Adaptation of animals to frost in the forest. Wildlife of the forests Who lives in the coniferous forest
Geographically zone mixed forests occupies the territory between the tundra and the subtropical region. Both coniferous trees grow here - pines, larches, spruces, and deciduous trees - beeches, chestnuts, birches. The undergrowth, formed by dense bushes, is often difficult to pass through, and there is less snow under the trees, which allows animals to find some food here. Some of the animals living here hibernate, others travel long distances in search of food.
Winter in the forest.
In winter, cold, snow and short days prevent the growth and flowering of grasses and shrubs. Many herbivores, experiencing a lack of food, move to areas with a milder climate. Some animals prepare their burrows, dug in the ground or located in natural depressions (hollows, caves), in order to fall into a long sleep (hibernation), which will last all winter months, interrupted only by brief awakenings. Many holes are filled with food collected over the summer, but sometimes animals have enough subcutaneous fat, accumulated during the warm season, which allows them to survive the long winter. There are also inhabitants of the forest who do not leave their habitable places and do not hibernate: they look for food in dense thickets, where there is less snow.
Many animals fill their holes with acorns and other food supplies.
In spring and summer, hares feed on young shoots, roots and tender grass, and in winter they are content with the bark of bushes and small trees.
In winter, the forest only seems uninhabited, but in fact it is full of life. Mammals and reptiles and amphibians only hid in their burrows, where they hibernated during the cold winter, waiting spring awakening nature.
The badger spends the winter in a hole underground. The cubs usually stay with their mother, but can also take refuge in their own burrow.
Canadian forests and groves.
Canada is located in the north of the American continent. big country, rich in forests. As you move north, you can see how deciduous trees give way to conifers, which are more resistant to the harsh winter cold.
Mostly carnivores live in these areas: common and silver foxes, wolves, wolverines, as well as bears, which often attack other animals, although they mainly feed on fruits.
The northern part of Canada is very vast and sparsely populated. There is poor communication and a harsh climate: only three months a year the temperature rises to + 10 0 C, and only during this period does nature wake up. The rest of the year, the struggling vegetation provides food for herbivores. Lakes, rivers and seas are covered with ice. In such conditions, few animals behave sedentary image life. The main mass migrates, moving south with the onset of autumn.
To the south of the tundra lie vast taiga forests that stretch from Siberia through Eastern Europe, Scandinavia and Canada to Alaska and, as if with a belt 12 thousand km long, cover the northernmost regions of the Earth. These boreal, or northern, coniferous forests contain evergreen trees such as spruce and pine, as well as larch trees that shed their needles for the winter.
The undergrowth here is not very dense. The ground is covered with moss, lichen and grass. Despite quite cold climate, many animals find shelter here.
Animals of coniferous forests
Crossbill
The crossbill has adapted to life in the taiga in its own way. It feeds almost exclusively on seeds coniferous trees, which was reflected in the structure of its beak. The hooked ends of the crossbill's beak intersect, thanks to which it deftly extracts seeds from cones. Crossbills leave coniferous forests only when they lack food. They often fly long distances in search of new places rich in food.
Squirrel
All summer and early fall, squirrels collect nuts, seeds, mushrooms and more. They carefully hide their reserves in hollow trees or bury them in the ground. Some squirrels let the mushrooms dry first to prevent them from rotting. Unfortunately, squirrels have a poor memory - they often forget where they hid their supplies and cannot find them later.
Wolverine
Wolverine belongs to the mustelidae family. In appearance it resembles little bear, but, unlike him, her tail is long and fluffy. This animal has long claws and strong teeth. Wolverine hunts in the densest forests day and night and even attacks wolves and bears to take their prey.
Porcupine
The North American porcupine lives in the forests of Canada and the United States. It feeds mainly foliage plants and the tender pulp of tree trunks (bast), which is located under the bark. Sometimes it completely gnaws off the trunk at the base of the tree, and the tree dies. The porcupine displays long, stiff quills to its enemies.
Great Eagle Owl
The Great Eagle Owl lives in the forests of North America. This night Hunter who sees and hears very well. It feeds mainly on mice and other small mammals.
From September 15 to 17, Russia celebrates one of the largest environmental holidays - Russian days forests. As you know, forests are not only lungs of the planet and a pantry of various berries, mushrooms and medicinal herbs, but also home to many amazing animals. In this regard, we are telling you about some rare animals that live in Russian forests.
1. Musk deer.
This small deer-like animal with fangs lives in the mountain coniferous forests of the Sayans, Altai, Transbaikalia and Primorye. Despite its terrifying appearance, the musk deer feeds exclusively on vegetation. However, the musk deer is notable not only for this, but also for its attractive smell, which lures females for mating. This smell appears due to the musk gland located in the male’s belly next to the genitourinary canal.
As you know, musk is a valuable component of various medicines and perfumes. And it is precisely because of this that musk deer often become the prey of hunters and poachers. Another reason why this unusual animal is considered an endangered species is that its range is shrinking due to increased economic activity humans (mainly with deforestation).
One of the solutions to the problem of preserving the species in wildlife is farm breeding of musk deer and selection of musk from living males.
2. Japanese green pigeon.
This unusual bird about 33 cm long and weighing approximately 300 grams, it has a bright yellowish-green color. It is common in South-East Asia, but also found in Sakhalin region(Crillon Peninsula, Moneron and South Islands Kurile Islands). The bird inhabits broad-leaved and mixed forests with an abundance of cherry and bird cherry trees, elderberry bushes and other plants, the fruits of which it feeds on.
The Japanese green pigeon is a rare species, and therefore little is known about its life. Today scientists know that green pigeons are monogamous birds. They weave their nests from thin twigs and place them in trees at a height of up to 20 meters. It is believed that partners hatch eggs in turns for 20 days. And after that, helpless, down-covered chicks are born, which will learn to fly only after five weeks. However, pairs or flocks of green pigeons are rarely seen in Russia; most often they are noticed alone.
3. Far Eastern, or Amur leopards.
Even at the beginning of the 20th century, there were much more rare cats, and their range covered a considerable territory - eastern and northeastern part China, the Korean Peninsula, Amur, Primorsky and Ussuri territories. However, between 1970 and 1983, the Far Eastern leopard lost 80% of its territory! The main reasons then were Forest fires and converting forest areas for agriculture.
Today, the Amur leopard continues to lose its territory and also suffers from a lack of food. After all, roe deer, sika deer and other ungulates, which this leopard hunts, are killed in huge numbers by poachers. And since the Far Eastern leopard has beautiful fur, it itself is a very desirable trophy for poachers.
Also due to the lack of suitable food in the wild Far Eastern leopards are forced to go looking for her in reindeer herding farms. There, predators are often killed by the owners of these farms. And on top of that, due to the small size of the population of Amur leopards, it will be very difficult for representatives of the subspecies to survive during various disasters like a fire.
However, all this does not mean that the subspecies will soon disappear. Today there are still large areas of forest that provide suitable habitat for the Far Eastern leopard. And if these areas can be preserved and protected from fires and poaching, then the population of these amazing animals in the wild will increase.
Interestingly, Far Eastern leopards are the only leopards that were able to learn to live and hunt in conditions harsh winter. In this, by the way, they are helped by long hair, as well as strong and long legs, which allow them to catch up with prey while moving through the snow. However, Amur leopards Not only good hunters, but also exemplary family men. Indeed, sometimes males stay with females after mating and even help them with raising kittens, which, in principle, is not typical for leopards.
4. Alkina.
These butterflies live in the southwest of Primorsky Krai and are found along streams and rivers in mountain forests, where the food plant of the caterpillars of the species, the Manchurian liana, grows. Most often, male butterflies fly to the flowers of this plant, and females most sitting in the grass for a while. Alkinoe females tend to linger on this plant to lay eggs on its leaves.
Today, due to the disturbance of the Kirkazon habitat and its collection as medicinal plant its quantity in nature decreases, which, of course, affects the number of alkynoe. On top of everything else, butterflies suffer because they are collected by collectors.
5. Bison.
Previously, these animals were widespread in the territory former USSR, but by the beginning of the 20th century they were preserved only in Belovezhskaya Pushcha and the Caucasus. However, even there their numbers were steadily declining. For example, by 1924, only 5-10 bison remained in the Caucasus. The main reasons for the decline of bison were their extermination by hunters and poachers, as well as destruction during military operations.
The restoration of their numbers began in 1940 in Caucasian Nature Reserve, and now bison inhabit two regions in Russia - North Caucasus and the center of the European part. In the North Caucasus, bison live in Kabardino-Balkaria, North Ossetia, Chechnya, Ingushetia and the Stavropol Territory. And in the European part there are isolated herds of bison in the Tver, Vladimir, Rostov and Vologda regions.
Bison have always been inhabitants of deciduous and mixed forests, but avoided extensive forest areas. In the Western Caucasus, these animals live mainly at an altitude of 0.9 - 2.1 thousand meters above sea level, often going out into clearings or treeless slopes, but never moving away from forest edges.
By appearance The bison is very similar to its American relative, the bison. Nevertheless, it is still possible to distinguish them. First of all, the bison has a higher hump and longer horns and tail than the bison. And in the hot months, the back of the bison is covered with very short hair (it even seems that it is bald), while the bison has hair of the same length all over its body at any time of the year.
The bison is listed in the Red Book of Russia as an endangered species and today lives in many nature reserves and zoos.
6. Fish owl.
This species settles along river banks in Far East from Magadan to the Amur region and Primorye, as well as on Sakhalin and the Southern Kuril Islands. The fish owl prefers to live in the hollows of old trees with an abundance of aquatic prey nearby, however, old forests and hollow trees are often cut down, which inevitably displaces these birds from their habitats. In addition, fish eagle owls are caught by poachers, and they often fall into traps while trying to pull the bait out of them. The development of water tourism on the Far Eastern rivers and, consequently, increased disturbance of these birds gradually leads to a decrease in the number of eagle owls and interferes with their reproduction. All this has led to the fact that today this species is endangered.
The fish owl is one of the largest owls in the world, as well as the most major representative kind. Interestingly, these birds can hunt with two different ways. Most often, the fish eagle looks for fish while sitting on a stone in the river, from the shore or from a tree hanging over the river. Having noticed the prey, the eagle owl dives into the water and instantly grabs it with its sharp claws. And when this predator tries to catch sedentary fish, crayfish or frogs, it simply enters the water and probes the bottom with its paw in search of prey.
7. Giant noctule.
This largest bat in Russia and Europe lives in deciduous forests on the territory from the western borders of our country to the Orenburg region, as well as from the northern borders to the Moscow and Nizhny Novgorod regions. There they settle in tree hollows, 1-3 individuals each, in colonies of others bats(usually red and lesser noctules).
The giant noctule is rare view, however, ecologists do not know exactly what is causing their low numbers. According to scientists, deforestation poses a threat deciduous forests. However, today there are no special measures There are no measures to protect these animals, since it is not clear what measures will be effective.
It's interesting that these the bats They hunt large beetles and moths, flying over forest edges and ponds. However, analysis of blood and droppings showed that these animals also feed on small birds during migrations, however, this has never been recorded.
8. Heavenly barbel.
In Russia, in the south of the Primorsky Territory (in the Terneysky, Ussuriysky, Shkotovsky, Partizansky and Khasansky districts) a beetle with a bright blue color lives. It lives in broadleaf forests mainly in the wood of the greenbark maple. There the female beetle lays eggs, and after about half a month the larvae appear. They develop in the wood for about 4 years, and then, in June, the larva gnaws out the “cradle” and pupates. After about 20 days, the beetle emerges from the wood and immediately begins to reproduce. He will spend all his strength on this for the rest of his life, which lasts only two weeks.
The barbel is listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species whose numbers are declining. According to environmentalists, the reason for this is deforestation and a sharp decrease in the number of greenbark maples.
9. Himalayan, or white-breasted bear.
The Ussuri white-breasted bear inhabits the deciduous forests of the Primorsky Territory and southern regions Khabarovsk Territory and southeastern part Amur region. Until 1998, it was listed in the Red Book of Russia as a rare species, and today it is a hunting species. However, if in the 90s its population was 4-7 thousand individuals, now this bear is on the verge of extinction (its population is up to 1 thousand individuals). The reason for this was, first of all, deforestation and mass hunting. The latter, by the way, was discussed during the international environmental forum “Nature without Borders” in Vladivostok, after which in 2006 a decision was made in the Primorsky Territory to introduce restrictions on hunting for Himalayan bear during hibernation.
The white-breasted bear leads a semi-arboreal lifestyle: it gets food in trees and hides from enemies (this is mainly Amur tigers And Brown bear). Almost the entire diet of this bear consists of plant foods, in particular nuts, fruits and berries, as well as shoots, bulbs and rhizomes. It also does not refuse to feast on ants, insects, mollusks and frogs.
10. Black stork
A widespread but rare species, the number of which is declining due to human economic activity, manifested in deforestation and drainage of swamps. Today the bird is found in forests from Kaliningrad and Leningrad regions to Southern Primorye. The black stork prefers to settle near bodies of water in deep, old forests.
Exactly there, on the old tall trees(and sometimes on rock ledges) black storks build nests, which they will then use for several years. When the time comes to invite the female to the nest (around the end of March), the male fluffs up his white undertail and begins to emit a hoarse whistle. The eggs laid by the female (from 4 to 7 pieces) will be incubated by the partners in turn until the chicks hatch from them after 30 days.
Animals of the coniferous forest
The mammals that inhabit these places are mostly herbivores and live on a diet of moss, pine needles, bark and cones. Insectivorous birds are rare compared to those that feed on the seeds and buds of conifers. Forest fires are infrequent in these areas, and usually occur in the spring, when there is little sap in the trees. At this time, vast areas can be devastated.
Animals of the coniferous forest
Predators - lynx and wolverine - cause great damage to taiga inhabitants. Their prey often becomes not only large birds and hares, but also animals such as roe deer and musk deer. Extremely cautious, these insidious predators hunt at night and at dawn, waiting for prey in ambush on the trails.
There are fewer bodies of water in the taiga than in the tundra. Less here and waterfowl. And characteristic of coniferous forests The goldeneye duck nests in hollows. The snow in the forest is smooth, loose, shallow, from under it you can get wintered berries or pine cone. Therefore, many taiga birds - wood grouse, woodpeckers, crossbills, nutcrackers, etc. - do not fly far for the winter, but wander from place to place within the zone.
Animals of the coniferous forest
The taiga is rich in fur-bearing animals. Squirrel and sable, weasel and ermine, hare and marten are found here. There are many valuable game birds - hazel grouse, wood grouse, black grouse.
Before the arrival of man, the bear was considered the owner of the taiga: in Eurasia - brown, in North America- grizzly. And now travelers who spend the night in the taiga wilderness often joke: “Uncle Misha will come to check his documents...” The bear moves well through the impassable taiga and quickly climbs trees. In the northern regions, the brown bear hibernates during the winter. But he sleeps very lightly and, if woken up, leaves the den.
Even in the last century, the deciduous forests of Europe were inhabited in significant numbers by huge wild bulls- bison. They inhabited forest areas Central Europe and northwestern Russia. Predatory hunting and wars led to their almost complete extermination. A huge amount of work has been done in our country to restore the number of bison. Purebred bison are kept and successfully reproduced in nature reserves Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Prioksko-Terrasny. Now the number of bison in the USSR has increased significantly. Bison feed on grasses, buds, leaves and bark of deciduous trees.
Animals of mixed and deciduous forests
Previously found in the zone of deciduous forests and river beavers. The fur of these animals is extremely highly valued, which is why they have long been the object of intensive fishing and at the beginning of the 20th century. were almost completely destroyed. Now in our country these animals are protected by law. Work is underway to resettle them. Beavers live on quiet forest rivers, the banks of which are densely overgrown deciduous trees. They feed on tree shoots and bark, and from branches they build their homes - huts, from trunks and branches - dams, which block the river bed, creating artificial creeks. The size of the huts varies. They serve beavers for many years, are annually repaired, completed, and sometimes reach huge size. So, in the Voronezh Nature Reserve there is a hut, the height of which is 2.5 m, and the diameter of the base is 12 m. But usually they are smaller: 1-1.5 m high and 3 m in diameter.
Animals of mixed and deciduous forests
Sparse forest, tall grass glades and bushes - favorite places habitats of red deer and roe deer. Pine marten- one of the most valuable fur-bearing animals. She makes her nests at high altitudes in hollows. More often than other animals, the squirrel suffers from this predator. Night look The life of the marten gives it enormous advantages in hunting squirrels, since the squirrel is a diurnal animal and sleeps soundly in its nest at night. It is not difficult for a marten to capture her while she is sleeping. Having reached the squirrel's nest, the marten looks for the entrance hole, which the squirrel closes from the inside with a plug made of some soft material, and, bursting into the nest, grabs the sleeping mistress. The marten eats and plant foods: fruits, berries. She loves honey very much. Having found a nest of wild bees, the marten sometimes lives near it for a long time; Often several martens gather at the nest.
Forests Northern Europe, Russia, Canada, and the northern United States are often referred to as the coniferous forest biome. A biome is a distinct geographic region with a distinct climate, flora, and fauna. Coniferous forests the indicated regions differ continental climate with hot summer and cold winter. This is a very dry climate. In winter, the cold leads to a shortage liquid water. In these areas, winter days are very short and summer days are very long. To survive, inhabitants of the coniferous forest must make the most of every summer day, and during the winter they either hibernate or remain dormant.
The coniferous forest is a habitat for many species of deer. Maral is largest species deer. His big size allows him to survive during cold winter. Relative to body mass index, it has a small surface area, which reduces heat loss, and the major organs are located deep inside the body. Along with the deer, roe deer live in the forest. IN different times year they move north and south to escape extreme cold weather and have time to graze on the most fertile pastures. Although woodland caribou are endangered, they are found throughout Canada.
Baribal, grizzly bear and wolverine are also associated with coniferous forests. Although it is commonly said that bears hibernate during the winter, a more accurate description is this state is that they fall into a state of false sleep, characterized by lethargy and decreased metabolic processes. The duration of false sleep depends on the breed. Baribal hibernates deeper than the grizzly bear or wolverine. Before hibernation, bears enter a state of increased activity and gain weight. A grizzly bear enters its den only after the first snow has fallen. This prevents predators from finding his den. Bears have very thick fur, which allows them to withstand frost. The wolverine secretes a water-repellent oil that prevents heat loss through wet fur.
Small mammals
Lives in coniferous forest a large number of small mammals from the category of rodents. TO typical representatives include beaver, squirrel, mountain hare and vole. Relative to their mass, they have a large body surface area, which causes them to lose a lot of heat in winter. The best option For such animals, hibernation is in deep burrows. Small mammals shut down the body's systems much better than bears, so zoological scientists have divided the state of hibernation from the state of false sleep.
Predators
In general, a small number of predators live in the coniferous forest, since the majority of mammals are herbivores. The predatory lifestyle requires too much energy and is therefore poorly suited to climates with short period growth. Among the predators of the coniferous forest you can find foxes and stoats that feed on rodents, as well as lynx and wolves that hunt large animals.