Sculeni Lakes, Bic River). In the northern zone of the republic the species was recorded in woods, forest edges, forest belts, meadow forests, near and on the banks of various water basins (ponds, lakes, fish farms, rivers) of Drochia, Ocniţa, Soroca, Briceni, Rezina, Făleşti districts, as well as in different types of agroecosystems, such as orchards, cultivated lands and even near Soroca canning factory. In other researchers’ studies the Pigmy shrew was recorded in “Codri” (Averin et al., 1984; Lozan, 1979), “Plaiul Fagului” (Munteanu, 2005), „Pădurea Domnească” (Munteanu, 2007) forest reserves, in the insular woods from the northern part of the republic, in meadow forests of the rivers, in wet zones of lower Nistru and Prut (Lozan, 1979). SHREWS FROM GENUS SOREX I N MOLDOVA 559 Among other shrew species (genera Sorex and Crocidura) the common shrew is dominant in the studied biotopes and constitutes almost 45% from all the registered shrews (Fig. 2). The Pigmy shrew, although recorded in many studied biotopes, had a lower abundance, less than 15%.

44.44% 29.63%

11.11%

14.82%

S. araneus S. minutus C. suaveolens C. leucodon

Fig. 2 - Abundance of shrew species registered in the study period.

On the whole, all the shrew species are hygrophilous and can be met mostly near some aquatic basins or in humid sectors. Furthermore, the shrews prefer the natural ecosystems, less affected by human activity. Thus, the maximum species number and the widest spreading of the individuals were recorded in “Codri” forest reserve, in humid sectors of the wood, in the abundant water vegetation of aquatic basins, where the human access and activity are limited. In this regard the shrews can serve as biologic indicators of natural ecosystems. Conclusions The Common and Lesser shrews are widespread insectivore species on the territory of Republic of Moldova. Both shrew species have high abundance in natural forest reserves, therefore the natural reserves are important territories in fauna conservation. The lands affected by anthropic activity are avoided by the shrew species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author would like to thank to dr. Ana Maria Benedek for reviewing the paper.

Răspândirea chiţcanilor genului Sorex LINNAEUS, 1758 (MAMMALIA: INSECTIVORA) pe teritoriul Republicii Moldova

Rezumat Cercetările au fost efectuate între anii 2003-2007 în diverse tipuri de ecosisteme din diverse zone, pe o mare parte a teritoriului Moldovei. Au fost înregistraţi: 127 chiţcani comuni (Sorex araneus), 98 chiţcani mici (S. minutus). S. araneus este o specie comună şi cea mai răspândită dintre soricide. Este mai tolerantă faţă de condiţiile mediului şi faţă de activitatea antropogenă în comparaţie 560 VICTORIA NISTREANU cu alte specii de chiţcani. A fost semnalată în majoritatea tipurilor de biotopuri studiate, atât în cele naturale, cât şi în cele antropogene. S. minutus este tot atât de răspândită ca şi specia precedentă, însă este mult mai putin numeroasă. Preferă aceleaşi habitate ca şi chiţcanul comun, iar în biotopurile care satisfac necesităţile ecologice ale chiţcanului mic poate fi mai abundent decât cel comun.

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Received: January 15, 2010 Institutul de Zoologie, Academia de Accepted: November 30, 2010 Ştiinţe a Moldovei Str. Academiei 1, MD-2028, Chişinău, R. Moldova e-mail: [email protected]