[Significance of the smell of a conspecific for the spatial distribution of the common shrew Sorex araneus L].

The significance of smell marks of conspecifics for the spatial distribution of common shrews was studied. The existence of two groups of individuals, which differ in their reaction to the smell of a conspecific, was shown. Individuals with different reactions were shown to have reliable differences in the sizes of the areas visited by them, the mutual location of their plots, and the percent of activity combined with the activity of the neighbor. The significance of such differences in reactions for the formation of the social system of shrews is discussed.

[Two types of territory used by the common shrew Sorex araneus L].

The home range of resident animals is considered as "known territory" including a "foraging region." It has been revealed that the activity of an average animal unit in the "foraging region" could be approximated by normal distribution. Estimation of activity distribution in the "known territory" (beyond the "foraging region") was impeded by means of marking since it might be difficult to detect the frequency of distant translocations, and the method does not provide an essential body of data. In the case of the common shrew Sorex araneus, the "known territory" was estimated using trap cones as animals evade them in the known areal. The "foraging region" radius of the average shrew was taken to be 30 m (95% of the animal unit activity), the radius of known territory was within the range of 180-240 m. The "foraging region" was expected to provide the animal with vital resources, and the "known territory" reflects its need for exploratory activity.