Red Data Book of the Chuvash Republic. Wild animals of Chuvashia Before the start of settlement, the territory of Chuvashia was covered with forests of spruce taiga, pine forests, multi-tiered oaks, floodplain meadows

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Red Book of the Chuvash Republic Completed by: educator Kazakova I.V. Cheboksary MBDOU D / s No. 95

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Asian Chipmunk Chipmunk is a small animal, body length 12-17 cm. Coloring is very original: on a reddish-gray background, five black stripes run along the back. Chipmunk is an inhabitant of the taiga and in Chuvashia it is found only in the Trans-Volga region. Like the squirrel, the chipmunk is diurnal. Often climbs trees. It feeds on seeds of various trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants, also berries and insects. The chipmunk hibernates at the end of September - October. Wakes up in April. In Chuvashia, a chipmunk is very rare, it is recommended to be included in the Red Book Chuvash Republic.

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The muskrat is one of the most large species order of insectivores. In Chuvashia, it occurs in the floodplain of the Sura River. Body length 18-21.5cm, weight 300-400g. Tail 17 -20.5 cm. At the end of the head there is a long proboscis, eyes are small, vision is poor. It feeds on insects, leeches, molluscs, and occasionally fish. The fur is very beautiful, valuable, the color is grayish-brown. In Chuvashia, lives within the Alatyrsky, Poretsky and Shumerlinsky regions. Muskrat

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Body length - 60-90 cm, tail - 20-24 cm; weight - up to 24 kg. The neck is short, almost imperceptible. The legs are short, massive. Wool is rough. The color of the back and sides is brownish-gray with a silvery tint; lower body - blackish. There are two dark stripes on the muzzle, stretching from the nose to the ears. Lifestyle and nutrition It is found mainly in mixed and taiga forests, less often in mountain forests; in the south of its range it occurs in steppes and semi-deserts. Badger

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A species of mammals from the mustelid family, the order of carnivores. The color is brown or grayish-brown. Fur is valuable. Body length with tail 120 cm, weight 7-10 kg. The otter is very rare in Chuvashia, found on the deaf forest rivers and lakes. It swims and dives well, feeds on fish and other aquatic animals. common otter

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Ermine Ermine is a predator of the weasel family. In Chuvashia, it is found everywhere, the number is low. In summer, the fur is brownish-red, in winter it is snow-white; the tip of the tail is always black. Settles on forest edges, meadows. Active at night, hunts during the day in winter. Valuable fur animal. Useful for the destruction of harmful rodents. Recommended in the Red Book of the Chuvash Republic.

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Roe deer One of the most famous roe deer is the European roe deer, or, as Russian hunters often call it, the wild goat. Its length is 130 centimeters, its height is 75, the tail is simply microscopic - only 2 centimeters. Compared to the red deer, the roe deer is more densely built: its head is shorter, its body is thicker in front, its back is almost straight, and its eyes are large, lively, with long beautiful eyelashes. The coat of this graceful animal is short, elastic and very hard. In summer, the animal is painted in a dark brown color, and in winter the coat acquires a brownish-gray tint.

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Brown bear Brown bear, predatory mammal families of bears. The brown bear is a forest animal that lives mainly in continuous forests. Coloring from almost straw-yellow to very dark, blackish-brown. The food of the brown bear is predominantly vegetable: berries, acorns, nuts, rhizomes, as well as insects, worms, lizards, frogs, rodents, and other small animals.

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Red deer Red deer have long been a favorite object of hunting. Currently, in many areas, hunting for deer of some subspecies is completely prohibited, and they are taken under protection as rare, endangered animals. Red deer Lives in the area of Ibresi and Yadrin Deer live in herds of 3-6 heads, occupying summer time a territory of about 4-6 hectares. In nature, deer live up to 12-14 years, in captivity - up to 25-30 years. The main enemy of deer is the wolf. Adult deer are chased by wolves in packs; A lone wolf can not cope with a deer, especially a male. Deer are protected by front hooves, and males are also protected by horns.

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Lynx The lynx is a predatory mammal. It lives in taiga forests and mountains, sometimes it enters the forest-steppe. Found in Europe, Asia and North America. Life expectancy 15-20 years Weight 18 to 45 kg. By habits they resemble a domestic cat: they purr, meow, hiss. They have a small head, a strong body, high legs, long tassels on their ears, and a short tail. The dense soft coat is reddish-gray on top with an admixture of white. They are looking for prey. They feed on hares, small rodents, foxes, raccoons, less often on small ungulates - reindeer, roe deer. May attack pets. They hunt only at night.

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forest dormouse It lives in oak-linden places, lives in hollows, hibernates in burrows under the roots. The food is mixed, except for nuts, acorns and seeds. Willingly eats insects, destroys nests of birds. Body length - 102-116mm, tail - 66-96mm, body weight up to 44g. The tail is fluffy, gray, with a light tip. The fur is dense and dense, with a pronounced awn.

On the right bank of the Volga, in the delta of the Sura and Sviyaga, there is a picturesque region - Chuvashia. Just imagine, on the territory of 18300 km2 there are 2356 rivers and streams. In addition, there are about 600 floodplain, 154 caste and interdune lakes. Such aquatic diversity in combination with a temperate continental climate, it is a favorable habitat for many plants and animals. The nature of Chuvashia is unique in its kind and is famous for its endless expanses. Only a third of the region is inhabited by forests. The abundance of beautiful corners and health resorts make Chuvashia attractive in the eyes of numerous tourists.

Climate of Chuvashia

As mentioned above, Chuvashia is located in, with pronounced 4 seasons. average temperature in summer it fluctuates around + 200C, in winter the thermometer mark rarely drops below - 130C. Such a gentle environment, combined with mineral springs, clean air and species diversity, has long attracted people who want to significantly improve their health and enjoy the beauties.

Vegetable world

The flora of Chuvashia has undergone significant changes as a result of the global flora, which previously covered almost the entire territory of the region. Now they occupy only 33%, the rest is reserved for agricultural land. Despite the magnitude of the situation, vegetable world Chuvashia pleases the eye and excites the imagination with a variety of colors.

The remaining forests are dominated by deciduous trees such as oak, birch, linden, maple, ash. From conifers - larch and cedar. Wild rose, viburnum, oxalis, blueberries and other shrubs have adapted to the undergrowth. There are many mushrooms in the forests, which are harvested on an industrial scale.

Chuvashia seem to be made for herbs! There are an incredible number of them here! However, more often than others, you can meet feather grass, thickets of sage, bluegrass and fescue. It is impossible to ignore the plants living in and near numerous reservoirs. by the most beautiful inhabitants are the yellow capsule and the white water lily. Reeds, cattails, horsetails, sedges, foxtails and arrowheads cannot be called unattractive, their value is simply inversely proportional to their numbers.

Animal world

The fauna of Chuvashia has changed significantly under the influence of the same anthropogenic factor. Some species were completely destroyed, others were artificially populated. And, nevertheless, nature prevailed with its versatility. Let's start from the heights and smoothly dive into the aquatic environment.

Kites, hawks and swifts soar in the sky. Magpies, cuckoos, jays and owls nest on tree branches. A variety of small birds settle in - partridges, quails, larks. However, hunters are attracted more by black grouse, hazel grouse, capercaillie and woodcock.

The forests are inhabited by wolves, foxes, hares, badgers, martens. The creation of nature reserves and a ban on hunting allowed to increase the population brown bears, lynxes, wild boars and moose.

Hedgehogs, jerboas, ground squirrels, marmots, moles, hamsters, and other small rodents live on the steppe plains.

Beavers, muskrats, otters and are found in reservoirs. The abundance of fish attracts ducks, herons, gulls and swallows.

respect for wild nature- the feasible contribution of each of its revival.

Remember what the concept means

natural areas

What factors influence the distribution of natural areas?
Determine from the map which natural areas located in the Chuvash Republic. Name the type of vegetation and typical animals corresponding to each of these zones.

How does vegetable and animal world influences nature and human life?

Plants and animals are essential components of nature. They define general form territory, its appearance, affect other components and play an important role in human life. Plants and animals exist on earth not in isolation, but in the form of natural combinations. natural ingredients, characteristic of a certain geographical area. The composition of plants and animals is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture in different periods of the year. Therefore, we see a significant diversity of plant and animal communities on the territory of our republic.

Before the settlement of the territory, our region was almost completely covered, only in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the republic there were steppe areas. Subsequently, the main forests were cut down, and at present many areas in the Ibresinsky, Poretsky, Shumerlinsky districts are covered with secondary birch and aspen forests. Development in Chuvashia forest areas contribute to satisfactory climatic, soil and hydrogeological conditions. Therefore, here the forests are more widespread than on the monotonous plains.

Currently, forests have been preserved in less than one third of the republic and are unevenly distributed. In some areas (Shumerlinsky, Ibresinsky, Alatyrsky) forests occupy more than 50% of the territory, and in Yalchiksky, Alikovsky, Urmarsky and Tsivilsky regions - only 4-9%. The forests of the republic are presented coniferous and deciduous tree species.

Coniferous forests occupy 32.1% of total area forests of the republic. They are pine and spruce.

They are located in the Trans-Volga region, the Surye region and in the southern part of the republic. In these forests, in addition to pines, there are birch and aspen; rose hips, viburnum and other shrubs grow in the undergrowth, among which there are many berries. The grass cover is diverse, in some places there are lingonberries, blueberries, and oxalis. Ferns, mosses and lichens grow. From conifers Siberian larch and cedar are also cultivated in Chuvashia.

spruce forests with an admixture of linden and birch grow in the Vurnarsky, Ibresinsky districts, in the northeastern part of the Poretsky district and in the Trans-Volga region. Spruce is a shade-tolerant breed and forms a natural community with green mosses.

Broad-leaved species are represented by linden, maple, elm, ash and other trees. Oak forests are located in separate isolated islands along the right bank of the Volga. The largest massifs are located in the Mariinsko-Posadsky, Cheboksary, Yadrinsky, Krasnochetaysky and Shumerlinsky districts. Modern oak forests of Chuvashia are represented by middle-aged (60.9%) and young (28.3%) stands. Oak is a very durable wood beautiful pattern in a cut. Since the settlement of the territory, it has been cut down for various economic needs. Therefore, the remaining oak forests of Chuvashia are classified as especially valuable forests. Linden, maple, elm grow as an admixture in oak groves. Less common are ash, apple forest, mountain ash. And black alder grows in damp places. Shrubs in them are represented by hazel, euonymus, viburnum. In the Surye, in oak forests, larch, cedar and even Amur velvet are cultivated. In Yantikovsky, Mariinsko-Posadsky, Cheboksary regions, larch and cedar are cultivated.

Per recent decades there is a widespread drying of the tops of oaks. The reason for this phenomenon has not been fully elucidated, the most probable is atmospheric pollution. After cutting and forest fires the forest is renewed mostly by birch and aspen, less often by linden and pine.

In almost the entire northern and central right-bank part of the republic, forests have been cleared and land has been converted into agricultural land. Forest cover here ranges from 4 to 14%. Oak forests and linden forests (in the south of the Volga region) have survived only in separate isolated areas. Therefore, this region can be characterized as oak-forest-steppe. Forests need special protection, reconstruction and restoration. Pine and oak are planted mainly. In addition, protective afforestation occupies a significant place in the republic, the area of \u200b\u200bwhich in Chuvashia is more than 6000 hectares. On average in the republic, the annual growth of wood is 3.4 m3 per 1 ha of forest. The total increase is about 2 million m3.

Plays a huge role in human life. The most important species used for construction, chemical processing and other household needs are conifers, as well as oak and willow. More than 100 thousand tons of oak wood are spent annually on chemical processing alone, up to 2.5 thousand tons of willow bark, etc. coniferous forests up to 2 thousand tons of oleoresin are mined. A lot of linden is cut down for the manufacture of handicrafts. In Chuvashia, more than 1000 m3 of moss is annually selected, which is used in construction as an insulating material.

Cowberries, cranberries, mountain ash, currants, cumin, wild rose, birch buds, lily of the valley, coltsfoot, plantain, chamomile, yarrow, horsetail and many other plants are used in medical, confectionery and alcoholic beverage industries. Procurement organizations of Chuvashia collect edible mushrooms: white, mushrooms, honey mushrooms, butter and others. Nuts are harvested from oilseeds by the residents of the republic.

Steppe vegetation has been preserved in the southeastern part of Chuvashia and in Zasurye. This includes mainly the territories of the Komsomolsk, Yalchik, Batyrevsk and Alatyr districts. Chernozem soils were formed under meadow steppes, which were plowed up earlier than others. Before turning into agricultural land, steppe cereals and herbs grew here. Abundant vegetation during the summer experienced a change of species from early spring until late autumn. Typical representatives of steppe vegetation are fescue, sage, bluegrass, feather grass.

Meadow vegetation covers the unplowed floodplains of the small rivers of Chuvashia. Floodplain meadows are used as hayfields and pastures. More than 1000 species of plants grow in the meadows, which are mainly included in the composition of cereals, legumes, and sedge plant groups.

Insignificant areas of the republic (0.5% of the entire territory) are occupied by marsh and aquatic vegetation. The coastal zone of most lakes is occupied by sedge, horsetail, arrowhead, chastuha, foxtail. Further grow cattails, reeds, reeds. Purely aquatic plants few, the most famous are yellow capsule, white water lily. In the Sura valley there is a very rare water chestnut (chilim), listed in the Red Book.

Analyze the vegetation map of the Chuvash Republic, identify the most forested areas and areas in which there are no forests.

Describe the vegetation in the vicinity of your area.

Determine from fig. 18 habitats of oak forests. In which administrative regions of the republic are the largest areas of oak forests observed?

In accordance with the soil and plant conditions, the animal world of Chuvashia was also formed. The position of the republic at the junction of different vegetation zones, the heterogeneity of the relief determine the diversity of animals. Over 60 species of mammals, 44 species of fish, 16 species of amphibians and reptiles live on its territory. Here you can meet more than 260 species of birds, various invertebrates.

In general, the republic is characterized by a mixture of animals from the southern taiga and typical steppe forms. Human activity has had a significant impact on the fauna. Some animals spread to the republics as a result of artificial resettlement. At the same time, some species of fauna have been destroyed by man. For example, in the cultural layer of the X-XIV centuries. bones found reindeer. Back in 1917, they were in the neighboring Nizhny Novgorod region.

Most representatives of the fauna of Chuvashia live in deciduous forests. There they find reliable shelters and are provided with stable food. The largest ungulate animal of deciduous forests is the elk, whose weight reaches 400 kg. Per last years Due to the ban on shooting, the number of moose has increased significantly. Their number exceeds 1000 heads. In the republic, they live mainly in the prisura forests. There is also a noticeable increase in the number of wild boars. Moles, hedgehogs, foxes, shrews live in the forests, bat, badger, raccoon dog, lynx, marten, ermine, weasel, squirrel, hare, mouse, chipmunk. especially rich deciduous forests birds. There are black grouse, hazel grouse, capercaillie, woodcock, jay, magpie, cuckoo, swift, woodpecker, warbler, warbler, blackbird, owl, sparrowhawk.

AT coniferous forests the animal world is poorer. They are inhabited by squirrels, hare, chipmunk, mink, otter, marten, lynx. There are few birds in coniferous forests. Most often there are bullfinch, woodpecker, jay, chaffinch, crossbill, owl, eagle owl, owl, black grouse, capercaillie, black stork, which is included in the Red Book. In clear sunny days on the trunks of fallen trees, on the stumps you can meet lizards and snakes. Mostly there are copperfish. the only poisonous snake- viper.

On the steppe areas the animal world is noticeably poorer. There are a fox, a hare, a light polecat, a hamster. AT southern regions The republic is inhabited by spotted ground squirrel, jerboa, marmot-boba, from birds - lark, quail, gray partridge, lapwing, kite, eagles and falcons are less common.

There are noticeably more animals near water bodies. In the reservoirs themselves there is a variety of fish - pike, perch, bream, crucian carp, tench, silver bream, carp, ide, roach, crucian carp, ruff,. stocks most valuable fish- sterlet, bream, pike perch, unfortunately, began to decrease.

Along the small rivers and forested channels of the Volga and Sura, there are otters, minks, and the North American musky rat, the muskrat, which has acclimatized in our country. The floodplain of the Sura is inhabited by the oldest mammal found in the territory of Chuvashia - the Russian muskrat, which is listed in the Red Book.

As game animals in Chuvashia, one can name an elk, a wild boar, a beaver, a fox, a hare and a squirrel. They also hunt birds.

In the process economic activity man greatly changes the natural vegetation and fauna. The expansion of arable land leads to the replacement of natural vegetation by agricultural crops. Simultaneously with the vegetation cover, the animal world is changing: the species composition and number of animals. Clearcutting of forests, plowing of meadows and land reclamation, construction of roads and industrial facilities have changed ecological situation in Chuvashia. Certain species of animals and plants are under threat complete disappearance. All this makes it necessary to take measures to conservation and restoration of the resources of the organic world. Species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book need special attention and protection. Not only certain types, but also entire communities of plants and animals are protected in special places. The republic has a nature reserve "Prisursky", national park"Chăvash vărmanĕ", natural Park"Zavolzhye", 6 state natural reserves, 7 state hunting reserves, there are more than 100 natural monuments.

Show on the map the southern border of the taiga, describe its flora and fauna.
Is there a latitudinal zonality of vegetation in Chuvashia? Explain where and why it is violated?
Compare flora and fauna deciduous forests and steppes of Chuvashia.
What is the importance of the forest for the economy of Chuvashia?
Name the hunting and commercial resources of Chuvashia.
* What impact did human activity have on the flora and fauna of Chuvashia? Give examples specific to your area.
* Explain why, in order to save endangered species, animals and plants must be protected in protected areas nature in general.

In 1798, in Chuvashia, forests occupied 49% of the total land area, in 1998 this figure was 31.2%.

Pine is the most common species in Chuvashia. It is photophilous and grows mainly on the sands, but is also found on wetlands. Currently, pine trees are being planted in cleared areas and in unforested areas.

In the past, oak was used to build ships. A tree aged 400 years was suitable for this. Therefore, by decree of Peter I, protected oak groves were allocated in the Volga forests, later they were called ship groves.

In total, there are about 570 thousand hectares of forest in the republic. Young growth occupies more than 45% of the total area, a quarter of the area - middle-aged trees, ripe and maturing species about 23%. Only 8% of the area is overmature trees.

The low-value gudgeon common in our rivers is interesting because it is very sensitive to water pollution. It is considered an indicator of water pollution. If there is a gudgeon in the river, it is completely clean.

Remember what the concept means

natural areas

What factors influence the distribution of natural areas?
Determine on the map in which natural zones the Chuvash Republic is located. Name the type of vegetation and typical animals corresponding to each of these zones.

How does flora and fauna influence nature and human life?

Plants and animals are essential components of nature. They determine the general appearance of the territory, its appearance, affect other components and play a big role in human life. Plants and animals do not exist on earth in isolation, but in the form of natural combinations of natural components characteristic of a certain geographical area. The composition of plants and animals is determined by the ratio of heat and moisture in different periods of the year. Therefore, we see a significant diversity of plant and animal communities on the territory of our republic.

Before the settlement of the territory, our region was almost completely covered, only in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the republic there were steppe areas. Subsequently, the main forests were cut down, and at present many areas in the Ibresinsky, Poretsky, Shumerlinsky districts are covered with secondary birch and aspen forests. The development of forests in Chuvashia is facilitated by satisfactory climatic, soil and hydrogeological conditions. Therefore, here the forests are more widespread than on the monotonous plains.

Coniferous forests occupy 32.1% of the total forest area of the republic. They are pine and spruce.

They are located in the Trans-Volga region, the Surye region and in the southern part of the republic. In these forests, in addition to pines, there are birch and aspen; rose hips, viburnum and other shrubs grow in the undergrowth, among which there are many berries. The grass cover is diverse, in some places there are lingonberries, blueberries, and oxalis. Ferns, mosses and lichens grow. Of the coniferous species in Chuvashia, Siberian larch and cedar are also cultivated.

Spruce forests with an admixture of linden and birch grow in the Vurnarsky, Ibresinsky districts, in the north-eastern part of the Poretsky district and in the Trans-Volga region. Spruce is a shade-tolerant breed and forms a natural community with green mosses.

Broad-leaved species are represented by linden, maple, elm, ash and other trees. Oak forests are located in separate isolated islands along the right bank of the Volga. The largest massifs are located in the Mariinsko-Posadsky, Cheboksary, Yadrinsky, Krasnochetaysky and Shumerlinsky districts. Modern oak forests of Chuvashia are represented by middle-aged (60.9%) and young (28.3%) stands. Oak has a very durable wood with a beautiful sectional pattern. Since the settlement of the territory, it has been cut down for various economic needs. Therefore, the remaining oak forests of Chuvashia are classified as especially valuable forests. Linden, maple, elm grow as an admixture in oak groves. Less common are ash, apple forest, mountain ash. And black alder grows in damp places. Shrubs in them are represented by hazel, euonymus, viburnum. In the Surye, in oak forests, larch, cedar and even Amur velvet are cultivated. In Yantikovsky, Mariinsko-Posadsky, Cheboksary regions, larch and cedar are cultivated.

Over the past decades, there has been a widespread drying of oak tops. The reason for this phenomenon has not been fully elucidated, the most probable is atmospheric pollution. After clearings and forest fires, the forest regenerates mostly with birch and aspen, less often with linden and pine.

Plays a huge role in human life. The most important species used for construction, chemical processing and other household needs are conifers, as well as oak and willow. More than 100 thousand tons of oak wood are spent annually on chemical processing alone, up to 2.5 thousand tons of willow bark, etc. Up to 2 thousand tons of resin are mined in coniferous forests. A lot of linden is cut down for the manufacture of handicrafts. In Chuvashia, more than 1000 m3 of moss is annually selected, which is used in construction as an insulating material.

Cowberries, cranberries, mountain ash, currants, cumin, wild rose, birch buds, lily of the valley, coltsfoot, plantain, chamomile, yarrow, horsetail and many other plants are used in medical, confectionery and alcoholic beverage industries. Procurement organizations of Chuvashia collect edible mushrooms: white mushrooms, mushrooms, honey mushrooms, butter and others. Nuts are harvested from oilseeds by the residents of the republic.

Steppe vegetation has been preserved in the southeastern part of Chuvashia and in Zasurye. This includes mainly the territories of the Komsomolsk, Yalchik, Batyrevsk and Alatyr districts. Chernozem soils were formed under meadow steppes, which were plowed up earlier than others. Before turning into agricultural land, steppe cereals and herbs grew here. Abundant vegetation during the summer experienced a change of species from early spring to late autumn. Typical representatives of steppe vegetation are fescue, sage, bluegrass, feather grass.

Insignificant areas of the republic (0.5% of the entire territory) are occupied by marsh and aquatic vegetation. The coastal zone of most lakes is occupied by sedge, horsetail, arrowhead, chastuha, foxtail. Further grow cattails, reeds, reeds. There are few purely aquatic plants, the most famous are the yellow water lily, the white water lily. In the Sura valley there is a very rare water chestnut (chilim), listed in the Red Book.

In general, the republic is characterized by a mixture of animals from the southern taiga and typical steppe forms. Human activity has had a significant impact on the fauna. Some animals spread to the republics as a result of artificial resettlement. At the same time, some species of fauna have been destroyed by man. For example, in the cultural layer of the X-XIV centuries. bones of reindeer were found. Back in 1917, they were in the neighboring Nizhny Novgorod region.

Most representatives of the fauna of Chuvashia live in deciduous forests. There they find reliable shelters and are provided with stable food. The largest ungulate animal of deciduous forests is the elk, whose weight reaches 400 kg. In recent years, due to the ban on shooting, the number of moose has increased significantly. Their number exceeds 1000 heads. In the republic, they live mainly in the prisura forests. There is also a noticeable increase in the number of wild boars. Mole, hedgehog, fox, shrew, bat, badger, raccoon dog, lynx, marten, ermine, weasel, squirrel, white hare, mouse, chipmunk live in the forests. Deciduous forests are especially rich in birds. There are black grouse, hazel grouse, capercaillie, woodcock, jay, magpie, cuckoo, swift, woodpecker, warbler, warbler, blackbird, owl, sparrowhawk.

AT coniferous forests the animal world is poorer. They are inhabited by squirrels, hare, chipmunk, mink, otter, marten, lynx. There are few birds in coniferous forests. Most often there are bullfinch, woodpecker, jay, chaffinch, crossbill, owl, eagle owl, owl, black grouse, capercaillie, black stork, which is included in the Red Book. On clear sunny days, lizards and snakes can be found on the trunks of fallen trees, on stumps. Mostly there are copperfish. The only venomous snake is the viper.

On the steppe areas the animal world is noticeably poorer. There are a fox, a hare, a light polecat, a hamster. Speckled ground squirrel, jerboa, ground marmot, lark, quail, gray partridge, lapwing, kite live in the southern regions of the republic, eagles and falcons are less common.

There are noticeably more animals near water bodies. In the reservoirs themselves there is a variety of fish - pike, perch, bream, crucian carp, tench, silver bream, carp, ide, roach, crucian carp, ruff,. Stocks of the most valuable fish - sterlet, bream, pike perch, unfortunately, began to decrease.

As game animals in Chuvashia, one can name an elk, a wild boar, a beaver, a fox, a hare and a squirrel. They also hunt birds.

In the process of economic activity, a person greatly changes the natural vegetation and fauna. The expansion of arable land leads to the replacement of natural vegetation by agricultural crops. Simultaneously with the vegetation cover, the animal world is changing: the species composition and number of animals. Clear cutting of forests, plowing of meadows and land reclamation, construction of roads and industrial facilities have changed the ecological situation in Chuvashia. Some species of animals and plants are under the threat of complete extinction. All this makes it necessary to take measures to conservation and restoration of the resources of the organic world. Species of plants and animals listed in the Red Book need special attention and protection. Not only individual species, but also entire communities of plants and animals are protected in special places. There are "Prisursky" nature reserve, "Chăvash vărmanĕ" national park, "Zavolzhye" natural park, 6 state nature reserves, 7 state hunting reserves, there are more than 100 natural monuments in the republic.

Show on the map the southern border of the taiga, describe its flora and fauna.
Is there a latitudinal zonality of vegetation in Chuvashia? Explain where and why it is violated?
Compare the flora and fauna of the broad-leaved forests and steppes of Chuvashia.
What is the importance of the forest for the economy of Chuvashia?
Name the hunting and commercial resources of Chuvashia.
* What impact did human activity have on the flora and fauna of Chuvashia? Give examples specific to your area.
* Explain why, in order to preserve endangered species of animals and plants, nature as a whole must be protected in protected areas.

In 1798, in Chuvashia, forests occupied 49% of the total land area, in 1998 this figure was 31.2%.