Patterns of the structural dynamics of shrew taxocenes in Sakhalin

Abstract

The features of transformation of the structure of two model shrew taxocenes in Sakhalin have been discussed, and the general parameters in the dominance hierarchy have been revealed. It has been established that the long-clawed shrew is the basic element that maintains the taxocene symmetry on the southern part of Sakhalin, while on the northern part of the island, this role is played by Laxmann’s shrew. However, the quantitative dynamics of different taxocenes is subject to similar patterns and integrally varies on the basis of the synchronization of fluctuation of the abundance of all species. It is shown that the leading position of the organizing species within the framework of the two structural schemes revealed (the mono- and bidominant schemes) is annually determined according to the phases of the population dynamics of common species.