Patrick Brunet-Lecomte

The last glacial/interglacial record of rodent remains from the Gigny karst sequence in the French Jura used for palaeoclimatic and palaeoecological reconstructions

Abstract A multidisciplinary approach has produced an exceptional chronological log of climatic patterns for the Upper Pleistocene sequence of Gigny Cave (Jura, France) covering the Pre-Eemian, Eemian Interglacial, Middle Glacial and Upper Pleniglacial, as well as a part of the Holocene. Multivariate analysis (correspondence and component analysis) of rodent associations from the sequence is used here to characterize the different climatic stages in terms of relative temperature, plant cover and moisture. Faunal analysis establishes: (1) positive and negative correlations among the variations of the different species; (2) the significance of axis 1 (component analysis) which, in terms of temperature, opposes cold environments with contrasted continental biotopes; (3a) the significance of axis 2 (component analysis), which reflects vegetation patterns ranging from open to closed habitats; (3b) the significance of axis 3 (component analysis), which expresses trends in moisture; (4) various correlations between faunal and climatic parameters (temperature, plant cover and moisture); (5) evaluation of faunal diversity (Shannon index ranging from 0.74 to 2.27) showing that diversity increases with temperature and the complexity of vegetation, but is not sensitive to moisture. Lastly, the comparison of multivariate methods with the weighted semi-quantitative Hokr method shows the complementarity of the two approaches, the first methods quantifying climatic parameters while the second seems to provide more precise evaluations of the main seasons of rainfall.

Karyological and dental identification of Microtus limnophilus in a large focus of alveolar echinococcosis (Gansu, China)

A study of voles (Arvicolidae, Rodentia) from Gansu (China) designed to identify a potential host of Echinococcus multilocularis, responsible for human alveolar echinococcosis, leads to a general analysis of Microtus limnophilus population karyotypes, M1 of M. oeconomus populations from all of Eurasia and of M. limnophilus of Mongolia. The Microtus of Gansu belonging to the nominal subspecies M. limnophilus limnophilus (2n = 38; NF = 58) differs markedly in size and shape of M1 from the M. limnophilus of Mongolia, which must therefore be considered as a new subspecies M. limnophilus of malygini nov. ssp. (2n = 38; NF = 60) and the M. oeconomus of Mongolia should be ranked as M. oeconomus kharanurensis nov. ssp. (2n = 30; NF = 60).

Relation between climatic fluctuation and morphological variability in Microtus (Terricola) grafi (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) from Bacho Kiro (Bulgaria, Upper Pleistocene)

Morphological variability within the species Microtus (Terricola) grafi is investigated in relation to the parameters of time and climate. Microtus (Terricola) grafi has been described from the Upper Pleistocene cave of Bacho Kiro (Bulgaria), which has yielded numerous teeth from several levels reflecting climatic fluctuations. The first lower molars are analyzed by 23 biometric variables so as to quantify tooth shape and its variation with time and climate. This morphological analysis reveals a number of shape indexes reflecting whether an individual lived in warm or cold conditions. The most significant result is that individuals living in warm conditions exhibit the more primitive feature of having a less tilted pitymyan rhombus.

The Pleistocene subterranean volesTerricola (Rodentia) of Serbia and Montenegro

A general morphometrical analysis of the M1 was conducted to identify the subterranean vole species found in Upper Pleistocene localities from Serbia and Montenegro, and to clarify the systematic position and the phylogenetic relationships between the different species in the Balkans. From the different localities studied, we can assign one population toMicrotus (Terricola) thomasi and the others to theM. (T.) subterraneus group. This study suggests thatM. (T.) grafi can be considered as a chronological sub-species ofM. (T.) subterraneus or as a different but phylogenetically very close species.

Nouvelles données sur la localité type et la morphométrie dentaire du campagnol de Gerbe Microtus pyrenaicus gerbei (Gerbe, 1879) (Cricetidae, Rodentia).

La synthese des recherches historiques faites au sujet d’Arthur de L’Isle du Dreneuf, le decouvreur du campagnol de Gerbe Microtus pyrenaicus gerbei (Gerbe, 1879), et les circonstances liees a cette decouverte, permettent de dire que sa localite type est la commune de La Haie-Fouassiere (Loire-Atlantique, France). L’analyse de dents trouvees dans des pelotes d’effraie des clochers provenant de Pornic (Loire-Atlantique, France) a confirme la differenciation odontometrique deja observee chez M. pyrenaicus gerbei.

Les micromammifères du département de l'Isère (Rhône-Alpes, France) : répartition par district naturel

Micromammals of the French department of Isere (Rhone-Alpes) : distribution by natural district. - This article presents the distribution of the species of micromammals of the department of Isere (Rhone-Alpes, France), by natural district from the analysis of 78,100 specimens inventoried and registered in a database of the micromammals of the department. For each species, a comparison of its distribution is made between districts. This synthesis is a photograph of the current knowledge and it also allows to define the future researches to improve the knowledge and the protection of micromammals in Isere.

Comparative odontometrical analysis of the first lower molar in Microtus (Terricola) multiplex (Arvicolinae, Rodentia) from western Alps

The morphology of the first lower molar (M1) of Microtus (Terricola) multiplex (Fatio, 1905) was compared amongst 15 populations from the Alps (Switzerland, Italy, France). M. multiplex orientalis from Trentino Alto Adige is close to the nominative subspecies M. multiplex multiplex from Ticino characterised by a great size, a not tilted pitymyan rhombus and an important development of the anterior part of the M1. M. multiplex druentius from Ubaye mainly differs from the nominative subspecies by a smaller tooth size. Populations from Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte show on the whole a morphology intermediate between M. m. multiplex and M. m. druentius subspecies, however, the pitymyan rhombus is more tilted and the development of the anterior part more reduced in populations from Eastern and Central Piemonte. The Western populations (from Trièvès, Vercors, Royans and Chambaran) belonging to the subspecies M. m. niethammeri are the most differentiated with a small or median size of the M1, a reduced development of the anterior part and a very tilted pitymyan rhombus, particularly in the population from Chambaran. The populations from Matheysine and Grésivaudan are morphologically a link between M. m. druentius and M. m. niethammeri subspecies.

A propos de l'observation de cas de campagnols des champs Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778) (Rodentia, Arvicolinae) caractérisés par une première molaire inférieure présentant un rhombe pitymyen

Cette note decrit et commente quelques cas de campagnols des champs Microtus arvalis (Pallas, 1778) presentant un rhombe pitymyen a la premiere molaire inferieure.