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Zapovednik
Facts:
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Animals
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The patchwork of wetlands and forests that
fronts Lake Ladoga is home to 13 species of predatory mammals,
including such large carnivores as wolves (Canis lupus),
brown bear (Ursus arctos), and lynx (Felix lynx).
Badgers (Meles meles) and foxes (Vulpes vulpes)
dig out burrows on spits of earth to raise their young. Ermine
(Mustela erminea), weasel (M. nivalis), European
mink (M. lutreola), and pine marten (Martes martes),
all members of the Mustelidae family, are smaller predators that
thrive on rodents, birds, and other prey. American mink (M.
vision) and raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procynonoides)
were acclimated to European Russia from the 1930s to the 1960s
and are now widespread. The raccoon dog is the most numerous among
canines in the reserve, especially along the coast of Lake Ladoga.
The American mink occupied the niche of its native cousin, causing
it to become rare. Wolverines (Gulo gulo) intermittently
wander into the reserve, and the Ladoga seal (Phoca hispida)
can occasionally be seen splashing in the waves of Svir Cove.
Among the 29 other mammals that live in Nizhnesvirsky
Zapovednik, moose (Alces alces) are perhaps the most notable.
Moose migrate through the reserve seasonally, and the population
fluctuates from about 150 to 250 during wintertime. Mountain hare
(Lepus timidus) concentrate in overgrown clearcuts and
along the banks of the Svir and Lakhtinsky coves in winter, where
they nibble on shoots of willow (Salix spp.), aspen (Populus
tremula), mountain ash (Sorbus spp.), and other thickets
and trees.
Of the 14 members of the rodent family in the
reserve, none have more impact on native habitats than the busy
beaver (Castor fiber). The animals were nearly hunted to
extinction at the end of the 19th century, but have
made a strong comeback since the 1970s: today, there are more
than 30 beaver colonies in the zapovednik. These little "poachers"
fell large trees to get at the succulent buds and young shoots
at the top and build dams to create small ponds. On the other
hand, a number of animals and plants thrive in the wake of the
beaver’s ruin, gnawing on the bark and branches of fallen
trees, hiding in hollow trunks, and feeding on plentiful fish
in the beaver’s pond. Otters (Lutra lutra) might fish
in a beaver pond, but red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris)
are likely to be less than thrilled when one of their favorite
trees comes down. Smaller rodents in the zapovednik include the
common shrew (Sorex aranues) and bank vole (Clethrionomys
glareolus), which prefer forest habitats in the reserve. Insectivores
include the common mole (Talpa europaea), found in forest
meadows, the pygmy and least shrews (Sorex minutis, S. minutis-simus),
and the Eurasian shrew (Neomys fodiens). Several species
of bats, including Northern bat (Vespertilio nillsoni),
are regularly caught in nets set up for catching birds on the
coast of Lake Ladoga.
Nizhnesvirsky Zapovednik protects important stopover
areas for migratory birds along routes that cross the White and
Baltic seas on the North Atlantic flyway. Each year, tens of thousands
of ducks, swans, geese and waders stop in the Svir Cove of Lake
Ladoga to refuel before flying north to their nesting areas. A
number of birds stay in the reserve to nest. Mallards (Anas
platyrhynchos) and green-winged teals (A. crecca) are
the most numerous ducks on Lake Ladoga. Mew gull (Larus canus)
and little gull (L. minutus) are two of the many gull species
that nest here along with smaller terns (Chlidonias niger
and Sterna hirundo). Green and wood sandpipers (Tringa
ochropus, T. glareola), greater greenshank (T. nebularia),
common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos), and ruff (Philomachus
pugnax) are some of the other waders that can be seen probing
Ladoga’s shores. Male ruffs have strikingly colorful green
and purple breeding plumage on their backs. The great crested
grebe (Podiceps cristatus), with its pointed headdress,
is common in Lake Ladoga and in lakes in the Svir River floodplain.
Wetland birds include common crane (Grus grus), and whimbrel
(Numenius phaeopus), with its slender, long, curved beak.
In all, 261 birds have been noted in the zapovednik.
The large number is due to the diversity of habitats suitable
for forest-dwelling, swamp, and meadow bird species. While the
lake and other freshwater habitats attract a multitude of birds,
most of the bird species in the zapovednik are found in taiga
communities. Forest-dwelling birds include Eurasian sparrowhawk
(Accipiter nisus), Northern goshawk (A. gentilis),
Northern hobby (Falco subbuteo), and grouses — Northern
black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), Northern hazelhen (Tetrastes
bonasia), and capercaille (Tetro urogallus). Eurasian
woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), wood pigeon (Columba
palumbrus), and many species of owls, woodpeckers, and sparrows
also thrive in the reserve’s protected forests.
White-tailed sea-eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla),
osprey (Pandion haliaetus), golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos),
and black stork (Ciconia nigra) are some of the rare and
endangered bird species protected in the reserve. The white-backed
woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) is rare for northwestern
Europe.
A representative array of amphibians and reptiles
is protected in the reserve: of the seven species of amphibians
and five species of reptiles recorded in Leningrad Oblast, four
of each are found in Nizhnesvirksy Zapovednik. Common toad (Bufo
bufo) and moor frog (Rana terrestris) are common amphibians,
while northern viper (Vipera berus) and slow worm (Anguis
fragilis) pervade in dry forest stands. More than 30 species
of fish are found in the waters of Lake Ladoga and the Svir River.
Pike perch (Esox lucius), sander (Stizostedion spp.),
bass (Perea fluviatilis), bream (Abramis spp.),
and sometimes lake salmon (Salmo salar sebago) spawn in
the reserve.
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Vegetation
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Nizhnesvirsky Zapovednik is located in the southern
to central belt of taiga vegetation, in the transition zone between
Siberian taiga and European broadleaf forests. Plant communities
are typical of boreal forest ecosystems. Forests cover approximately
half the territory, while swamps and wetlands cover more than
a third of the zapovednik. In addition, 5,000 ha of aquatic habitat
in the Svir Cove of Lake Ladoga are protected in the zapovednik.
Sandy shores, forest meadows, and abandoned agricultural fields
occupy about two percent of the territory.
Dry conifer forests, made up primarily of Scotch
pine (Pinus sylvestris), thrive on small spits of higher
ground in the reserve and sandy ridges that run parallel to Lake
Ladoga. The forest floor is covered with spongy lichens, tangy
red cowberries (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), sweet bilberries
(V. myrtillus), and small pink flowers of heather (Calluna
vulgaris). Norway spruce stands (Picea abies) occupy
a small part of the reserve, primarily to the north of Gumbarka
River near the shore of Lake Ladoga. White birch (Betula pubescens)
and pine trees intermix on areas of moist ground in the northern
part of the reserve. Swamps and transitional muskeg bogs with
low, sparse trees and sphagnum swamps with thickets are scattered
throughout the zapovednik.
More than 520 species of higher plants have been
identified in the reserve, although new species continue to be
recorded. Common plants found in swamp and bog communities include
sheathing cottongrass (Eriophorum vaginatum), cranberry
(Oxycoccus palustris), and the pleasingly aromatic marsh
tea (Ledum palustre). Typical shade-tolerant plants found
in forests are northern twinflower (Linnaea borealis),
May lily (Maianthemum bifolium), and chickweed wintergreen
(Trientalis europaea). Meadow vegetation consists of tall
buttercup (Ranunculus acris), the medicinal sweet vernal
grass (Hierochloe odorata), and others. Very few species
of temperate and subarctic zones are found in the reserve. The
only widespread representatives of temperate forests are purple
moor grass (Molinia caerulea) and lily-of-the-valley (Convallaria
majalis). Subartic plants are cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus),
hagerup (Empetrum hermaphroditum), and dwarf birch (Betula
nana).
Rare plant species for northwestern Russia include
water chickweed (Montia fontana), mudwort (Limosella
aquatica), superb pink (Diantha superbus), Tatar catchfly
(Silene tatarica), water-purslane (Peplis portula),
rice cutgrass (Leersia oryzoides), and Siberian lettuce
(Lactuca sibirica). Twenty-five species are rare for Leningrad
Oblast, including all species of orchids, clubmoss, common thyme
(Thymus vulgaris), male fern (Dryopteris filix-mas),
and others.
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Geographical Features
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Nizhnesvirsky Zapovednik is located 240 kilometers
northeast of St. Petersburg in the northeast of Leningrad Oblast.
The reserve and its headquarters are situated in Lodeinopolsky
district. The Svir River forms the border of the zapovednik to
the south and southeast. The northern border of the reserve follows
the administrative boundary between the Karelia and Leningrad
regions. The western border of the zapovednik runs through Svir
Cove of Lake Ladoga at a distance of one to 3.2 kilometers from
the shore. The eastern border of the nature reserve does not run
along any natural boundaries but stops 10 to 12 kilometers short
of the Lodeinoye Pole — Olonets highway, running nearly parallel
to it.
Lake Ladoga, part of which is protected by the
zapovednik, is one of the largest lakes in the world, stretching
219 km with an average width of 83 km. The average depth of the
lake is 51 meters, while the maximum depth is 230 meters (in the
northern part). Waters in Svir Cove, which are protected by the
zapovednik, average five meters in depth and contain shallow water
ecosystems.
The relief of the reserve is mostly flat, although
raised sand ridges stretch along Lake Ladoga’s shore, formed
by the shrinking of the lake and glacial movements. The highest
parts of the zapovednik are 22-24 meters above sea level. The
climate is generally continental. Movement of air masses from
different directions influences local climate conditions. Fronts
from the Atlantic Ocean cause the weather to change frequently.
In the summertime, these air currents often result in cloudy,
rainy, and cool weather. Cool temperatures in early summer delay
the start of the vegetative season and lower the survival rate
of offspring of a number of animals and birds. The average annual
temperature is 2.9oC. The coldest temperatures are
in January, when the average is -10oC, while July temperatures
average 17oC. Rain and snow fall 200 days a year, resulting
in an annual average of about 630 mm of precipitation, the majority
of which occurs as snow from November to February.
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Conservation Status
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Nizhnesvirsky Zapovednik was created in 1980
for the preservation and study of natural ecosystems along the
southeastern shores of Lake Ladoga, particularly in light of population
growth and intensive economic development in and around the city
of St. Petersburg.
Unfortunately, at the time of the reserve’s
creation, the northern boundary was drawn along administrative
lines (the border between Leningrad and Karelia regions), which
resulted in the inclusion of only the southern part of the Segezhsky
Swamp and Segezhskoye Lake (18 km2) freshwater system
in the reserve. The later creation of a zakanik (nature refuge)
of regional jurisdiction in Karelia has in part secured the northern
portion of this ecosystem, but a higher level of protection would
better guarantee long-term conservation.
The reserve has research stations on Lake Ladogda
and in the woods. Here zapovednik staff, as well as specialists
from St. Petersburg University, the Botanical Institute of the
Russian Academy of Sciences, and scientists from Finland, Germany,
and other countries, come to study plants and animals protected
in the reserve. The reserve is especially favored by bird-lovers,
in part due to the Gumbaritsy Ornithological Station on Lake Laadoga,
which captures and rings thousands of birds each year.
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References
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Sokolov, V.E. and E.E. Syroechkovsky, eds. Zapovedniks
of the USSR: Western European Part of Russia I. Mysl
publishing agency, Moscow, 1988.
Zabelina, N.M, L.S. Isaeva-Petrova, and L.V. Kuleshova. Zapovedniks
and National Parks of Russia. Logata. Mosow, 1998.
Text prepared by Laura
Williams.
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