FOOD COMPOSITION AND FEATURES OF THE MUSKRAT’S FEEDING IN THE WATER BODIES OF NORTH KAZAKHSTAN OBLAST

Delivery questions of a muskrat on area reservoirs are considered. Results of a research of structure of the consumed forages for various reservoirs are given. It is established that from more than 20 found components main types of forages are only 4 which are noted in 100% of stomachs and occupied from 73 to 100% of its volume. Compliance of the prevailing delivery objects to background species of vegetation on lakes is noted. Main type of forage on reservoirs is typha which on average in all surveyed lakes made 62.3% of total number of the eaten vegetation. Typha and flowering rush are food, almost equally significant for a muskrat; – they made 28.8% and 27.1%, respectively. Other types of forages didn't exceed 21.5%, and animal only 1.2%. The eating facts were noted by a muskrat of animal forage. In particular, in stomachs of 3 individuals fragments of sinks of mollusks and fins of juveniles of fishes are found. The ratio of the consumed forages and weight of small animals is established. Its relation to body weight fluctuates ranging from 2.31 up to 3.76. Approximate calculations of consumption of forages a muskrat during the winter period (7 months) are made showed that one individual during this time consumes not less than 54–55 kg, and family of 5 individuals – 270–275 kg. In too time, efficiency of rhizomes of typha makes about 350–450 kg.

1. O‘Neil T., 1949. The muskrat in the Louisiana coastal marshes. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries: 152 pp.

2. Feldhamer G.A., Thompson B.C., Chapman J.A. (eds.). 2003. Wild Mammals of North America: Biology, Management, and Conservation. The Johns Hopkins University Press, United States of America; 311–348.

3. Skyrienė G., Paulauskas A., 2012. Distribution of invasive muskrats (Ondatrazibethicus) and impact on ecosystem. Ekologija 58 (3): 357–367.

4. Afanasyev A.V., Bazhanov V.S., Korelov M.N., Sludsky A.A., Strautman E.I. Animals of Kazakhstan. – Alma–Ata: Publishing House of the Academy of Sciences of the Kazakh SSR, 1953. – 535 p.

5. Bakenov A., LobachevYu.S., Lobacheva V.V. Muskrat. – Alma– Ata: Kaynar, 1989. – 188 с.

6. Strautman E.I. Muskrat in Kazakhstan. – Alma–Ata: AN KazSSR, 1963. – 230 p.

7. Korsakov G.K., Smirensky A.A. Fouling reservoirs and their use for muskrats. – M., 1955. – 97 p.

8. Novikov G.A. Field studies of the ecology of terrestrial vertebrates. M.: Izd. Soviet science, 1949. – 352.

9. Danilov P. I. 2009. New mammals of the Russian European North. Pertrozavodsk: Karelia scientific center of RAS Publ.; 1–308 (in Russian). Danilov, PI, 2009. New species of mammals in the European North of Russia.

10. Campbell K.L., MacArthur R.A., 1994. Digestibility and assimilation of natural forages by muskrat. Journal of Wildlife Management 58 (4): pp. 633–641.