Mapping of Habitats of Recreationally Significant Terrestrial Vertebrate Species in the Baikal Nature Reserve

Abstract

A study and mapping of habitats of wild and synanthropic animal species was carried out on the model research site of the Baikal Nature Reserve’ in order to develop methods and conduct zoological tourism on their basis. This type of tourism promotes the preservation of the maximum possible diversity of animal species composition and habitat. The focus of the investigations is on recreational development of the territory while preserving optimal diversity of species composition of the animal population and the ecologically substantiated number of animals. The research site is located on the southeastern coast of Lake Baikal within the northern macroslope of Khamar-Daban Range and the Tankhoi piedmont plain. According to the specific features in the natural and economic conditions and the animal population, we identified the goletz alpinotype, mountain-taiga, piedmont-taiga, coastal and synanthropic landscape-faunistic complexes with characteristic terrestrial vertebrate species. Criteria were defined to be used to identify, among the total list of animals, recreationally significant species. Their study and mapping was carried out on the basis of a landscape map which was used in compiling maps for habitats and the number of species in them. It was found that the number and abundance of species increase along the direction from the goletz-taiga complex in the middle part of the mountain range to the piedmont-plain taiga-bog complex on the shores of Baikal. In economically developed areas as well as in settlements, there is an increase of the total number of species due to an increase in the proportion of synanthropic animals. Considerable attention is paid to synanthropic bird species because of their abundance, availability for observation and high ecological and recreational significance. Some features in zoological tourism development in the conservation and protection areas of the Baikal Nature Reserve differing in the level of environmental protection and in the mode of management are outlined. The areas occupied by recreationally significant species will be evaluated in the future. The findings can be used in the Baikal Nature Reserve as well as in neighboring territories and in other regions.