Nature, plants and animals of Buryatia. Species composition of animals Biodiversity in Buryatia

Description of different species of animals living near the village of Zarubino

Mongolian foot and mouth disease

The species is included in Red Book of Buryatia as small in number. Identification signs. The total body length is 129.2-137 mm, the body length is 60-63 mm, the tail is 72-74 mm. The abdominal scutes are located at an angle to the midline of the abdomen; by this feature, it is well distinguished from the viviparous lizard, in which the abdominal scutes are located more or less straight. The color of the back is brownish, less often olive-gray. On the back there are up to 10 longitudinal rows of light round spots or dashes, trimmed in black. The belly is light or yellowish. There are round white spots on the top of the legs.

Distribution in Buryatia. Distributed in the southern and central regions.

Number. In the last 10-12 years, there has been a noticeable decline in numbers throughout the habitat.

Lifestyle Settles in areas of rocky steppes, hillsides overgrown with bushes; found on the outskirts of pine forests. Shelters include emptiness under stones and rodent holes. Active during the day, hides in extreme heat. It reproduces by laying eggs in June - early July. Young ones appear in late July - August. There are 5-9 eggs in a clutch. It feeds on ground beetles, weevils, and click beetles; from Hymenoptera - ants. Limiting factors have not been studied. It is necessary to preserve foot and mouth disease as a zoological species.

ORDINARY

Included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare.
Identification signs. Body length up to 70-80 cm. The color of the back is dark, sometimes almost black. On the sides of the head behind the temples there are two yellow or orange spots. The snake is non-venomous.
Distribution in Buryatia. Southern and central regions (Bichursky, Selenginsky, Dzhidinsky). Local populations are noted in the Barguzin Valley near hot springs - Allinsky, Kuchigersky, Garginsky, Umkheysky. Found on the eastern and northeastern coast of Lake Baikal at the outlet of thermal waters.

Number. The abundance of the species has not been studied.

Lifestyle Adheres to the banks of reservoirs and swamps. often stays near keys with hot water. For the winter it moves away from the water, hiding under stones, in rodent burrows, in voids under tree roots. It awakens from hibernation in April-May. Oviparous snakes. Their reproduction and nutrition in the republic have not been studied.

Limiting factors of protection measures. Not fully studied, but the species requires widespread protection.

PATTERNED SLIDER

Included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare, with a limited range.

Identification marks. Body length 588.2–655.2 mm. There is a dark arched stripe on the head (along the prefrontal and frontal scutes). On the sides of the head there is a dark stripe from the eye to the corner of the mouth. The color of the back is gray or gray with a brownish tint. Along the ridge - narrow irregular shape transverse spots of black color. Belly in small dark spots. The snake is non-venomous.
Distribution in Buryatia. It lives in the southern and central regions of the republic, also in the Barguzin Basin.

Number. The number of habitat areas is low throughout.

Lifestyle. Lives in riparian mixed and coniferous forests, steppes, wet and dry meadows, along the edges of swamps. In the river valley Barguzin and on the eastern coast of lake. The Baikal snake is found near the outlet of thermal waters, for example, at the Allinsky, Kuchigersky, Garginsky hot springs. The snake reproduces by laying eggs in the second half of July - August, in a clutch of 2 to 17 eggs, covered with a white parchment-like shell, through which the yolk is often visible. The incubation period is 3-4 weeks. The snake feeds on rodents (voles), chicks and eggs of ground-nesting passerine birds, and insects. Adults moult in June-July.

Limiting factors and protection measures. Patterned runner on the territory of the republic has never had a high number. At the moment, it is often destroyed by uninformed people who mistake the snake for a poisonous snake. The species should undoubtedly be taken under protection.

COMMON VIPERA

The species is included in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare, with a limited range.
Identification signs. The snake is 420–780 mm long. The color of the dorsal side is grayish-brown, with a dark zigzag stripe running along the ridge. There is an x-shaped pattern on the head. Scales. covering the body, with ribs. The subcaudal scutes are located in 2 longitudinal rows. A dark layer stretches from the eyes to the corner of the mouth. The snake is poisonous.

Distribution in Buryatia. In Buryatia, throughout the republic, but the distribution is spotty. It is more common in mountainous regions - Tunkinsky, Zakamensky, Barguzinsky, Kurumkansky, and is not numerous in other areas.

Number. Accounting data was not carried out.

Lifestyle: Common viper lives in the mountains, in the foothills among rocky placers, on the plain - in damp ravines, meadows, brook forests, along the edge of swamps, and is sometimes found in steppe areas with low bushes. Active from late April - early May to late September. In spring and summer warm days often comes out of hiding to bask in the sun. It reproduces by giving birth to live young; this process in Buryatia lasts from July to the end of August. One female gives birth to 7-9 cubs. For the winter, the viper hides in abandoned burrows of long-tailed gophers, sometimes in the burrows of tarbagans, in deep crevices of rocks, in depressions under tree roots, and under large stones. It goes hunting at dusk or at night. The viper feeds on voles, forest mice, eats eggs and chicks.

passerine birds nesting on the ground. Beetles and juvenile Mongolian toads were found in the stomachs of young vipers.

Limiting factors and protection measures. Throughout its life, the viper sticks to the same places, moving within 60-100 m. It must be assumed that this feature of the snake’s biology is one of the reasons for the reduction in its numbers. The habitats of vipers are often called snake habitats, and here they are easily destroyed by humans. It is necessary to establish the main foci of the spread of vipers, take them under protection and conduct widespread propaganda among wide circles of the population about the protection of snakes.

STEPPE KESTEL

It is included in the Red Book of the Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic as an unidentified species, its condition is little known.

Identification signs. Slightly smaller in size than a pigeon. It is very similar to the common kestrel, the most common and relatively numerous falcon in the republic, but smaller and slimmer. In males, the back is bright red without streaks (in the common kestrel - with streaks), the head is dark gray, the throat is buffy-white, the chest is red with a bluish coating, the belly and sides are buffy-red with sharp small streaks, the tail is gray, with a wide black preapical stripe and white border at the end. Females are buffy-red above, with wide brown transverse spots; the chest, sides and belly are pale buffy with longitudinal brownish stripes on the chest and teardrop-shaped spots on the belly. In general, females of the steppe and common kestrel are very poorly distinguished in nature. The best hallmark of these two types is the coloring of the claws; the steppe kestrel has white ones (sometimes for this reason it is called the white-clawed kestrel), and the common kestrel has black ones. The flight is very varied, sometimes it stops in the air and trembles (the common kestrel too), the cry is a ringing ki-ki-ki or chi-chi-chi’.

Distribution in Buryatia. It is found in the southern regions of the republic, in the north it reaches the Gusinoozersk Basin. Most often observed in the Kyakhta region..

Number. There are no exact data. In the 30s, according to the observations of A.I. Skalon, in the vicinity of the city of Kyakhta, the steppe kestrel was considered an ordinary bird. Currently, these falcons are not often seen. Apparently, the number is subject to large fluctuations from year to year. This is evidenced by data on their frequent occurrence in some years and absence in other years.

Lifestyle. In Buryatia, information about ecology is very scarce. Migrant, arrives in early May..

rocks and coastal cliffs. Tends to form small colonies of 2-4 or more pairs. The clutch contains 4-6 yellowish-red eggs with dark spots. The female incubates and is rarely replaced by a male.
It feeds mainly on insects, catching small animals and birds.
Limiting factors and protection measures. Their numbers probably depend on the number of animals they feed on. They do not experience negative influences from humans. These falcons, of course, are subject to strict protection. In nesting areas, especially in group settlements, it is necessary to create a rest zone.

KORSAK

Rare species in Buryatia.

Identification marks. The corsac is similar in general appearance to the fox, but differs significantly from it in a number of characteristics. It is approximately the size of a domestic cat: body length 50-60 cm, tail length 25-35 cm, shoulder height about 30 cm. The ears are large and wide at the base. The back side of the ace is black, like a fox, and reddish-gray. The tip of the tail is dark, not white, like a fox's. The general color of the fur is left-gray with an ocher tint, the underparts are white or with a slight yellowish tinge. The size and coloring of females and males are almost the same.

Distribution in Buryatia. The northern border of the Mongolian part of the corsac's range lies on the territory of Buryatia. It is distributed in the southern part of the republic, from the borders with Mongolian People's Republic to Mukhorshibirsky and Selenginsky districts. In some years, migrations to the north are observed, to the Tarbagatai and Ivolginsk depressions.

Number. Scarce species. Corsacs are more often found in the Tugnui depression, less often in the Kyakhta region, and are very rare in other areas. In the republic in summer time There are approximately 200-250 heads, the number decreases by winter. With the onset of cold weather, individual animals migrate to Mongolia.

Lifestyle In the republic, corsac inhabits steppe landscapes, the bottoms of intermountain basins and mountain slopes.

It usually settles in old burrows of tarbagans, foxes and badgers. Leads twilight image life, is active during the day.

The female and male form a permanent pair and live together until one of them dies. The rut takes place at the end of February - March. Pregnancy lasts 50-55 days. At the end of April - May, the female brings from 2 to 10, more often 4-6 cubs. The young ones grow quickly. At 5 months of age they are almost no different from adults. At the end of summer, the young animals disperse.

The animal feeds on steppe rodents (narrow-skulled vole, Daurian hamster, young tarbagans, etc.) and the Daurian pika. On occasion, it catches birds and eats plants. In winter, it does not neglect carrion and various refuse. Usually he catches his prey by hiding. Not far from the victim, he jumps up and overtakes her in several jumps. It tries to squeeze small animals with its front paws.

Limiting factors and protection measures. The number of corsacs in Buryatia has changed significantly several times over the past 50-60 years. It fell especially sharply in the late 40s and early 50s, when the mass extermination of wolves with pesticides was carried out, which killed many other predators, including the corsac. In the 60s and early 70s, there was an increase in the corsac population, then it decreased again. The decline in numbers is associated with deterioration of living conditions caused by plowing of the steppes, intensive grazing and excessive hunting.

Due to the reduction in the number of corsac fish in the republic, it is necessary to limit its production; in some places, for example in the Selenga region, hunting for it is completely prohibited.

MANUL

Rare species. Included in the Red Books of the USSR, RSFSR and Buryat Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

Identification signs. quite often this animal is incorrectly called the steppe cat. Manul and the steppe cat are absolutely different types. The latter does not live in Buryatia.
Manul belongs to the genus of small cats. Weight is 2500-4500 g, body length 50-62 cm, tail length 23-31 cm, ear height 4-5 cm.

The general appearance of the Pallas's cat is unique. In winter, its long and lush fur gives it a rather heavy and massive appearance. The head is small, spherical in shape. The legs are relatively short and wide, the tail is thick and bushy.

The color of the fur is a complex combination of light gray with more or less pale-ocher or pale-reddish admixture. Across the back, turning into varying degrees on the sides, there are 6-7 narrow black transverse stripes .

Distribution in Buryatia. The northern border of the Pallas's range lies on the territory of the republic. It is found in the southern and central regions approximately to the latitude of Ulan-Ude. Very rarely enters the Kizhinginsky and Khorinsky districts. There is only one known case of meeting a Pallas's cat in the upper reaches of the river. Barguzin.

Number Within its entire range in Buryatia, the Pallas's cat is very rare. Relatively often observed in the Borgoi steppe and in the steppes between the Selenga - Chikoy - Khilok rivers. There are no accurate data on population dynamics over the last decade. Judging by the survey data, the number does not tend to increase; most likely, it is declining.

Lifestyle. The most typical habitats of the Pallas's cat are steppe areas with bedrock outcrops and the presence of bushes. Such places in the republic are usually confined to small hill massifs, individual mountains, spurs and foothills of ridges. The depth of the snow cover has a significant influence on the distribution of the Pallas's cat. It is not adapted for fast movement in loose and deep snow; in such places it is difficult for him to get food. Pallas's cat lives in tarbagan burrows, in rock crevices and under large stones. The nest is lined with dry stems and leaves, sometimes with the skins of rodents and pikas. Manul leads a predominantly crepuscular lifestyle. In winter, he also goes hunting during the day. It catches its prey by hiding or lying in wait near holes and stones. The main food of Pallas's cat is Daurian pikas, mouse-like rodents, insectivores and birds. It eats small animals whole. He tears the pika into three parts: the head and two halves of the body with limbs. In years when there are a lot of pikas, the manul cat throws out the head of its prey. At one time he is able to eat up to 410 g of food (4-5 pikas or 16 voles). The Pallas's rutting season apparently occurs in March-April. During this period, many traces of Pallas's cat are observed. Pregnancy lasts about 60 days. Kittens appear in late May and early June. There are up to 9 cubs in a litter, but more often there are 3-4. In the Borgoi steppe, hybridization of the Pallas's cat with a domestic cat is known (in remote herds during the Pallas's rut, female domestic cats sometimes go into the rocks in the absence of males). Limiting factors and protection measures. The main reason for the decline in the number of Pallas's cat is human development of land (plowing, grazing livestock, etc.).

suitable for these cats to live in. Many animals become prey to stray dogs. There are also cases of poaching.

Hunting for Pallas's cat is prohibited everywhere. It is necessary to identify the most typical areas for Pallas's cat habitat to organize reserves.

SPEAKERS

The kolonok is a small animal, body length 28-30cm. The body color is dark red. Winter fur is lighter than summer fur, but longer and thicker. Distributed everywhere in Buryatia, lives in forests and forest-steppes, preferring cluttered areas or forests with dense undergrowth, and makes seasonal movements.

The Siberian weasel is often found in populated areas, where it catches rats and mice, and at the same time attacks poultry. His hunting area is limited. The daily mileage of the pump does not exceed ten or a little more kilometers. It makes nests in rodent burrows, under tree roots, in wells, among stones. It feeds mainly on rodents. Willingly eats frogs, fish, various invertebrates, fruits and berries. Active in the evening and at night, but sometimes hunts during the day. Moves by jumping and is able to climb trees. The rut takes place in March - April. The duration of pregnancy is 40 days. There are from 3 to 10 blind cubs in a litter. Their eyes open after a month, but they feed on milk for about two months. Siberians reach sexual maturity at the age of one year. The animal sheds in spring and autumn.

Speakers are useful because they destroy harmful rodents. On the other hand, they cause harm to the hunting industry, destroying upland game. Game animal. Brushes made from kolinsky tail hair are highly valued by painters.

SOLONGAY

The solonga is smaller in size than the kolonka, body length 22-28 centimeters, weight 30 grams. The coat in winter is pale fawn-ocher on top, lighter towards the bottom. The top of the head is slightly darker than the back, the muzzle is white below. The summer color of Solongoi is darker and more intense than the winter color.
Found around Lake Baikal, but very few in number. Lives By mountain slopes overgrown with bushes, in river valleys, along ravines and gullies. Active both at night and during daylight hours, moves by jumping, swims and climbs well through the bushes and trees.

It makes nests among stones and in rodent burrows. It feeds on rodents and birds, sometimes insects. Solongoi's rut ​​occurs in early spring. Pregnancy lasts about 40 days. A litter usually contains 5-8 cubs, which stay with their parents until late autumn. Molting occurs in spring and autumn. Solongoi is a useful animal; it destroys harmful rodents and benefits agriculture. A valuable fur-bearing animal, although its commercial value is small.

ORDINARY HEATER

The wheatear is slightly larger than a sparrow. The male is very bright. The top of the head and back are ash-gray, the wings are dark brown, almost black. A black stripe, the “frenum,” runs from the beak through the eye. The ventral side is white with a fawn or buffy tinge, especially on the throat and crop. The tail is bicolored, the base of the tail is white, the tip is dark. The female is buffy-brown. The common wheatear is widely distributed throughout the territory of Buryatia. It is a common breeding bird in many areas. Wheatears live in dry steppes and steppe meadows with rock outcrops, and in pine and elm forest-steppes with rock outcrops. In recent years, wheatears have been observed approaching human settlements; they willingly nest in the territory of construction dumps, where there are many heaps of broken sand-lime bricks, slate, waste formwork and other construction waste. Common wheatears arrive in the second half of April. During May, males sing actively and perform lekking flights. The song of the wheatear contains a loud whistle, a chirping sound, and a neighing sound. Nest building and egg laying occur in the first half of May. Nests are made in piles of stones, in stone wells

pillars, in woodpiles of firewood, in stacks of boards, in piles of construction waste. it is difficult to get to the nest.

The nest is a loose structure made of dry grass, animal hair and bird feathers. A full clutch contains 5-6 eggs of a pure pale blue color.

In the first ten days of June, chicks appear on the wheatears. From mid-June, chicks have been observed emerging from their nests. During the first days they usually stay near the nest and, if there is danger, hide among the stones.

Wheatears feed on various insects that are found among the grass. The diet of wheatears is dominated by beetles, in particular ground beetles, flies and spiders.

Living in our Trans-Baikal steppes, wheatears greatly enliven this monotonous landscape with their beautiful appearance and a loud whistle.

Red Book of Buryatia - official document, containing information on the distribution and status of endangered and rare populations flora and fauna of the republic. It also contains a list of necessary measures for their restoration and protection.

Animals of the Republic of Buryatia are quite diverse. There are many inhabitants of the steppes, taiga, mountainous areas and tundra. But many of them are rare and even on the verge of extinction. Preservation of flora and natural inhabitants is a priority task of the state.

General information about the nature of Buryatia

The natural resources of Buryatia are unique both in their reserves and in their diversity. The flora and fauna of Buryatia is the real wealth of the region.

The dense coniferous massifs of Siberia, the greatest mountain ranges, spacious steppes, mountain valleys with colorful vegetation, an abundance of berries and nuts - all this favors the living conditions of representatives of the diverse animal world of Buryatia. There are many rare and unique representatives of flora and fauna preserved here today, listed in the Red Book of Buryatia. Plants and animals from this list are strictly protected by the state and the republic.

Most of the territory of the republic is occupied by mountain taiga, where among the trees grow pine trees (to a greater extent), cedars, spruces, fir, larch, aspen, birch and poplar. Numerous shrubs grow on the mountain slopes. In spring, the area is decorated with purple or pink wild rosemary (Daurian rhododendron). IN summer period mountains and forests are full of glades of colorful flowers.

A little about the climate

The climatic conditions are sharply continental, which is also more or less favorable for many species of animals and vegetation of Buryatia. Winter is frosty, long, with little snow and almost no wind. Only the coast of Lake Baikal is an exception, since the huge water mass of this largest natural reservoir has a softening effect here.

In January average temperature is -25 Celsius. The summer is relatively short - warm, sometimes hot. In July, the average temperature is +18 o C, but sometimes reaches +35-40 degrees Celsius. On the shores of the lake. Baikal summers are usually cooler. The largest amount of precipitation per year is about 300 mm; in the mountains this value is 500 mm.

Fauna of the Republic

Among the animals of Buryatia, the following representatives are world famous: brown bear, Barguzin sable, wild reindeer, mountain goat, snow leopard. Representatives of the diverse fauna of the republic: elk, wapiti, lynx, squirrel, roe deer, wolverine, wild boar, musk deer, Baikal seal, omul, representatives of numerous species of birds.

Today, 446 species of terrestrial vertebrates have been registered on the territory of Buryatia. Amphibians are represented by 2 orders and 6 species. In total there are 7 species of reptiles of the same order (this is only 0.1% of the entire world reptile fauna). The latter is explained by the following factors: harsh climate, a small number of suitable habitats (this determines the uneven distribution of reptiles and amphibians over the territory). They live in small areas isolated from each other, so they become vulnerable to many factors.

Quantitative and qualitative changes are constantly taking place in the republic. New species of birds began to appear, for example, in the last 20 years, gray and common starlings began to nest in these places, and the rock pigeon, rook and Mongolian gerbil. There are also endangered species - the great cormorant, gazelle, bustard, whooper swan, etc. are almost no longer found.

Animals of Buryatia listed in the Red Book are also included in the Red Book of Siberia - these are 40 species of terrestrial vertebrates. Of these, 7 species are included in the lists of the International Red Book.

The richest class of terrestrial vertebrates in Buryatia are birds, including 348 species (18 orders), which is equal to approximately 4% of the entire world avifauna.

Red Book

This is an official publication intended for both specialists and ordinary readers.

The first volume presents a list of currently endangered and rare mushrooms and plants of Buryatia. It includes 156 vascular plant species, 37 bryophytes, 34 lichens and 26 fungal species.

The second volume presents a list of animals. This included 23 species of mammals, 75 species of birds, 5 species of reptiles, 2 species of amphibians, 6 species of fish, 31 species of insects, 1 species of annelids and 15 species of amphipods.

The list includes the following types:

• Dzeren (a type of antelope).
• Snow leopard (or snow leopard).
• Reindeer.
• Great tubenose.
• Siberian mountain goat.
• Steppe nocturnal bat.
• River otter.
• Amur bat.
• Nochnitsa Ikonnikova.
• Jerboa jumper.
• May vole.
• Long-tailed hamster.
• Amur lemming.
• Campbell's hamster.
• Corsac.
• Altai mole.
• Tolai hare.
• Kamchatka marmot (or Black-capped).
• Manul.
• Manchurian shrew.
• Red wolf.
• Argali (Argali).

More detailed description Some animals of the Red Book of Buryatia are presented below.

Manul

Throughout the world, the status of this animal species is assessed as declining in number and rare. The Pallas's cat prefers to live in forest-steppe areas with numerous scatterings of stones. The main distribution area of ​​this animal of Buryatia within the republic is the Kyakhtinsky, Selenginsky and Dzhidinsky districts.

Their main food is ordinary field mice. Pallas's cat is a food competitor of the fox, and therefore, they have the same habitats due to the same food supply. By nature, this little animal is secretive. The reasons for the decrease in its numbers are hunting for them, trapping, death from dogs, steppe fires, etc.

Reindeer

In the Eastern Sayan Mountains, in the mountain tundra, you can find beautiful, large, light-colored, and sometimes white reindeer.

They feed on shrubs, lichen, herbs and mushrooms. In mountainous areas, representatives of this animal species are very rare today. In Buryatia, only about 155 individuals have survived, which is 6.8% of the total number of the species. Now there is a question of banning its fishing in the entire Severobaikalsky region.

Red wolf

Rare animals of Buryatia include quite large and relatively beautiful beast. The appearance of this predator combines the features of a fox, wolf and jackal. Its distinctive feature from the wolf is its bright red color, long tail, almost reaching the ground and fluffy, thick fur. And his muzzle is shorter and more pointed. The large ears on the head are set high.

There are a total of 10 subspecies of this species, of which only two are found in Russia. Red wolves usually settle in rocky areas, replete with various caves, niches and grottoes.

Siberian mountain goat

Among the animals of Buryatia listed in the Red Book is the Siberian mountain goat. This is an animal like the others Asian species they have markings on their front legs that are not found on ibexes. The Siberian goat also has a callus on the wrist joints of the front legs (for climbing slopes) and on the knees.

This type of mountain goat has a rather impressive list of enemies: lynxes, snow leopards, wolves. Old males are especially vulnerable to these predators.

The length of the horns in adult males can reach up to 152 cm or more.

White hare

Among the rare animals of Buryatia is this cute white hare - a small animal of the lagomorph family. This is one of the largest species with an adult body length of 45-65 cm.

The largest white hare was recorded in the territory (74 cm - body length, with a weight of 5.5 kg). This species has a more elongated body, small front feet and larger hind feet, not very long ears.

The hare got its name from the white color of its fur. winter time. In the snow it can only be detected by its dark eyes, tips of the ears and nose. In summer, its fur is colored reddish-gray, which also helps the animal to camouflage well.

Snow leopard

In total, there are about 30 snow leopards (irbis) left in Buryatia. In the category of extinction, this predator ranks 1st in the Red Book.

This animal of Buryatia has quite large dimensions: body length - about 130 cm, tail length - 90 cm (3/4 of the body length), height at the withers - approximately 60 cm, weight - 40 kg. Its legs are relatively short and its ears are small. The fur is brown in color with dark ring-shaped large spots scattered throughout the body.

Argali

This largest of the 10 subspecies of argali sheep, in addition to Tyva, also lives in Altai in Russia. Abroad they are only in Mongolia. Most likely, this is a single habitat of the subspecies - when wandering, the animals cross the border from Buryatia to Mongolia and back.

This is a very large, slender, well-proportioned animal. Males reach 122 cm in height at the withers, and females - 114 cm. Their weight is 200 and 103 kg, respectively. Both sexes have horns. Old males can wear impressive horns - up to 151 cm in length. Thick and dense hair can have a brown-brown or light gray-reddish color. The back of the body near the tail and belly are colored in lighter colors - whitish-yellow, and sometimes almost white. In summer, the color of their coat is brighter - brownish-red.

river otter

Among Buryatia and a resident of rivers and rivers.

This is the largest representative of the family with a body length of about 127 cm in males and 109 cm in females. The flexible body is streamlined and elongated. The powerful tail is wider at the base. The fur is dense and thick. Upper part The body is colored brownish, which on the throat and belly turns into grayish-silver shades.

The animal lives in rivers with fast cold water, with rapids and rifts, with steep banks and rich in fish (taimen, lenok, grayling). You can also find it on slow-flowing rivers and even on lakes. Lifestyle - semi-aquatic, secretive.

Conclusion

The animals of Buryatia are unique and diverse. Projects to preserve the number and diversity of flora and fauna have one goal - preserving the riches of local nature. Numerous specially protected areas have been created in Buryatia to restore and preserve natural landscapes and species of animals and plants. Today there are many security zones or districts with their own charters economic activity.

The republic's natural reserve fund includes the following types of specially protected state zones: natural monuments, national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, state reserves.

Yesterday, October 6, was International Habitat Conservation Day. Using the example of the rarest animals of the republic, the site decided to show how humans influence nature through their activities

Red color is a signal of alarm, impending danger, warning. The Red Book includes plants and animals of which there are very few left on Earth; they are in danger of extinction. Buryatia also has its own Red Book. In our republic there is practically no place where no human has set foot. Every extinct species is a severe and irreparable loss. We are conquering space, we have learned to print houses and body organs. But can we recreate the snow leopard or sagaan-dali? For now, everything that disappears in the animal world disappears forever. We present to readers the rare decorations of the nature of Buryatia: snow leopard (irbis), manul, steppe bustard, red wolf.

Snow leopard

In the category of species extinction in the Red Book of Buryatia, the snow leopard ranks first. There are only 20 to 30 of them left in Buryatia. It is protected on the territory of the Tunkinsky National Park and the Shumak National Natural Park. Two areas of stable habitat for the snow leopard are known: western (ridges of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, Okinsky and Tunkinsky regions) and eastern ( western part Malkhansky ridge, Bichursky district). Over the past 20 years, one snow leopard dies every year due to human fault. AND future forecast The state of the species is disappointing.

Manul

Globally, the status of this species is assessed as rare and declining in numbers. Pallas's cat prefers to live in forest-steppe spaces with rocky areas. In Buryatia, its main habitat is the Selenginsky, Dzhida, and Kyakhtinsky districts. Its main food is field mice. He is a food competitor of the fox; they share the same habitats due to the food supply. It is extremely rare, because by nature this small animal is very mysterious and secretive. The threat of extinction of the Pallas's cat is hunting, killing by people during a chance meeting, death from dogs, any trapping, steppe fires, and the disturbance factor.

Steppe Bustard

The number in Buryatia reaches 30 - 40 individuals. Although even before the 60s and 70s it lived in all areas of the south of Buryatia, in the north to the delta of the Selenga River and the Vitim Plateau, as well as in the Barguzin region. Later, the range shrank almost everywhere, with the exception of the southern regions. Currently, it constantly nests in the Dzhidinsky and Mukhorshibirsky regions, sometimes reaching Ulan-Ude. IN Daursky Nature Reserve experiments were carried out and it was found that the bustard feeds well on rapeseed fields (weed). Previously, collective farms specifically planted it for harvesting. Now the steppe bustard has serious problems with its food supply. Scientists believe that the main threat to the bustard is agriculture. Because in its nesting places there are steppe burnings or grazing. And for her, the disturbance factor is very important, because she nests on the ground. If a bustard is scared away from its nest, it will never return there. The chicks are dying. During autumn rains, the wings of the steppe bustard get wet and freeze. Birds cannot fly and become easy prey even for children. There are known cases when such defenseless bustards were driven into courtyards and beaten to death with sticks.

Red wolf

Its numbers and distribution are also declining globally. The red wolf never howls; his voice is a mixture of barking, whining and squealing. Outside the mountains, the red wolf cannot compete with the ordinary wolf, which is capable of taking prey even from a pack of red wolves. It has also been established that red wolves die from invasive diseases and are sensitive to anthropogenic impact: they leave their habitats when people visit them. Their food supply has been undermined by widespread poaching of the main species of ungulates. In Buryatia, the red wolf is occasionally found in the highlands and mountain taiga of the Eastern Sayan Mountains, as well as in the south of the Tunka Valley. According to Olga Martynova, head of the department of state environmental assessments and biodiversity conservation, some types of nature are inclined to reproduce, some are not. The habitat of these animals is simply extremely cruel and they cannot produce large offspring.

Cheetah

A predatory “intellectual” and gourmet. It is difficult to imagine that several centuries ago there were cheetahs in our steppes. And they became extinct on our territory, according to scientists, because they were gourmets - they hunted mainly ungulates: steppe antelope, gazelles. Their abundance disappeared with the plowing up of the steppe, for hunting in which cheetahs are ideally suited, never feeding on carrion. They don't even return to the remains of their own prey. Today, the free cheetah can only be found in Africa in remote places and in protected areas. In Asia it has disappeared or is very rare. The cheetah is the fastest dying species. Firstly, although cheetahs run fast, they get tired quickly. Secondly, they only hunt gazelles; thirdly, it is more difficult for them to hide their cubs, because they don't climb trees. The cheetah is called the "intelligent" in the world of predators. That is why it is so difficult for him to withstand numerous external influences. Flocks of vultures flock to the cheetah's hunting area and push it back. It's sad to think that cheetahs have to change their habits due to their growing popularity with tourists. Hearing loud sounds, a cheetah often abandons its prey, leaving it to be eaten by other animals. The claw of the first toe always remains sharp, as it never comes into contact with the ground. It is with its help that the predator knocks down its prey. This feature explains the images in the paintings, when the cheetah calmly rests on a horse behind the rider. The most famous painting of Kublai Khan hunting.

Tiger

Now he is associated exclusively with the Ussuri region. Although the first name of such a tiger is “Siberian”. "Babr is located Irkutsk region of all animals is rarer and surpasses them in its strength and courage. It has irregularly located blackish transverse stripes along its white-yellowish fur; does not exceed the height of a large wolf” - this is how the evidence of those years is described. As you can see, according to the descriptions, the babr resembles a tiger. “Siberians call babr without distinction between leopard and tiger... It has been known since ancient times that tigers and leopards often enter Dauria from Manchuria, Tibet and other parts of the celestial empire,” confirms A.A. at the end of the 19th century. Cherkasov in the famous “Notes of a Hunter of Eastern Siberia”. “Eastern Siberia is adjacent to Mongolia and Manchuria, which constitute the last northern limit of the tiger's habitat. We have had cases of tiger appearances both in Transbaikalia and in the mountain spurs of the Sayan Mountains,” wrote scientist I.S. back in 1896. Rural.

Extinction threat by the numbers

During the 19th centuries AD, the following disappeared on Earth:

150 species of mammals, mostly large 139 species of birds

In 1 day, about 100 species of plants and animals disappear on Earth.

The following may disappear in the near future:

5435 animal species 5611 plant species

In the Red Book of Buryatia:

140 animal species 139 plant species

They are not yet extinct, but require monitoring of their condition:

185 species of animals 282 species of plants and fungi

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Natural resources are unique both in their reserves and in their diversity. Thick coniferous forests, high mountain ranges, wide steppes, mountain valleys with colorful herbs, an abundance of nuts and berries provide favorable conditions for numerous representatives of the animal world of Buryatia. There are many unique and rare species listed in the Red Book of Siberia and the Republic of Buryatia.

The world famous Barguzin sable, brown bear, mountain goat, wild reindeer. Man deer, elk, squirrel, lynx, wolverine, roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, Baikal, omul, as well as numerous species of birds - this is an incomplete, but representative list of the diversity of the animal world of the Republic of Buryatia.

Currently, 446 species of terrestrial vertebrates have been registered on the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. Amphibians of the Republic of Buryatia are represented by 6 species from 2 orders. There are 7 species of reptiles, and they are all from the same order, i.e. The Republic of Buryatia is home to 0.1% of the world's reptile fauna. This is explained by many factors: in particular, severe continental climate, as well as the limited number of suitable places for their habitat, which in turn determines the extremely uneven distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the region. They often live in small and sometimes isolated areas far from each other, therefore they are very vulnerable to many external factors, some of them have become rare or even endangered species.

Birds are the richest class of terrestrial vertebrates. Republic of Buryatia, including 348 species, united in 18 orders, which is about 4% of the world's avifauna. Of the 348 species, 260 are regular or irregular nesters, 34 are migratory, 7 are wintering, 46 are vagrant. The given figures are very unstable, because for various reasons some species change the nature of their stay and area of ​​distribution.

There are 85 species of mammals from 7 orders recorded in the Republic of Buryatia, which makes up 21-23% of the world’s theriofauna. In general, the species composition of animals, like any other area, is not stable. Qualitative and quantitative changes are constantly taking place here, new species are appearing, for example, in the last two decades, the common and gray starlings have begun to nest, the Mongolian gerbil, rock pigeon, and rook are noticeably expanding their range. At the same time, some other species are disappearing or have already disappeared - the gazelle and great cormorant are practically not found in the Republic of Buryatia, the bustard, whooper swan and many other birds of prey are disappearing. The latter require increased attention and special security measures. Unfortunately, there are many such rare and endangered species in the Republic of Buryatia: 2 species of amphibians, 4 reptiles, 63 birds and 25 mammal species, 7 species of terrestrial vertebrates are listed in the International Red Book and 40 species are included in the Red Book.

The lake is a natural reservoir for a fifth of the world's reserves fresh water of the highest quality. Lake Baikal is more than 20 million years old, the length of the lake is 636 kilometers, width - 80 kilometers, depth - 1637 meters, 2500 various types animals and fish, 250 of which are endemic, inhabit Lake Baikal and the surrounding area.

The Republic of Buryatia is rich in mineral resources. In the territory of Buryatia, over 50 years of active work, geologists have explored more than 700 deposits of various minerals, of which more than 600 are included in the state balance of Russia and the territorial balance of the Republic of Buryatia.

Among the identified deposits there are 247 gold (228 alluvial, 16 ore and 3 complex). On the list strategic types mineral raw materials there are 7 deposits of tungsten, 13 - uranium, 4 - polymetals, 2 - molybdenum and beryllium, one each - tin and aluminum.

It has a large pre-estimated raw material base of uranium. The balance reserves of 8 fluorspar deposits are capable of meeting the needs of metallurgical enterprises in Siberia and Far East in lump fluorite.

Balance reserves: 10 brown deposits and 4 deposits coal enough for hundreds of years to meet the needs of the fuel and energy complex of Buryatia. On the territory of the Republic of Buryatia, 2 deposits of asbestos, a number of jade and construction raw materials, as well as apatite, phosphorite, graphite and zeolites have also been identified. The subsoil of Buryatia contains 48% of Russia's balance reserves of zinc, 24% of lead, 37% of molybdenum, 27% of tungsten, 16% of fluorspar and 15% of chrysotile asbestos.

Most large and unique mineral deposits are located within a radius of up to 200 kilometers from the nearest railway lines. The degree of geological knowledge of the subsoil of the Republic of Buryatia makes it possible to predict the discovery here of new promising deposits of various minerals, including new genetic types.

Lake Baikal and the Republic of Buryatia

Lake Baikal in numbers: contains 23 thousand cubic meters. km of fresh water - 20% of the world's reserves, age - 25-30 million years, length - 636 kilometers, width - from 25 to 80 kilometers, maximum depth - 1640 meters, average depth - 731 meters, length coastline- more than 2000 kilometers, drainage area - about 570 thousand square meters. km, on Lake Baikal there are 22 islands, of which the largest is the island, more than 340 rivers flow in, one flows out - the Angara, over 2,500 species of animals, 82% of which are endemic, more than 1,000 species of plants, more than 50 species of fish.

Lake Baikal is located almost in the center of Asia, at the latitude of Moscow and London. The length of Lake Baikal is 636 kilometers, the greatest width is 79.5 kilometers, the smallest is 25 kilometers. The area of ​​the lake's water surface is 31,500 km2, which is approximately equal to the area of ​​a state such as Belgium. Having a maximum depth of 1640 meters, the lake Baikal is the deepest lake in the world.

Baikal was formed about 30 million years ago and is the oldest lake in the world. It is located in a huge depression limited by faults in the earth's crust, which continues to expand by about 2 centimeters per year. - a mountain lake, its level is 445 meters higher than the level of the world ocean. The bottom of Lake Baikal is located almost 1200 meters below ocean level. The thickness of lake sediments in some places reaches almost 10 kilometers. The sediments of Lake Baikal contain encrypted information about climate change and the geological history of Asia over the past 25-30 million years.

Lake Baikal contains 23 thousand km3 or 20% of the world's reserves of surface fresh waters that meet microbiological, organoleptic and hydrochemical parameters the best standards quality of clean drinking water.

The basin of Lake Baikal can contain all the water Baltic Sea or the water of all five Great Lakes of America. The Angara River, flowing out of the lake, carries out 2000 m3 of water per second. If the flow of all the rivers flowing into Lake Baikal stopped, then in this case the Angara could flow out of Baikal for 360 years. To fill the basin, the entire annual flow of the world's rivers would be needed.

The water of Lake Baikal is distinguished by its extraordinary purity and transparency. The white Seki disk, used to determine water transparency, is visible in Lake Baikal to a depth of 40 meters, while the transparency of the waters of the Caspian Sea does not exceed 25 meters, Lake Sevan - 20 meters. The famous alpine lakes are also inferior to Lake Baikal in terms of water clarity.

Unique feature Lake Baikal is characterized by the high diversity and endemism of plants and animals living in it. Currently, 2,565 species and subspecies of animals and 1,000 species, subspecies and forms of aquatic plants are registered in Baikal, 2/3 of which are endemic, that is, they are not found anywhere else. To this number we must add many hundreds of species of aquatic and benthic microorganisms, as well as so far little-studied viruses and phages. Species diversity of the lake Baikal has no equal among the ancient and Great Lakes of the World. In terms of the number of species, the fauna of Baikal hydrobionts is more than 2 times richer compared to that of Lake Tanganyika - 1248 species and almost 13 times more than in Lake Titicaca - South America. Considering the fact that more than 20 species of invertebrate animals are described annually for Lake Baikal, experts predict the presence of more than 1,500 species of hydrobionts of Lake Baikal that are not yet known to science.

Amazing diversity and endemism characterize all types and classes of animals, as well environmental groups hydrobionts of Lake Baikal.

The top of the trophic pyramid in the ecosystem of Lake Baikal is the endemic Baikal seal or seal, whose ancestors, apparently, were Arctic seals that in ancient times penetrated Lake Baikal along the Lena or Yenisei.

The island nature of the uniqueness of the fauna and flora of Baikal in the Paleoarctic Ocean poses not only important and fascinating biogeographical problems on a global scale, but also a practical differentiated approach to the development of strategies and tactics for preserving the biodiversity of the South and North of Baikal, as independent biogeographical divisions of different ranks, as well as transition zones - ecotones.

The phenomenon of gigantism is most clearly manifested in deep-sea gammarids, especially acanthogammarus, as well as in turbellarians and planarians. It is also observed in diatoms, which are dominant in phytoplankton. Under the same conditions, the phenomenon of dwarfism appears in some species and groups of organisms. Thus, a group of algae (cell diameter 1.5-3.0 microns) has been discovered as part of phytoplankton, constituting ultranannoplankton, which in certain periods creates a significant share of primary production - the primary food of all consumers in the pelagic zone of Lake Baikal.

Obviously, there is no limit to understanding the wonders of Lake Baikal. Recently near underwater warm springs unique biological communities have been discovered, where the primary food is organic matter created not through photosynthesis, but through chemosynthesis from methane. Similar communities were previously known for ocean depths. Old thesis: in the lake Baikal- how in the ocean it acquired new confirmation.

Preservation of Lake Baikal for future generations of people as a global source of clean fresh water and as natural area with unique landscapes and unique in its diversity fauna and flora is the most important condition sustainable development Baikal region.

And Ulan-Ude offers tours to Siberia and Lake Baikal.

On the territory of Buryatia, 435 species of terrestrial vertebrates are found. Among them, the classes of birds (340 species) and mammals (83) are richer than others, while reptiles (7) and amphibians (5 species) are less represented. Due to unreasonable human economic activity, the number of terrestrial vertebrates is declining. The list of rare and declining species in the territory of Buryatia consists of: amphibians - 2 species, reptiles - 4, birds - 63, mammals - 25 species. Rare and endangered species include the red wolf, wild cat - manul, snow leopard, river otter, mountain goat, reindeer, Daurian hedgehog, etc. One of the difficult tasks of preserving the biodiversity of animals, fur-bearing animals and upland game is optimization

Rare and endangered animals

Rare animals are species that are not currently in danger of extinction, but are found in such small quantity or in limited areas that may disappear due to unfavorable changes in the habitat under the influence of natural or anthropogenic factors.

Endangered animals are those species that are in danger of extinction, the salvation of which is impossible without the implementation of special measures.

To preserve rare and endangered animals, there is a strict and complete ban on hunting, maximum conservation of the habitat, the creation of special nurseries, national parks, nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.

Mammals

Seal

Baikal is one of the few continental water bodies where the nerpa (seal) lives - the only mammal endemic to Baikal. The seal is a large animal, reaching a length of 120-150 cm and up to 100-120 kg of weight, and is long-lived. Among hunting prey there are specimens aged 50 years or more. During her life, a female can bring up to 2 dozen cubs, which she carries for 11 months. Rings appear at the end of winter - beginning of spring.

It still remains a mystery how this animal got to the center of the Asian continent. Some researchers believe that the seal entered the lake from the Arctic Ocean during one of the interglacial transgressions. When ocean waters spread along the Yenisei valley to the mouth of the Tunguska. It is known that seals often enter rivers and rise quite high along their course. And sometimes they even travel overland from one river to another.

In Baikal, the seal found favorable living conditions - an abundance of food in the form of golomyankas and pelagic gobies, ice conditions that create the usual conditions for reproduction and molting, a fairly vast water area and depths. The seals spend the winter under the ice; each animal has several open holes-vents.

Since ancient times, the animal has been a valuable commercial object. The Baikal seal has beautiful fur, healing fat, and tender meat. According to archaeologists, the seal has attracted people to the shores of the lake since ancient times and was used as an exchange commodity; for some tribes it was a totem.

and others in the section "Lake Baikal"

Barguzin sable

Sable is a fur-bearing animal, “the king of wild furs.” The darker the sable, the more valuable its skin is. Barguzin sable is the most valuable found in Siberia. Body length – 56 cm, tail – up to 20 cm. Lives in cedar forests, in the upper reaches mountain rivers. (See also).

Red wolf (Ulaan Shono)

The red wolf is a small animal that combines the characteristics of a wolf and a fox in its appearance. The general color tone is reddish. Found in mountainous areas of the Baikal basin, it feeds on ungulates. The red wolf is an endangered species and is listed in the Red Book of Russia, Buryatia and IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and natural resources). Hunting and catching this animal is strictly prohibited.

Jerboa jumper (Alag daagan)

The jumping jerboa is listed in the Red Book of Buryatia as rare species. The body length is 130-160 mm, the tail length is 172-220 mm. It has 5 fingers on its limbs, the length of the hind legs is 3-4 times greater than the length of the front ones. When moving slowly, it moves on all four legs, and when running, only on two hind legs. It has large eyes and long ears, as well as a long tail that ends in a tassel. The jerboa has soft and thick fur. The color of the back is sandy or dark yellow, the ventral side is slightly lighter. It is found in the steppe part of the Baikal basin. In winter it hibernates. It feeds on plant food, insects and their larvae.

Corvids of Lake Baikal basin

Cm.