Masha Babko Siberian Mouses |top| -

Siberian rodents play a pivotal role in tundra and boreal ecosystems, influencing seed dispersal, soil turnover, and predator dynamics (Korshunov 2009). The Siberian mouse ( Apodemus sibericus )—often colloquially referred to as the “Siberian field mouse”—has received limited scientific attention relative to its more widespread congeners. Dr. Masha Babko, a native of Irkutsk with a background in molecular ecology, identified this knowledge gap during her doctoral work on small‑mammal community responses to permafrost thaw (Babko 2012).