Environmental monitoring of Lake Baikal

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Irkutsk region. Wildlife of Irkutsk region is represented by 86 species of mammals, 414 species of birds, 6 species of reptiles and 6 species of amphibians. 43 species of birds and 6 species of mammals are among the specially protected species, included in the Red Data Book of Russia (2001) – namely, Baikal black-capped marmot, Altai-Sayan population of reindeer, red wolf, manul and snow leopard (ounce). The Red Data Book of Irkutsk region (2010) includes 2 species of amphibians (Mongolian toad and common toad), 2 species of reptiles (Pallas' coluber and grass snake), 62 species of birds (gyrfalcon, Eurasian eagle-owl, peregrine falcon, etc.), 17 species of mammals (red wolf, otter, snow sheep and others), 14 species of crustaceans (Angara gammarus, propachygammarus bicornis, etc.), 10 insects (common apollo, lionedya mongolica, etc.), 12 species of fish (stenodus leucichthys, sterlet, tugun, etc.) and one species each of leeches (acantobdella peledina) and amoeboid animals (trochammina bami).

Birds are represented most widely in the regional Red Data Book. 5 species belong to the “probably extinct” category: dalmatian pelican, swan goose, gray goose, red-footed falcon and great bustard. 5 species belong to the “endangered” category – taiga bean goose, squawk duck, eastern imperial eagle, saker falcon and Asian dowitcher. 2 species of birds in Irkutsk region are listed under “decreasing” category – white-tailed eagle and greater spotted eagle. The “rare” category includes 33 species of birds – golden eagle, Eurasian scops owl, osprey, etc. 14 species of birds belong to the “uncertain status” category, namely flamingos, kingfisher, bearded vulture, etc. The number of great-crested grebes, great cormorant and ruddy shelduck (rare species) recovered, and they are included in the “rehabilitated species” category.

Also the Red Data Book of Irkutsk region (2010) includes a list of animals not registered in the Red Data Book, but requiring special attention. This list includes 32 species of birds and 7 species of mammals.

Republic of Buryatia. Wildlife of Buryatia is quite diverse and is represented by 6 species of amphibians, 7 species of reptiles, 92 species of mammals and 383 species of birds. Among them the Red Data Book of Russia (2001) contains 3 types of insects (osmoderma eremita, Czerskii bumblebee and common apollo), 5 species of fish (Baikal sturgeon, Arctic char, taimen, lenok and coregonus lavaretus baunti), 33 species of birds (mountain goose, gyrfalcon, Siberian crane, etc.) and 7 species of mammals (Daurian hedgehog, black-capped marmot, red wolf, snow leopard, manul, wild reindeer and Mongolian gazelle). 185 taxa of animals are registered in the list of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Buryatia (2013): 56 species of vertebrates, 6 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, 5 species of reptiles, 93 species of birds and 22 species of mammals.

Birds are most fully represented in the regional Red Data Book. 7 species of birds belong to the “Endangered” category – mountain goose, eastern imperial eagle, gyrfalcon, Pallas's fish eagle, white-tailed eagle, Siberian crane and black hooded crane. 5 species belong to the “Decreasing number” category, namely falcated duck, grey goose, isabelline shrike, common starling and yellow-breasted bunting. 66 species of birds – Eurasian bittern, merlin, white owl and others are classified as “rare” species. The “Uncertain status” category includes 4 species of birds – lesser white-fronted goose, Eurasian dotterel, solitary snipe and great rosefinch. The number of previously rare species has recovered and they are included in the category “Rehabilitated species” – these are small swan, steppe eagle, Amur falcon. The category “Rare with irregular stay” includes 4 species of birds – common spoonbill, red-breasted goose, relict gull and Asian short-toed lark. 4 species of birds are included in the “Out of danger” category – demoiselle crane, lesser kestrel, Asian house martin and Mongolian lark.

For the first time a bio-supervisory list appeared in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Buryatia. This is a list of species not included in the Red Data Book for various reasons but requiring special attention and constant monitoring of their condition. In particular, this list includes the Mongolian marmot and Transbaikalian hamster.

Zabaykalsky Krai. There are over 500 species of vertebrates in the Krai, including more than 80 species of mammals (among them some acclimatized species– muskrat, European hare and American mink), over 330 species of birds, 5 species of amphibians and 6 species of reptiles. Relatively low diversity and number of amphibians and reptiles is due to the rather harsh climatic conditions of the habitat of these species, resulting in them not achieving significant diversity and high abundance.

The Red Data Book of Russia (2001) includes the following representatives of Zabaykalsky Krai wildlife: 1 species of insect (osmoderma eremita, 5 species of molluscs (Daurian oyster, the Dahurinaia tiunovae, Dahurinaia laevis, Middendorffinaia mongolica, Anemina buldowskii), 2 species of fish (Amur sturgeon and Siberian taimen), 39 species of birds (including black stork, great bustard, peregrine falcon) and 5 species of mammals (Daurian hedgehog, manul, leopard, Mongolian gazelle, Mongolian marmot or tarbagan).

The list of animals registered in the Red Data Book of Zabaykalsky krai (2012) includes 24 species of molluscs (Transbaikalian oyster, thick shelled river mussel and others), 75 species of insects (Marumba gaschkewitschii, grasshopper (gampsocleis gratiosa), etc.), 4 species of reptiles (Eremias argus barbouri, grass snake, Pallas’ coluber, Gloydius ussuriensis), 1 species of amphibians (Japanese tree frog), 14 species of bony fish (Baikal sturgeon, Humpback whitefish, Kaluga, etc.), 66 species of birds (Eurasian bittern, hooded crane, osprey, etc.) and 21 species of mammals (Amur lemming, tiger, bighorn sheep, etc.). 2 kinds of animals belong to the “Probably extinct” category (mountain sheep (argali) and Amur sturgeon), 60 species fall within the “Endangered” category, while 29 species belong to the “Decreasing number” category, 84 are classified as rare species, 28 species are included in the “Uncertain status” category, and 2 species of animals (Daurian hedgehog and manul) belong to those “Rehabilitated and rehabilitating”.

The number of registered species within the boundaries of the Specially Protected Natural Area of the Baikal Natural Territory (as of 01.01.2016)

Measures aimed at preservation and reproduction of biological resources under the Federal Target Program “Protection of Lake Baikal and socio-economic development of the Baikal Natural Territory for 2012-2020”

In 2012 the Federal Target Program “Protection of Lake Baikal and socio-economic development of the Baikal Natural Territory for 2012-2020” was approved. Overall 2,002 million Rubles were allocated for the activities aimed at preservation and reproduction of biological resources of the Baikal Natural Territory.