99.

Brandt's Vole

Lasiopodomys brandtii

French: Campagnol de Brandt / German: Brandt-Wiihimaus / Spanish: Topillo de Brandt

Taxonomy. Arvicola (Hypudaeus) brandtii Radde, 1861, “Stidende des Tarei-nor [south of Torey-Nur Lake],” Zabaykalsky Krai, Russia.

Lasiopodomys brandtii is in subgenus Lasiopodomys . Morphologically and genetically, it is sister species to L. mandarinus . In the past, it was included in the genus Microtus . Two subspecies recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution.

L.b.brandtiRadde,1861—Russia(SZabaykalskyKrai),EMongolia,andNEChina(InnerMongolia[=NeiMongol],NHebei,andJilin).

L. b. hangaicus Bannikov, 1948 — W & C Mongolia (piedmonts of Khangai Mts).

Descriptive notes. Head-body 100-148 mm, tail 18-30 mm, ear 7-13 mm, hindfoot 16-22 mm; weight 23-55 g. Fur of head and upperparts of Brandt's Vole is sandy gray; underparts are pale white; and tail is uniformly light yellowish. Sole of foot has six plantar pads; three proximal pads are low and covered by hair. Skull has wide braincase and large, inflated auditory bullae. M* has three inner and three outer angles. M, has 5-6 isolated triangles and simple anterior loop thatis isolated from anterior-most triangles. Chromosomal complement has 2n = 34 and FN = 68.

Habitat. Grass and grass-sagebrush steppes and marginally desert steppes at elevations of 130-2700 m. Brandt's Voles prefer shallow lake depressions with sedge ( Carex, Cyperaceae) grassland.

Food and Feeding. Diet changes seasonally. Total list of forage plants includes more than 120 species, but only 3-5 species are selected at a particular time and place. In February—April, it feeds mainly on bulbs of onions ( Allium tenwissimum and A. polyrhizum, both Amaryllidaceae) and roots and leaves of sedges ( Carex stenophylla). In May-June and August-September, diet contains green parts of grasses (mainly Agropyrum pseudoagropyrum and Anewrolepidium chinense, Poaceae) and forbs; in July, leaves ofsagebrush ( Artemisia frigida, Asteraceae) are the main component of the diet. In September-October, food (mainly leaves of sedges and sagebrush) is dried near entrances of burrows and then stored in special chambers inside burrows. Amounts of stored food are 8-12 kg/burrow. In November—January, Brandt's Voles feed only on stored food.

Breeding. Breeding of wild Brandt’s Vole was recorded in March-September. Litters have 2-12 young (averages 6-1-9-8). During reproductive season, overwintering females can produce 3-4litters. Gestation lasts 21-23 days. Females born in April-June can reach sexual maturation at c.1 month old and can produce 2-3 litters during their first year. Females born in July-August become sexually mature in following spring.

Activity patterns. Brandt's Voles are diurnal. In summer, activity peaks at 07:00-11:00 h and 16:00-20:00 h. In spring and autumn,activity peaks at midday. In winter, they rarely appear aboveground and spend almost all time in burrows with exits plugged bysoil.

Movements, Home range and Social organization. Composition of family groups of Brandt's Voles vary seasonally. At the beginning of breeding season, family group usually has one male and one or up to five females. Later, family group also includes yearlings from 2-3 generations. Yearlings born in the first half of the breeding season disperse before achieving sexual maturity, but those born in the second half of the breeding season remain in the family group until next spring. During breeding season, mean size of home range is 2490 m? for males and 1520 m? for females. Home ranges of males marginally overlap with males from other family groups; males aggressively defend core areas of family groups’ home range. At the end of breeding season, males stop defending core areas. At this time, adult females and yearlingsstart storing food for winter and defend an area with radius of ¢.25 m around winter burrow with food storage. Winter groups consist of 4-24 individuals living in one burrow. These groups usually represent large non-dissociate families but sometimes also include non-related individuals. Individuals in wintering groups are tolerant of each other. Summer burrows are relatively simple and have 2-6 entrances and a nest chamber (diameter 10-12 cm) at a depth of 30 cm; total lengths of tunnels are 1-3 m. Winter burrows are much more complex and cover surface area of ¢.7 m* They have 10-15 entrances, a nest chamber (diameter 30-35 cm) at depths of 45-60 cm, several storage chambers with total volume up to 150 dm” and total length of tunnels up to 35 m. Contacts among individuals are accompanied by acoustic communication expressed in quiet or sharp squeals, and during courtship male songs. When in danger, Brandt’s Voles produce alarm calls while standing upright at burrow entrance.

Status and Conservation. Classified as Least Concern on The IUCN Red List.

Bibliography. Abramson & Lissovsky (2012), Abramson, Lebedev, Tesakov & Bannikova (2009), Bannikov (1954), Chen Guokang & Shi Dazhao (2003), Dmitriev et al. (1988), Gladkikh et al. (2016), Gromov (2008), Gromov & Erbajeva (1995), Kucheruk & Dunaeva (1948), Liu Zhilong & Sun Ruyong (1993), Rutovskaya (2015), Shi Dazhao (1986, 1988), Shi Dazhao et al. (1999), Wan Xinrong et al. (2002), Wang Guiming et al. (1992), Zhang Yongzu et al. (1997), Zéphel & Dawaa (2005), Zorenko & Yakobsone (1986).