Podolskiy S.A., Darman Yu.A., Kadetova A.A., Kastrikin V.A., Pavlova K.P., Domanov T.A. Mammals of the Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 1. 2023. P. 162-204. | Abstract | PDF | Reference
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Laxmann’s shrew is dominant in Eulipotyphla communities throughout the north of the Amur Region (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Eastern water bat was found in the national park, in a floodplain forest near the mouth of the Sivaktylyak-1 River (photo by A.A.Kadetova)
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Northern red-backed vole is a common species of the valleys and dwarf birch bogs of the park (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Siberian chipmunk is a typical species of the thickets of dwarf pine (photo by O.Agni)
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Northern pika is a common species of the stone runs (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Black-coated pikas are a rare sight in the national park (photo by A.Antonov)
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Stoats are the most numerous predators in the high mountains, usually found on the stone runs near the colonies of pikas (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Sable is the most widespread predator in the high mountains of the forest zone of Tokinsky Stanovik (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Young brown bear on a river bank (photo by S.Dudov)
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Large male moose of Ussuri subspecies in the upper reaches of the Zeya River (photo by S.Dudov)
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Male reindeer on a pass between the sources of the Zeya and B. Tuksani Rivers (photo by О.Agni)
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Female Siberian bighorn sheep on a rocky ledge near the natural salt lick (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
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Siberian musk deer is a common species in the subalpine Ezo spruce forests, but currently its population density in the national park is minimal (photo by S.A.Podolsky, 07/06/2022, 17:22:26)
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Siberian flying squirrel is a common, but not quite numerous species of the forest zone (photo by S.A.Podolskiy)
The Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park was established at the end of 2019 with its area of about 253 thousand hectares. It is located in the north of the Amur Region, namely, on its border with the Republic of Sakha and the Khabarovsk Krai. The first zoological survey of this territory was carried out by V.Ch. Dorogostaisky’s expedition in 1914. In this article we provide basic information about the fauna and population of mammals, obtained over 7 summer-autumn seasons of 1992, 1993, 2009, 2018 and 2020-2022. Expeditions that took place in 2009, 2018 and 2020-2022 were organized and conducted by the Zeya State Nature Reserve, with the help of ecologists from the Water Problems Institute, Khingan State Nature Reserve, Amur Branch of Russian World Wide Fund for Nature, Moscow Zoo and M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University.
In the vast territory of the park we have registered 27 species of mammals: Laxmann’s shrew, Siberian large-toothed shrew, even-toothed shrew, Eurasian least shrew, eastern water bat, mountain hare, northern pika, Siberian flying squirrel, red squirrel, Siberian chipmunk, Korean field mouse, lemming vole, northern red-backed vole, grey red-backed vole, wood lemming, Gromov’s vole, wolf, fox, brown bear, wolverine, sable, stoat, lynx, Siberian musk deer, moose, reindeer, Siberian bighorn sheep. Black-capped marmot and American mink were encountered near the boundaries of the specially protected natural areas, meaning that they are very likely to be found in the park as well. According to the literature sources and/or surveys, the following animals were noticed near the park boundaries: tundra vole, Amur lemming, common weasel, Siberian weasel, otter; it is also possible that the Siberian tiger visits the territory rarely. In total, the theriofauna of the Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park includes 27-35 species from 6 orders and 14 families. This list can be expanded with Chiroptera and Eulipotyphla after further studies.
A system for zoological monitoring was created in the park and the adjacent territory, including 15 sites for recording the relative abundance of small mammals, and 5 sites for observing Siberian bighorn sheep and other large animals. This system helped to carry out a census of the local theriofauna and find out the abundance, as well as the biotopic, spatial and seasonal distributions of many mammal species. During the studies, the work of specially protected natural areas was assessed for the first time, and the most important directions for improved protection of the animal population and monitoring optimization were outlined. It was also proved that protective measures in the park area have already brought significant results. For example, the intensive and illegal hunting for bighorn sheep was banned in the central part of Toko-Stanovik, and the sex and age structure of the bighorn group began to stabilize. In order to increase the reliability of the regime of specially protected natural areas and to continue the studies of the animal population, it is necessary to create a buffer zone along the territory perimeter and expand the patrols and observations to the eastern part of the national park.
Keywords: Toko-Stanovik Range, Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park, mammals, fauna, animal population, animal number, population density, zoological monitoring, nature protection.
Acknowledgment. We thank the management of the Zeya State Nature Reserve for the valuable help in organizing the expeditions and transportation.
Funding. This research was carried out as part of the State Assignment No. FMWZ-2022-0002 for the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Research of Geoecological Processes in Hydrological Land Systems, Formation of the Surface and Ground Water Quality, Problems of Water Resources Management and Water Use under Conditions of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impact”, as well as part of the State Assignment No. 051-00007-22-00 for Zeya State Nature Reserve “Dynamics of Phenomena and Processes in the Ecosystems of the Zeya Reserve and the Tokinsko-Stanovoy National Park”.
DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-1-162-204
EDN: HMGFQG
