LAUSR

The stability of mammal populations in time and space largely depends on their reproduction, which is described using various reproductive characteristics of animals at population to suborganismal levels, e.g., age at maturity, fecundity, reproductive period length, and morphofunctional state of reproductive organs. Studies on the effect of environmental (including technogenic) factors on the reproductive sphere should be based on estimates of natural variation, primarily ontogenetic variation. This variation in muroid rodents from natural zones of temperate latitudes may be considered from two aspects: with regard to variants (pathways) of ontogeny or to stages of sexual development.