Assessment of the morphological parameters of the muskrat population living in the Ile-Balkhash basin

Abstract

Over the past decade, no studies have been conducted on the distribution, number, and structure of muskrats (ondatra zibethicus) in Kazakhstan. Muskrat fur is a valuable fur. However, at present, the very small number of ondatra zibethicus, the decline in its population, leads to changes in biodiversity for Kazakhstan and a number of countries. The purpose of the work is a comprehensive study of the habitat of muskrats, morphological indicators of the population of muskrats living in the Ili - Balkhash rivers and lakes. The article provides data on studies of the life of muskrats and the distribution of muskrats, considers the distribution, number, density and reasons that affect the current state of the muskrats (ondatra zibethicus) in the system of the Ili-Balkhash basins. The age and sex composition of the Muskrat selection in the Ili-Balkhash basin system, body weight and size of adult muskrats of Southern Balkhash are indicated. Initially, the Muskrat had no natural enemies, as well as pathogens, so the number of muskrats increased intensively. For muskrats to reproduce, a small amount of time is enough. However, recently, the number of muskrats has been declining, as the large number of muskrats, changes in the composition of food, and the feeding of muskrats by predatory animals have led to a decrease in the number of muskrats. The Ili-Balkhash Basin is home to a large number of muskrats, because in the Ili-Balkhash Basin there are many lakes, streams, riverbeds, which are rich in the necessary food reserves for muskrats and are convenient for the construction of Burrows and burial grounds. Acclimatization of muskrats in Kazakhstan to use free land and ecological biotopes in the national economy is a method aimed at changing and enriching the fauna.