ANALYSIS OF THE FEEDING CONDITIONS OF BROWN BEAR (URSUSARCTOS) HABITAT IN AMUR REGION

Abstract

The article presents a research conducted on a vast territory of Amur Region hunting grounds to clarify the brown bear habitat, its population and density on the various types of land. A qualitative characteristic of habitats and quality of the grounds for the species under consideration is given. The analysis of species population composition and their fodder eat up rates depending on the season of the year was carried out. Amur region has three natural climatic zones: coniferous forests, mixed coniferous-broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe and woodlands. Vegetation is represented by East Siberian, Okhotsk-Kamchatka, Mongolian-Daurian and Pacific floras. Despite the diversity, the basis of brown bear vegetable ration are the underwood and herb cover derivatives. An important part of the animal’s diet is occupied by wild ungulates - European elk (Alcesalces), wapiti (Cervuselaphus), roe deer (Capreoliscapreolis), wild boar (Susscrofa), wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Bear’s diet in Amur region also includes insects, murine rodents, fish and other kinds of forage which make up a significant or insignificant part in the animal feeding depending on the season. Based on the obtained data, Niznnezeisky, Daursky, Bureinsky, Verkhnezeysky and Nyukzhansky (mainly the southern part) floristic regions have the most extensive range of vegetable species that are suitable for brown bear feeding. The Amgunsky and Aldan floristic regions as well as the northern part of Verkhnezeysky and Nyukzhansky are poorer in this respect. However, it should be noted that these plant species are not equally productive all year round and, accordingly, their feed value is not constant for brown bear either.