Biocenotic relationships of Przewalski’s horse with birds in the Cis-Ural Steppe area of the State Natural Reserve “Orenburgsky”
Anatoly V. Davygora, Candidate of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor
Orenburg State Pedagogical University, Orenburg, Russia, davygora@esoo.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8761-5158
Abstract
In the grazing areas of Przhevalski’s horses in the Pre-Ural Steppe section of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve, 19 species of birds were found, which is 16.7% of its avifauna and about 30% of its composition during nesting time. A single round of counting at control plots showed from 1 to 9 species, which is 3.55 on average. The greatest avifaunistic diversity was observed in May and June — 7 and 9 species, respectively. The impact of weather conditions on the results of accounting was revealed, as well as a sharp drop in diversity from August to November. The number of birds on the control plots from May to November varied in the range from 4 to 86 ind. per one counting. In total, 288 ind. of 19 species of birds, or 26.2 ind. per one counting were registered. The field lark dominated — 131 ind., or 45.5% of the total number of recorded birds. Biocenotic connections with the Przewalski’s horse in the form of commensalism were found in the yellow wagtail and magpie. The first of them regularly collects food — small insects “from under the feet” of grazing animals. Magpies with the advent of snow cover follow the herds of horses, eating semi-digested grains of wild and cultivated cereals from fresh droppings. At the same time, horses do not respond to magpies landing on their backs.
Keywords
Przewalski’s horse, birds, biocenotic relations, commensalism, State Nature Reserve “Orenburgsky”.
For citation:
Davygora A. V. Biocenotic relationships of Przewalski’s horse with birds in the Cis-Ural Steppe area of the State Natural Reserve “Orenburgsky”. Vestnik of Orenburg State Pedagogical University. Electronic Scientific Journal, 2023, no. 2 (46), pp. 33—50. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32516/2303-9922.2023.46.3.
1. Bakirova R. T., Zharkikh T. L. Programma sozdaniya poluvol’noi populyatsii loshadi Przheval’skogo Equus ferus przewalskii v Gosudarstvennom prirodnom zapovednike “Orenburgskii”. Rezul’taty pervogo etapa (2015—2018) [The program for the creation of a semi-free population of the Przewalski’s horse Equus ferus przewalskii in the State Nature Reserve «Orenburgsky». Results of the first stage (2015—2018)]. Stepnoi byulleten’. Otdel’nyi vypusk — Steppe Bulletin. Special issue, 2019, pp. 4—71. (In Russian)
2. Bibbi K., Dzhon M., Marsden S. Metody polevykh ekspeditsionnykh issledovanii. Issledovaniya i uchety ptits [Methods of field expeditionary research. Bird research and censuses]. Moscow, Soyuz okhrany ptits Rossii Publ., 2000. 186 p. (In Russian)
3. Gavrilov E. I. Semeistvo Tryasoguzkovye — Motacillidae [Wagtail family — Motacillidae]. Ptitsy Kazakhstana [Birds of Kazakhstan]. Alma-Ata, 1970, vol. 5, pp. 286—363. (In Russian)
4. Geptner V. G., Nasimovich A. A., Bannikov A. G. Mlekopitayushchie Sovetskogo Soyuza. T. 1. Parnokopytnye i Neparnokopytnye [Mammals of the Soviet Union. Vol. 1. Artiodactyls and Odd-ungulates]. Moscow, Vysshaya shkola Publ., 1961. 775 p. (In Russian)
5. Davygora A. V. Vekovaya dinamika avifauny stepei Yuzhnogo Urala. 1: Izmeneniya vidovogo sostava [Secular dynamics of the avifauna of the steppes of the Southern Urals. 1: Changes in species composition]. Strepet: Fauna, ekologiya i okhrana ptits Yuzhnoi Palearktiki [Little bustard: Fauna, ecology and protection of birds of the Southern Palearctic]. Rostov-on-Don, 2004, vol. 2, is. 1, pp. 41—67. (In Russian)
6. Davygora A. V. Dinamika i geografiya registratsii krechetki v stepyakh Yuzhnogo Urala v 90-e gody XX — nachale tekushchego stoletiya [Dynamics and geography of registrations of lapwings in the steppes of the Southern Urals in the 90s of the XX — the beginning of the current century]. Kuliki Vostochnoi Evropy i Severnoi Azii: izuchenie i okhrana: tez. dokl. IV soveshchaniya, Ekaterinburg, 5—7 fevr. 2004 g. [Waders of Eastern Europe and North Asia: study and protection. Abstr. report IV Meeting, Yekaterinburg, Feb. 5—7, 2004]. Yekaterinburg, Ural’skii un-t Publ., 2004, pp. 22—23. (In Russian)
7. Davygora A. V. Dolgovremennaya dinamika ornitologicheskoi fauny Orenburgskogo kraya (kak istoricheskoi oblasti) [Long-term dynamics of the ornithological fauna of the Orenburg region (as a historical region)]. Nazemnye pozvonochnye zhivotnye aridnykh ekosistem: materialy mezhdunar. konf., posvyashch. pamyati N. A. Zarudnogo. Tashkent, 24—27 okt. 2012 g. [Terrestrial vertebrate animals of arid ecosystems. Proceed. of the Internat. conf., dedicated to N. A. Zarudny]. Tashkent, 2012, pp. 122—135. (In Russian)
8. Davygora A. V. Zhivotnyi mir rodnogo kraya (ocherki po zhivotnomu miru Orenburgskoi oblasti) [Fauna of the native land (essays on the fauna of the Orenburg region)]. Ekologicheskaya sreda i bioraznoobrazie Orenburzh’ya v XXI veke: prognoz izmenenii i strategiya vyzhivaniya. Prilozhenie [Ecological environment and biodiversity of the Orenburg region in the 21st century: forecast of changes and survival strategy. Application]. Orenburg, IPK “Universitet” Publ., 2017, pp. 155—194. (In Russian)
9. Davygora A. V. K zimnei avifaune Guberlinskikh gor [On winter avifauna of the Guberlinsky mountains]. Selevinia. Almaty, Tethys Publ., 2002, no. 1-4, pp. 131—134. (In Russian)
10. Davygora A. V. Prilozhenie 1. Annotirovannyi Perechen’ ob’’ektov zhivotnogo i rastitel’nogo mira, ischeznuvshikh s territorii Orenburgskoi oblasti. Zhivotnye [Annex 1. Annotated List of objects of flora and fauna that disappeared from the territory of the Orenburg region. Animals]. Krasnaya kniga Orenburgskoi oblasti. 2-e izd., pererab. i dop. [Red Book of the Orenburg Region. 2nd ed., rev. and add.]. Voronezh, MIR Publ., 2019, pp. 468—469. (In Russian)
11. Davygora A. V. Chernyi zhavoronok [Black lark]. Krasnaya kniga Orenburgskoi oblasti. 2-e izd., pererab. i dop. [Red Book of the Orenburg Region. 2nd ed., rev. and add.]. Voronezh, MIR Publ., 2019, pp. 180—182. (In Russian)
12. Davygora A. V. Ornitologicheskaya fauna Orenburgskoi oblasti. Periodizatsiya i itogi issledovanii. Sostav i osobennosti. Bibliografiya [Ornithological fauna of the Orenburg region. Periodization and results of research. Composition and features. Bibliography]. Orenburg, OGPU Publ., 2000. 84 p. (In Russian)
13. Zarudnyi N. A. Nablyudeniya nad ptitsami v okrestnostyakh Orenburga [Birdwatching near Orenburg]. Priroda i okhota [Nature and hunting]. Moscow, 1881, vol. 3, no. 8, pp. 81—126. (In Russian)
14. Klimov V. V. Loshad’ Przheval’skogo [Przewalski’s horse]. Moscow, Agropromizdat Publ., 1990. 256 p. (In Russian)
15. Koblik E. A., Arkhipov V. Yu. Fauna ptits stran Severnoi Evrazii v granitsakh byvshego SSSR: Spiski vidov [Bird fauna of the countries of Northern Eurasia within the boundaries of the former USSR: Lists of species]. Moscow, T-vo nauch. izdanii KMK Publ., 2014. 171 p. (Zoologicheskie issledovaniya, no. 14). (In Russian)
16. Malovichko L. V., Rezanov A. G. Pastbishchnye kormovye assotsiatsii serykh zhuravlei Grus grus i krasavok Anthropoides virgo s domashnim skotom i sel’skokhozyaistvennoi tekhnikoi v Stavropol’skom krae [Pastoral feeding associations of the common Grus grus and demoiselle Anthropoides virgo cranes with livestock and agricultural machinery in the Stavropol Krai]. Russkii ornitologicheskii zhurnal — The Russian Journal of Ornithology, 2021, vol. 30, express iss. 2069, pp. 2245—2250. (In Russian)
17. Nankinov D. N. Kormovye assotsiatsii dikikh ptits s domashnim skotom i ikh proyavlenie na territorii Bolgarii [Feeding associations of wild birds with livestock and their expression in Bulgaria]. Russkii ornitologicheskii zhurnal — The Russian Journal of Ornithology, 2013, vol. 22, express iss. 949, pp. 3373—3397. (In Russian)
18. Novikov G. A. Polevye issledovaniya ekologii nazemnykh pozvonochnykh [Field studies of the ecology of terrestrial vertebrates]. Moscow, Sovetskaya nauka Publ., 1949. 601 p. (In Russian)
19. Numerov A. D., Klimov A. S., Trufanova E. I. Polevye issledovaniya nazemnykh pozvonochnykh [Field studies of terrestrial vertebrates]. Voronezh, Voronezhskii gos. un-t Publ., 2010. 301 p. (In Russian)
20. Ptushenko E. S., Inozemtsev A. A. Biologiya i khozyaistvennoe znachenie ptits Moskovskoi oblasti i sopredel’nykh territorii [Biology and economic importance of birds in the Moscow Region and adjacent territories]. Moscow, MGU Publ., 1968. 462 p. (In Russian)
21. Rezanov A. G. Kormovaya assotsiatsiya beregovykh lastochek Riparia riparia s krupnym rogatym skotom: otsenka kormovoi bazy, byudzhetov vremeni i energii [Feeding association between sand martins Riparia riparia and cattle: estimation of food resources and budgets of time and energy]. Russkii ornitologicheskii zhurnal — Тhe Russian Journal of Ornithology, 1998, express iss. 48, pp. 13—18. (In Russian)
22. Rezanov A. G. Pastbishchnye kormovye assotsiatsii tryasoguzok roda Motacilla: otsenka kolichestvennykh pokazatelei i geograficheskogo rasprostraneniya assotsiatsii [Grazing feeding associations of wagtails Motacilla: evaluation of quantitative parameters and geographic distribution of associations]. Russkii ornitologicheskii zhurnal — Тhe Russian Journal of Ornithology, 2019, vol. 28, express iss. 1767, pp. 2081—2099. (In Russian)
23. Rezanov A. G., Rezanov A. A. Kormovye assotsiatsii aistoobraznykh (Ciconiiformes) s krupnymi travoyadnymi mlekopitayushchimi, zemleobrabatyvayushchei i uborochnoi tekhnikoi [Food associations of storks (Ciconiiformes) with large herbivorous mammals, tillage and harvesting equipment]. Sbornik nauchnykh trudov Azovo-Chernomorskoi ornitologicheskoi stantsii “Branta” [Collection of scientific papers of the Azov-Black Sea ornithological station “Branta”], 2007, is. 10, pp. 167—175. (In Russian)
24. Rezanov A. G., Rezanov A. A. Kormovye assotsiatsii skvortsa Sturnus vulgaris s pasushchimisya kopytnymi [Feeding associations of starlings Sturnus vulgaris with grazing ungulates]. Russkii ornitologicheskii zhurnal — Тhe Russian Journal of Ornithology, 2009, vol. 18, express iss. 458, pp. 76—82. (In Russian)
25. Rezanov A. G., Rezanov A. A. Pastbishchnye kormovye assotsiatsii egipetskoi tsapli Bubulcus ibis: ekologo-geograficheskii i istoricheskii analiz [The pasture feeding associations of the Egyptian egret Bubulcus ibis: ecological, geographical and historical analysis]. Vestnik MGPU. Estestvennye nauki, 2018, no. 1 (29), pp. 8—25. (In Russian)
26. Rezanov A. G., Malovichko L. V., Rezanov A. A. Pastbishchnye kormovye assotsiatsii evropeiskogo belogo aista Ciconia ciconia ciconia s travoyadnymi mlekopitayushchimi i sel’skokhozyaistvennoi tekhnikoi: istoriko-geograficheskii aspekt [Pasture associations of the European white stork Сiconia ciconia ciconia with herbivorous mammals and agricultural machinery: historical and geographical aspect]. Vestnik Tverskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser. Biologiya i ekologiya — Bulletin of Tver State University. Ser. Biology and Ecology, 2021, no. 3 (63), pp. 39—52. DOI: 10.26456/vtbio210. (In Russian)
27. Rychkov P. I. Topografiya Orenburgskoi gubernii [Topography of the Orenburg province]. Orenburgskie stepi v trudakh P. I. Rychkova, E. A. Eversmanna, S. S. Neustroeva [Orenburg steppes in the works of P. I. Rychkov, E. A. Eversmann, S. S. Neustroev]. Moscow, Geografgiz Publ., 1949, pp. 43—204. (In Russian)
28. Spasskaya N. N. Loshad’ Przheval’skogo [Przhevalsky’s horse]. Krasnaya kniga Rossiiskoi Federatsii. Zhivotnye [Red Book of the Russian Federation. Animals]. Moscow, VNII Ekologiya Publ., 2021, pp. 1015—1016. (In Russian)
29. Stepanyan L. S. Konspekt ornitologicheskoi fauny Rossii i sopredel’nykh territorii [Synopsis of the ornithological fauna of Russia and adjacent territories]. Moscow, IKTs “Akademkniga” Publ., 2003. 808 p. (In Russian)
30. Chibilev A. A., Ryabukha A. G. Istoriya khozyaistvennogo osvoeniya i antropogennoi transformatsii peschanykh zemel’ stepnoi zony Orenburgskoi oblasti [The History of Economic Development and Anthropogenic Transformation of Sandy Lands in the Steppe Zone of Orenburg Oblast]. Aridnye ekosistemy — Arid Ecosystems, 2016, vol. 22, no. 1 (66), pp. 48—55. (In Russian)
31. Galushin V., Davygora A. V., Moseikin V. N. Black Lark Melanocorypha yeltoniensis. Tucker G., Heath M. Bird in Europe: their conservation status. Cambridge, U.K., 1994, pp. 354—355.
32. King S. R. B. Extinct in the wild to Endangered: the history of Przewalski’s Horse (Equus ferus przewalskii) and its future conservation. Mongolian Journal of Biological Sciences, 2005, vol. 3 (2), pp. 37—41. DOI: 10.22353/mjbs.2005.03.11.
33. King S. R. B., Boyd L., Zimmerman W., Kendall B. E. Equus ferus ssp. przewalskii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/7961/97205530. Accessed: 04.03.2023.
34. Moehlman P. D. (ed.). Equids: Zebras, Asses and Horses. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. IUCN/SSC Equid Specialist Group. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK, 2002. ix, 190 p.
35. Nazarov P. S. Recherches zoologignes des Steppes des Kirguis. Bulletin de la Societe Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou. Мoscow, 1886, vol. 62, no. 4, pp. 338—382.