The book discusses the significance, systematic groups of the animal world of Dagestan, its distribution in individual landscapes, rare species of animals, their diversity. For students of biological, geographical, environmental specialties of universities and school teachers. May be useful for nature lovers and the general public. I express my gratitude to the outstanding organizer and leader of the hydropower industry, prominent public and political figure of Dagestan Gamzat Magomedovich Gamzatov for his help in publishing this book.

* * *

The following excerpt from the book Fauna of Dagestan (Z. A. Shakhmardanov, 2010) provided by our book partner - the company LitRes.

Significance of the Animal Kingdom

Participation of animals in the cycle of matter

Green plants create organic matter. It is consumed by animals that feed on plant foods (butterfly caterpillars, beetles, hares, wild and domestic animals, etc.), which in turn serve as food for carnivorous forms (ground beetles, ants, ladybugs, starlings, owls, foxes, and other predators). A number of animals (dung beetles, dead beetles and skin beetles, hyenas, etc.) eat animal excrement and their corpses. Animals living in the soil (earthworms, centipedes, larvae of many insects, some mites, etc.), as well as microorganisms, convert organic substances into minerals that are used by plants. In addition, moving in the soil, they move the soil, making moves in the soil, improve its water supply and aeration. All this is important in soil formation and contributes to its fertility.

Feeding on plants and each other, animals participate in the biological cycle of substances, as well as in the cycle of substances on the planet. For example, it happens that the extermination of one of the species of animals leads to the fact that other even more "harmful" or less useful animals expand their possessions at its expense, filling the resulting vacuum. A relief example of this is the history of the sable and the column. When we had little sable in Siberia, the column, whose fur is less valuable, went on the offensive:

greatly expanded its range. When the sable was again restored in many areas, the Siberian weasel almost completely disappeared. One species of animal is not able to break down the organic matter of plants to final products. Each species uses only a part of the plants and some of the organic matter contained in them. Plants unsuitable for this species or plant remains that are still rich in energy are used by other animal species. This is how food chains and networks are formed, successively extracting substances and energy from photosynthetic plants. In the process of evolution, animal species have adapted to the most efficient use of a certain set of food objects. Each of the species is adapted to being food for a number of other species. In an ecosystem, animals as a mobile active element largely determine the stability of this system. Being dependent on plants, animals, in turn, determine their life, the structure and composition of the soil, and the appearance of the landscape. The most diverse large group of animals (two-thirds) are insects, which are of the greatest importance in eco systems. Without them, flowering plants would disappear (i.e., there would be no pollination). Many birds and fish subsist on insects. Their great role in the formation of soils.

The importance of mollusks is great as a source of food for other animals, as water filtrates that ensure its purification. With the participation of animals, the chemical composition of underground and groundwater is formed.

The destruction of one species can lead to unforeseen consequences. One example of this relationship is the use of hexachlorane in locust control. At the same time, the number of such predatory insects as ladybugs and lacewings has significantly decreased. As a result, the reproduction of scale insects, whiteflies, bedbugs, and mites increased on crops of legumes, fruit and berry and citrus plants. Here the principle of interconnection in living nature is obvious. Another important principle is the principle of balance. Populations of individual species living together constitute a biocenosis. Water quality, air composition, soil fertility, etc. depend on its work. A remarkable property of biocenoses, biogeocenoses (ecosystems) is that their stability can be violated by the destruction of some life forms within the ecosystem or, on the contrary, by the introduction of new animal or plant species into already established systems.

The undesirability of the extermination of at least one - the only species, no matter how unnecessary it may seem, is justified by the principle of potential utility. For example, some genetic features can later be used for genetic engineering. The principle of indispensability is also of great importance, i.e., a complete replacement of natural products with artificial ones is impossible.

The principle of diversity in terms of significance and content is associated with human communication with nature (fishing, hunting, tourism, etc.).

Geological (rock-forming) activity of animals. The soils of the world ocean are formed to a large extent by the accumulation of planktonic and benthic unicellular organisms. After the death of animals, their shells fall to the bottom and form powerful layers of silt. Significant areas (29%) are occupied by calcareous globigerin oozes formed by shells of foraminifera, a genus of globigerina from the Sarcodidae class.

Radiolar oozes formed by ray shells from the Sarcodidae class account for 3.4%. Coral muds formed by the products of coral reef destruction occupy approximately 3% of the bottom surface. Many invertebrates (annelids, sponges, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.), as well as vertebrates (fishes, marine mammals), take a great part in the formation of marine sediments, especially in the shallow zone.

Using animal fossils to determine the relative age of rocks

The study of fossil remains helps to determine the chronicle of the historical development of the animal world of the Earth and its geology. Each historical period in the life of our planet is characterized by the prosperity of certain groups of animals. In this regard, their remains serve as guide fossils that make it possible to establish the sequence of formation of sedimentary deposits containing minerals, to establish the relative age of the layers, to determine climate change, and to restore the picture of the distribution of land and seas in the distant geological past. Among the leading fossils, mainly the remains of mass forms, protozoans with shells (foraminifera, barnacles, crustaceans, etc.), their mass accumulations are distinguished.

The role of animals in plant pollination

In Europe, 80% of angiosperms are pollinated by insects, about 19% by wind and about 1% by other means. The resumption of most flowering plants, the fruiting of all fruit trees, berries, buckwheat, clover, etc. depend on the successful work of pollinators. , beetles, ants and other insects that feed on flowers and carry pollen from one plant to another. In addition to insects, other animals can pollinate plants. For example, many American hummingbirds carry pollen that sticks to their feathers as birds extract nectar or various small arthropods from flowers.

The value of individual groups of animals

Invertebrates are food for fish. Depending on the amount of organic and mineral substances introduced by rivers into the seas and lakes, the food supply of fish changes, since invertebrates feed on these substances.

In Dagestan, the biomass of zooplankton mainly consists of rotifers (as-plankhela, keratella, ball rotifers), kopied, cladophora (myna, Alena, doros, etc.).

In all seasons of the year, Copopeda dominates on the western shelf of the Middle Caspian. In winter and spring, zooplankton consists almost entirely of coped (98.55%). From the second half of spring, C1adocera appears in plankton, and in summer the numerical superiority of the copeda decreases to 51%. The rest of the zooplankton is accounted for by the Cladocera and zoobenthic larvae (17%).

In terms of biomass, the zooplankton of the Caspian Sea is dominated by copepods and cladocerans - the main food of sprat, Caspian shad and other fish.

Benthos is represented by worms (about 7 species of oligochaetes), mollusks (about 10 species), crustaceans (daphnia, ostracods, mysids, gammarids), insect and mayfly larvae, chironomids (more than 37 species), beetles, and leeches.

Phytoplankton contains euglena, protococcal, dremidia, volvox, diatoms, in general, phytoplankton has 489 species. At the same time, diatoms occupy the first place - 163 species, green - 139, blue-green - 84, pyrophytic - 39.

Of the invertebrates, the following are eaten: mollusks (bivalve oysters, mussels that are artificially bred), crustaceans (shrimp, crayfish, lobsters, crabs), echinoderms (trepangs, columbaria), ascidia, worms (palolo) and coelenterates (scyphoid jellyfish). At present, the question is being raised about the artificial breeding of worms and flies to increase food protein.

Mollusks are used to obtain pearls (also bivalves, pearl oysters), mother-of-pearl (unionists), as well as for dyes and fibers (purple, spin, Rina).

In the Caspian Sea there are the Black Sea grass shrimp (which in 1931-34 moved in with the Black Sea mullet), thick-legged crayfish, Caspian crayfish.

Shellfish shells are used to make feed meal for pets.

Speaking about the negative impact of invertebrates, one should, first of all, focus on protozoa and insects - pathogens and carriers of many diseases of humans, animals, and plants. It was noted above about dysenteric amoeba, plasmodium, malaria. Of the flagellates in humans, they cause diseases of leishmania, giardia, Trichomonas (the latter also in animals).

In animals in Dagestan, hemosporidiosis is widespread, which causes piroplasms, theileria, francaiella, babiziella, anaplasma. These diseases are transmitted through pasture ticks. Therefore, in Dagestan, when moving domestic animals to summer pastures, anti-tick purchases are carried out.

Among people in Dagestan, such types of helminths as roundworms, trichocephalus, pinworms, dwarf tapeworm, bovine tapeworm are also widespread.

Infection with helminths occurs from diseased organisms, through the external environment and through the transmission of pathogens by intermediate hosts. The last are dragonfly larvae, earthworms, crustaceans, soil mites, midges, midges, flies.

The negative impact of invertebrates on the national economy also takes place in the destruction of the construction of ports, wooden ships, a decrease in the speed of sea transport when various types of invertebrates are attached to their bottom (for example, hydroid polyps, bryozoans, barnacles, etc.). In the Caspian Sea, of these species, the sea acorn - balyanus and bryozoan live.

The economic damage from agricultural pests annually amounts to about 20% of the total world crop. In this case, the main pests are certain types of insects, some types of ticks and mollusks, a number of types of roundworms and rodents.

Eating foliage or needles, pests sharply weaken trees, reduce wood growth. Weakened trees are more easily attacked by bark beetles and stem pests and die.

Among the animals there are many dangerous to humans. For example, from intestinal cavities - poisonous jellyfish, from arachnids - spiders of karakurt, tarantulas, scorpions, from centipedes - centipedes, from insects - stinging hymenoptera, some beetles, from reptiles - poisonous snakes, etc.

A number of human and animal diseases are caused by protozoa (malaria - malarial plasmodium, African sleeping sickness - flagellated trypanosomes, amoebic dysentery - dysenteric amoeba, etc.).

Vertebrates are of great importance in the national economy. The fishing industry is engaged in the extraction and processing of fish, sea animals, whales for various types of food, medical, feed and technical products.

Fishing is one of the earliest forms of human production activity.

In Dagestan they are engaged in fishing, fish breeding, enrichment of the Caspian Sea with valuable species of fish. There are 82 water objects of fishery importance in the republic. The area of ​​the water area is 2972.5 thousand hectares. Commercial fish stocks are more than 14 thousand tons. The Karakol, Nizhne-Terek and Arakum reservoirs have a reproductive capacity of more than 150–200 million juveniles of partial anadromous and semi-anadromous fish species.

In Dagestan, hunting and animal slaughter are widespread. Of the 43 species of hunting - commercial fauna, 20 are hunted.

In the Republic, the main form of development of wild animals is a hunting economy, specialized in the protection, reproduction and rational use of objects of the hunting fauna. The total area of ​​hunting grounds in the Republic of Dagestan is 5,027.0 thousand hectares, including SPNA - 648 thousand hectares. Assigned hunting farms make up 37 units, of which:

- Republican Society of Hunters and Fishermen - 1023.3 thousand hectares;

- experimental and demonstrative hunting farm "Dagestan" - 69.4 thousand hectares.

In the Caspian Sea, seal fishing (belok and sivar) is carried out. Animal carcasses are processed for meat and bone fodder meal, food and technical fat is produced from subcutaneous fat. The skins are used to make fur products.

Frogs, toads feed on insects, snails - pests of agriculture and carriers of diseases (elephants, leaf beetles, click beetles, bugs, butterflies, aphids, flies, mollusks). Lizards feed on insects, including agricultural pests (leaf beetles, click beetles, elephants). Snakes also feed on these and other insects.

Insectivorous mammals also feed on insects (hedgehogs, moles, shrews, shrews - toothless, shrews), as well as foxes, badgers, raccoon dogs, raccoons).

Weasels, ferrets, bandages, martens, badgers, foxes, corsacs, raccoon dogs, raccoons - gargles, forest cats feed on mouse-like rodents - pests of agriculture and forestry.

The role of birds in human economic activity is great and diverse. Domesticated birds (chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, pigeons) have long been used to obtain meat, eggs, down, feathers and industrial raw materials from them. Many species of wild birds (gallons, anseriformes, some waders) serve as objects of sport and commercial hunting.

The role of birds in the extermination of insects and mouse-like rodents pests of agriculture is great. The importance of tits, flycatchers, nuthatches, starlings, thrushes and many other birds as regulators of the number of "harmful" insects especially increases during the period of feeding chicks. So, the family of the common starling during the nesting period destroys 8-10 thousand May beetles and their larvae or over 15 thousand caterpillars of the winter moth.

Many birds of prey, owls, gulls, storks exterminate mice, voles, ground squirrels, rats, hamsters. The usefulness of birds is associated with their ability to quickly find and concentrate in the centers of mass reproduction of pests, and for many species of birds, to switch to a plentiful, although often uncharacteristic, food. So, during the years of mass reproduction of mouse-like rodents, rooks and gulls begin to feed on them.

Some birds act as plant spreaders. So, jays are involved in the resettlement of oak. Waxwings, thrushes, hazel grouse spread the seeds of mountain ash, bird cherry, blackthorn, elderberry, viburnum, euonymus, blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries.

Pests of agriculture and forestry are also exterminated by tits, flycatchers, kinglets, redstarts, wagtails, wrens, swifts, swallows, woodpeckers, vertichids, cuckoos, nightjars.

Gulls, bustards, little bustards, herons, storks, crows, magpies, rooks, jays also destroy small rodents - pests of agriculture and forestry, spreaders of plague and human tularemia. Eagles, kestrels, harriers, and owls also destroy rodents.

Many insectivorous birds (flycatchers, swallows, swifts, tits) destroy flies, mosquitoes, midges, mosquitoes, midges, horseflies, gadflies, which improves the sanitary condition of the environment.

Larks, buntings, quails, gray partridges, pigeons use weed seeds for food, which reduces the number of the latter.

Golden eagles, falcons are used by hunters. Quail, shelducks, bustards are tamed and used to obtain eggs, meat, fluff. Many lovers keep songbirds at home - canaries, goldfinches, siskins, tap dances, tits, nightingales, and also parrots.

A huge number of animals of almost all classes are used by humans for research and educational purposes. Various animals are widely used for zoological museums, zoos, etc.

Fur farming is of great economic importance - the breeding of fur-bearing animals and other animals.

There is a nutria farm in Dagestan, spotted deer are bred.

Systematics of the animal world

To build a system of a particular group, scientists use a set of the most significant features: they study its historical development based on fossil remains, investigate the complexity of the anatomical structure of modern species, reproduction features, complexity of organization (non-cellular - cellular, non-nuclear - nuclear, unicellular - multicellular), compare their embryonic development, features of chemical composition and physiology, study the type of storage substances, current and past distribution on our planet. This allows you to determine the position of a given species among the rest and build a natural system that reflects the degree of relationship between groups of organisms.

Many prokaryotes are not at all related to each other. Thus, the group of extremophilic (living in extreme conditions) prokaryotes turned out to be so different from bacteria that they had to be isolated in a separate kingdom of archaea. Previously included in the plant kingdom, blue-green algae turned out to be not plants at all, they constitute a sub-kingdom of cyanobacteria in the kingdom of bacteria. A modern simplified scheme of subordination of systematic units used for natural classification looks like this:

empire (non-cellular and cellular), or domains, superkingdom (prokaryotes and eukaryotes), kingdom (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, archaea, viruses), subkingdom (unicellular, multicellular), phylum (e.g. arthropods or chordates), class ( e.g. insects or birds), order (e.g. butterflies), family (e.g. whites), genus (e.g. whites), species (e.g. cabbage whites). The vast majority of living organisms are made up of cells. Only a few of the simplest organisms - viruses and phages - do not have a cellular structure. According to this most important feature, all living things are divided into two empires - non-cellular (viruses and phages) and cellular, or karyotes (from the Greek "karyon" - "core").

According to the presence or absence of a nucleus, cellular organisms are divided into two kingdoms: non-nuclear (prokaryotes) and nuclear (eukaryotes).

The superkingdom of prokaryotes is divided into two kingdoms - archaea and bacteria.

In microbiology, all living things are divided into three domains: Bacteria - Eubacteria, Archaea - Arhaebacteria and Eucarya - Eucariotes.

Archaea are non-nuclear organisms, similar in size and shape of cells to bacteria, to which they were previously referred. However, in terms of the structure of the genome, the apparatus for protein synthesis, and cell membranes, they are very different from bacteria. Most archaea are extremophiles, living in conditions in which other living organisms cannot exist - at very high temperatures and pressures near deep-sea thermal springs, in saturated salt solutions, in very acidic or very alkaline reservoirs. Some archaea produce methane, which is not characteristic of any other organisms. Methane-producing archaea, which are part of the intestinal microflora of some animals and humans, provide their hosts with vital vitamin B¹².

The kingdom of bacteria includes half of the kingdom of cyanobacteria and bacteria. Cyanobacteria used to be classified as plants and are still sometimes referred to as blue-green algae. They played a huge role in the formation of soil and the Earth's atmosphere. Among the bacteria, a group of purple nitrogen bacteria is distinguished, which include the patriotic ancestors of mitochondria.

Eukaryotes are divided into three kingdoms: green plants, fungi and animals.

True algae are lower plants. Among them are unicellular and multicellular.

Red algae are multicellular organisms. Their color is determined, in addition to chlorophyll, by the presence of red and blue pigments. They differ from real ones in that even male hemes - sperm cells are devoid of flagella and immobile.

Higher plants include a group of plants whose body is divided into root, stem and leaves. The higher plants include spore-like - moss-like, fern-like and seed - gymnosperms, angiosperms (flowering). Spore plants are the first of the green plants to come to land.

Mushrooms have a variety of forms: bread mold, mold fungus penicillium, rust fungi, hat mushrooms, tinder fungi. All of them are characterized by the formation of a body from thin branching threads that form a mycelium.

The group of lower eukaryotes includes lichens that have arisen as a result of symbiosis. The body of a lichen is formed by a fungus in which cyanobacteria and green algae can live.

All animals are heteromorphic organisms, for food they need mobility (mobile plants are also known - euglena, volvox; non-mobile animals - coral polyps). The absence of a dense outer membrane of cells is also associated with mobility.

The animal kingdom is divided into two sub-kingdoms: protozoa (or unicellular) and multicellular animals.

In the world of rare animals of Dagestan. For many people, the animal world is something ordinary and self-evident. Busy with our own problems, we do not think at all about our smaller brothers, about how they live and how we can help them. For example, who among us knows about the rare animals of Dagestan? Probably only a few, and mostly they are biologists who deal with this topic by virtue of their profession. We decided to fix this, and we invite you to the world of rare animals of Dagestan. To begin with, let's get acquainted with mammals that live on the territory of our republic and belong to the group of rare animals included in the Red Book of Dagestan and Russia. There are 24 species in total. In this article, we will get acquainted with several species of rare and endangered animals of Dagestan. The largest group of rare mammals are predators. Caucasian otter

The distribution of the Caucasian otter in Dagestan is confined to the basins of the Terek, Sulak and Samur rivers, as well as to large desalinated lowland water bodies. On land, it can move at a speed of 25 km / h. The otter is a great swimmer and diver. It can swim under water up to 100 m and not come up to the surface for up to 5 minutes. Very mobile. He likes to play and often rides down the hill, sliding down on his belly directly into the water. Otter fur belongs to the most valuable types of furs. The river otter is a typical fish eater, eats up to 1 kg per day, sometimes frogs, mollusks, rodents and birds are found in its diet. She always eats only freshly caught prey. Caucasian forest cat

In Dagestan, the Caucasian Forest Cat is found mainly in the forests of the Foothills, and in general, in the republic, the range covers part of the Terek-Sulak and Primorsky lowlands, the forests of the Foothill and High-mountain Dagestan up to a height of 2500 m. with a reed cat. Settles in holes, hollows. It usually hunts in the evening and morning twilight. The forest cat does not live in families, she likes loneliness. Jungle Cat or House

This cat is not afraid of water and is an excellent swimmer. It can be found along the entire North-Western coast of the Caspian Sea - from the Volga to the eastern Transcaucasus. But the main core of the Russian population of this cat falls on the lowland and foothill Dagestan. It has a very vicious disposition and rather great physical strength, which allows it to successfully defend itself against large dogs and make large vertical jumps when hunting birds. It is not afraid of a person and often carries game shot by hunters. Anterior Asian leopard or leopard

This is one of the most interesting species on the territory of our republic. The leopard, of course, is very rare, and it is very difficult to see it in nature. In the Red Book, he was assigned the first category - as a subspecies, the number of which has decreased to a critical level, and in the near future its complete disappearance is possible. In Dagestan, the habitat of the Persian leopard is currently known on the Dyultydag mountain range and the Bogossky ridge. The leopard prefers heavily indented, rocky slopes, overgrown with forest, within 1500–2500 m above sea level. The individual habitat area of ​​a male leopard reaches 30–50 thousand ha, while that of a female and young individuals is 15–30 thousand ha. The presence of a leopard in the territory is confirmed by the so-called “scratches”, i.e. marks on the surface of the earth, left by it. It usually hunts in the evening and morning twilight, periodically attacks livestock, but unlike the wolf, it gets 1–2 animals, while wolves can kill up to 30–80 heads in one attack on the herd. The basis of the diet of the leopard in Dagestan is made up of such species as the Dagestan tur, bezoar goat, Caucasian deer, wild boar and roe deer. bezoar goat

The main habitats of the bezoar goat in the republic are located in the upper reaches of two tributaries of the Sulak River - the Andean and Avar Koisu. In summer, males form separate groups and rise to the upper border of the forest belt, while females with kids and one-year-olds stay in the middle, most wooded parts of the mountain slopes. In winter they form mixed groups. Noble deer

Republic of Dagestan Tourism is rapidly developing, offering extensive opportunities for recreation and sightseeing. Tourists are attracted by numerous monuments of nature, architecture and history, as well as the culture of the ethnic community. The republic is located in the northeastern part of the Caucasus, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. The world's largest lake has been called the sea because of its size. It has become one of the most popular holiday destinations on the island due to its warm climate and magnificent sandy beaches. Tourist bases, hotels and sanatoriums are constantly being upgraded, so vacation in Dagestan in 2019 year were almost full.

Tourist opportunities in Dagestan

One of the unique corners of Dagestan is Mount Shalbuzdag. It is one of the highest peaks in the southeastern part of the Main Caucasian Range. The mountain has a unique cone-shaped peak, resembling a volcano with its outlines. Tourists often climb Mount Yarydag, which is located in the Dokuzparinsky district. This place is ideal for lovers of extreme sports and mountaineering. planning rest in Dagestan, it is worth visiting the Khuchninsky waterfall, located in the Tabasaran region. After relaxing at the waterfall, you can go to the legendary fortress of the Seven Brothers and Sisters, which was built in the 17th century.

The unique monument of nature is also the Karadakh gorge, called the "Gate of Miracles". Tourists are also recommended to visit the Sulak Canyon, the Tobot waterfall, the Sary-Kum sand dune, etc. Dagestan Tourism allows visitors to the republic to get acquainted with numerous objects of cultural heritage. There are more than 6,000 monuments of culture, architecture and history on the territory. Going to Kaspiysk in Dagestan, rest can be organized on the coast of the Caspian Sea, as well as get acquainted with the sights of the city. Tourists will also be attracted by the ancient city of Derbent, which impresses with its architectural and landscape ensembles.

Choice of travel routeDagestan

Tourist portal Welcome Dagestan will help visitors to choose places for recreation in Dagestan, hotels, restaurants, excursions and events. Users will become familiar with reviews tourists and make sure security selected tour. The tourist portal WelcomeDagestan.ru provides useful information about the places and sights of the republic.

In our article we want to talk about the Dagestan Reserve. This is a unique and beautiful place.

History of creation

Talks about the creation of a reserve in Dagestan were conducted in the early twenties. However, everything remained at the level of disputes regarding its location. During this period, several reserves were created. In the second half of the twentieth century, they again returned to this topic, choosing the right place. The reserve "Dagestansky" was created in 1986. Its area was more than nineteen hectares. And it was organized to study and preserve the unique complexes of nature in the waters of the Kizlyar Bay (Caspian Sea). It must be said that the reserve occupies one of the first places in terms of the number of animals (more than 60 varieties) that are listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation.

The state reserve "Dagestan" on its territory has a number of interesting objects. So, for example, there is a natural monument of the barkhan Sarykum, which is considered the largest in Eurasia. The reserve is also part of an ornithological territory of international importance as a habitat for many rare and endangered species (Kizlyar Bay). One of the main flyways of waterfowl passes through its lands.

Where is the state reserve "Dagestansky"?

Where is the protected area located? The Dagestan Reserve is located in the Tarumovsky and Kumtorkalinsky regions of the Dagestan Republic. It consists of two sections: the Kizlyar Bay with an area of ​​more than 18 thousand hectares and the Sarykum dunes with a total area of ​​0.6 thousand hectares. As a result, the entire protected area occupies 19.1 thousand hectares. In addition, the state reserve "Dagestansky" is surrounded by a protected area with a total area of ​​18.5 thousand hectares.

How can you get to the reserve?

If you wish, you can visit the reserve "Dagestan". How to get there, we will tell you in detail. The office of the reserve is located in Makhachkala. You can get to Makhachkala by train from Moscow, Rostov-on-Don, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Baku, etc. There is an international airport and two bus stations here, from where flights depart to all regions of Russia.

If you decide to visit the Kizlyar Bay, then the closest village to it is Kochubey (Tarumovsky district of Dagestan). You can get here by any passing transport from Kizlyar or Makhachkala. There is also a railway station. From Kochubey to Kizlyar Bay can be reached by car to the 14th and 12th junctions, and then by country roads.

To get to the Sarykum dunes, you must first get to the village of Korkmaskala. This is about eighteen kilometers from Makhachkala. Kormakmaskala can be reached by any passing transport. And then along the dirt road by car to the very cordon.

To get to the Agrakhansky reserve, you must first get by bus to the village of Staroterechnoye. Approximate distance - 120 kilometers. Further, the staff of the reserve will take you to the Chakanny cordon, where there are all conditions for visitors.

To get to the Samursky reserve, you need to overcome about 250 kilometers from Makhachkala to one of the villages: Samur, Khtun, Tagirkent, Bil-Bil.

You can get to the Tlyaratinsky reserve by taxi going from Makhachkala to Tlyarata, then the employees will give you a lift. You need to have a passport with you, since the region is bordering.

Sarykum

The Dagestansky Reserve in Russia is the only one that can boast of such a large dune, which is the largest in all of Eurasia. Its height reaches 262 meters. An interesting fact is that Sarykum is the only place in Dagestan where the average temperature is above twenty degrees for five months.

And at its foot, the maximum temperature for Dagestan was recorded (42.5 °). This unusual phenomenon is explained by the strongest heating of the sand. In summer, the southern slopes heat up to sixty degrees. Even in April, the temperature is already over thirty degrees.

Animal world

The reserve "Dagestan" boasts a variety of wildlife. However, it should be noted that at present, a complete inventory of the entire species composition of the local flora and fauna has not yet been completed. At the moment, forty species of mammals, 250 species of birds, 70 subspecies and species of fish, 21 species of reptiles have been registered on the territory of the reserve. Invertebrates have been studied extremely poorly.

Fauna of Sarykum

The reserve "Dagestansky" is known throughout the world for the famous Sarykum dune, but its fauna, unfortunately, is poorly understood. It is only known that at the foot of the dune, 148 species of weevils alone and 141 species of ground beetles have been recorded. The plans of the scientific composition of the reserve to study more closely new subspecies and species, which means that we can expect replenishment of the species composition in the coming years.

The world of lepidoptera dunes is very interesting. Preliminary estimates indicate the presence of more than a thousand species of nocturnal and diurnal butterflies.

Small reptiles are very numerous here. It is a fast lizard and round-headed. They are found both at the foot of the dune and on its slopes. Even here you can meet a striped lizard, snakes, western boa constrictor, snakes. The reserve "Dagestansky" has collected on its territory a large number of birds listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation (long-legged buzzard, black stork, griffon vulture, steppe kestrel, eagle owl, black vulture).

Sarykum, in fact, is the only place in Russia where rare little-studied species are protected: red-headed shrike, Spanish wheatear, short-toed sparrow, stone bluebird.

Of the rare species, the collared eirenis, gyurza also lives here. Also in the reserve live white-breasted and sandstones, upland jerboas, voles, wolves, hare, fox.

Vegetable world

The bay of the reserve is rich in aquatic plants. The coast has both meadow-marsh, seaside, and desert and semi-desert species.

The Kizlyar Bay itself is very shallow, and the water in it is rather strongly desalinated. Its bottom is covered with a significant layer of silt. Such conditions contribute to the development of surface and shallow-water vegetation: narrow-leaved cattail, lake reed, common reed. The surface of the stretch is covered with carpets of bog-flower, small naiad, three-lobed duckweed, floating salvinia. There are also underwater meadows that surprise with the richness of underwater plants.

Meadow vegetation is represented by thickets of reed and cattail. The height of the reed in the floodplains reaches five meters. Annually, these areas are flooded with water for a period of two to four months, and low-lying places can generally be under water all year round.

Plants such as wheatgrass, sandy cornflower, paniculata, Persian bindweed, and blue alfalfa grow on the sandy seashores. The steppes are covered with grate, comb, wormwood.

River and completely sown with saltwort-wormwood plants. Also in the reserve there is semi-desert and desert vegetation. Only one Sarykum dune contains more than three hundred varieties, among which are not only the rarest specimens, but also endangered species: sandy woad, astragalus, leafless juzgun, leafless eremosparton. Most of the dune is dry sands. The lower parts of the slopes are covered with vegetation. On the south side are the slopes of the Narat-Tyube ridge, which are dotted with unique plants.

Reserve "Dagestansky": reviews

Volunteers who cooperate with the reserve express their deep gratitude to its employees, because they see how great they are about their work and how much they do for the reserve itself. All lovers of flora and fauna can visit here, experts will certainly share their knowledge of the natural world of these places. And there really is something to see here, since the Dagestansky Reserve (photos are given in the article) has a very beautiful territory with a unique and unusual Dagestan nature.

The book discusses the significance, systematic groups of the animal world of Dagestan, its distribution in individual landscapes, rare species of animals, their diversity.

For students of biological, geographical, environmental specialties of universities and school teachers. May be useful for nature lovers and the general public.

I express my gratitude to the outstanding organizer and leader of the hydropower industry, prominent public and political figure of Dagestan Gamzat Magomedovich Gamzatov for his help in publishing this book.

Preface 1

Significance of Animal Kingdom 1

1.0. Subkingdom Unicellular, or Protozoa 4

2.0. Subkingdom Multicellular (MEtazoa) 7

Insects with incomplete metamorphosis (Heterometabola) 18

Insects with complete metamorphosis (Holometabola) 19

3.0. Fauna of various ecosystems 41

4.0. About the "Red Book of the Republic of Dagestan" 47

Rare and endangered animal species 47

Fauna Reconstruction 48

Literature 49

Ziyaudin Shakhmardanov
Fauna of Dagestan

I dedicate to the blessed memory of my teachers: Professor Sergei Grigoryevich Eltsov (Moscow Veterinary Academy) and laureate of the State Prize of the USSR, Professor Viktor Alekseevich Morozov (Dagestan Research Institute of Agriculture)

Foreword

The proposed book "Animal World of Dagestan" was written taking into account modern data and is intended for students of universities of biological, environmental, geographical specialties, teachers of secondary schools, and the general public.

Knowledge of the animal world of one's region is necessary not only for educational purposes, but also has great practical significance. Animals play an important role in providing people with food and medicine, raw materials for industry. Without animals, the normal existence of nature, and hence people, is impossible.

The need for such a publication is dictated by the fact that the only manual for students and biology teachers "Animal World of Dagestan", published by Daguchpedgiz in 1975 (responsible editor Professor Rukhlyadev D.P.) has become a bibliographic rarity. In addition, new data have since been clarified. So, for example, in the named book it is written: "More than 850 species of animals live in the Caspian Sea" (p. 213), while according to modern data their number exceeds 850. There are significant changes in the fauna of birds, fish, mollusks, etc. e. Therefore, we presented data on birds according to the book of Ismailov Sh.I. et al. "Fauna of Dagestan. Birds" (2000), and data on fish - according to the book by Shikhshabekoa M.M. etc. "Ichthyofauna of the river basins of Dagestan and the adjacent part of the Caspian Sea" (2007), etc.

There are some inaccuracies in the taxonomy of individual groups. So, the mysis detachments, cumic ones are assigned to the lower crayfish and together 6 subclasses only two are given.

Nevertheless, we have borrowed many data from this book, taking into account modern materials.

In preparing the book, we considered it necessary to present

fauna of individual ecosystems, the problem of biodiversity conservation, as well as rare and endangered animal species. This is important for the local history work of teachers, as well as for practical workers.

All possible comments on the improvement of the book will be taken into account with gratitude for subsequent editions.

Significance of the Animal Kingdom

Green plants create organic matter. It is consumed by animals that feed on plant foods (butterfly caterpillars, beetles, hares, wild and domestic animals, etc.), which in turn serve as food for carnivorous forms (ground beetles, ants, ladybugs, starlings, owls, foxes, and other predators). A number of animals (dung beetles, dead beetles and skin beetles, hyenas, etc.) eat animal excrement and their corpses. Animals living in the soil (earthworms, centipedes, larvae of many insects, some mites, etc.), as well as microorganisms, convert organic substances into minerals that are used by plants. In addition, moving in the soil, they move the soil, making moves in the soil, improve its water supply and aeration. All this is important in soil formation and contributes to its fertility.

Feeding on plants and each other, animals participate in the biological cycle of substances, as well as in the cycle of substances on the planet. For example, it happens that the extermination of one of the species of animals leads to the fact that other even more "harmful" or less useful animals expand their possessions at its expense, filling the resulting vacuum. A relief example of this is the history of the sable and the column. When we had little sable in Siberia, the column, whose fur is less valuable, went on the offensive:

greatly expanded its range. When the sable was again restored in many areas, the Siberian weasel almost completely disappeared. One species of animal is not able to break down the organic matter of plants to final products. Each species uses only a part of the plants and some of the organic matter contained in them. Plants unsuitable for this species or plant remains that are still rich in energy are used by other animal species. This is how food chains and networks are formed, successively extracting substances and energy from photosynthetic plants. In the process of evolution, animal species have adapted to the most efficient use of a certain set of food objects. Each of the species is adapted to being food for a number of other species. In an ecosystem, animals as a mobile active element largely determine the stability of this system. Being dependent on plants, animals, in turn, determine their life, the structure and composition of the soil, and the appearance of the landscape. The most diverse large group of animals (two-thirds) are insects, which are of the greatest importance in eco systems. Without them, flowering plants would disappear (i.e., there would be no pollination). Many birds and fish subsist on insects. Their great role in the formation of soils.

The importance of mollusks is great as a source of food for other animals, as water filtrates that ensure its purification. With the participation of animals, the chemical composition of underground and groundwater is formed.

The destruction of one species can lead to unforeseen consequences. One example of this relationship is the use of hexachlorane in locust control. At the same time, the number of such predatory insects as ladybugs and lacewings has significantly decreased. As a result, the reproduction of scale insects, whiteflies, bedbugs, and mites increased on crops of legumes, fruit and berry and citrus plants. Here the principle of interconnection in living nature is obvious. Another important principle is the principle of balance. Populations of individual species living together constitute a biocenosis. Water quality, air composition, soil fertility, etc. depend on its work. A remarkable property of biocenoses, biogeocenoses (ecosystems) is that their stability can be violated by the destruction of some life forms within the ecosystem or, on the contrary, by the introduction of new animal or plant species into already established systems.

The undesirability of the extermination of at least one - the only species, no matter how unnecessary it may seem, is justified by the principle of potential utility. For example, some genetic features can later be used for genetic engineering. The principle of indispensability is also of great importance, i.e., a complete replacement of natural products with artificial ones is impossible.

The principle of diversity in terms of significance and content is associated with human communication with nature (fishing, hunting, tourism, etc.).

Geological (rock-forming) activity of animals. The soils of the world ocean are formed to a large extent by the accumulation of planktonic and benthic unicellular organisms. After the death of animals, their shells fall to the bottom and form powerful layers of silt. Significant areas (29%) are occupied by calcareous globigerin oozes formed by shells of foraminifera, a genus of globigerina from the Sarcodidae class.

Radiolar oozes formed by ray shells from the Sarcodidae class account for 3.4%. Coral muds formed by the products of coral reef destruction occupy approximately 3% of the bottom surface. Many invertebrates (annelids, sponges, crustaceans, molluscs, etc.), as well as vertebrates (fishes, marine mammals), take a great part in the formation of marine sediments, especially in the shallow zone.