Lynx Distribution and Commercial Resources in the European Part of Russia

Abstract

The lynx was always common species in the predatory mammals’ fauna of the European Russia. At the present time, the studied region is characterized not only by high forest cover but also high fragmentation of forest landscape, and the correlation between the number of lynx and the size of the forest areas is clearly expressed. It is higher in those oblasts where the forests cover bigger areas. In 2011, the highest numbers of lynx were in Vologda, Tver and Novgorod oblasts (762, 452 and 300). The total number of lynx in European Russiawas 1908 individuals. However, the correlation between forest cover and population density of lynx is not so obvious. It is connected with the degree of anthropogenic transformation of natural ecosystems, ecological capacity of a landscape, biotope preferences of the species, density of rural population, level of hunting pressure, etc. Since 1993, the lynx number is falling in the European Russia and in the country as a whole. The greatest decline was in the North-Western Federal District in2003–2010: nearly 40%. Depression of the number of lynx is not due to only the shortage of fodder. No clear causal tie of the lynx number and the number of hare and roe – main food objects of the lynx – is observed. The decrease in the lynx number at least in some oblasts of the European Russia is explained by a high degree of anthropogenic transformation of forest ecosystems, infl uence of disturbance factor, lack of shelters, and poaching.