AMUR-HEILONG RIVER BASIN |
All chapters: Species diversity and use of biological resources |
Species diversity and use of biological resources |
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Species diversity and harvest of biological resources |
Related maps, pictures, links |
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For an area lying far in the north between boreal and temperate realms, the Amur Basin has surprisingly rich diversity of species. Since its large area is split between three countries and 15 ecoregions no one has calculated so far overall basin-wide taxonomic diversity. There are at least 6000 species of vascular plants, 130 fish species, at least 600 bird species, about 200 mammal species… Amur-Heilong River basin is known world-wide as home to Kaluga sturgeon, Amur tiger, white-naped and red-crowned cranes, oriental white stork, Korean pine and Asian ginseng. It is also a critical habitat for such charismatic species as goral, Siberian spruce grouse, swan goose ,great bustard, and wild lotus. Major bird migration flyways cross the region with stopover sites in wetlands. Eastern forests still provide room for migration of tigers, leopards and their prey, while western steppe is crossed by Mongolian gazelle migration paths. Wildlife resources of the region are subject to intensive harvest, with rifle hunting prevailing in Russia and Mongolia, and many other methods employed illegally in China, where hunting is largely prohibited. Harvest of wildlife is spurred by international trade demand. Fish resources are overexploited and total catch decreased manifold in recent decades, which necessitated Russia and China to agree on common fishing rules. Pollution and degradation of spawning rivers by logging and mining adds pressure on remaining fish populations. Flying flock of Red-crowned cranes (Photo by Yuri Bersenev)
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Map collections: Species richness Distribution of charismatic species
Map: Bird migrations
Photo: Siberian grouse and its relatives Waterbirds and bird migrations Turtle and other relatives of the black dragon Plant life in amur basin
GIS: Charismatic species ranges
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Amphibians and reptiles: Birds: Cranes and storks and climate change in Middle Amur Great Bustard and White-naped Crane response to climate cycles in Dauria Mammals: Large mammals and their migrations Big cats of Amur-Heilong River Basin Plants: Hunting and harvest: Exploitation of wild fauna and flora in Amur-Heilong River Basin The harvest of biological resources in China Trade in flora and fauna in Russian Far East Fisheries: History and reasons for the collapse of Amur fisheries Sino-Mongolian fisheries on Lake Buir
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