The Red Book of the Volgograd Region is a special document that regulates the protection of plants and animals in this region. All objects of flora and fauna are submitted in a list form, where opposite each of them is indicated the degree of rarity from 1 (the highest degree of threat) to 7 (out of danger). There are also those representatives in the list, opposite which is 0. This means that they have disappeared from this region. In addition, the nature of the Volgograd region, or rather, samples of its especially rare representatives, are stored in a special genetic bank. It was created in 2010. The Red Book of the Volgograd region is not only flora and fauna, but also rare soils that are on the verge of extinction.
History
The first attempts to involve the public in the problems of plant and animal protection were in the early 90s of the XX century. It was then that the first Red Data Book of the Volgograd Region was published. It was an ordinary popular science publication that had no legal force. Then several more similar publications were published, and only in 2004, according to the Decree of the Headadministration, an official list was issued. On its basis, the Red Book of the Volgograd Region was compiled: animals (Volume 1), plants and fungi (Volume 2).
It should be said that the list of protected objects is very mobile: some representatives are excluded from it, others, on the contrary, are included. This was the case, for example, with the little swan, which was added to the list in 2010.
In 2011, an electronic version of the publication was released. It should be said that the special Committee for Environmental Protection for this region is responsible for the Red Book. A special commission has been created on its basis, which is engaged in the formation of a list of representatives of flora and fauna in need of special protective measures.
Invertebrates
The list of protected natural objects of the Volgograd region includes representatives of many groups and classes. First, let's talk about invertebrates. So, the medical leech is included in the Red Book of the Volgograd region. This special ringed worm lives in fresh water, prefers a muddy bottom and clear water.
In appearance, the leech resembles its relative, the annelids, but the body is slightly flattened. The mouth opening looks like a sucker, with the help of which the invertebrate obtains its own food - blood. This product is stored in the stomach of a leech for a record long time - several months. It's all about the special bacteria that live in the creature's stomach, it is they who prevent blood from clotting. Any blood is suitable for this invertebrate.
The widespread use of leeches in medicine (they help alleviate the condition with varicose veins, all kinds of skin lesions) has become the main limiting factor - they were caught in huge quantities. However, this factor disappeared after they began to use bloodletting techniques, and also learned how to breed leeches on an industrial scale. Another limiting factor is the declining frog population. It is their blood that young leeches feed on.
Another representative of invertebrates, which is contained in the Red Data Book of the Volgograd Region, is a thick barley. This is a bivalve mollusk that lives in turbulent clean rivers. In length, the pearl barley shell reaches a little more than 7 centimeters. Life expectancy is quite large: mollusks have been recorded that have lived for 22 years. The main limiting factor is the deterioration of water quality and, as a result, a decrease in the population of river fish, on which the larvae of these invertebrates parasitize.
Arthropods
From the class of crustaceans included in the Red Book of the Volgograd region, the summer shield should be noted. This species, living without change on our planet for millions of years, is now threateningly declining. This small crustacean lives in shallow water bodies with a depth of 20 cm to 2 meters. Puddles, ravines, ditches, flooded meadows are also suitable for him. Shieldworms have a special survival system: the larvae develop and hatch in a short time, then become sexually mature very quickly. This is a very important condition for living in shallow water bodies, which can quicklydry. In addition, as a rule, shield insects are at the top of the food chain in their habitat. However, their numbers are declining due to the drainage of water bodies (the larvae do not have time to go through the cycle).
Another crustacean that lives in puddles and shallow ponds is chirocephalus horribilis. It does not have a shell, its body reaches only 16 mm. The crustacean is in constant motion, it moves through the puddles in search of food - plankton, animal or vegetable. Disappearing due to habitat decline.
Tanimastics pond is also specially protected in the Volgograd region. The crustacean is small (13 mm), belongs to the naked branchiopods, lives mainly in puddles. The limiting factor for this creature is the pollution of the soils on which its habitats are formed.
Also, from small crustaceans, Branchinecta small and Streptocephalus Terminus should be noted. Their limiting factors and habitats are similar to those described above.
Mediterranean scorpion has entered the Red Book of the Volgograd region from representatives of arachnids. By its name you can see where this representative is most common, however, similar creatures live in the Volgograd region. They prefer sandy soils: dunes, desert areas, well warmed by the sun. They feed on other insects: spiders, flies, small butterflies.
Insects
In total, 59 species of insects are listed in the Red Book of the Volgograd Region. Let us analyze those of them for which environmentalistsmost feared, that is, they are marked in the publication with the numbers 1 or 2.
Red-faced rhizome - the last time this beetle, which lives exclusively in the Lower Volga region, was seen in the region in 1994. Habitat - Lake Elton.
Another vanishing species is smooth bronze. This representative of the lamellar tendrils prefers to settle on old, centuries-old trees. This is because the larvae of the bronzovka develop in rotten bark, and the adults feed on tree sap. Oak groves are most preferred, but are also found on fruit trees, such as apple and pear trees. The decrease in the number is associated with the cutting down of old plantations.
Specially protected in the Volgograd region is a beetle from the family of weevils - the four-spotted stephanocleonus. This ash-gray insect reaches 1.5 centimeters in length. The preferred habitat is the steppe, while the larvae are deposited in the soil. The plowing and development of new lands is the main limiting factor.
Butterflies are also protected in the region. Let's name several species: dandelion silkworm, small peacock-eye, acontia titanium, mistress bear, dawn zegris, alfalfa, Roman pigeon. The disappearance of this species of insects is associated with the destruction of their habitats: forests, meadows and shrubs.
Pisces
Some inhabitants of water bodies also need special protection in the territory of the Volgograd region. Let's take a look at some of the representatives. Firstly, these are lampreys, Caspian and Ukrainian. If the last one waswas noticed in the Volga basin quite recently (in the Sura River), then the Caspian once lived here, but practically disappeared after the construction of the Volgograd dam. The Ukrainian lamprey is smaller than the Caspian one: body length is 20 cm, while the latter reaches 55 cm.
Animals of the Volgograd region, listed in the Red Book, are also all kinds of fish. So, the sterlet is especially protected here. This is a small representative of the sturgeon family, which reaches 125 centimeters in length. The predator prefers small invertebrates, sometimes it eats eggs. Lives up to 30 years. The main limiting factors are poaching (a valuable commercial fish) and water pollution. The sterlet prefers crystal clear waters.
Kumzha, Azov beluga and Volga herring have practically disappeared from the waters of the region.
Reptiles
What other representatives does the Red Book of the Volgograd Region include? Its animals are diverse, among them there are representatives of reptiles.
For example, copperhead. Although this snake from the family of already-shaped ones is not dangerous for people, it is destroyed in the same way as its habitats - forest glades, well warmed by the sun. Copperhead can have both a gray color, and yellow-brown and even brown. Its main difference is the strip passing through the eye.
Two types of snakes are protected in the Volgograd region: yellow-bellied and four-lane. These already-shaped climb trees well, where they get their own food. They pose no threat to humans.
The only onerepresentative of the reptiles of the Red Book of the Volgograd region, dangerous to humans - Nikolsky's viper. This snake has an even black color. Prefers moist deciduous forests in river valleys. The main limiting factor is habitat destruction, trapping and mixing with the common viper.
Birds
Another class of animals protected by the Red Book of the Volgograd Region is birds. There are 54 of them here. Let's analyze the most vulnerable.
First, you should pay attention to the representatives of ducks. This is the Lesser White-fronted White-fronted Teal, and the Marbled Teal, as well as the White-eyed Duck. The last bird is a very rare guest of the Volgograd region due to the fact that it does not have permanent nesting sites. Also, the number of ducks is affected by human economic activities associated with the destruction of their habitats. Unauthorized hunting is another factor.
Of the birds of prey, the cop, the steppe harrier, the greater spotted eagle, the saker falcon, the peregrine falcon and the steppe kestrel are of particular concern.
Of the chickens, black grouse and bustard should be distinguished. The first bird lives in flocks on the forest edges, the second prefers the steppes. Their enemy is man. The bustard disappears due to the development of the steppes for arable land, and the black grouse, for the most part, due to unauthorized hunting.
Mammals
Mammals of the Volgograd region, listed in the Red Book, are the Russian muskrat (its population has practically disappeared due to pollution of water bodies and the destruction of holes), as well as rodents (upper-legged jerboa and middaygerbil). Of the predators, only a representative of the weasel family, bandaging, causes particular concern.
Plants
Not only representatives of the fauna are protected by the Red Book of the Volgograd region. Plants are also featured in it. Let's analyze some of them. It is worth saying that here you can meet various representatives of the fauna - from mosses and lichens to mushrooms.
Thus, the Red Data Book of the Volgograd region took plants that are representatives of bryophytes under special protection. There are enough of them. We list the especially rare ones: long-leaved anomodon, tree-like climacium, taxiphyllum wissgrilli, encalyptus curly-fruited.
From the ferns, it is worth highlighting bristly marsilia. This unique plant lives in temporary reservoirs, so its population depends on the amount of precipitation per year. Also, the limiting factor is human economic activity: the development of meadows for pastures.
The primroses of the Volgograd region are also especially protected. The Red Book takes under protection, for example, a thin-leaved peony, which blooms by early May. This beautiful flower attracts attention, which is why it is often picked for bouquets. In addition, the distribution area is subject to trampling during grazing. Another primrose of the Red Book is the Russian hazel grouse, which belongs to the family of daylilies. Tulips Gesner and two-flowered are also protected by the Red Book of the Volgograd Region. The plants included in it are forbidden to pick and use even for personal purposes.
