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Abstract: Systematic studies of the Pleistocene mammal assemblages of Eastern Europe have been carried out for more than a century, and they elucidated evolutionary changes and ascertained chronological sequence of the faunas. The available evidence on fossil mammals from Eastern Europe allows differentiation of 7 complexes of large mammals. These complexes represent 15 assemblages and their phases distinguished for small mammals. The appearance of new taxa of different rank provides the basis for identification of the principal stages in mammal evolution. Multi-disciplinary studies of fossil mammal localities have made it possible to correlate theriological data with the main events of the Pleistocene (such as glacials and interglacials) by comparison between geological, geochronological and palaeontological data. Interglacial and periglacial mammal faunas of different age have been defined on the basis of their structural characteristics and geographical distribution. Two types of mammal assemblages are recognised: zonal interglacial and periglacial assemblages specific to glacial periods. In the first type, each zonal assemblage is dominated by a single ecological group of mammals. A distinctive feature of the second type is the co-existence of animals belonging to different ecological groups and inhabiting different natural environments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Because of their rapid evolution and abundant fossil record, arvicolid molars are commonly employed in Quaternary biostratigraphy. In addition, with their extensive geographical ranges these fossils often permit interregional faunal correlations. However, as a pre-condition for such correlations it has to be established that the occurrences are really time parallel in the different regions. This paper deals with the particular comparison of arvicolid records from Central and Eastern Europe. In most of the earliest and latest records of the species investigated similarities in the spectrum of accompanying species can be observed. In some cases endemism (Ungaromys, Ellobius, Eolagurus, Villanyia, several Pliomys species) or different taxonomic interpretations do not provide a sufficient base for comparison. Only for a few taxa can clear biostratigraphical differences of ranges be recognised (mainly Mimomys savini-Arvicola and various lineages within the genus Microtus). In some cases, differences in the chronostratigraphical ranges are possibly caused by the lack of a geological and palaeomagnetic framework for most of the Central European localities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abundant mammal (45 localities) and plant (52 sections) fossil data collected from the Russian Plain deposits of the Middle Valdai Briansk Interstade indicate a period of noticeable warming. These materials were jointly analyzed. The data were organized in the database software PARADOX and then moved to the GIS program ARC/INFO. Mathematical methods as well as traditional research methods were used for the analysis. The reconstructed biogeographical provinces illustrate the specific environmental and climatic conditions of the Briansk Interstade. Analogues of modern natural zones did not exist at this time on the Russian Plain. The Briansk landscapes reflect the moderate-cool climate of this period, when the majority of northern subarctic plant and mammal species extended their ranges considerably to the south to the Central Russian Plain. At the same time, steppe species penetrated farther north and west. This combination shows that the continuous forest zone was destroyed during the Briansk Inter-stade. Five biogeographical provinces have been reconstructed from the north to the south for the Russian Plain during the Briansk warming on the basis of joint analysis of mammalian and botanical data. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]