Mixed forest animals: elk, otter, wolf, beaver, raccoon, lynx. Flora and vegetation of coniferous forests Who lives in coniferous forests from animals

Coniferous forests are widespread on earth mainly in those areas where there are low temperatures allowing tree growth. Coniferous forests occupy areas on the border with the tundra and the far north.

Flora of the coniferous forest includes such typical representatives of conifers as fir, juniper, cedar, cypress, spruce, larch, and pine.

On the northern continent, coniferous forests form the most extensive areas of continuous forest cover on Earth. Coniferous forests mainly grow at heights, which is why they are forever green. The predominance of cold and the resulting lack of leaf litter results in little or no undergrowth and a thin layer of soil. Mammals that inhabit coniferous forests feed mainly on vegetation, bark, cones, and moss. As a result, birds that eat insects are very few in number in coniferous forests compared to birds that feed on buds and seeds. coniferous trees.

The following herbaceous plants grow in the coniferous forest: red elderberry, yellow acacia, nettle, celandine, strawberry and, of course, bracken fern. Although ferns prefer mixed forests, you can also find a clearing with this plant in a coniferous forest in thawed patches where the place is not too shaded. Among the flowers you can see snowdrops and shepherd's purse.

Fires in coniferous forests are rare, except when they start in the spring, when there is little moisture in the trees; at such a time, fires in coniferous forests can devastate a gigantic area. Animal world The coniferous forest has a huge dependence on trees. But the vegetation of the coniferous forest suffers quite a lot from its mammalian inhabitants. For example, significant damage to cedar is caused by nutcrackers, chipmunks, and squirrels. Scientists have calculated that a squirrel, in order to feed itself, needs to eat thirty spruce cones or about three hundred pine cones per day.

Inhabitants coniferous forests Mostly vegetarians, they feed on woody vegetation. Predators, such as the predatory rat, are also found in small quantities. Bears also live in coniferous forests; they are practically omnivores, so coniferous forests are quite suitable for them. comfortable place habitat. Lynx, this one wild cat also omnivorous in its own way, it hunts hares and birds and other small inhabitants of the coniferous forest.

Animals of the coniferous forest are forced to travel vast distances to find food, since the coniferous forest grows very slowly.

Coniferous forests have a huge economic importance for humans, since they are the main supplier of timber and raw materials for paper production. Many conifers are very popular in urban landscaping and as garden ornamental plants. Species coniferous plants relatively few, but they play a large ecological role.

Coniferous forests are mainly found in the northern hemisphere. Pines and larches, spruce and cedars, firs and cypresses, junipers and thujas grow in them. The climate of this natural area quite cold, since such conditions are relevant for the growth of coniferous trees. In the coniferous forests there is a rich fauna, which is represented from insects and rodents to omnivorous animals and birds.

Main fauna representatives

Coniferous forests are inhabited mainly by vegetarian animals that feed on trees, berries, and herbaceous plants. In addition, these forests are home to omnivorous animals such as bears and lynxes. They have to travel long distances to find prey. Some of the main inhabitants of coniferous forests are squirrels and hares.

In the depths of the thickets you can find wolverines that hunt both day and night. They even attack bears and wolves to take their prey. Among the predators of the forest are foxes and wolves. Small animals such as voles and beavers, shrews and chipmunks, martens and minks are found here. red deer, roe deer, elk, bison, musk deer. Where the climate becomes a little warmer, you can find shrubs and hedgehogs, forest lemmings and ferrets. Some species of forest animals hibernate in winter, and some become less active.

Feathered inhabitants of forests

Coniferous forests are home to many bird families. Crossbills nest in the crowns of evergreen trees, feeding their chicks seeds from the cones. There are also nutcrackers here, which, depending on the harvest, can fly away to warm regions. Sedentary image Wood grouse lead their lives in coniferous forests. During the day they move on the ground and spend the night in trees. Among the spruces and pines you can meet the smallest representative of the grouse - the hazel grouse. The taiga forests are home to thrushes, woodpeckers, owls and other species.

Insects and amphibians

In forest reservoirs and on the banks you can find toads, salamanders, forest salamanders, and in rivers they swim various types fish The reptiles that live here are various lizards, vipers and snakes. The list of insects of coniferous forests is huge. These are mosquitoes and silkworms, sawflies and horntails, bark beetles and longhorned beetles, flies and butterflies, grasshoppers and ants, bedbugs and ticks.

In coniferous forests unique fauna. How more people penetrate deep into the forest, cutting down trees, the more animals are in danger of extinction. If the cutting down of coniferous trees does not at least decrease, entire ecosystems will soon be destroyed and many species of forest animals will be destroyed.

Animals of the coniferous forest

The mammals that inhabit these areas are mostly herbivores and live on a diet of moss, pine needles, bark and cones. Insectivorous birds are rare compared to those that feed on seeds and buds of conifers. In these places forest fires are infrequent and usually occur in the spring when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.

Animals of the coniferous forest

There are fewer bodies of water in the taiga than in the tundra. There are also fewer waterfowl here. And the goldeneye duck, characteristic of coniferous forests, nests in hollows. The snow in the forest is smooth, loose, shallow, from under it you can get a wintered berry or a pine cone. Therefore, many taiga birds - wood grouse, woodpeckers, crossbills, nutcrackers, etc. - do not fly far for the winter, but wander from place to place within the zone.

• Predators - lynx and wolverine - cause great damage to taiga inhabitants. Their prey often becomes not only large birds and hares, but also animals such as roe deer and musk deer. Extremely cautious, these insidious predators hunt at night and at dawn, waiting for prey in ambush on the trails.

Animals of the coniferous forest

Before the arrival of man, the bear was considered the owner of the taiga: in Eurasia - brown, in North America- grizzly. And now travelers who spend the night in the taiga wilderness often joke: “Uncle Misha will come to check his documents...” The bear moves well through the impassable taiga and quickly climbs trees. IN northern regions brown bear hibernates during the winter. But he sleeps very lightly and, if woken up, leaves the den.

• The taiga is rich in fur-bearing animals. Squirrel and sable, weasel and ermine, hare and marten are found here. There are many valuable game birds - hazel grouse, wood grouse, black grouse.

Even in the last century, the deciduous forests of Europe were inhabited in significant numbers by huge wild bulls- bison. They inhabited the forest areas of Central Europe and northwestern Russia. Predatory hunting and wars led to their almost complete extermination. A huge amount of work has been done in our country to restore the number of bison. Purebred bison are kept and successfully breed in the Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Prioksko-Terrasny nature reserves. Now the number of bison in the USSR has increased significantly. Bison feed on grasses, buds, leaves and bark of deciduous trees.

Animals of mixed and deciduous forests

Found in the zone before deciduous forests And river beavers. The fur of these animals is extremely highly valued, which is why they have long been the object of intensive fishing and at the beginning of the 20th century. were almost completely destroyed. Now in our country these animals are protected by law. Work is underway to resettle them. Beavers live on quiet forest rivers, the banks of which are densely overgrown deciduous trees. They feed on tree shoots and bark, and from branches they build their homes - huts, from trunks and branches - dams, which block the river bed, creating artificial creeks. The size of the huts varies. They serve beavers for many years, are annually repaired, completed, and sometimes reach enormous sizes. So, in the Voronezh Nature Reserve there is a hut, the height of which is 2.5 m, and the diameter of the base is 12 m. But usually they are smaller: 1-1.5 m high and 3 m in diameter.

Animals of mixed and deciduous forests

Sparse forest, tall grass glades and bushes - favorite places habitats of red deer and roe deer. Pine marten- one of the most valuable fur-bearing animals. She makes her nests at high altitudes in hollows. More often than other animals, the squirrel suffers from this predator. The nocturnal lifestyle of the marten gives it enormous advantages in hunting squirrels, since the squirrel is a diurnal animal and sleeps soundly in its nest at night. It is not difficult for a marten to capture her while she is sleeping. Having reached the squirrel's nest, the marten looks for the entrance hole, which the squirrel closes from the inside with a plug made of some soft material, and, bursting into the nest, grabs the sleeping mistress. The marten also eats plant foods: fruits, berries. She loves honey very much. Having found a nest of wild bees, the marten sometimes lives near it for a long time; Often several martens gather at the nest.

The fauna of the mixed forest is represented by many species of animals, birds and insects. Some of the original wild animals: hedgehogs, foxes, hares and wild boars even live in groves adjacent to villages and towns inhabited by people. Often and within settlements, in city parks and squares there are squirrels, snakes, moles, and wild birds.

Artiodactyls live in coniferous-deciduous forests: elk, bison, red deer, roe deer. There are also predators such as bear, wolf, ferret, badger, marten and others. For rivers and reservoirs located in the zone mixed forests, characterized by its own fauna. Thus, on river banks far from human attention, beavers build huts, water rats, muskrats and even otters live. The world of birds in this area is even more diverse.

The wild boar is a large, strong animal with short legs and a strong, stocky body. This is the ancestor of the domestic pig. They are similar in body structure and are omnivores. Boars are covered with dark, bristly fur. The young are lighter in color and have stripes on their sides and back. Boars see poorly, but can move quickly, guided by their well-developed sense of smell and hearing. They live in herds of adult males and females with piglets. Old male loppers stay apart. Usually these animals lead night look life, resting during the day in secluded places.

With the proper level of affection and attention, even a wild boar will behave like best friend person. On one of the islands of the Bahamas lives a 12-year-old wild boar named Baby. 9 years ago he was tamed by two local residents.

The common fox is one of the predators of the mixed forest. The length of the lean body, together with the fluffy tail, reaches 1.5 m. Foxes have an elongated, pointed muzzle and triangular-shaped ears. The coat color is usually red in various shades. The cheeks, chest, belly and tip of the tail are white. Animals are especially beautiful in winter, with fluffier and warmer fur.

The common badger lives in the forests of Europe and Asia, to the Far East. An adult weighs up to 25 kg. The body reaches 0.9 m, and the tail is 0.24 m in length. The body color is brownish-gray, the paws are blackish. There are white and black stripes on the face. The badger is a nocturnal animal. Its diet includes animal food (worms, frogs, insects) and edible roots. Lives in independently dug burrows. During the winter it hibernates.

Common hedgehog - insectivorous mammal. Has poor vision, but excellent sense of smell and hearing. The back of the animal is densely covered with needles 2 cm long, usually gray with transverse dark stripes. To protect itself from danger, the hedgehog curls up into a needle-shaped ball. Prefers areas with dense grass and undergrowth. It overwinters and raises its young in burrows.

From September 15 to 17, Russia celebrates one of the largest environmental holidays - Russian days forests. As you know, forests are not only lungs of the planet and pantry variety of berries, mushrooms and medicinal herbs, but also home to many amazing animals. In this regard, we tell you about some rare animals that live in Russian forests.

1. Musk deer.

This small deer-like animal with fangs lives in the mountain coniferous forests of the Sayans, Altai, Transbaikalia and Primorye. Despite its terrifying appearance, the musk deer feeds exclusively on vegetation. However, the musk deer is notable not only for this, but also for its attractive smell, which lures females for mating. This smell appears due to the musk gland located in the male’s belly next to the genitourinary canal.

As you know, musk is a valuable component of various medicines and perfumes. And it is precisely because of this that musk deer often become the prey of hunters and poachers. Another reason why this unusual animal is considered an endangered species is that its range is shrinking due to increased economic activity humans (mainly with deforestation).

One of the solutions to the problem of preserving the species in wildlife is farm breeding of musk deer and selection of musk from living males.

2. Japanese green pigeon.

This unusual bird about 33 cm long and weighing approximately 300 grams, it has a bright yellowish-green color. It is common in Southeast Asia, but also found in the Sakhalin region (Crillon Peninsula, Moneron and South Islands Kuril Islands). The bird inhabits broad-leaved and mixed forests with an abundance of cherry and bird cherry trees, elderberry bushes and other plants, the fruits of which it feeds on.

The Japanese green pigeon is a rare species, and therefore little is known about its life. Today scientists know that green pigeons are monogamous birds. They weave their nests from thin twigs and place them in trees at a height of up to 20 meters. It is believed that partners hatch eggs in turns for 20 days. And after this, helpless, down-covered chicks are born, which will learn to fly only after five weeks. However, pairs or flocks of green pigeons are rarely seen in Russia; most often they are noticed alone.

3. Far Eastern, or Amur leopards.

Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were much more rare cats, and their range covered a considerable territory - the eastern and northeastern parts of China, the Korean Peninsula, the Amur, Primorsky and Ussuri territories. However, between 1970 and 1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost 80% of its territory! The main reasons then were forest fires and the conversion of forest areas for agriculture.

Today, the Amur leopard continues to lose its territory and also suffers from a lack of food. After all, roe deer, sika deer and other ungulates, which this leopard hunts, are killed in huge numbers by poachers. And since the Far Eastern leopard has beautiful fur, it itself is a very desirable trophy for poachers.

Also due to the lack of suitable food in the wild Far Eastern leopards are forced to go looking for her in reindeer herding farms. There, predators are often killed by the owners of these farms. And on top of that, due to the small population size of Amur leopards, it will be very difficult for representatives of the subspecies to survive during various disasters like a fire.

However, all this does not mean that the subspecies will soon disappear. Today there are still large areas of forest that provide suitable habitat for the Far Eastern leopard. And if these areas can be preserved and protected from fires and poaching, then the population of these amazing animals in the wild will increase.

Interestingly, Far Eastern leopards are the only leopards that were able to learn to live and hunt in conditions harsh winter. In this, by the way, they are helped by long hair, as well as strong and long legs, which allow them to catch up with prey while moving through the snow. However, Amur leopards are not only good hunters, but also exemplary family men. Indeed, sometimes males stay with females after mating and even help them with raising kittens, which, in principle, is not typical for leopards.

4. Alkina.

These butterflies live in the southwest of Primorsky Krai and are found along streams and rivers in mountain forests, where the food plant of the caterpillars of the species, the Manchurian liana, grows. Most often, male butterflies fly to the flowers of this plant, and females sit in the grass most of the time. Alkinoe females tend to linger on this plant to lay eggs on its leaves.

Today, due to the disturbance of the Kirkazon habitat and its collection as medicinal plant its quantity in nature decreases, which, of course, affects the number of alkinoe. On top of everything else, butterflies suffer because they are collected by collectors.

5. Bison.

Previously, these animals were widespread in the territory former USSR, but by the beginning of the 20th century they were preserved only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Caucasus. However, even there their numbers were steadily declining. For example, by 1924, only 5-10 bison remained in the Caucasus. The main reasons for the decline of bison were their extermination by hunters and poachers, as well as destruction during military operations.

The restoration of their numbers began in 1940 in the Caucasus Nature Reserve, and now bison inhabit two regions in Russia - North Caucasus and the center of the European part. In the North Caucasus, bison live in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and Stavropol region. And in the European part there are isolated herds of bison in the Tver, Vladimir, Rostov and Vologda regions.

Bison have always been inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests, but avoided extensive forest areas. In the Western Caucasus, these animals live mainly at an altitude of 0.9 - 2.1 thousand meters above sea level, often going out into clearings or treeless slopes, but never moving away from forest edges.

By appearance The bison is very similar to its American relative, the bison. Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish them. First of all, the bison has a higher hump, more long horns and tail than that of a bison. And in the hot months, the back of the bison is covered with very short hair (it even seems that it is bald), while the bison has hair of the same length all over its body at any time of the year.

The bison is listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species and today lives in many nature reserves and zoos.

6. Fish owl.

This species settles along river banks in Far East from Magadan to the Amur region and Primorye, as well as on Sakhalin and the Southern Kuril Islands. The fish owl prefers to live in the hollows of old trees with an abundance of aquatic prey nearby, however, old forests and hollow trees are often cut down, which inevitably displaces these birds from their habitats. In addition, fish owls are caught by poachers, and they often fall into traps while trying to pull the bait out of them. The development of water tourism on the Far Eastern rivers and, consequently, increased disturbance of these birds gradually leads to a decrease in the number of eagle owls and interferes with their reproduction. All this has led to the fact that today this species is endangered.

The fish owl is one of the largest owls in the world, as well as the largest member of its genus. Interestingly, these birds can hunt with two in different ways. Most often, the fish eagle looks for fish while sitting on a stone in the river, from the shore or from a tree hanging over the river. Having noticed the prey, the eagle owl dives into the water and instantly grabs it with its sharp claws. And when this predator tries to catch sedentary fish, crayfish or frogs, it simply enters the water and probes the bottom with its paw in search of prey.

7. Giant noctule.

This bat, the largest in Russia and Europe, lives in deciduous forests in the territory from the western borders of our country to Orenburg region, as well as from northern borders to the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod regions. There they settle in tree hollows, 1-3 individuals each, in colonies of others bats(usually red and lesser noctules).

The giant noctule is rare species, however, ecologists do not know exactly what is causing their low numbers. According to scientists, the threat is posed by deforestation of broad-leaved forests. However, today there are no special measures to protect these animals, since it is not clear what measures will be effective.

It's interesting that these bats They hunt large beetles and moths, flying over forest edges and ponds. However, analysis of blood and droppings showed that these animals also feed on small birds during migrations, however, this has never been recorded.

8. Heavenly barbel.

In Russia, in the south of the Primorsky Territory (in the Terneysky, Ussuriysky, Shkotovsky, Partizansky and Khasansky districts) a beetle with a bright blue color lives. It lives in broadleaf forests mainly in the wood of the greenbark maple. There the female beetle lays eggs, and after about half a month the larvae appear. They develop in the wood for about 4 years, and then, in June, the larva gnaws out the “cradle” and pupates. After about 20 days, the beetle emerges from the wood and immediately begins to reproduce. He will spend all his strength on this for the rest of his life, which lasts only two weeks.

The barbel is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species whose numbers are declining. According to environmentalists, the reason for this is deforestation and a sharp decrease in the number of greenbark maples.

9. Himalayan, or white-breasted bear.

The Ussuri white-breasted bear inhabits broadleaf forests Primorsky Krai, southern regions Khabarovsk Territory and the southeastern part of the Amur region. Until 1998, it was listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species, and today it is a hunting species. However, if in the 90s its number was 4-7 thousand individuals, now this bear is on the verge of extinction (its population is up to 1 thousand individuals). The reason for this was, first of all, deforestation and mass hunting. The latter, by the way, was discussed during the international environmental forum “Nature without Borders” in Vladivostok, after which in 2006 a decision was made in the Primorsky Territory to introduce restrictions on hunting for Himalayan bear during hibernation.

The white-breasted bear leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle: it gets food in trees and hides from enemies (this is mainly Amur tigers and brown bear). Almost the entire diet of this bear consists of plant foods, in particular nuts, fruits and berries, as well as shoots, bulbs and rhizomes. It also does not refuse to feast on ants, insects, mollusks and frogs.

10. Black stork

A widespread but rare species, the number of which is declining due to human economic activity, manifested in deforestation and drainage of swamps. Today the bird is found in forests from Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions to Southern Primorye. The black stork prefers to settle near bodies of water in deep, old forests.

Exactly there, on the old tall trees(and sometimes on rock ledges) black storks build nests, which they will then use for several years. When the time comes to invite the female to the nest (around the end of March), the male fluffs up his white undertail and begins to emit a hoarse whistle. The eggs laid by the female (from 4 to 7 pieces) will be incubated by the partners in turn until the chicks hatch from them after 30 days.