Unfortunately, human activity on the planet has led to the fact that many species of animals and plants that inhabited it have either disappeared or are on the verge of extinction. The only species whose population is growing from year to year is man himself.
Today in Russia there are Red Books of the federal, regional and state levels, which include flora and fauna. The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region (see photo below) contains a complete list of animals and plants that a person must protect.
Red Book
The need for such a document became most acute in the 90s of the 20th century. The industrialization of the country gave its negative results by the end of the century in the form of the disappearance of entire species. Animals and plants that need human help are listed in the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk Region. For some of them, it is a matter of life and death.
All natural objects,to be protected are categorized as:
- the first includes species that may disappear completely if proper measures are not taken to save them;
- in the second group - species whose numbers are rapidly declining, and they can become endangered at any time;
- in the third category - representatives of flora and fauna, rarely found;
- The fourth group includes specimens that are poorly studied, and there is no information about their true number.
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region mainly consists of representatives of the second category, although there are animals that can be considered almost extinct from these places.
Siberian salamander
It's getting harder to meet this species of newts in the area. Surprisingly, this relic of the Ice Age, which has existed for thousands of years, is now on the verge of survival. With his ability to survive the cold, few can compare. For example, the Siberian salamander found in the permafrost, after the ice in which it was found melted, came to life and began to look for a source of food. The age of this specimen was 90 years, most of which he lived in a state of suspended animation.
These species of newts feed on mollusks, earthworms, crustaceans and various insect larvae. Their disappearance from the Arkhangelsk region may be associated with the destruction of their natural habitat and their usual diet. It is unlikely that a relic creature will be able to quickly adapt to the rapidlychanging conditions.
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region is unlikely to be able to help him if a person does not stop interfering with the natural ecosystem of the region.
Mnemosyne Butterfly
This insect is extremely unlucky. Its caterpillars feed exclusively on one type of plant (the Corydalis), and if it disappears, the Mnemosyne butterfly will simply cease to exist in this region. All animals of the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region are indirectly or directly related to endangered plant species, which once again proves that there are no unnecessary creatures in nature.
Mnemosyne is a medium-sized butterfly of white or yellowish color with two black spots at the outer edge of the wings. The diet of her caterpillar is a Corydalis plant, on which she leaves her eggs. The butterfly is nocturnal, preferring to hide in humid forests during the day.
It is listed in the Red Books in all regions of Russia where it lives. Due to deforestation and, as a result, the disappearance of the plant necessary for feeding the caterpillars, it may soon not be in the country at all. To avoid this, it is necessary to identify where the population is located and protect these areas of the forest from cutting down.
Greenland whale
Animals listed in the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region include this mammal. A resident of polar waters belongs to the suborder of toothless whales.
This mammal does not have a dorsal fin, but it is completely replaced by lateral and powerful tail. The males of this whale reach a length of 21meters, females - 18 m. Hunting for him is universally prohibited by the whaling commission, but the fact that they are not killed does not mean that they are safe.
Today, the death of whales is most often associated with fishing nets, in which they become entangled and, unable to rise to the surface to breathe, simply drown.
It is the bowhead whale that can make beautiful jumps out of the water, followed by a fall on its side, which people admire so much.
To feed himself, he needs to eat 2000 kg a day of crustaceans, fish larvae and small shellfish. If, due to water pollution, their number decreases, this will also lead to the death of the whales. Therefore, they are in the second category in the Red Book. The problem of their survival should be solved at the international level, as it concerns water pollution with oil waste and other toxic substances.
Walrus
Marine animals of the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region, which can be found on its pages, although they are listed as living in its waters, often migrate, so it can be difficult to monitor their safety.
Unfortunately, people mercilessly exterminated these beautiful and noble animals for their fat and tusks, but today hunting for them is prohibited. The walrus population is growing much more slowly than it was their extermination. Currently, their rookeries are on the islands in the Laptev Sea, in the Chukchi Sea, off the coast of Alaska and Kamchatka.
These animals liveherds, which have their own hierarchy and division into duties. For example, when all individuals go to bed on the shore, sentries are sure to be posted. In case of danger, they make trumpet sounds, and the awakened herd immediately rushes to escape into the water. Sometimes a cub can die in the crush, but this rarely happens, as the females protect them with their bodies, even at the risk of their own lives.
Red-throated Loon
The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region includes insects, fish, and birds in its lists. The red-throated loon is a small and very cute bird, so named because it has a bright red spot on its neck.
This migratory bird does not prefer the sea coast, like its other relatives, but rivers and the tundra zone. She flies very fast, making a vertical takeoff right out of the water, and on the ground she is practically helpless and walks with difficulty, sometimes she just crawls, helping herself with flippers. In her native element, she dives deep for prey, which is fish. As an additional food can eat shellfish, crustaceans and aquatic insects.
For the sake of its feathers and down, people have put this bird in danger of extinction. Today, the population in the Arkhangelsk region is gradually growing, perhaps in some foreseeable future it will be removed from the list of rare species.
White-tailed eagle and golden eagle
Many birds are rare species and are subject to protection throughout the region. The Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region in the section "Rare animals" has been replenishedbirds like this:
- White-tailed eagle: lives near the sea coast or large fresh water bodies. These beautiful predators are quite large in size: up to a meter in length, and a wingspan of more than 2 meters. Their beak and legs are bright yellow. The white-tailed eagle feeds mainly on fish or what it takes from other waterfowl hunters. If the "fishing" is not successful, it may attack a water bird.
- The golden eagle is best known in the area, although this predator lives in the mountains. Hunting leads to game of completely different sizes - from a field mouse to a hare and deer cubs. Nests are arranged high in the mountains. It began to disappear due to the extermination by peasants protecting their chickens and pesticides that are sprayed on forests.
Peregrine falcon
Peregrine Falcon belongs to the falcon family. It is believed that this is the fastest living creature on the planet. Able to develop speed during a dive flight over 300 km / h. When hunting, he strikes his prey with his paws at full speed of falling so that even large game can lose its head. It is also endangered due to pesticides sprayed on trees and fields.
Unfortunately, the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region, whose animals and plants are numerous, does not guarantee their safety, but all residents of the region should get acquainted with endangered species.
Disappearing flora
As mentioned above, each creature has its own cell in the ecosystem. If violated ordestroy, a domino chain reaction can begin, when the disappearance of one flower will lead to the death of an entire species of insects that the birds fed on.
Plants of the Red Book of the Arkhangelsk region are also on the verge of survival, for example:
- Lobelia Dortman. This bell-shaped bluish flower is an indicator of the purity of the reservoir near which it grows. Apparently, it was the pollution of the lakes and rivers of the region that caused its disappearance.
- The tetrahedral water lily becomes rare for the same reason. Most likely, if people cleaned the water in lakes and rivers and stopped polluting the banks, nature itself would restore the balance it needs.
- The real slipper belongs to the orchid family and loves moist soil of forest meadows and mountain forests. Disappears due to warming, which dries the soil.
This is not the whole list of endangered species of plants and animals in the Arkhangelsk region. To familiarize yourself with it, you should purchase a copy of the Red Book.
