Let's save rare species. Plant protection: some aspects and facts
Full title of the work topic | |
Direction | My small homeland |
Pavlov Mikhail Vladimirovich |
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Name of educational institution | Municipal budgetary educational institution "Average comprehensive school No. 14 Nazarovo Krasnoyarsk Territory» |
Class | 5 "B" class |
Supervisor | Tyuleneva Svetlana Mikhailovna, biology teacher, Secondary School 14, |
Relevance: Every day human economic activity is expanding. It includes more and more natural areas, and it often happens that only specially protected areas remain the last refuge for certain species of plants and animals whose lives are in danger. This is the Arga nature reserve, part of which is located on the territory of our Nazarovsky district.
Problematic question:How to save rare species plants and animals in our area?
Methods: study of sources, questioning.
I conducted a survey among students of grade 5 “B” (21 students in total) in order to identify the opinions of classmates on this issue.
Hypothesis: If a reserve was created on the territory of the Nazarovsky district, then it is of great importance for the habitat and conservation rare representatives flora and fauna.
Target: Study of biodiversity and identification of rare species of plants and animals in the reserve.
Tasks:
- identify the purpose of creating the reserve;
- study its species composition;
- show the need for the existence of a protected area;
- find out what nature conservation measures are being implemented in the reserve.
Introduction
The state complex reserve "Arga" is a specially protected natural area of regional significance. Date of creation: October 25, 1963. Located on the territory of the Achinsky, Bogotolsky and Nazarovsky districts, it includes the mountain range of the Arga ridge and a section of the floodplain of the river. Chulym. The total area is 89,885.0 hectares, including 489.3 hectares in the Nazarovsky district.
It was organized for the purpose of protection and reproduction game species animals, conservation and restoration of the numbers of rare and endangered species of animals and birds, valuable in economic, scientific and aesthetic terms, as well as the protection of their habitats.
Rich in plant and animal world"Argy." 466 plant species from 76 families have been recorded here. The predominant families are cereals, sedges, rosaceae, asteraceae, legumes, umbelliferae, and borage.
Currently, 13 typical species of animals live on the territory of the reserve: elk, red deer, roe deer, fox, beaver, squirrel, hare, hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie, mallard, teal, pintail.
Average number of characteristic representatives of the animal world, dynamics trends (for the period 2001-2012) |
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view | individuals |
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Waterfowl | mallard | |
teal | ||
pintail | ||
Shoveler | ||
Upland game | capercaillie | |
black grouse | 2204 |
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grouse | 2308 |
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Ungulates | Siberian roe deer | |
maral | ||
musk deer | ||
elk | ||
wild boar | ||
reindeer | ||
Predatory | bear | |
wolf | 0,42 |
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fox | ||
sable | ||
ermine | ||
Other characteristic species | white hare | |
brown hare | 0,92 |
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squirrel | ||
Protected species
On the territory of the reserve live and are taken under protection (Regulations on the state complex reserve of regional significance “Arga” dated January 19, 2007):
- rare and endangered species of animals listed in the Red Book of the Krasnoyarsk Territory:
- birds: white-tailed eagle, demoiselle crane, peregrine falcon, osprey, black stork, eagle owl, gray crane, curlew, godwit or marsh sandpiper, moorhen or marsh hen,
- bats: water bat, Siberian tubebill,
- fish: sterlet, sturgeon; lenok;
- animal species that require special attention to their condition in the Krasnoyarsk Territory: maral, Siberian roe deer; lynx, nelma; average curlew;
- hunting species:elk, sable, brown bear, badger, weasel, American mink, Eastern European beaver, wood grouse, black grouse;
- rare and endangered plant species:
lady's slipper true, lady's slipper grandiflora, brunnera sibirica, lobaria pulmonata, foliage splendor, curly sparassis, incised violet, orchis capulata, feather feather grass, Ledebour's gill, Jonah's astragalus, spotted lady's slipper, winter's napkin, woolly larkspur.
The ridge itself is a unique landscape complex of island forests among the surrounding forest-steppe and is also under protection as a habitat for fauna.
“Arga” is a storehouse of medicinal raw materials. Here you can find birch and pine buds, chaga, bracken, rose hips, common blueberries, lingonberries, burnet, oregano, and sweet clover.
Special protection regime reserve
- management of hunting and hunting;
- clear and selective felling of forest plantations for timber harvesting;
- mining;
- carrying out blasting operations;
- timber rafting;
- mass collection of medicinal plants, with the exception of the procurement and collection of these resources by citizens for their own needs;
- burning grass;
- industrial fishing;
- washing any vehicles within the coastal protective strip of water bodies;
- clogging with household, construction, industrial and other waste and debris;
- travel and parking of vehicles off public roads, etc.
Permitted types of activities and environmental management:
- economic activity not prohibited on the territory of the reserve;
- construction, reconstruction, major repairs of objects on the territory of the reserve can be carried out according to projects that have received positive conclusions from state examinations in accordance with the law Russian Federation;
- use of animal objects for scientific purposes;
- conservation, protection and reproduction of forests;
- sanitary and health measures on the territory of the reserve;
- selective felling of forest plantations;
- permitted types of fishing;
- rest of citizens in compliance with the Rules fire safety in the forests and more.
Negative impact on the reserve.
Despite the prohibitions, poaching of coniferous trees (mainly pine trees), plowing of land and grazing of livestock, collection of plants and fishing, including with nets, take place on the territory of the Arga reserve. Illegal hunting of animals has led to a strong reduction in the number of game species. Fires often (especially in spring) occur. Currently, the indigenous vegetation is severely damaged by logging and fires. The smoke components of the Achinsk Alumina Refinery and Nazarovo State District Power Plant (sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides) have a weak negative impact. The construction of power lines and other facilities on the territory of the reserve significantly disrupts the habitat of animals and plants.
Our offers
To improve the functioning of the reserve, it is necessary to stop deforestation, grazing, and prohibit fishing, strengthen the fight against poaching and stray dogs.
conclusions
Our hypothesis was confirmed: the Arga reserve is of great importance for the habitat and conservation of rare representatives of flora and fauna. Thanks to him, many species of useful, valuable and beautiful plants and animals are preserved and reproduced in our region.
Information sources:
- Consolidated list of specially protected natural areas of the Russian Federation (reference book). Part II.
Potapova N.A., Nazyrova R.I., Zabelina N.M., Isaeva-Petrova L.S., Korotkov V.N., Ochagov D.M.
M.: All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Nature (2006): 364 - Atlas of specially protected natural areas of the Siberian Federal District
Kalikhman T.P., Bogdanov V.N., Ogorodnikova L.Yu.
Irkutsk, Ottisk Publishing House (2012) : 384 - State cadastre of specially protected natural areas
- http://zakon.krskstate.ru/doc/5311
Goals
- Preservation of rare species of animals and plants during logging operations.
- Preparation and publication of a field guide to rare species of plants and animals of the forests of the Irkutsk region.
- Conducting a series of seminars on the protection of rare species of animals and plants for logging organizations in the Irkutsk region.
Tasks
- Preparation and release of a field guide to rare species of animals and plants of the forests of the Irkutsk region
- Program development and preparation of presentations for seminars
- Conducting seminars in the cities of Irkutsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Bratsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk, Taishet and in the village. Magistralny, Kachug.
Justification of social significance
The Irkutsk region occupies a leading place in Russia in terms of timber harvesting volumes. At the same time, changes occur environment negatively affecting the state of biodiversity, including rare species of animals and plants that are endangered and listed in the Red Books. Their habitats are being cut down. To prevent this, it is necessary to train the personnel of logging enterprises, who are directly involved in the allocation of areas for logging, in the ability to identify and know rare species and about measures for their conservation. For this purpose, it is planned to prepare and publish a guide to rare species and conduct seminars. The social significance of the project will consist in attracting for the conservation of biodiversity, including rare species, precisely those segments of the population who are engaged in logging work and on whose actions the conservation of rare species largely depends. Currently, a situation has arisen where regulatory authorities cannot monitor the status of rare species; science is powerless here, since vast areas of the north of the region where logging is mainly carried out are practically not surveyed. Involving employees of logging organizations in the conservation of rare species will help preserve rare species and will have a high social effect.Geography of the project
Irkutsk region: Irkutsk, Bratsk, Ust-Ilimsk, Ust-Kut, Kirensk and Taishet, the villages of Magistralny and Kachug are the main centers for logging in the Irkutsk region.Target groups
- Mid-level employees of logging organizations in the Irkutsk region
Section I. V.E. Flint.
Conservation of rare species in Russia
The answer to the question of what rare species are is, in principle, simple. These are species of animals and plants whose numbers on the planet have decreased so much that they are in danger of complete extinction. But such an answer inevitably entails another question: what’s so scary about that? What threatens humanity with the disappearance of some species of beetle, or mouse, or little-known species? small birds. I have been looking for a long time for an answer that could satisfy not only a professional biologist, but also any “common person”, teacher, administrative worker, school student, worker, pensioner. And this answer came on its own, quite by accident.
One day, on my way to a public lecture about rare species of animals, I stood on the sidewalk and waited for traffic to cross the street. And at that moment a nut flew out from under one of the cars and rolled at my feet. Automatically, without thinking, I picked it up. An ordinary nut, of which there are thousands in every car. It still retained the warmth of the speeding car. But suddenly it dawned on me. After all, a car is a complex system, thoughtful, practical, durable. There is not a single superfluous detail in it, each performs its own specific function and is closely connected with other details. And if one (at least just one!) nut is lost, it means general functions the machines are already broken. It may not be noticeable at first glance, but later it will definitely affect you; this is the beginning of the end. The loads on other nuts will change, and new losses are inevitable, which will ultimately lead to disaster. Not right away, but definitely.
So is the world of animals and plants around us. Millions of years of joint evolution have developed a complex biological system, where each living organism or biological species plays its own specific role, generally ensuring the stability of the entire system. There is nothing superfluous in it, everything has been removed by evolution, and the disappearance of any of the links will certainly affect its stability. Man is also part of this system; he cannot live outside of it. If only because for life it needs oxygen, which is contained in the air, but is produced by plants. Plants, in turn, cannot exist without animals. The purity of water and soil fertility are also maintained by the activity of living organisms. They are the only source of human nutrition, all cellulose, make up most of the energy resources and building materials, half of the medicinal substances, etc. The loss of any biological species simultaneously means a danger to humans, a threat to their existence within the framework of a disrupted biological system. And rare species are precisely those species whose likelihood of extinction is especially high. But not inevitable!
When I told all this to a non-scientific audience, I realized for the first time that I had found the right answer to the question of why rare species need to be protected. In science and technology, man has reached extraordinary heights: he split the nucleus, went into space, practically replaced the brain with a computer, learned from old drawings and drawings to restore completely destroyed monuments of architecture and art (an excellent example is the restoration of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, blown up in 1931 ). But an extinct biological species is something that humans cannot restore! In technical terms, it is “not subject to restoration.” And one should not hope that in the distant future, in the process of evolution, a species similar to the one that disappeared will arise again. Evolution, like history, is irreversible. Therefore, the attitude towards each endangered species should be especially careful, careful, and loving.
Chapter 1. Conservation of rare species as a special problem
1.1. Rare species and us
Each species has a unique gene pool, formed as a result of natural selection in the process of its evolution. All species have potential economic value to humans as well, since it is impossible to predict which species may become useful or even irreplaceable over time. The uses of species are so unpredictable that it would be a grave mistake to allow a species to become extinct simply because we do not know its beneficial properties today. More than 40 years ago, the outstanding American ecologist Oldo Leopold wrote about this: “The biggest ignoramus is the person who asks about a plant or animal: what is the use of it? If the mechanism of the Earth as a whole is good, then every part of it is good, regardless of whether we understand its purpose or not... Who but a fool would throw away parts that seem useless? Preserve every cog, every wheel - this is the first rule of those who are trying to understand an unknown machine.”
Science is every hour discovering new, extremely useful properties for humans in species previously considered useless or harmful. Until now, only a small part of wild animals (and plants) has been studied for the content of medicinal substances. Thus, recently in one sponge (Tethya crypta) from Caribbean Sea a substance was discovered that is a powerful inhibitor against various forms of cancer, in particular leukemia. Another substance from the same sponge turned out to be effective drug in the treatment of viral encephalitis and marked a revolution in the treatment of some viral diseases. A number of new compounds for the treatment of hypertension, cardiovascular diseases have been obtained from many species of sponges, sea anemones, mollusks, starfish, annelids and other animals that were recently considered useless.
Complete destruction of a species somewhere - on coral reef or in tropical forest, noted in the World Conservation Strategy, can cause human existence incurable disease only because the source of the necessary raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry was destroyed.
Many other characteristics of animals are revealed to humans when studying them. It has been discovered, for example, that armadillos are the only animals that suffer from leprosy, and when finding methods for treating this disease, medicine relies heavily on research on this type of animal. The polychaete sea worm (Lumbrineris brevicirra) has recently served as a source of the neurotoxic insecticide “padan”, which is very effective in the fight against the Colorado potato beetle, cotton weevil, rice borer, cabbage moth and other pests, including those that are immune to organophosphorus and organochlorine compounds . Planktonic coccolith (Umbilicosphaera), as it was recently established, is capable of concentrating uranium products 10 thousand times more strongly than their concentration in the environment. It opens new way biological treatment of radioactive waste. It was also recently discovered that hairline polar bear is an extremely efficient solar heat storage device, which has given researchers the key to developing and manufacturing a material for clothing intended to be worn in polar conditions.
IN last years one of the most important global problems facing humanity has become the preservation biological diversity Earth. Biological diversity (or, as they more often say, biodiversity) is the totality and harmonious combination of the gene pool, its carriers (animals and plants), and their evolutionarily developed complexes (ecosystems). Humans are also part of biodiversity. The most fragile component of biodiversity, the most sensitive integrated indicator of its adverse changes, are rare species of animals and plants. The disappearance and extinction of each species is nothing more than a test for the quality of the environment, for the hidden shortcomings of our work to preserve biodiversity; it is a crack in the integrity of the structure of biodiversity. And a network of such cracks means its disintegration and death. From this, the following is absolutely clear: firstly, the loss of each species is a danger signal, and secondly, the quality of the environment can be judged by the condition of rare species. At the same time, the conservation and restoration of each rare species means the restoration of its functions in the ecosystem and, therefore, should be regarded as an important step towards the conservation, and sometimes towards the restoration of biodiversity as a whole.
There is another aspect - moral. The extinction of a species is essentially proof of our powerlessness in controlling nature.
In this regard, a number of questions arise. Is the process of extinction of species irreversible in principle? Is it even possible to stop it in the new, relatively recently established conditions? Or is the loss of species and impoverishment of fauna inevitable as a kind of “payment” for everything that man has brought into nature? In order to answer these questions, it is necessary to understand the reasons and evaluate the factors that negatively affect the existence of species, and create conditions that make it possible to compensate for what has been lost.
1.2. A look into history and the chronology of extinction
Evolution is ultimately a harmonious combination of two continuous and opposing processes: speciation and extinction. Throughout the history of the Earth, new species and their groups (taxa) arose, adapted to certain conditions of existence in each specific natural situation. At the same time, those species that were not adapted to new natural conditions (as a rule, more ancient ones) died out either under the influence of some unfavorable environmental factors or could not withstand competition with younger, more adapted, progressive species. Thus, there is nothing tragic or alarming in the process of extinction of biological species. Rather, on the contrary, it is a completely natural natural phenomenon, one of the mechanisms of evolution. Extinction did not create an ecological vacuum and did not entail the impoverishment of the Earth's fauna. It was a real manifestation of the results of the evolutionary process.
Since significant restructuring earth's surface(climatic, geological, etc.) occur slowly, over many millions of years, the “life” of biological species was significant. According to paleontologists, the average lifespan of a bird species was about 2 million years, and that of mammals was about 600 thousand years. Only a few species of birds and animals survived relatively a short time, but even this “short” time was measured in tens of thousands of years. However, this was only until the appearance of man on Earth, who disrupted the harmony in the life of the planet.
The main task of protecting rare and endangered species is to achieve such increasing their numbers, which would eliminate the danger of their extinction.
Rare and endangered species of animals (as well as plants) are included in the Red Books. The inclusion of a species in the Red Book is a signal of the danger that threatens it and the need to take urgent measures to save it. Each country in whose territory a species included in the Red Book lives is responsible to its people and all humanity for its conservation.
In our country, to preserve rare and endangered species, reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are organized; animals are resettled in areas of their former distribution, fed, shelters and artificial nesting sites are created, and protected from predators and diseases. When numbers are very low, animals are bred in captivity (in nurseries and zoos) and then released into suitable conditions.
Protection and restoration of the number of game animals
The preservation and restoration of the number of game animals is of particular importance. As you know, the value of game animals lies in the fact that they live off natural food, which is inaccessible or unsuitable for domestic animals; they do not need special care. From game animals people receive meat, furs, leather, raw materials for the perfume industry and medicines. For some peoples of the North, hunting wild animals is the basis of their existence.
Among game animals, fish, birds and animals are of greatest importance. Centuries of ever-increasing mining, as well as changes in their habitat, led in the first half of this century to a sharp reduction in their reserves. Of the mammals, the reserves of ungulates, fur and sea animals. There was even an opinion that they could only be preserved in nature reserves. However, the successful restoration of the numbers of some species - elk, beaver, sable - made it possible to once again include them in the number of game animals.
Among game birds, waterfowl, vultures and bustards have suffered especially severely due to human fault. The number of geese, swans, and geese has decreased significantly. The red-breasted goose, little swan, white and mountain geese, Caucasian grouse, bustard and many other species are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (see the corresponding section Examples and additional information).
Security system protection of wild animals consists, on the one hand, of measures to protect the animals themselves from direct extermination or death from natural disasters, and, on the other hand, of measures to preserve their habitat. The protection of the animals themselves is carried out by hunting laws. They provide for a complete ban on hunting rare species and restrictions on the timing, norms, places and methods of hunting other commercial species.
Rational use reserves of game animals does not contradict their protection if it is based on knowledge of their biology.
It is known that in populations In animals, there is a certain reserve of non-reproducing individuals; they are able to increase fertility with low numbers and abundance of food. It is possible to achieve the well-being of game animal populations by maintaining a certain ratio of sex and age groups and regulating the number of predatory animals.
The protection of hunting grounds is based on knowledge of the habitat conditions necessary for the life of commercial species, the availability of shelters, suitable places for nesting, and the abundance of food. Often the optimal places for species to exist are nature reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
Reacclimatization of the species - This is its artificial resettlement in areas of its former distribution. It is often successful, since in this case the species takes its former position. ecological niche . Acclimatization new species require extensive preliminary preparation, including forecasting their impact on the local fauna and possible role in biocenoses . Experience acclimatization indicates many failures. The importation of 24 rabbits to Australia in 1859, which decades later gave rise to multimillion-dollar offspring, led to a national disaster. The multiplied rabbits began to compete for food with local animals. By settling in pastures and destroying vegetation, they caused enormous damage to sheep farming. Fighting rabbits required enormous effort and a long time. There are many such examples. Therefore, the relocation of each species should be preceded by a thorough study of the possible consequences of introducing the species into a new territory based on environmental assessment and forecast.
Timely measures taken make it possible to successfully maintain the required number of game animals and use them for a long time.
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Depletion and pollution of water resources Fresh waters make up an insignificant (about 2% of the hydrosphere) share of the total water reserves in nature. Fresh water available for use is found in rivers, lakes and groundwater. Its share of the entire hydrosphere is 0.3%. Freshwater resources are distributed extremely unevenly; often the abundance of water does not coincide with areas of high economic activity. In this regard, the problem of shortage and depletion of water resources and especially fresh water arises. It is aggravated by the ever-increasing volumes of its use. The problem of depletion of water resources arises for several reasons, the main of which are: uneven distribution of water in time and space, the increase in its consumption by mankind, water losses during transportation and use, deterioration of water quality and, as an extreme case, its pollution (rice). Main causes of pollution and anthropogenic freshwater depletion. The growth in fresh water consumption by the population on the planet is estimated at 0.5 - 2% per year. IN beginning of XXI century, the total water withdrawal reached a volume of 12-24 thousand km3. Fresh water losses increase with the growth of per capita consumption and are associated with the use of water for domestic needs. Most often this is due to imperfect technology in industrial, agricultural production and public services. In some cases, lack of fresh water is associated with negative consequences of human activities Water losses and depletion of water resources are largely due to lack of knowledge natural conditions(geological-lithological and hydrogeological, climatic and meteorological, biological), internal patterns and mechanisms of ecosystem development. The deterioration of water quality and pollution is associated with the ingress of pollutants and products of human activity into rivers and other surface water bodies. This kind of exhaustion fresh water the most dangerous and becoming increasingly threatening to human health and the state of life on Earth. Its extreme manifestation is catastrophic water pollution. Natural changes, including deterioration of water quality associated with contact with water and the transfer of various substances, occur constantly. They are cyclical, less often spontaneous, in nature: they occur during volcanic eruptions, earthquakes (rice), tsunamis, floods and other catastrophic phenomena. Under anthropogenic conditions, such changes in the state of water have unidirectional character. Recently, pollution of sea waters and the World Ocean as a whole (background pollution) has caused great concern. The main sources of their pollution are domestic and industrial wastewater (60% of large cities are located in coastal areas), oil and oil products, and radioactive substances. Of particular danger are oil pollution (rice) And radioactive substances. Enterprises in coastal cities throw thousands of tons of various, usually untreated, waste into the sea, including sewage. Polluted river waters are carried into the seas. Water pollution causes the death of marine animals: crustaceans and fish, waterfowl, and seals. There are known cases of death of about 30 thousand sea ducks, mass death of starfish in the early 1990s in the White Sea. There are frequent cases of beach closures due to dangerous concentrations of pollutants in sea water caused by numerous accidents of ships transporting oil and petroleum products. Unauthorized or emergency discharges of industrial and household waste are very dangerous for the environment (Black Sea in the Odessa region, 1999; Tisa river, Romania, 2000; Amur river, Khabarovsk, 2000). As a result of such accidents, river waters are rapidly polluted downstream. Contaminated sewage water can enter water intake structures. The degree of seawater pollution largely depends on the attitude of the states bordering the seas and oceans to this problem. All internal and marginal seas of Russia are experiencing powerful anthropogenic pressure, including numerous planned and emergency discharges of pollutants. Pollution level Russian seas(with the exception of White Sea), submitted to the State Report “On the State of the Environment of the Russian Federation”, in 1998 exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations (MPC) for the content of hydrocarbons, heavy metals, mercury, phenols, surfactants by an average of 3-5 times |
Contemporary water issues The problems of clean water and the protection of aquatic ecosystems are becoming more acute with the historical development of society, and the impact on nature caused by scientific and technological progress is rapidly increasing. Already in many areas globe There are great difficulties in ensuring water supply and water use as a result of qualitative and quantitative depletion of water resources, which is associated with pollution and irrational use of water. Water pollution mainly occurs due to the discharge of industrial, household and agricultural waste into it. In some reservoirs, the pollution is so great that they have completely degraded as sources of water supply. A small amount of pollution cannot cause a significant deterioration in the condition of the reservoir, since it has the ability of biological purification, but the problem is that, as a rule, the amount of pollutants discharged into the water is very large and the reservoir cannot cope with their neutralization. Water supply and water use are often complicated by biological obstacles: overgrowing of canals reduces their throughput, algae blooms worsen water quality and its sanitary condition, fouling creates interference in navigation and the functioning of hydraulic structures. Therefore, the development of measures with biological interference acquires great practical importance and becomes one of the most important problems of hydrobiology. Due to the disruption of the ecological balance in water bodies, a serious threat of significant deterioration of the environmental situation as a whole is created. Therefore, humanity faces the enormous task of protecting the hydrosphere and maintaining biological balance in the biosphere. The problem of ocean pollution Oil and petroleum products are the most common pollutants in the World Ocean. By the beginning of the 80s, about 6 million tons of oil entered the ocean annually, which accounted for 0.23% of world production. The greatest oil losses are associated with its transportation from production areas. Emergency situations involving tankers draining washing and ballast water overboard - all this causes the presence of permanent fields of pollution along sea routes. In the period 1962-79, as a result of accidents, about 2 million tons of oil entered the marine environment. Over the past 30 years, since 1964, about 2,000 wells have been drilled in the World Ocean, of which 1,000 and 350 industrial wells have been equipped in the North Sea alone. Due to minor leaks, 0.1 million tons of oil are lost annually. Large masses of oil enter the seas through rivers, domestic wastewater and storm drains. The volume of pollution from this source is 2.0 million tons/year. Every year 0.5 million tons of oil enters with industrial waste. Once in the marine environment, oil first spreads in the form of a film, forming layers of varying thickness. The oil film changes the composition of the spectrum and the intensity of light penetration into water. The light transmittance of thin films of crude oil is 1-10% (280 nm), 60-70% (400 nm). A film 30-40 microns thick completely absorbs infrared radiation. When mixed with water, oil forms two types of emulsion: direct - “oil in water” - and reverse - “water in oil”. When volatile fractions are removed, oil forms viscous inverse emulsions that can remain on the surface, be transported by currents, washed ashore and settle to the bottom. Pesticides. Pesticides constitute a group of artificially created substances used to control plant pests and diseases. It has been established that pesticides, while destroying pests, cause harm to many beneficial organisms and undermine the health of biocenoses. In agriculture, there has long been a problem of transition from chemical (polluting) to biological (environmentally friendly) methods of pest control. Industrial production of pesticides is accompanied by the emergence of a large number of by-products that pollute wastewater. Heavy metals. Heavy metals (mercury, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, arsenic) are common and highly toxic pollutants. They are widely used in various industrial processes, therefore, despite treatment measures, the content of heavy metal compounds in industrial wastewater is quite high. Large masses of these compounds enter the ocean through the atmosphere. For marine biocenoses, the most dangerous are mercury, lead and cadmium. Mercury is transported to the ocean by continental runoff and through the atmosphere. During the weathering of sedimentary and igneous rocks, 3.5 thousand tons of mercury are released annually. Atmospheric dust contains about 12 thousand tons of mercury, a significant part of which is of anthropogenic origin. About half of the annual industrial production of this metal (910 thousand tons/year) ends up in the ocean in various ways. In areas polluted by industrial waters, the concentration of mercury in solution and suspended matter increases greatly. Contamination of seafood has repeatedly led to mercury poisoning of coastal populations. Lead is a typical trace element found in all components of the environment: rocks, soils, natural waters, atmosphere, living organisms. Finally, lead is actively dissipated into the environment during human economic activity. These are emissions from industrial and domestic wastewater, from smoke and dust from industrial enterprises, and from exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. Thermal pollution. Thermal pollution of the surface of reservoirs and coastal marine areas occurs as a result of the discharge of heated wastewater by power plants and some industrial production. The discharge of heated water in many cases causes an increase in water temperature in reservoirs by 6-8 degrees Celsius. The area of heated water spots in coastal areas can reach 30 square meters. km. More stable temperature stratification prevents water exchange between the surface and bottom layers. The solubility of oxygen decreases, and its consumption increases, since with increasing temperature the activity of aerobic bacteria decomposing organic matter increases. The species diversity of phytoplankton and the entire algal flora is increasing. Freshwater pollution This water cycle long haul its movement consists of several stages: evaporation, cloud formation, rainfall, runoff into streams and rivers and evaporation again. Along its entire path, water itself is capable of being purified from contaminants that enter it - products of decay of organic substances, dissolved gases and minerals, suspended solid material. In places where there are large concentrations of people and animals, natural clean water is usually not enough, especially if it is used to collect sewage and transport it away from populated areas. If not much sewage enters the soil, soil organisms process it, reusing nutrients, and clean water seeps into neighboring watercourses. But if sewage gets directly into the water, it rots, and oxygen is consumed to oxidize it. A so-called biochemical demand for oxygen is created. The higher this need, the less oxygen remains in the water for living microorganisms, especially fish and algae. Sometimes, due to lack of oxygen, all living things die. The water becomes biologically dead; only anaerobic bacteria remain; they thrive without oxygen and during their life processes they emit hydrogen sulfide - a poisonous gas with a specific odor rotten eggs. The already lifeless water acquires a putrid odor and becomes completely unsuitable for humans and animals. This can also happen when there is an excess of substances such as nitrates and phosphates in the water; they enter water from agricultural fertilizers in fields or from wastewater contaminated with detergents. These nutrients stimulate the growth of algae, the algae begin to consume a lot of oxygen, and when it becomes insufficient, they die. Under natural conditions, the lake exists for about 20 thousand years before it silts up and disappears. Excess nutrients accelerate the aging process and reduce the lifespan of the lake. IN warm water Oxygen is less soluble than in cold water. Some plants, especially power plants, consume huge amounts of water for cooling. The heated water is released back into the rivers and further disrupts the biological balance of the water system. Low oxygen content hinders the development of some living species and gives an advantage to others. But these new, heat-loving species also suffer greatly as soon as the water heating stops. Organic waste, nutrients and heat become an obstacle to the normal development of freshwater ecological systems only when they overload these systems. But in recent years, ecological systems have been bombarded with huge amounts of completely alien substances, from which they have no protection. Pesticides used in agriculture, metals and chemicals from industrial wastewater have managed to enter the aquatic food chain, which can have unpredictable consequences. Species at the beginning of the food chain can accumulate these substances in dangerous concentrations and become even more vulnerable to other harmful effects. Polluted water can be purified. Under favorable conditions, this occurs naturally through the natural water cycle. But polluted basins - rivers, lakes, etc. - require much more time to recover. In order for natural systems to recover, it is necessary, first of all, to stop the further flow of waste into rivers. Industrial emissions not only clog, but also poison wastewater. Despite everything, some urban households and industrial enterprises still prefer to dump waste into neighboring rivers and are very reluctant to give up this only when the water becomes completely unusable or even dangerous. In its endless circulation, water either captures and transports many dissolved or suspended substances, or is cleared of them. Many of the impurities in water are natural and get there through rain or groundwater. Some of the pollutants associated with human activities follow the same path. Smoke, ash and industrial gases settle to the ground along with rain; chemical compounds and sewage added to the soil with fertilizers enter rivers with groundwater. Some waste follows artificially created paths - drainage ditches and sewer pipes. These substances are usually more toxic, but their release is easier to control than those carried through the natural water cycle. Global water consumption for economic and domestic needs is approximately 9% of total river flow. Therefore, it is not the direct water consumption of hydro resources that causes a shortage of fresh water in certain regions of the globe, but their qualitative depletion. Over the past decades, an increasingly significant part of the freshwater cycle has come to consist of industrial and municipal wastewater. About 600-700 cubic meters are consumed for industrial and domestic needs. km of water per year. Of this volume, 130-150 cubic meters are irrevocably consumed. km, and about 500 cubic meters. km of waste, so-called wastewater, is discharged into rivers, lakes and seas.
Appendix to the order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia dated April 6, 2004 No. 323
SUMMARY
One of the problems accompanying economic development and scientific and technological progress is a decrease in biological diversity, including a reduction in species diversity.
Evolution is a natural, continuous process of extinction and speciation. However, climatic, geological and other rearrangements of the earth's surface determined, according to paleontologists, the average lifespan of a bird species of about 2 million years, and of mammals - about 600 thousand years. Only a few species of birds and mammals have a shorter life span, measured in tens of thousands of years. Man has become a kind of “catalyst” for the process of extinction of species, increasing the rate of extinction hundreds of times. The loss of several, and sometimes even one, biological species from the ecosystem leads to a violation of the integrity and stability of the ecosystem, and in some cases can lead to its destruction.
Over the past 400 years, 9 species and subspecies of mammals and birds have disappeared from Russian territory. In the list of species exterminated by humans that lived on the territory of Russia, there are also those that, due to the qualities of their gene pool, could be used to improve breeds and breed new domestic animals: aurochs, steppe tarpan, sea cow(the most promising species for domestication among marine mammals).
Currently, the main reasons for the reduction in species diversity are:
Destruction, destruction and pollution of habitats;
Excessive removal and destruction of natural populations of animals and plants;
Introduction of alien species (in this case, the list of invasive alien species in our time can be replenished due to the introduction into the economy of genetically modified plant varieties and animal breeds, the consequences and scale of impact of which on natural ecosystems and populations of indigenous species are unpredictable);
Spread of animal and plant diseases.
To create and implement mechanisms for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, a Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi has been developed.
The strategy is a long-term planning document and defines the goals, objectives, priorities and main directions of activity in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi.
The strategy is based on the Environmental Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 31, 2002 No. 1225-r, the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biological Diversity, Art. 42 of the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Federal Law “On Environmental Protection”, the Federal Law “On Animal World”, others federal laws and regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation, international treaties of the Russian Federation in the field of environmental protection and rational use of natural resources, as well as on:
Fundamental scientific knowledge in the field of biology, ecology and related sciences;
Evaluation current state rare and endangered animal objects and flora and the impact of limiting factors on these objects;
Recognition of the need to create and implement economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna;
Recognizing the importance of environmental education and awareness for the conservation of rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna;
Taking into account the fullest range of partners in the field of conservation of rare and endangered objects.
The Strategy also takes into account the recommendations of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, 1992), subsequent international forums on environmental issues and sustainable development, as well as decisions of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.
By defining the scientific foundations, principles and methods of preserving rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, the Strategy indicates the priority of the population principle of preserving species diversity and the method of preserving these objects in natural environment a habitat. Priority measures aimed at preserving rare and endangered species are:
Conservation of populations in natural habitats;
Restoring lost populations.
Based on the scientific basis for the conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna, the Strategy defines the following main areas of activity:
Organization and maintenance of state accounting, state cadastre And state monitoring rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna using uniform methods;
Creation and updating of a database on rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna;
Entering into in the prescribed manner in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (or exclusion from it) objects of flora and fauna;
Preparation and implementation of proposals for special protection measures, including the organization of specially protected natural areas, the creation of breeding centers and genetic banks for objects of flora and fauna listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation;
Development of state programs for the protection of flora and fauna and their natural habitats.
Being a tool for determining the main directions of state policy in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of flora and fauna at the federal level, the Strategy also provides the basis for the development of regional strategies and action plans for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and mushrooms
Effective results in the implementation of the Strategy can only be achieved through partnership between the authorities state power, public organizations and associations, business structures, international environmental organizations and charitable foundations, as well as with the active involvement of the country's citizens in the implementation process. To contents
INTRODUCTION
Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are the most fragile but very important part of biodiversity. Species diversity, due to a long process of evolution, forms the basis for the integrity of ecosystems and the biosphere as a whole. The loss of several, and sometimes even one, biological species that seemed “of low value” leads to a violation of this integrity and can lead to the destruction of ecosystems. As natural communities lose their constituent species, the community's resilience and resilience to anthropogenic impacts decreases. The extinction of any species is the irretrievable loss of unique genetic information. Any type of living organism, even one not currently used by humans, has potential value, since today it is impossible to predict which biological properties will be useful or even indispensable for the survival of humanity in the future. Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are of great scientific, educational, ethical and aesthetic importance. Many of them are relics of past geological eras, others have become symbols for people of wild nature and efforts to protect it. The disappearance of any population, and especially of an entire biological species, is an irreparable loss for the Earth’s biological diversity and irretrievably lost “opportunities” for humanity.
According to the World Conservation Union (IUCN) from 1600 to 1975. 74 species and 86 subspecies of birds (1.23%) and 63 species and 44 subspecies (1.43%) of mammals disappeared from the face of the Earth. The death of 75% of mammal species and 86% of bird species is associated with human activity.
The relevance of the Strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is determined by the importance of the task of preserving them as elements of biodiversity. The need to preserve such species is set out in the Environmental Doctrine of the Russian Federation, approved by Order of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 31, 2002 No. 1225-r, as well as in the National Strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity of Russia. At the same time, the Strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is an important element of the implementation international obligations Russia under the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio de Janeiro, 1992).
The Strategy for the Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species of Animals, Plants and Fungi (hereinafter referred to as the Strategy) is a long-term planning document and defines the priorities and main directions of activity in the field of conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi.
The strategy includes scientific, legal, organizational framework and economic mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, intended to assist in decision-making at the federal and regional levels.
The strategy is the basis for the development of strategies and action plans for the conservation of individual rare and endangered objects of flora and fauna, as well as regional strategies.
The strategy is being implemented through partnerships between government bodies, non-governmental organizations and associations, business structures, citizens of the country, as well as international environmental organizations and charitable foundations. Back to contents
PURPOSE AND OBJECTS OF THE STRATEGY
The purpose of the Strategy is to create and implement mechanisms for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and their intraspecific diversity in a volume that ensures their sustainable existence.
This goal is achieved through complex actions in the scientific, legal, economic, organizational and technological spheres, while solving the following tasks:
Improvement legal framework and organizational mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;
Development and implementation of economic and financial mechanisms for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;
Development and implementation of a system of categories and criteria for identifying and classifying rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and determining priorities for their protection;
Carrying out an inventory and compiling a cadastre of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi using unified unified methods;
Organization and maintenance of monitoring of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;
Creation and maintenance of the Red Data Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation according to a unified methodology;
Organization scientific research in the field of studying the biological characteristics of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and the mechanisms of action of limiting factors on them;
Development and improvement of measures for the conservation and restoration of rare and endangered species in natural habitats and in artificially created habitats;
Development and implementation of a system of activities in the field of education and training;
Determining the circle of partners for the implementation of the Strategy;
Development and implementation of necessary activities in the field international cooperation, including interaction with CIS countries.
The strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi is based primarily on a population-species approach. Its objects are rare and endangered species (subspecies) of animals, plants and fungi, their populations and organisms. Although objects identified on the basis of the ecosystem approach - ecosystems, biocenoses and biotopes - are not the direct objects of this Strategy, the conservation and restoration of the natural habitat of rare and endangered species is a necessary condition and a priority method for the conservation of such species.
Naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics;
Species that are widespread, but are threatened with extinction or are reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact.
Red Book of the Russian Federation;
Red Books of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation;
Red Book of the CIS;
CITES Applications;
Annexes of international agreements (with the USA, Japan, the Republic of Korea, North Korea, India).
SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FUNGI
The territory of the Russian Federation, covering an area of 17,075 thousand km² (11.4% of the planet’s land area), is represented by ecosystems 8 natural areas: polar deserts, arctic and subarctic tundras, forest-tundra, taiga, deciduous forests, steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. On the territory of Russia there are large plains and mountain ranges, more than 120 thousand rivers and about 2 million fresh and salt lakes, over 6 million km² are occupied by forests and 1.8 million km² by swamps. Such diversity natural complexes led to a significant diversity of flora and fauna in Russia. On the territory of Russia, 11,400 species of vascular plants, 320 species of mammals, about 732 species of birds, 80 species of reptiles, 29 species of amphibians, 343 species of freshwater fish, 9 species of cyclostomes, 130-150 thousand species of invertebrates have been registered. In the seas washing Russia there are over 1,500 thousand sea fish. According to rough estimates, about 20% of Russia's flora and fauna are endemic species.
A number of species of living organisms are classified as rare and endangered.
BIOLOGICAL FEATURES OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FUNGI
From a biological point of view, rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are divided into two main groups: naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics, and species that are widespread, but are endangered or are declining in number and habitat as a result of anthropogenic impact.
Naturally rare species, potentially vulnerable due to their biological characteristics
This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi, which, due to their biological characteristics, are the most vulnerable and have less ability to withstand anthropogenic impact. These include rare, narrowly distributed, endemic, relict, highly specialized and stenobiont species of animals, plants and fungi, as well as species that enter the territory of Russia at the edge of their range.
Biological features of these species:
Small number
Small area of the range (relict, narrowly endemic, edge of the range),
Low density,
Low ecological valence (stenobiontity, high specialization),
Low rate of population reproduction,
Negative attitude towards the presence of a person.
The main and mandatory feature of naturally rare species is their small number. All other features are additional and, occurring in various combinations, increase the risk of population decline and extinction of the species.
Small numbers. All rare species of animals, plants and fungi are small in number. Small numbers increase the likelihood of population extinction both as a result of changes in natural factors and as a result of anthropogenic influences. There is a threat of extinction of the species even in stable and favorable conditions only due to random fluctuations in birth and death rates. In addition, changes in natural factors and anthropogenic impacts can lead to populations/species reaching critical numbers, and this, in turn, leads to a reduction in genetic diversity and a sharp decrease in viability.
Small area of distribution. Many species of animals, plants and fungi, which are components of unique or relict ecosystems, have a small range. This group also includes island forms, species entering the territory of Russia at the edge of their range, and some migratory species of animals. The small area of the habitat increases the risk of extinction of the species, since even local disturbances of the environment in a small area can be destructive for such a species. Additional difficulties arise due to limited or lack of control environmental situation in the territories of neighboring states.
Low density is closely related to the previous two characteristics. The structure of natural biocenoses is usually characterized by the presence a certain number species of animals, plants and fungi that occur with low frequency. This pattern is general character. Low density increases the risk of extinction of a species in a given area, since even the destruction of a small number of individuals leads to local extinction of the species. In addition, low density may be a factor complicating the process of population reproduction. However, not all low-density species require special protection measures, since some of them may have a wide range and large total numbers. The objects of the strategy are only those that have a low total number.
Low ecological valence (stenobiontity, high specialization). The severe dependence of organisms on individual limited resources or the possibility of their existence in a narrow range of environmental conditions makes them extremely vulnerable. The disappearance or reduction of the resource they need, as well as the destruction of their specific biotopes, puts such species in a critical situation. This can happen even with relatively minor impacts on natural ecosystems.
A low rate of population reproduction reduces the species’ ability to withstand negative impacts on it. Such species simply do not have time to restore their numbers when the environment destabilizes or the frequency of negative impacts on them increases. Given the same level of exposure to negative factors, species of animals, plants and fungi that slowly restore their numbers always have a greater chance of being endangered than species that reproduce quickly. These species include most large animal species.
Negative attitude towards the presence of a person. A negative reaction to the presence of humans is manifested in some large species of mammals and birds, as well as some plants (for example, orchids). Representatives of others systematic groups animals, plants and fungi usually show a neutral reaction to humans. The animal species that react most strongly to the presence of humans (anthropophobic species) practically cannot tolerate the frequent appearance of humans in their habitats. However, the attitude towards humans in such animals may change to neutral and even interested behavior, if contact with humans does not harm animals.
Species that are widespread but are threatened with extinction or are reducing their numbers and range as a result of anthropogenic impact
This group includes species of animals, plants and fungi that have a wide variety of biological characteristics, which were not previously rare and have become so as a result of the influence of anthropogenic limiting factors.
Some migratory species of animals, having a generally extensive range, concentrate in certain periods of their life cycle in an extremely limited area. Destruction of such key habitat or negative impacts on the population of the animals themselves could put the species in a critical situation.
LIMITING FACTORS
The set of anthropogenic limiting factors and the forms of their influence are extensive and diverse. All the variety of forms of influence of limiting factors on rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi are conditionally divided into two main groups: direct and indirect influences.
Direct impacts are the destruction or removal of organisms of a given species from natural populations as a result of excessive volumes of harvesting (collection), poor harvesting standards, illegal fishing, collection and collection of living organisms, irrational and indiscriminate control of weeds and pests of agriculture and forestry, death of animals on engineering structures, destruction by the population of animals and plants considered dangerous, harmful or unpleasant and other actions.
Indirect impacts represent a change in the natural habitat of organisms, leading to a deterioration in the condition of the species. There are four areas of such influences:
Physical, i.e. change physical characteristics environment (destruction and change of relief, violation of the physical properties of soil or ground, destruction and change of the air environment, water basin, natural ecosystems) in the process of their intensive exploitation: transformation of vast natural areas into cities and other settlements and development sites, deforestation, plowing of steppes, drainage of swamps, peat mining, regulation of river flow, creation of reservoirs, seismic exploration and blasting, the action of electromagnetic fields and radiation, noise exposure, thermal pollution, etc.
Chemical, i.e. pollution of the water basin, air, soil as a result of the activities of industrial enterprises and mining companies (pollution with industrial waste), the agricultural sector (pollution with pesticides, mineral and organic fertilizers, pesticides), transport complex(pollution from industrial waste and oil products), housing and communal services (pollution from household waste), military facilities (pollution rocket fuel and fuels and lubricants, unrefined wastewater and emissions), as well as as a result of man-made accidents and global transfer of pollution (oil spills, acid rain, etc.).
Climatic, expressed in global change climatic conditions caused by anthropogenic or natural reasons, leading to a radical restructuring of habitats (the encroachment of forests onto the steppe or the forestation of mountain tundras, displacement of natural zones, the appearance of southern species of animals and plants in northern regions, etc.).
Biological, expressed in disruption of the structure of natural biocenoses as a result of human activity (intentional and unintentional introduction) and self-dispersal of alien species; spread of pathogens of animal and plant diseases; outbreaks of numbers of certain species; possible penetration of living genetically modified organisms into natural ecosystems; eutrophication of water bodies; destruction of animal food resources.
Different kinds anthropogenic activities have both direct and indirect effects, are complex and are accompanied by synergistic and cumulative effects.
One of the main reasons for the state of species classified as rare and endangered is the destruction or complete destruction of the habitats of these species.
Negative consequences Human impacts on rare and endangered species, depending on a diverse combination of impact factors and specific environmental conditions, are different. The main ones:
Reduction in numbers;
Deterioration of the physiological state of organisms;
Impaired reproduction (impaired gametogenesis; decreased frequency and success of fertilization; prenatal mortality, non-viable offspring);
Increased mortality in the initial stages of organism development;
Increased adult mortality;
Disruption of life cycles, including migration;
Violation of the sex and age structure of the population;
Violation of the genetic structure of populations, loss of genetic diversity;
Violation of the spatial structure of the population;
Violation of the population structure of the species;
Non-adaptive changes in animal behavior.
All these consequences ultimately lead to a reduction in numbers and extinction of individual populations and the species as a whole.
Analysis of limiting factors and mechanisms of influence is the most important prerequisite for the development effective program for the conservation of any type of living organism. This analysis should be carried out for each specific case separately and take into account both the biological characteristics of the species and the socio-economic specifics of the region in which it lives.
It is necessary to separate the processes of change in biological diversity as a result of anthropogenic activities from the natural processes of its development. Natural factors should be taken into account when developing programs for the conservation of biological diversity, but their prevention is impractical and, in most cases, impossible. Among anthropogenic factors, those that most strongly influence biological systems or are critical for them are prevented. To contents
The system of criteria is the basis for identifying rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, identifying priority objects of protection and distributing efforts to protect them.
To protect rare and endangered species in the Russian Federation, six categories of rarity status of taxa and populations have been adopted according to the degree of threat of their extinction: 0 - probably extinct, 1 - endangered, 2 - declining in numbers, 3 - rare, 4 - uncertain status, 5 - recoverable and recovering.
The probably extinct include taxa and populations that previously inhabited the territory (water area) of the Russian Federation, and whose presence in nature has not been confirmed (for invertebrates - in the last 100 years, for vertebrates - in the last 50 years, for plants and fungi the dates have not been determined) .
Declining numbers include taxa and populations with steadily declining numbers, which, with continued exposure to limiting factors, may short time fall into the category of endangered.
Rare are taxa and populations that have a naturally low abundance and/or are distributed in a limited area (water area) or are sporadically distributed over large areas (water area).
Undetermined status includes those taxa and populations that probably belong to one of the previous categories, but there is currently no sufficient information about their state in nature, or they do not fully meet the criteria of all other categories.
Restoring and recovering are those taxa and populations whose numbers and distribution, either due to natural causes or as a result of conservation measures taken, have begun to recover, and which are approaching a state where they will not require urgent conservation and restoration measures.
Identification of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, assessment of their condition, development of parameters for monitoring and determination of priorities for their protection is carried out on the basis of an appropriate system of categories and criteria. Such a system includes three groups of criteria (both qualitative and quantitative) that make it possible to assess the relative importance of objects and assign them one or another environmental status (category):
Biological criteria for assessing the status of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi;
Criteria for the significance of an object for the conservation of biodiversity in general;
Socio-economic and technological criteria.
In addition, it is necessary to determine the procedure for assessing facilities and determining priorities. If an object receives opposing assessments based on different criteria (for example, it has a small population but is distributed over a wide range), the decision on its conservation status is made based on the assessment based on a more significant criterion (in in this example- based on small numbers).
Biological criteria for assessing the status of species (Table 1) make it possible to identify rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi and give them appropriate conservation status. These criteria also form the basis for developing a system of monitoring parameters for rare and endangered species.
Table 1
Biological criteria for assessing the status of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi
|
Criterion |
State |
Trends of change |
||
|
Number (when assessing trends of change, one should distinguish between natural fluctuations in numbers and its anthropogenic changes) |
High Low |
Increases Stable Slowly shrinking Fast shrinking |
||
|
Rate of population change |
High Short |
Stable Increased mortality and/or decreased reproduction |
||
|
Population structure of the species |
Complex Simple |
Stable Disappearance of local populations and ecological forms |
||
|
Density (occurrence) |
Numerous Rare Unit |
Increases Stable Decreasing (the species is becoming less common) |
||
|
Range size (when assessing trends of change, one should distinguish between natural fluctuations of the area and its anthropogenic changes) |
Big Narrow |
Expanding Stable Slowly shrinking Fast shrinking |
||
|
Range structure (for individual species, when assessing the structure of the range, one should distinguish between seasonal and ecological modifications of the range: reproductive, trophic, seasonal, wintering and summer parts of the range) |
Solid Intermittent Spotted Spot |
Recovering Stable Fragmentation of a continuous range (continuous areas of range) Disappearance of areas of discontinuous range |
||
|
Environmental valence |
Eurybiont species Specialized (stenobiont for one factor) species Highly specialized (stenobiont in many factors) |
There are changes due to any factor No status changes |
||
|
Genetic structure of the population (level of genetic diversity in a population) |
High variety Low variety |
Recovering Stable Reduced |
||
|
Sex, age and social structure of the population (it is necessary to distinguish between natural fluctuations in population structure and its anthropogenic disturbances). |
Optimal Satisfactory Critical (absence of young individuals) |
Recovering Stable Violated |
||
|
Physiological state of organisms |
Optimal Satisfactory Critical |
Improves Stable Getting worse |
||
|
Relative effective strength |
High Low |
Growing Stable Decreasing |
||
|
Degree of Settlement |
Sedentary (habitat permanent) Having a seasonal change of habitats nomadic Migratory |
There are changes in the degree of sedentism (a migratory species becomes sedentary) No changes |
||
|
Attitude towards a person |
Synanthropy Neutral Anthropophobia |
Anthropophobia changes to a neutral (synanthropic) attitude No attitude change |
||
|
Condition of habitats |
Optimal Satisfactory Critical |
Recovering Stable Degrade Disappear |
||
Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, identified on the basis of the criteria discussed above, can also be assessed by their significance for the conservation of biodiversity as a whole (Table 2).
table 2
Criteria for the significance of a taxon for the conservation of biodiversity in general
Criteria |
Comparative scores (in order of increasing importance) |
1 | |
|
Level of possible genetic losses |
Population loss Loss of the subspecies Loss of a species from a large higher taxon Loss of a species from a small higher taxon Loss of a higher taxon (genus, family, order, class) |
|
The role of the species in the biocenosis |
Not key Key |
|
Share of habitat in Russia (region) |
A small part of the range in Russia (in the region) A significant part of the range is in Russia (in the region) Endemic - entire range in Russia (in the region) |
The next group of criteria allows us to assess the socio-economic and technological aspects of the conservation of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi. These criteria are especially important when developing specific conservation and recovery programs for these species.
Table 3
Socio-economic and technological criteria for assessing a taxon
|
Criterion |
Comparative ratings |
|
Resource value |
Unknown High commercial value High scientific, aesthetic, recreational, and other value Low value |
|
Degree of knowledge |
High Low |
|
Monitoring level |
Monitoring is established No monitoring |
|
Technology of artificial reproduction of natural populations |
Designed for this type Designed for related species Absent |
Socio-economic and technological criteria for assessing a taxon
The final decision to classify a species as rare and endangered, as well as to assign it a particular conservation status (category), is made on the basis of its assessment according to all criteria.
Creating a scientifically based and maximally objective system of criteria for identifying rare and endangered species and determining their environmental priorities is a strategic task.
PRINCIPLES AND METHODS FOR THE CONSERVATION OF RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES OF ANIMALS, PLANTS AND FUNGI
Rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi, their populations and individual organisms belong to different levels of organization of living nature and are characterized by different structures, laws of development and functioning. At different hierarchical levels it is necessary to determine: principles, that is, private methodological approaches, based on the initial scientific principles about objects of biological diversity, and the main tasks for preserving objects. Based on the principles, conservation methods are determined - a set of basic methods and techniques for the conservation of rare and endangered species, and on their basis - measures and devices, i.e. specific organizational and technical means of their implementation.
Species principle
Object: species (subspecies).
Initial scientific position: a species is the smallest genetically closed system with a unique gene pool; a species is, as a rule, a system of interconnected local populations, intraspecific forms and subspecies.
Main goals:
Preservation of numbers and habitats of species (subspecies);
Preservation of the spatial-genetic population structure of the species;
Preservation of diversity of populations, intraspecific forms (seasonal races, ecological forms, etc.).
Conservation of populations and species, monitoring their condition;
Preservation and restoration of natural habitats, reconstruction of biotopes;
Protection of species in specially protected natural areas (SPNA);
Reintroduction (reacclimatization) of species, reconstruction of lost populations.
A necessary condition for the sustainable conservation of a species is the preservation of its population structure. Local populations, intraspecific forms and subspecies are carriers of unique adaptations of the species to specific environmental conditions. Their destruction or disruption of the normal degree of isolation leads to the destruction of the adaptive spatial-genetic structure of the species that has developed during evolution and the loss of unique adaptations. To maintain the spatial-genetic structure of a species, it is necessary to maintain the degree of isolation of populations and forms that is characteristic of undisturbed natural populations. Both the increased isolation of populations and forms, as well as the destruction of natural barriers between them and their artificial mixing, are destructive.
Population principle
Object: population.
Initial scientific position: populations represent a form of existence of a species, are elementary units of the evolutionary process and have a unique gene pool.
Main goals:
Preservation or restoration of the numbers and habitats of natural populations sufficient for their sustainable existence;
Maintaining optimal health of organisms in populations;
Preservation of intrapopulation genetic diversity and genetic originality (uniqueness) of the population;
Preservation of diversity of population structure (spatial, sexual, age, ethological and social).
Methods of conservation in artificially created habitats: conservation of populations of rare and endangered species in nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, implementation of an optimal scheme for the exchange of individuals between nurseries, zoos and botanical gardens to preserve genetic diversity both within individual groups of organisms and in the population as a whole.
Methods of conservation in natural habitats:
Preservation of populations of rare and endangered species and monitoring their condition;
Preservation and restoration of natural habitats, reconstruction of biotopes;
Protection of populations of rare and endangered species of animals, plants and fungi in protected areas;
Artificial reproduction of natural populations;
Technological and organizational measures to protect animals from death on engineering structures and during economic work; helping animals in emergency situations;
Development and implementation of a system of measures to prevent the uncontrolled spread of invasive alien species and eliminate the consequences of these processes;
Preventing the penetration of living genetically modified organisms into the natural environment and further hybridization with conserved populations;
Elimination of factors leading to deterioration in the health of living organisms;
Reintroduction (reacclimatization) of extinct populations in natural habitats, restoration (genetic “recovery”) of small populations;
Relocation of populations from habitats that are inevitably destroyed as a result of economic activities (for example, the construction of reservoirs, etc.) and the impact of natural factors (for example, rising lake levels with flooding of adjacent lowlands, etc.).
When preserving populations, their numbers are of utmost importance. A reduction in numbers increases the likelihood of random population extinction and is accompanied by a reduction in intrapopulation genetic diversity. In this case, not only the minimum level of size reached by the population is important, but also the duration of the period during which the population was small. A single minimum size value for populations of different species existing in different conditions, does not exist. The minimum or critical values of population numbers and densities that determine the moment of their transition from a safe state to an endangered state can only be determined in each specific case. These values depend on many factors: features of biology, the rate of population growth, the degree of its differentiation into subpopulations, the nature of crossing of individuals, the conditions of existence of the population, etc.
Genetic diversity, ethological-social, spatial, age and sexual structure of a population determine its stability, ability to adapt and the ability to survive in changing environmental conditions. Intrapopulation genetic diversity determines the possibilities of its adaptation and survival in changing environmental conditions, including anthropogenic influences. Reducing intrapopulation diversity reduces the population's ability to adapt to change external environment, makes the population unstable and reduces its stability.
The size and genetic diversity of a population are insufficient to assess its condition, since a number of forms of human impact on natural systems lead to a strong deterioration in the health of individual individuals, while the size of populations and their genetic diversity may still remain unchanged or even grow for some time. That's why important indicator the state of populations, which determines the possibility of their long-term sustainable conservation, is the health of individual individuals in the population.
Another necessary condition for the full long-term conservation of a population is the preservation of its typical natural habitat. Long-term and complete preservation of the gene pool of a species is possible only in its historically typical environment. If a population persists for a long time in an environment uncharacteristic for it, a transformation of its genetic structure inevitably occurs due to changes in the direction of selection. Back to contents
The population principle should form the basis of the strategy for the conservation of rare and endangered species, since only the conservation of individual natural populations can ensure the full conservation of the species.
Organismic principle
Object: individual.
Initial scientific position: an organism is the smallest unit of life, independently existing in the environment and being carriers of hereditary information about the main properties and characteristics of the species.
Main goals:
Preservation of individual individuals and ensuring their reproduction;
Conservation of genotypes.
Methods of conservation in an artificially created habitat:
Storage of genetic materials (gametes, zygotes, somatic cells, embryos) in low-temperature gene banks, in cell and tissue culture banks, as well as in seed banks;
Introduction of species into culture.
The organismic principle makes it possible to preserve only part of the genetic diversity of natural populations. In gene banks, various nurseries, zoos, botanical gardens, etc., as a rule, only individual individuals (genetic material) or small groups of them are preserved. The genetic diversity of even very large populations restored from individuals preserved in artificial habitats will be based only on those genes that the founding individuals possessed (with the exception of new mutations). During long-term breeding of small groups of living organisms in nurseries, zoos, and botanical gardens, the genetic processes characteristic of natural populations are disrupted and genetic diversity is reduced. The introduction of species into culture also cannot preserve the gene pool of natural populations and species, since domestication inevitably involves significant changes in the properties of organisms and the genetic structure of the population.
The organismic principle can be considered as the main one only in cases when all reserves for preserving the population/species in the natural habitat have been exhausted, namely:
The species/population has disappeared from nature,
The threat of extinction for the species/population is so great that conservation in the natural habitat cannot be guaranteed;
In cases of uncontrolled introduction and hybridization leading to loss of purity of the gene pool of natural populations
