Changes in the population structure and abundance of mammals and birds in pasture ecosystems of the southern Minusinsk basin

Abstract

The data from long-term observations (from 1970 to 2012) on changes in the population structure and abundance of mammals and birds under pasture load and reserve regime conditions in the steppe zone of the southern Minusinsk basin are presented. It has been revealed that insufficient grazing or its full absence cause no less serious structural changes in animal communities than its excess. Although a decrease in pasture load leads to the recovery of the mammal and bird population in steppe ecosystems, this recovery is significantly different from native recoveries, which are based on the fallout of some stenoecic species and the introduction of eurybionts at early succession stages. An increase in the effect of pasture load on the steppe ecosystems of the basin is currently being observed again.