Biodiversity of Karelia. Mammals

Fig. 1. European wild boar distribution and roe deer occurrences in Republic of Karelia (from Danilov, 1979 with additions)

Karelia is populated by 63 species of small, medium and large mammals. Four of the species have been introduced in the republic or spread into the republic after being introduced in adjacent areas. These are muskrat, American mink and American beaver from North America, and racoon dog from the Far East.

Neither can we apply the term aboriginal to European wild boar which appeared in Karelia in the late 1960's-early 70's as a result of natural expansion, or roe deer which occasionally visits southern areas of the republic (fig. 1)

Fig. 2. Distribution and relative abundance of wolverine in Karelia, tracks in 10 km of the route (from Danilov, 1994)

Faunistic research revealed also continuous changes in the distribution of native species for which Karelia is the northern or southern margin of the range. European polecat started another expansion to the north, whereas the distribution range of wolverine and wood reindeer is shrinking (fig. 2), and European mink has practically disappeared from Karelia.

However, the closest relationship between the abundance dynamics of predator and prey is demonstrated by lynx and Alpine hare (fig. 4). The reason for this is that hare is the main prey for lynx in the Russian European North. The period of predator abundance fluctuations is 9-10 years, which is the same as for Alpine hare.

Fig. 4. Changes in the abundance of Alpine hare (1) and lynx (2) in Karelia (from Danilov et al., 1998)

Fig. 4. Changes in the abundance of Alpine hare (1) and lynx (2) in Karelia (from Danilov et al., 1998)

Study of the population dynamics, commercial management and protection patterns demonstrated that the reduction in reindeer abundance observed in the last decade was due to skyrocketing illegal hunting. Combined effect of anthropogenic and natural factors on elk population, such as legal and illegal hunting (10 and 7% of the total abundance, respectively), killing by large predators - wolf (6-7%) and bear (3-5%) caused a dramatic decrease in elk abundance in Karelia and adjacent areas of the European North (fig. 5).

Fig. 5. Elk distribution and abundance in Karelia, tracks in 10 km of the route (from Danilov et al., 1996 with additions)

Fig. 5. Elk distribution and abundance in Karelia, tracks in 10 km of the route (from Danilov et al., 1996 with additions)

Measures are taken to preserve and restore the abundance of these species, including hunting control, protection measures, organization of specialized temporary reserves.

P.I. Danilov, V.V. Belkin, A.V. Yakimov, L.V. Bliudnik, V.A. Markovsky