Environmental impact of the North-West taiga ecosystem of Russia on the biological characteristics of small mammals: Blood indices.

The diurnal dynamics of blood parameters in animals of forest ecosystems of the taiga North-West of Russia - the common shrew (Sorex araneus) and the European bank vole (Gletrionomis glareolus) - is considered. The capture of animals was carried out in the summer using live traps. In the blood of all animals, the content of leukocytes and lymphocytes was studied; blood levels of IgG and P-proteins were also determined in common shrews, and IgG and IgM in bank voles. Blood sampling was carried out immediately after the capture of animals during the day with a difference of 3 hours: at 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 hours. The results were processed statistically and analyzed. It was revealed that changes in blood parameters in common shrews and bank voles during the day are similar, species differences in the magnitude of daily changes in these parameters are associated with different types of daily activity of shrews and voles. There were no daily changes in humoral resistance factors (the content of immunoglobulins and the level of P-proteins). Probably, the obtained data testify in favor of the greater species-specificity of cellular immunity factors in comparison with humoral ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]