Nature Conservation Research

21–39

Authors: Echevarría G., González N.

The Caura National Park encompasses the entire basin of the River Caura, one of the most biodiverse hydrographic systems of Venezuela, yet the ichthyofauna, particularly in the upper basin, has been poorly studied. In this study, the taxonomic and functional diversity of fishes in mesohabitats of the River Kakada, a main tributary of the upper River Caura in Southern Venezuela, are described. The fishes were sampled in four mesohabitat types with seines during four different occasions, representing the hydrological seasons of rising waters, high waters, falling waters and low waters. Functional diversity indices were calculated based on four traits: size, trophic guild, mouth orientation and body shape. A total of 56 fish species were registered. There were significant differences in species composition of the fish assemblages and their taxonomic diversities among mesohabitats and across hydrological seasons, and the taxonomic and functional diversities were higher in the mesohabitats with presence of riparian forest. However, there were no seasonal variations in functional composition or functional diversities. The rocky substrates had unique assemblages of habitat specialist species with a particular array of traits. On the other hand, the presence of riparian forest and more structurally complex substrates favors the coexistence of a high diversity of fishes with a variety of trait combinations, whereas the seasonal fluctuations in the water level might propitiate stochastic processes of dispersion and colonisation that generate variations in species composition and taxonomic diversity. Considering the spread of artisanal gold mines in the Caura National Park, the results of this investigation might serve as a reference for future studies that assess the impacts of the gold mining activities on the river integrity and their fish communities.

54–65

Authors: Bagrikova N.A., Chichkanova E.S.

The article deals with the problem of biological invasions, including the expansion of alien species into Protected Areas. The total area of the «Cape Martyan» Nature Reserve is 2.4 km2, of which 1.2 km2 is dry land and the other 1.2 km2 is the water surface of the Black Sea. It is located on the Southern Coast of the Crimea and is included in the list of priority areas for the conservation of biodiversity. Sixty-two species of vascular plants (11.2% of the Nature Reserve «Cape Martyan» flora) are classified as alien in the Protected Area. But the invasive status has been determined only for Bupleurum fruticosum, Clematis flammula, Senecio cineraria, and Rhamnus alaternus. The spontaneous dispersal of Opuntia engelmannii subsp. lindheimeri plants in anthropogenically transformed communities was indicated including the Artemisietea vulgaris class, as well as natural communities with a combination of species from the Quercetea pubescenti-petraeae and Cisto-Micromerietea julianae classes. It confirms that this Opuntia has been naturalised in the Protected Area and has the status of an invasive species. The research of the morphometric parameters of cultivated and naturalised prickly pears both on the Southern Coast of the Crimea and in the «Cape Martyan» Nature Reserve was conducted in 2014–2017. It was established that the largest size of segments and fruits is typical for plants growing in semi-open juniper-oak forest communities. The largerst number and the longest of spines were recorded on the cultivated plants in rarefied semi-shrubby communities and on open slopes.

76–90

Authors: Rozenfeld S.B., Kirtaev G.V., Rogova N.V., Soloviev M.Yu., Gorchakovsky A.A., Bizin M.S., Demianets S.S.

The Gydan Peninsula is one of the least explored and inaccessible Arctic regions in both the Yamalo-Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug and Russia as a whole. In 2016–2017 we conducted a survey of the Gydansky State Nature Reserve and adjacent areas, counted and assessed the quality of habitats of Anseriformes and their threats. The results of the study and the data volume obtained have proved the effectiveness of using ultralight aviation to study a hard-to-reach and vast area. We elaborated the methodology of aerial surveys and counting, the technique of population abundance extrapolation based on modern statistical methods and the use of Landsat images. According to the data obtained, we created GIS databases on abundance, biotopic distribution, key conservation areas of Anseriformes and threats. On their basis, it will be possible to develop a scheme of long-term monitoring of Anseriformes, and specific recommendations on the protection regime. By preliminary assessing the habitat quality on the selected plots, we found that Anseriformes form main groupings on salt marshes, although their areas on the Gydansky Peninsula are not large. The preliminary study of the feeding spectrum of herbivory Anseriformes (Anser, Branta, Cygnus) showed that on three studied sites, a significant proportion of their diet is occupied by common plant species of salt marshes (Carex subspathacea + Puccinellia phryganodes). Studies of the pastures quality on salt marshes on molting sites and on control sites demonstrated that Anser albifrons and Branta bernicla provoked a decrease in phytomass of dead grass by an average of 5.3 times. This increases the pasture quality and prevents turfness. On the molting sites examined, the phytomass of the main feeding plants was on average 4.6 times less than on the control sites. However, we can not consider it as a negative influence, since the constant pasture grazing stimulates the vegetation growth. Based on data obtained during the preliminary study, we established the impact of Anseriformes on invertebrates. We found that on control sites, the number of spider species was two times higher than on molting sites, and their number was four times higher than on molting sites. There were no significant differences in the Acarini number. The presence of mass concentrations of Aneriformes influences the structure of dominance in the microarthropod communities. We did not establish the influence of the Anseriformes concentrations on the diversity and species composition of Coleoptera and Heteroptera. Although on sites of mass concentration of Anseriformes, the number of Heteroptera predators greatly reduced (in 3–23 times). We showed that Ursus maritimus have became an important factor that influence the Anseriformes abundance, especially colonial species. We distinguished the nine sites which are the most important for Anderiformes. Within these areas, annual monitoring of Anseriformes using ultralight aviation is most relevant. On the distinguished key sites outside the Gydansky State Nature Reserve, it would be advisable to create regional-level complex sanctuaries with complete hunting ban. The presence of people and transport in protected areas will create an increase in the disturbance factor and poaching. It is necessary to strengthen the protection regime and conduct raids to combat poaching both in the Gydansky State Nature Reserve and on distinguished key sites. We propose the use of ultralight aviation as the most effective method for these targets. The results of obtained aerial surveys showed that the highest abundance of Polysticta stelleri, Somateria spectabilis and Clangula huemalis, the maximal concentrations of molting Cygnus bewickii, Anser albifrons, A. fabalis and Branta bernicla were recorded on Neupokoev Island and Vilkitsky Island. In this regard, we assert the necessity to revise the existing boundaries of the Gydansky State Nature Reserve by including into the Protected Area the following sites: Vilkitsky Island together with the Vostochnaya Spit and Shvede Bay, the Neupokoev Island together with the Neupokoeva Spit and water areas adjacent to these islands at a distance of 5 km from the coastline.

97–102

Authors: Dhendup T.

The Clouded leopard Neofelis nebulosa is a globally threatened species, and very little is known about its ecology, distribution, population trends and threats. We used camera trap data from the 2013–2014 season of long-term monitoring of tigers in Royal Manas National Park in southern Bhutan to study the Clouded leopard distribution and to identify threats to the species and their habitat. Clouded leopards were recorded at 17 camera trap stations (25% of the total) within the park's jurisdiction of which ten stations were located inside the multiple use park management zone and seven in the core zone. The altitude of occurrence ranged from 243 m a.s.l. to 2323 m a.s.l. The species is facing ongoing threats from habitat degradation and loss, poaching, and climate change. Extraction of resources and developmental activities in Clouded leopard habitats inside the multiple use zone should be strictly supervised and studied. Continued effort is encouraged towards active monitoring particularly along the Indo-Bhutan border. There is also a strong need for dedicated ecological studies and a detailed assessment of threats to the species.

110–115

Authors: Bashinskiy I.V., Osipov V.V.

The work presents the first results of annual monitoring of a beaver population on the territory of Ostrovtsovskaya Lesostep' (State Nature Reserve Privolzhskaya Lesostep', Penza region). In 2014–2017 all water-courses and water-bodies, including the River Khoper, River Selimutka, River Yuzhnaya and several oxbows of the Khoper were investigated twice a year for assessing the beaver abundance using the method of settlements capacity. The mean density of dams was 7.7 dams/km of watercourse, the maximum was on the River Yuzhnaya – 10.8 dams/km, and the minimum was on the River Selimutka – 5.5 dams/km. During the study period 10 to 13 beaver settlements were observed, the total abundance of beavers tends to decrease (from 42 to 30 animals). The present density of beavers and a lack of food resources limit a further increase of the species abundance.