Forage base and megafauna restoration in the “Krasny bor” nature reserve

Abstract

Forage base is a key concept in the matter of specific and numeric composition reconstruction of large herbivores. In researches the forage base of “Krasny Bor” nature reserve was estimated. Now there is a restoration of red deer and bison species there. The assess ment of forage amount indicated their rather small quantity, in particular concerning woody forages. Comparison of the established for-age reserve with their potential amount of intake by the large herbivorous testifies that forage reserves in the course of hoofed animals activity will steadily decrease. Low forage efficiency of nature reserve forests first of all is defined by features of the studied forest ecosystems located in a subzone of the South Taiga. In the future for highly productive heterogeneous forest ecosystems reconstruction it will be necessary to recreate all food chains, including restoration of grazing chains by introduction of graz-ing species of large herbivores.