Isotopic composition of carbon (ẟ¹³C) and nitrogen (ẟ¹⁵N) in the hair of the order Rodentia of the Vologda Region

The study is devoted to the analysis of the ratio of stable carbon isotopes (ẟ¹³C) and stable nitrogen isotopes (ẟ¹⁵N) in the hair of mammals of the Rodentia order (Eurasian beaver –Castor fiberLinnaeus, 1758; Ural field mouse –Apodemus uralensisPallas, 1811; European water vole –Arvicola amphibius(Linnaeus, 1758); Muskrat –Ondatra zibethicusLinnaeus, 1766; Siberian chipmunk –Eutamias sibiricus(Laxmann, 1769); Siberian flying squirrel –Pteromys volansLinnaeus, 1758; Red squirrel –Sciurus vulgarisLinnaeus, 1758) in the Vologda Region.The isotopic composition of carbon in the hair of the studied animals varies from −28,2‰ to −17,9‰, nitrogen – from 0,4‰ to 10,6‰. The values of ẟ¹³C in the hair of mammals of the Rodentia order are higher, and ẟ¹⁵N is lower than in the hair of mammals of the Carnivora order, previously studied in the Vologda Region. The ratio of heavy carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the hair of animals captured in different regions of the Vologda Region does not differ significantly statistically. Ithas been establishedthat the hair of aquatic organisms is less enriched in heavy carbon isotope and more enriched in heavy nitrogen isotope than the hair of terrestrial representatives of the Rodentia order. The hair of omnivoresis more enrichedin a heavy nitrogen isotope than the hair of herbivores. The overlap of isotopic niches in certain species of the Rodentia orderhas been revealed. A statistically significant decrease in the δ¹³C content in Muskrat hair by 2,7‰ over 50 years has been established.