Analysis of the Current Status of the Fauna of Rare Mammals of Eastern Part of Uzbekistan

Aim. Demonstrate the ability to assess the current status of faunas in administrative areas using standardised approaches as a tool for identifying the most pressing conservation problems and determining how to address them

Methodology. In accordance with the most recognised views on taxon systematics, up-todate species lists of terrestrial vertebrates of Uzbekistan were compiled. A fixed two-level list of the main types of ecosystems was prepared for the whole territory of Uzbekistan, taking into account the existing international classifications. Original maps of ecosystems and habitats have been compiled. A set of indicators developed by the authors was used to assess the significance of faunal diversity of administrative regions of the country.

Results. Inventory of vertebrate fauna using standard approaches allowed to identify the current species composition of rare mammals in the section of 3 adjacent administrative regions of the eastern part of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Syrdarya and Jizzak. A comparative analysis of similarities and differences of rare mammal faunas of the studied administrative regions on a 10-point scale using 4 indicators was carried out. Peculiarities and regularities of territorial distribution of species were revealed.

Research implications. The inventory and assessment of fauna status in the context of administrative regions using standardised approaches is the first experience of such work for Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The results of the research will serve as a basis for updating the species sketches of the next edition of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan, substantiating conservation and threatened species statuses, preventing or mitigating negative impacts on them, and developing and implementing measures for their conservation and restoration.

1. Alikhanov B., Akchura F., Nasritdinov A. Ekologicheskiy atlas Uzbekistana [Ecological Atlas of Uzbekistan]. Tashkent: UNESCO, 2007. 48 p.

2. Ananyeva N. B., Borkin L. Ya., Darevsky I. S., Orlov N. L. Entsiklopediya prirody Rossii. Zemnovodnyye i presmykayushchiyesya [Encyclopedia of Nature of Russia. Amphibians and Reptiles]. Moscow: ABF, 1998. 576 p.

3. Asilbekova H., Yarullina Z., Plotsen M., Sherimbetov H., et al. Natsionalnyy doklad o sostoyanii okruzhayushchey sredy: Uzbekistan [National Report on the State of the Environment: Uzbekistan]. Available at: https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2024-02/uzbekistanstate-of-the-environment-ru.pdf (accessed: 05.06.2025).

4. Atlas pochvennogo pokrova Respubliki Uzbekistan [Atlas of Soil Cover of the Republic of Uzbekistan]. Tashkent: Goskomzemgeokadastr Publ., 2010. 44 p.

5. Kashkarov R. D., et al., eds. Vazhneyshiye ornitologicheskiye territorii [The most important ornithological areas]. Tashkent: Uzbekistan Bird Conservation Society, 2008. 192 p.

6. Arabov S. A., ed. Geograficheskiy atlas Uzbekistana [Geographical atlas of Uzbekistan]. Tashkent: Goskomzemgeokadastr, 2012. 190 p.

7. Dubinin V. B. [On the fauna and ecology of mammals of the Khavast district of the Tashkent region of the Uzbek SSR]. In: Trudy Instituta zoologii i parazitologii AN UzSSR. T. 3 [Transactions of the Institute of Zoology and Parasitology of the Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR. Vol. 3]. Tashkent: Fan, 1954, pp. 171–185.

8. Yakhontov V. V., ed. Zhivotnyy mir Golodnoy stepi [Animal world of the Hungry Steppe]. Tashkent: Fan Publ., 1962. 175 p.

9. Zakhidov T. Z. Biotsenozy pustyni Kyzylkum [Biocenoses of the Kyzylkum Desert]. Tashkent: Fan, 1971. 303 p.

10. Krasnaya kniga Respubliki Uzbekistana. T. 2. Zhivotnyye [Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Vol. 2. Animals]. Tashkent: Chinor ENK, 2019. 378 p.

11. Kashkarov R. D., Mitropolskaya Yu. O., Gritsyna M. A., Ten A. G., Abduraupov T. V. Fauna i sistema Diptikhov pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh Tashkentskoy oblasti: komplekt informatsionno-metodicheskikh materialov dlya prirodopolzovateley [Fauna and Monitoring System of Vertebrate Animals of the Tashkent Region: A Set of Information and Methodological Materials for Nature Users]. Tashkent: Fan, 2020. 503 p.

12. Koblik E. A., Arkhipov V. Yu. Fata ptits stran Severnoy Yevrazii na granitsakh byvshego SSSR: sovpadeniye vidov [Bird Fauna of Northern Eurasian Countries within the Borders of the Former USSR: Species Lists]. Moscow: KMK Scientific Publications Partnership, 2014. 171 p.

13. Lakhanov Zh. L. Uzbekistonning umurtkali khayvonlari aniklagichi [The World Heritage of Uzbekistan]. Toshkent, 1988. 158 p.

14. Letier E. [Thematic study of the World Heritage of Central Asia. Priority properties for nomination for inscription on the World Heritage List based on criteria (ix) and (x). Available at: https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2020-003-Ru.pdf (accessed: 20.04.2025).

15. Mitropolskaya Yu. O. Otsenka antropogennykh vozdeystviy na faunu mlekopitayushchikh dlya razrabotki mer po ikh sokhraneniyu i ustoychivomu potrebleniyu [Assessment of anthropogenic impacts on the mammalian fauna to develop measures for their conservation and sustainable use]. Tashkent: AN RUz Publ., 2017. 43 p.

16. Mitropolskaya Yu., Talskikh V. Obzor planirovaniya v oblasti sokhraneniya i ispol'zovaniya biologicheskogo raznoobraziya v Uzbekistane [Review of planning in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in Uzbekistan]. Tashkent, 2015. 59 p.

17. Salikhbaev Kh. S., Karpenko V. P., Kashkarov D. Yu., Ostapenko M. M., Petrova A. A., et al. Ekologiya, mery okhrany i razumnoye ispol'zovaniye pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh Karshinskoy stepi [Ecology, conservation measures and rational use of vertebrate animals of the Karshi steppe]. Tashkent: Fan, 1967. 172 p.

18. Shernazarov E. Sh., Vashetko E. V., Kreitsberg E. A., Bykova E. A., Khurshut E. E. Pozvonochnyye zhivotnyye Uzbekistana [Vertebrates of Uzbekistan]. Tashkent: Fan RUz, 2006. 174 p.

19. Sultanov G. S., ed. Ekologiya pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh khrebta Nuratau [Ecology of Vertebrate Animals of the Nuratau Range]. Tashkent: Fan Publ., 1970. 175 p.

20. Bogdanov O. P., ed. Ekologiya i khozyaystvennoye znacheniye pozvonochnykh zhivotnykh yuga Uzbekistana (basseyn Surkhandari) [Ecology and Economic Importance of Vertebrates of Southern Uzbekistan (Surkhandarya Basin)]. Tashkent: Fan Publ., 1964. 158 p.

21. Pavlinov I. Ya. Sistematika sovremennykh mlekopitayushchikh [Taxonomy of Modern Mammals]. Moscow: Moscow University Publ., 2006. 297 p.

22. Sultanov G. S., ed. Pozvonochnyye zhivotnyye Ferganskoy doliny [Vertebrates of the Fergana Valley]. Tashkent: Fan Publ., 1974. 216 p.

23. Appendices I and II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), 2017. Available at: https://www.cms.int/en/page/appendix-i-ii-cms (accessed: 28.03.2025).

24. Checklist of CITES Species. A reference to the appendices to the convention on International Track in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Genève: CITES Secretariat, 1998. 312 p.

25. Frost D. R. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Available at: URL: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html (accessed: 10.05.2025).

26. Habitats Classification Scheme (Version 3.1) Available at: URL: https://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/habitat-classification-scheme (accessed: 18.04.2025).

27. Mitropolskaya Yu., Kashkarov R. Complex of indicators as basis for assessment of significance of different territories of Uzbekistan for conservation of faunistic diversity of mammals. In: E3S Web of Conferences, 2024, vol. 555, art. 04004 DOI: 10.1051/e3sconf/202455504004