title: [Study of diversity of the animal population in zonal climatic gradients using the transect method].
abstract: Zonal trends of changes in animal population diversity on land are studied with the models of individual taxa and multispecies communities. Development of the transect method and use of different scale topoecological gradients make it possible to follow the succession of the species composition and topical preferences of individual species, as well as changes in their absolute and relative abundance, which lead to changes in the structure and pattern of functioning of the community as a whole. Modern methodological approaches concerning organization of complex studies on megatransects crossing several natural zones are analyzed. Methods of estimation of inter- and intrazonal changes in the animal population structure and diversity are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Sokolov
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Striganova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000145:classification; D002980:Climate; D003081:Cold Climate; D003889:Desert Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012426:Russia