New mammal species for Latvia, the root vole (Microtus oeconomus)

摘要: In the summer of 1989, a single adult male root vole (Microtus oeconomus) was trapped in meadow at Kovaliski, Latvia. It registered site, characterised by low small mammal diversity (nine species, Shannon’s H = 0.97). Among three sampled habitats Kovaliski had most diverse composition, while forest and swamp were species each period 1984–1990. This is first record M. oeconomus for Latvia, thereby also expanding known distribution range. finding very much line with north eastward spread Lithuania, an expansion that started Nemunas Delta and, least partly, tied to land abandonment years since 1990s creating suitable habitat oeconomus. Its Baltic countries still however limited Lithuania possibly, closely adjacent areas Old records from Estonia not confirmed last decades.