Migrations of Rodents in the Zone of Local Radioactive Contamination at Different Phases of Population Dynamics and Their Consequences

Abstract

Migrations of rodents in the zone of local radioactive contamination (East Urals Radioactive Trace, Southern Urals) at different phases of population dynamics are analyzed for the first time. The absence of any isolation of the rodents in the zone of this radioactive trace is convincingly demonstrated and the migration distances are estimated. As is shown, migration decreases the probability for transfer and fixation of adaptations in the chain of generations in vagile rodent species and increases the within-population genetic diversity of animals in adjacent regions. The need to consider the migration factor in a wide range of studies on assessment of biological effects in the zones of local technogenic contamination is confirmed.