Wader ringing at the Turov ornithological station, Pripyat Valley (S Belarus) in 1996-2003
Large-scale rewilding has been proposed as an effective method to combat the global biodiversity crisis, although there is a lack of data to support this. Rewilding generally refers to a process that allows nature to recover by reducing human interference, without the predefined end-goal that more traditional restoration projects usually have. The Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ) is perhaps the most famous example of passive rewilding (rewilding with little or no management), but until now, most research has focussed on the impact of radiation on wildlife rather than rewilding. Here, we analyse species composition change of raptors in the Belarusian CEZ over a twenty-two year period, starting twelve years after the accident, alongside national raptor monitoring data. Generalist and farmland-associated mesopredators, super-abundant at the beginning of our study, strongly declined, as open habitats (former agricultural land) rewetted or became overgrown. Increase in waterlogged areas saw wetland specialists increase in abundance, including two species locally extinct from the area before the accident: Greater Spotted Eagle (Endangered in Europe) and White-tailed Eagle. Greater Spotted Eagles are an indicator of wetland habitat quality, and whilst declining throughout Europe in recent decades, they have increased from zero to at least thirteen pairs, over the whole Belarusian CEZ. Our research is evidence that rewilding could be an effective way of restoring species and species interactions found in near-natural habitats, and if human interferences in ecological processes are reduced, a priori restoration goals and continued management are not always necessary to conserve threatened species.
The bat fauna (Mammalia, Chiroptera) of Stary Zhaden Zakaznik, Southern Belarus.-Dombrovski, V., Fenchuk, V., Zhurauliou, D.-The results of bat research conducted in Stary Zhaden Zakaznik (area 170 km 2 , 51.9 N 27.6 E, central part of the Pripyat Polesia region, Southern Belarus) during 2015-2016 confirmed the occurrence of 12 species of bats (listed in descending order of occurrence): Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus noctula, Vespertilio murinus, Plecotus auritus, Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis brandtii, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Nyctalus leisleri, Myotis nattereri, Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis daubentonii. The breeding of five bat species in this region, such as B. barbastellus, M. brandthii, M. nattereri, E. nilssonii, and N. lasiopterus, is confirmed for the first time. Research results show the high significance of the Pripyat Polesia region in conservation of bats and biological diversity on both national and European scales. K e y w o r d s : bats, fauna, Stary Zhaden Zakaznik, Pripyat Polesia, Belarus. Фауна кажанів (Mammalia, Chiroptera) заказника Старий Жаден, Південна Білорусь.-Домбровський, В., Фенчук, В., Журавльов, Д.-Дослідження рукокрилих проводили в республіканському заказнику «Старий Жаден» (площа 170 км 2 , 51.9 N 27.6 E, центральна частина Прип'ятського Полісся, Південна Білорусь) у 2015-2016 рр. Виявлено 12 видів кажанів (в порядку убування зустрічальності): Pipistrellus pygmaeus, Nyctalus noctula, Vespertilio murinus, Plecotus auritus, Barbastella barbastellus, Myotis brandtii, Nyctalus lasiopterus, Pipistrellus nathusii, Nyctalus leisleri, Myotis nattereri, Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis daubentonii. Вперше для дослідженого регіону підтверджено розмноження 5 видів кажанів: B. barbastellus, M. brandthii, M. nattereri, Е. nilssonii та N. lasiopterus. Результати дослідження свідчать про високу значимість регіону Прип'ятського Полісся для збереження рідкісних видів рукокрилих на національному та європейському рівнях. К л ю ч ов і слова: кажани, фауна, заказник «Старий Жаден», Прип'ятське Полісся, Білорусь.
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