Distribution and species diversity of small mammals on river banks in urban territories

The structure of small mammal populations in biotopes of river valleys of Moscow City was studied from 1988 to 2000. Among the eighteen species found the field mice turned to be the most numerous. The category of common species includes wood mice, bank vole, and East-European vole. A comparative analysis of zonal distribution, numbers of populations, biodiversity, and relative abundance of small mammals with different degree of synanthropy is given for the rivers of the city, and for the Setun and Yauza rivers, in particular. A thorough examination of the data on population characteristics of the animals inhabiting undeveloped sites of the sity provides the basis for discussing the concept of intrazonality of river bank ecosystems in the Moscow city that was previously suggested as a result of studies of its bird fauna.