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• ANIMALS IN BELARUSIAN FORESTS
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ANIMAL SPECIES DIVERSITY IN BELARUSIAN FORESTS

Forest ecosystems are characterized by exclusive high biodiversity. Ecosystems of broad-leaved forests have the highest density of animal population. It is caused by high forest productivity, high plant species diversity and huge phytomass, which they produce and utilize trough the complicated trophic webs every year. The group of species is very various, which live on trees, especially in hollows.

For deciduous forests seasonal changes of animal population are typical. In winter such forest are less favorable for many animals and birds, than evergreen coniferous or mixed forests. That is why the significant part of fauna in deciduous forests belongs to migrants.

In deciduous forests there live such rare and endangered animal species as bison, majority of bats and dormice and such birds as eagle-owl, black stork, booted eagle, roller, green-peak and woodpecker.

Mixed forest fauna includes inhabitants of both north taiga and nemoral European forests zones. Species diversity in this type of forest is determined by its area, which is larger than the area of deciduous forests in Belarus. There exists the favorable combination of feeding and safety conditions there. It is the preferendum for the most big mammals - hoofed animals and predators. Besides of rare and endangered fauna of deciduous forests there live flying squirrel, brown bear, lynx, boreal and pygmy owl, valuable game-bird wood-grouse, lesser spotted eagle.

Pine forests mainly grow on poor and dry soils and have as the rule simple layer structure and relatively poor fauna. Fauna of spruce forests, which offer better safety conditions, is more various. High stand density and underbrush guarantee favorable microclimatic conditions for wintering, what attracts animals from other habitats here.

Among rare and endangered animal species in coniferous forests there are flying squirrel, brown bear, badger, lynx, serpent eagle, hobby, pigeon hawk, boreal owl, three-toed woodpecker, great gray owl, grass-snake, running toad.

Fauna of different types of small-leaved forests varies in species composition and population. Alder thickets are highly productive. Age of small-leaved forests is one of the most important factors, which determine animal species diversity and population. But currently there exist not many mature small-leaved stands.

On flood-lands there live azure tit, bluethroat, penduline tit.