habitat

CALANDRA LARK (MELANOCORYPHA CALANDRA) AND CORN BUNTING (MILIARIA CALANDRA) (PASSERIFORMES, AVES) CURRENT DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE ASSESSMENT IN THE NORTHERN LOWER-VOLGA REGION AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES

Authors: Belyachenko A. V., Piskunov V. V., Belyachenko A. A.

Features of the Calandra Lark and Corn Bunting spatial distribution and abundance dynamics in the Northern Lower-Volga region were studied in the framework of the «Atlas of breeding birds of European Russia» project. Significant habitat boundary changes to the north (Calandra Lark) and north-east (Corn Bunting) were found over the last 10 - 15 years. Extension limits of the habitat boundaries of both species studied in the European Russia were forecast.

Arthropod abundance on bustard nesting sites in the Saratov Trans-Volga region

Authors: Oparina O. S., Oparin M. L.

The results of our study of the quantitative and qualitative arthropod composition at potential nesting areas of Otis tarda in the Saratov Trans-Volga region are presented. Specific information obtained at 7 areas (2 fallow fields, two fields of winter and spring wheat, two natural fallow lands of different ages, and virgin land) in 2012 is given. A comparative analysis of some indicators of the arthropod abundance and biomass on winter fields treated with chemicals and untreated is conducted. The obtained results are compared with those of previous years.

Northern Urals bird classification by similarity of their distribution and residence time

Authors: Livanov S. G.

Year-round route surveys of birds on a flat section of the Pechora-Ilytch biosphere reserve were conducted in 1995–1997. In total, 7 habitats were surveyed for the two years, 1,500 km of counts were travelled, and 136 bird species were met. Using multidimensional factor analysis, it has been established that in the Northern Ural region, during their stay in the course of a year, 50 (37%), 70 (51%) and 16 species (12%) prefer wood, villages, and semi-open and open wetland habitats, respectively.