88 Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95

STUDY ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT CHARACTERISTICSOF BRANDT’S

VOLE

Enkhbold.N1, DazhaoShi2 ,Batsaikhan. N1 , Deng Wang2 ,Tseveendorj.D1, Erdenetuya.B1

1-Plant Protection Research Institute

2-College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, China Agricultural University

E-mail: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
Many species have suffered changed habitable area due to recent climate change or/and human
activities. Brandt’s vole (Lasiopodomysbrandtii) is same as it.The species is undergoing a
continuous habitat change as a consequence of the human’s production, climate change and
retrogressive succession of grassland ecosystems. The distribution of the Brandt’s vole was
update in China and Mongolia.Based on the historical distribution map, which was made by
overlaying the historical data with vegetation type’s map of the grassland resources in China and
Mongolia. And the distribution map was modified according to the on-site investigate data in
recent years. The current species’ distribution was range Hulunbei’er, northern Xilinguole,
which comprise a landscape through the east of DornodAimag, Mongolia, and southern
Hunshandake Sandy Land in China which just includes the areas around the Zhengxiangbai Qi.
There were no the species in the east of Daxinganling Mountains, Liaoning, Shanxi province and
Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. The species’ distribution is discontinuous in
Mongolia, including western, middle and eastern Mongolia. The western distribution along
Hangay Mountains and extends for the west, the northern boundary extended to between Ider
river and Chulouk river. Southward reaches of the Malhin along the plain between Hangay
Mountain and Altay Mountain. The middle and east of the species’ range lie in the part areas of
Tov, Hentiy, Dundgovi, Dornogovi. extends to Hulunbei’er and northern Xilinguole eastwardly
and southwardly respectively, northward reaches of the Trans-Baikalia, Russia.

KEY WORDS：Brandt’s vole, Geographical distribution, Habitat fragmentation, Changing

Status
Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95 89

INTRODUCTION
Climate change and human activities have (Zhonget al.1991), which are interspersed with
indirect effects on the geographic range for less favorable habitat due to low grazing
many species through the sensitivity of habitat pressure by livestock (Luo et al. 1975; Zhonget
or food supply to temperature and rainfall al. 1985; Zhonget al. 1999), the species is also
(Iverson & Prasad 1998; McCarty 2001). some well-adapted to colonization of isolated,
species have suffered reduced habitable area patchy, ephemeral habitats. In recent years,
due to climate or/and human activities climate change and the human activities
(Parmesan 2006). including overgrazing, land reclamation and
Brandt’s vole, (Lasiopodomysbrandtii) is a digging herbs have caused the change of
dominant rodent species of typical steppe ecological environment in grassland in China
habitat that extends from the central part of (Li 1997; Li et al. 2001; Sun et al. 2010; Li et
Inner Mongolia through the middle and east of al. 2009). For example, the area occupied by
DornodAimag, Republic of Mongolia, to the heavily degraded grassland exceeded 60% of
southern borders of Mongolia in Trans- the total in Xilinguole in 2007 (Li et al. 2007).
Baikalia, Russia (Shenbrot&Krasnov Investigation of Brandt's vole distribution have
2005).Many works about its distribution have indicated that some habitats are now
been done (Allen 1940; Vinogradova&Gromov permanently destroyed in some isolated sites,
1959; Shi 1988; Ma 1990; Cobet 1991; Dawaa particularly in the southern Taipusiqi area
2005). But some reports are not consistent with (Zhang et al. 1995), where we studied them
others, and the habitats reduce have happened from 1992 to 2003, Since 2003, we have not
in recent years. captured any voles there. It’s necessary to
Otherwise, Brandt’s voles distribution is modify previous knowledge of Brandt’s vole
discontinuous, they prefer degraded grasslands distribution for management of the species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Make the historical distribution map (http://nomadicjourneys.com/about-
Historical distribution map was drew on the mongolia/map-of-mongolia/vegetation-map),
basis of the Brandt’s vole distribution in China The biggest overlap areas was regarded as the
(Ma et al1990) and Mongolia (Enkhbold basal historical distribution.
1998, 2013), Shenbrot and Krasnov’s map Identify the distribution areas by trapping
(2005) was also referenced, which were All available information of the species
transform into digital data, and was overlaid distribution was collected from historical
the geographic information system (GIS) layer references and specimenslocation data,
map of China and map of Mongolia including the collected specimens district or
(http://www.openstreetmap.org and GPS sites and the research district or GPS sites
www.mapcruzin.com). Then overlaid the data about Brandt’s vole.These sites were input the
with vegetation types map of the grassland basal distribution map in the GIS. Then select
resources in China at scale 1:1,000,000 (Su the location in which field trapping should
1993; http://mapsof.net/china/static- taken. The surveying was carried out in the
maps/jpg/china-natural-vegetation-map/full- sites according with the following rules: (a)
size) and a ground vegetation types map of distribution data can be referenced, but the
Republic of Mongolia at scale 1:1,000,000 vegetation cover are different to the habitat
(Plant Protection Institute et al., 1998) selection of Brandt’s vole obviously. (b) the
90 Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95

sites in which habitat was obvious changed vole, such as tweet, runs, burrows, as well as
compare with the last references record. definite road traces were found. Line traps
From 2004 to 2010, the main distribution was laid down to test and confirm the
areas were investigated in Inner Mongolia of presence of the vole. Record the GPS date of
China andthe middle and east of Republic of tapping sites, uploaded into the GIS map of
Mongolia. For each selected sites, we the historical distribution map. Then get to the
examined the signs of presence of Brandt’s current distribution picture of Brandt’s vole.

RESULTS
Brandt’s vole main historical distribution Range, extended to the north of the Altay
areas Mountain Range (Enkhbold 1998), the
All historical distribution map of Brandt’s distribution area of SelengeAimag and
vole show that the species mainly distributed Central Aimag are joined together
on Mongolian plateau, range from 52°N to (Shenbrot&Krasnov 2005; Enkhbold1998 ).
41°N, and from 124°E to 92°E. But there are But the areas are separated in the picture of
some different areas in different exhaustive Ñîêîëîâ and Îðëîâ (1980), and only
maps (Shenbrot&Krasnov 2005; Shi 1988; distribute around Khangai Range
Ma et al 1990; Ñîêîëîâ&Îðëîâ 1980; (Shenbrot&Krasnov 2005; Ñîêîëîâ&
Enkhbold 1998). In China, the historical Îðëîâ1980). Westward, the distribution
distribution areas include Hulunbei’er, extend to the frontier of Mongolia and Russia
northern Xilinguole, southernHunshandake (Enkhbold 1998; Ñîêîëîâ& Îðëîâ,1980), it
Sandy Land and East foot areas of Daxing' just extends westward to Kirghizia in
anling Mountains (Fig.1). The main districts UvsAimag in Shenbrot and Krasnov’s map
are in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region, (2005). In east Mongolia, Brandt’s vole
Hebei province and Liaoning province distributes are over southern Kente, north of
(Fig.1). And few reports think there is the East Gobi , Sukhbaatar and Dornod
species in Shanxi province and Xinjiang provinces, the distribution extend northward
Uygur Autonomous Regions in China (Table to Russia along the Uldz River basin, and
1), but it was not confirmed by other adjoined eastward Hulunbei’er and
researchers. The best possible historical Xilinguole, in China. According to the rules
distribution map was drew as in Fig.1. The of the biggest overlap areas between all
references recorded Brandt’s vole in historical distribution data and the vegetation
Mongolia showed the variety of the types map of Mongolia, the picture of basal
distribution, especially in the middle and west historical distribution show as in Fig.1
of Mongolia. It is along the south of Khangai
Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95 91

Figure. 1 The distribution of Brandt’s vole in China and Mongolia（According to Shenbrot and
Krasnov 2005

Shi 1988; Ma et al. 1990; Ñîêîëîâ and Oðëîâ between steppe and meadow grassland in the
1980; Enkhbold 1998Note:In the pictures of west of Daxing’anling Mountains because of
Brandt’s vole distributions by Ma et al. (1990), the vegetation (Shi 1988). Northward, the
Mongolia was marked as People's Republic of boundary extends to Xiwuzhuer- Manzhouli
Mongolia and Russia was marked as Soviet line in the north of the Haila’erriver, and
Union. connects with Lake Baikal areas. The
Current distribution of Brandt’s vole and southeastern boundary reached Normankhan-
the regional variation Xilinbel line. Xilinguole distribution zone
Local investigation sites including Inner includes Sunitezuoqi, Abagaqi, Xilinhot,
Mongolian Autonomous Region, Hebei Xiwuzhumuqinqi, Dongwuzhumuqinqi and
province, Liaoning province in China and Keshiketengqi (around the Dalai Lake). This
Töv, Uvörhangay, Arhangay, Bulgan, zone is connected to the east of Mongolia and
Selenge, Hentiy, Dornod, Suhbaatar and the west boundary to the line between
Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. Total 316 GPS Bayane’erdun and Sunitezuoqi. Southward, it
sites were records, where the trap extends to the north of Hunshandake Sandy
investigation were operated. And the west Land. eastward and northward, the boundary
distribution data of Mongolia were supplied is to the line of Huanggangliang-
by Mongolia Institute of Plant Protection. The Baorigasitaiguole-Wulagaiguole-Narengaole,
results showed that the distribution have where are the boundary of between steppe
changed a lot according to the field and meadow grassland (Shi
investigation data from 2004 to 2010. 1988).Hunshandake Sandy Land distribution
The current main distribution region of included Zhengxiangbaiqi, Zhenglanqi,
Brandt’s vole in China are the dry grassland Duolun, south of Taipusiqi and the north of
in eastern Hulunbei’er, Xilinguole and south Bashang grassland of Hebei province in the
of Hunshandake Sandy Land. Hulunbuier last 20th century. Now, Brandt’s vole just be
distribution zone includes Xinba’erhuzuoqi, found in some patches of Zhengxiangbaiqi.
Xinba’erhuyouqi, Chenba’erhuqiEwenkeqi, where is small and isolated from others since
Haila’er Area, and Manzhoulicounty. The the population monitoring in 2004
eastern boundary can’t exceed the border According to the ecological character of
92 Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95

Brandt’s vole, vegetation is one of the main Brandt’s vole. The specimen in Jilin were
factors that affect the distribution of Brandt’s collected from Huolingol located in Wulagai
vole. In the steppe grasslands, the dominant River, Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region,
plant areStipakrylovii, Artemisia frigida, where were devolved to Jilin province during
Cleistogenessquarrosa,Carexduriuscula and 60s to 70s in the 20th century.And the climate
Caraganamicrophylia in the habitat of the and vegetation in Xinjiang, Liaoning and
species (Luo 1975; Shi 1986). In the semi- Shanxi are obvious different to the habitats
desertification grasslands, The dominant plant surrounding of the species, and the views never
is only Artemisia frigidain their habitat.In old be supported by the historical record book such
northern Xilinguole distribution picture, it as Zoography of Xinjiang Rodent (Wang &
included most area of Hunshandake Sandy Yang 1983), Shanxi Zoography (Fan & Liu
Land southward and extends to Suniteyouqi 1996) and Fauna Sinica Mammalia (Luo et
and Xianghuangqi westward. But where are al.2000). This vole maybe confuse with the
semi-desertification and the vegetation didn’t mandarin vole (Lasiopodomysmandarinus) in
suit Brandt’s vole according to the data from Shanxi and Liaoning provinces and the root
Chinese grassland map (National Animal vole (Microtusoeconomus) in Xinjiang Uyghur
Husbandry Service 2008). Autonomous Region.
Although Hulunbuir and Xilinguole The distribution in Republic of Mongolia was
distribution were isolated in Chinese divided into two disconnected parts: middle
administrative map, Hulunbei’er distribution and eastern distribution and west distribution.
included part of the Daxinganling Mountains The west boundary of middle and eastern
and Hulun Lake between the Xilinguole and distribution is the east of Erdenesant –
Hulunbei’er distributions in China, they were Bayanenzhule, it extends eastwardly along
connected as a consecutive natural region with the Herlen River. Northward, the
through Sukhbaatar and Dornod in the east of distribution of Sergelen and Hulunbuir’er in
Mongolia (Fig.2). Dornod extends to Baikalia basin of Russia.
Some references report Brandt’s vole And connected with Xilinguole distribution
distributed in the middle part of Jilin province southward and Hulunbei’er distribution
(Huang et al. 1995; Han et al. 2005; Wang eastward in China. The west distribution are
2003), Liaoning province (Wang 2003), around the Khangai Range, it extends
Kangxiwa in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous westward along with the Khangai Range,
Region (Huang et al. 1995; Han et al. 2005) reaches to the areas between mid-lower
and Shanxi province (Plant Protection Station, valleys of Chuluut River and Ider River in the
China Ministry of Agriculture, 1994). The north of Khangai Mountain. In the south foot
species distribute in the east of Daxing'anling of Khangai Mountain, The west edgeof
Mountains (near the Baicheng, Jilin province) distribution didn’t reach to the border of
(Fig.1), where was concluded by the specimen Mongolia-Russia, the southern boundary is
from the First Endemic Prevention Research along the north edge of Khangai Range. the
Institute, Jilin (Table 1). local investigation northern boundary lies on the southern foot of
were operated in the recorded distribution Altai Mountains. The gap belt between middle
around Baicheng in 2005, there is no voles and eastern distribution and west distribution
there. Otherwise, the grassland belongs to the was about 100km (Fig.2).
agro-pasture ecotone, where didn’t suit
Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95 93

Figure. 2 The current distribution of Brandt’s vole in China and Mongolia

DISCUSSION
The main distribution of Brandt’s vole in China habitat has a clear characters of surroundings,
is in eastern Inner Mongolia, where is mostly a it don’t enter the forest and desertification
huge grassland. The climate is cool and dry, grassland (Liu 1979). So it is sound that
annual average temperature ranges from -1 to overlaid the historical data with vegetation
10°C, and annual rainfall varies from 200 to types map of the grassland resources in
400 mm. The dominant plant species are China and Republic of Mongolia, and some
Caraganamicrophylla, Cleistogenessquarrosa, distribution on the Khangai Range should be
Stipakrylovii, Aneurolepidiumchinenseand modified (Fig.1, Fig.2). Although the
Artemisia frigida(Wu et al. 2009). This vole is limitation of map scale bring on some stain
interspersed with slightly developing which some unsuitable habitat patches were
grasslands or areas subject to low grazing included in the historical distribution picture,
pressures and are less suitable environments the result of field survey indicated most of the
(Luo et al. 1975). The habitat is relative to the distribution can match the vegetation map well
attributes of the plant community, especially and modified distribution is actual.
the plant cover, species composition and height In recent years, human activities including
of vegetation (Zhonget al. 1999). It prefer the overgrazing and land reclamation have resulted
typical steppe with the Artemisia frigida, in the retrogressive succession of grassland
Allium polyrhizum and Cleistogenessquarrosa, ecosystems (Li 1997; Li et al. 2001; Wang et
and where vegetation cover is in the range 15- al. 2007). Climate change, in particular high
20% (Zhonget al. 1991). It slide over the temperature and aridity, has accelerated the
surroundings which vegetation cover is less process of grassland degradation (Li et al.
than 5%. There are almost no the species in the 2004; Li et al. 2007). That destroyed some
grassland where are dominant plant species habitats of Brandt's vole, and caused the
such as Carextristachya, fragmentation and reduce of the distribution
Achnatherumsplendens or overgrown weeds (Wu & Li 2003). Comparing the current picture
(Xilinguole Disease Control agency 1975).The (Fig.2) with historical distribution (Fig.1) of
94 Enkhbold N, Dazhao Shi, Mongolian Journal of Agricultural Sciences №13 (02), 2014:88-95

Brant’s vole, the tendency of habitat different with the habitats of middle and eastern
fragmentation is clear. whole distribution of the distribution in Mongolia and Hulunbuier
species has been parted into 2 areas. One part is distribution in China. And it different with that
the west distribution of Mongolia, and another of the former. That may be a sign of
is the middle and eastern of Mongolia disturbance of the species habitats.
andHulunbei’er and Xilinguole of China. The The distribution of Brant’s vole is a result of
south of Hunshandake Sandy distribution have species migrationand adapting to environment.
diminished, our investigation have indicated It prefer the low vegetation height and cover
that some patches are now permanently and the habitat are closely connected with plant
destroyed in some isolated sites such as communities (Zhou et al. 1982), the type of
Zhenglanqi, Duolun, south of Taipusiqi and the scattered distribution susceptible to interference
north of Hebei province. Where belong to the by environment change and human activity.
southern of Hunshandake distribution, and just Grazing and land reclamation causes
little patches could be found in degradation of grassland on Mongolian plateau,
Zhengxiangbaiqi now (Table1).The gap belt meanwhile, the rodents’ devouring and digging
between middle and west distribution (Fig.2) activities aggravate the degradation of the
resulted from large areas of grassland was grassland, that can lead ultimately to
assarted for agricultural zone inSelenge and desertification. Where will not suitable to
Aymang of Mongolia. Otherwise, Habitat Brandt’s vole. Along with the increase of
fragmentation affected the population human activity in the grassland, the changes are
ecological process in different patches. In the likely to continue in many regions. Overall,
field, we found the sympatric species marmot local investigation evidence suggests that is
in the grassland around Khangai Mountains, the obligatory to modify the distribution map of
similar phenomenon also was found in the Brandt’s vole in a fine scale.
north of Xilinguole, China. But it’s very

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