Use of Internet Resources to Estimate the Abundance of Species in Contact with Humans (Using the Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus L., 1758, Cricetidae, Rodentia) as an Example)

Abstract—Meta-analysis of the spontaneous activity of Internet users is proposed as an alternative to traditional methods of counting the abundance of species that people often encounter in their lives. Using the wordstat.yandex.ru tool, the statistics of search queries on the topic of struggle against the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus L., 1758) as an agricultural pest was collected for four years. The tool allows tying the obtained data array to particular administrative region. As a result, a “pest map” of the species (equivalent to its relative abundance) we have compiled. Our comparison of these data with those obtained earlier for the hamster pelt harvesting (1950s) has allowed us to reveal trends in its changes by regions. It is supposed that Internet search statistical analysis is an underestimated resource, which would allow one to obtain information effectively on the abundance and distribution not only of the common hamster, but also of other species frequently in contact with humans (brown rat, water vole, beaver, muskrat, etc.).