ISSN 10623590, Biology Bulletin, 2014, Vol. 41, No. 10, pp. 856–861. © Pleiades Publishing, Inc., 2014. Original Russian Text © V.A. Korovin, 2013, published in Povolzhskii Ekologicheskii Zhurnal, 2013, No. 1, pp. 51–60.

Restoration of the Little Bustard Population in the Northern Steppe TransUrals V. A. Korovin First President of Russia Yel’tsyn Ural Federal University, Yekaterinburg, 620083 Russia email: [email protected] Received March 29, 2011

Abstract—The dynamics of a population of little bustards in the northern steppe TransUrals is considered. After a period of almost complete absence in the 1970s and 1980s, since the early 1990s, temporarily vacant parts of the range have been inhabited again and an increase in the population has been observed. By the beginning of the 21st century, the little bustard had almost regained its former habitat in the region. By the end of the 1990s, the average population density in the agricultural landscape reached 1 ind./km2. By the end of the first decade of the 2000s, it exceeded 2 ind./km2. In recent years, the little bustard has rarely been observed in steppe pastures but is found more frequently on perennial grass crops and harvested grain fields, while the bulk of its population (up to 70–80% of all couples) inhabits fallow lands, the appearance and pres ervation of which is associated with the steady reduction in agricultural production in the last two decades.

Keywords: Tetrax tetrax, number, population density, biotopic distribution, steppe TransUrals DOI: 10.1134/S1062359014100057

INTRODUCTION dynamics in the region. The stages of recovery of the The little bustard (Tetrax tetrax Linnaeus, 1758) is former range are shown, as well as the changes in the an indigenous inhabitant of steppe landscapes. Mani abundance and biotopic distribution of the species festing conservatism in the selection of nesting ranges, associated with it, against the background of changing this species has avoided tilled farmlands for a long environmental conditions in the steppe agricultural time. As a result of the total agricultural development landscape caused by a significant reduction in agricul of the steppe zone, by the middle of the 20th century, tural production over the past two decades. the majority of its populations had undergone degra dation: a significant reduction in numbers, retreat to MATERIALS AND METHODS the south of the northern border of the range, and frag mentation into separate isolated areas (Isakov, 1982; These studies were performed in 1988–2008 on a Isakov and Flint, 1987; Belik, 2001). key longterm plot in the northern steppe TransUrals The main reason for these negative processes was in the Bredinskii district of Chelyabinsk oblast (52°12′ N, the destruction of the original habitat—plowing of 60°21′ E). This territory is a typical steppe agricultural virgin and fallow lands and a significant increase in landscape, comprising cropland and, in areas that are not grazing pressure on the remaining steppe areas, which suitable for agriculture, virgin steppe pastures, which resulted in intensified processes of digression of steppe constitute about 30% of the total agricultural land. vegetation and desertification. The negative conse Data on the number and biotopic distribution of quences for the species could have also been brought the little bustard were obtained in the course of route about by the broad application of highly toxic prepara accounting, which covered all major habitat types of tions intended to combat rodents, in particular, zinc birds that occupy steppe agrolandscapes. The main phosphide (Belik, 1997, 1998); several harsh winters method of data collection was made without limiting also caused mass deaths of birds wintering on the Cas the belt of detection of birds with subsequent calcula pian (Gavrin, 1962; Belik, 2001; and others). tion of the indices of abundance for middle harmonic Against the background of a deep depression of detection distances (Chelintsev, 1985; Ravkin and populations, the tendency to colonize agricultural Chelintsev, 1990). During the reproductive period, the fields, especially perennial grasses, increased. Recent little bustard population is characterized by the results decades have seen a gradual restoration in the popula of surveys in May. On the basis of data on the popula tions of the little bustard. This process was traced in tion density in certain biotopes and the area occupied the north of the steppe TransUrals as well. In this by them, the weighted average values were calculated paper, we consider the little bustard population for the agrolandscape of the key area as a whole. The

856 RESTORATION OF THE LITTLE BUSTARD POPULATION 857 total length of the routes in May was 1255 km. Addi corresponds to the position of the northern boundary tional information is provided on the little bustard popu of its range in the middle of the 20th century. In lation dynamics obtained in May 1993 and 1996 at the Northern Kazakhstan, gradual recovery in the little territory of the Arkhaim museum and nature reserve, bustard population after a deep depression began in which is located 80 km northwest of the key area. the mid1980s (Bragin, 1991, 1999) and 1990s (Bere zovikov and Kovalenko, 2001; Erokhov and Berezo vikov, 2001, Tarasov and Davydov, 2008). By the end of RESULTS AND DISCUSSION the century, the species advanced to the northern bor der of the Kostanai oblast. From the late 1990s to the In the first half Distribution of species in the region. early 2000s, its nests were registered again in the of the 20th century, the habitat of the little bustard southern parts of the Kurgan (Naumov, 2001; Ryabit encompassed the steppe TransUrals region, in some sev et al., 2002; Tarasov, 2002) and Omsk (Yakimenko, places including the forest–steppe—slightly north of 2003) oblasts. These data allow us to state that by the the 54th latitude (Ol’shvang, 1938, Shvarts et al., beginning of the 21st century, the little bustard had 1951; Zalesskii, I.M. and Zalesskii, P.M., 1931). In the almost regained its former range in the TransUrals. middle of this century, the number of Eastern Euro pean populations significantly decreased, and the Population dynamics of the little bustard in the north northern boundary of the range retreated to the south ern steppe TransUrals. Detailed representation of the (Belik, 2001). The same fate befell the little bustard results of this process is given by stationary observa population in the steppes of the TransUrals and West tions in the most southern district of Chelyabinsk ern Siberia. By the end of the 1970s, the species was oblast (Bredinskii). The little bustard was not detected hardly ever found in Bashkortostan, Chelyabinsk, on the longterm key plot in 1988–1990 (table). It was Tyumen’, Kurgan, Omsk, and Novosibirsk oblasts first registered here in 1991, when several individuals (Kandaurov, 1986). A similar situation was observed were observed on a virgin pasture. On May 29, a nest during this period in the neighboring territories of was found in a fescue and feather grass steppe with a Northern Kazakhstan (Bragin, 1991, 1999). All enu predominance of Stipa lessingiana (Korovin, 1997, merated regions are on the northern periphery of the 2004). All findings were restricted to an area of about species range, where the depression of the population 5km2; on other tracts of virgin pastures with similar was, evidently, the most profound, often leading to conditions, the little bustard was not registered. Little complete disappearance of the birds. In the central bustards settled on the same plot of virgin land the fol regions of this range, against the background of a lowing year as well; moreover, they were found on the severe depression of little bustard populations in the adjacent field of perennial grasses: Hungarian brome middle of the 20th century, some of its colonies were Bromopsis inermis (Leys) Holub. In the next subse still preserved (Isakov, 1982; L’vov, 1983; Belik, 1986, quent seasons, no surveys were carried out in the key 2001; Moseikin, 1986, etc.). A similar pattern was area, but little bustards were regularly registered in the observed in the Southern Urals, where in the 1970s, same habitats: on virgin steppe pastures and crops of one of the largest populations of the little bustard in perennial grasses. Thus, in the early 1990s, the little the former Soviet Union was preserved (Isakov and bustard reentered the permanent ornitocomplex of Flint, 1987), demonstrating not only stabilization, but the key area. even growth of the population in some areas (Chibilev, By the end of the 1990s, the abundance of the little 1995a, 1995b). Apparently, it is from these centers that bustard amounted to 1.1 ind./km2, on average, over the little bustard spread during the period of restora the agricultural landscape (from 0.4 to 1.6 in some tion of its population in the last decades of the 20th habitats, table), which corresponds to the abundance century. This process was observed in the steppe Trans of this species in the Kustanai steppes surrounding the Urals as well—at the southern tip of Chelyabinsk TransUrals region on the eve of their largescale col oblast. In the 1970–1980s, the little bustard was virtu onization. Thus, at the end of the 1930s, in the pre ally absent, only a single finding of it was reliably reg ferred biotopes of the Naurzum Reserve, it ranged istered in 1986 (Zakharov, 1989). On the longterm 2 key area in Bredinskii district of Chelyabinsk oblast, from 0.5 to 1.4 ind./km (Ryabov, 1949). By the end of during surveys throughout the snowless period in the first decade of the 2000s, a further marked increase 1988–1990 the little bustard was not detected. It first in the population density of the little bustard was appeared here in 1991 (Korovin, 1995a, 1997), after recorded: compared with the year 2000, on average, it which it was registered annually. In the late 1990s– has doubled in the agricultural landscapes of the key early 2000s, the little bustard was noted to the north: in area (table). the Kartalinskii, Varnenskii, and Uiskii districts of Evidently, the process of recovery of the little bus Chelyabinsk oblast (Morozov, 1999; Gordienko, 2002; tard population was not narrowly local, but covered Brusyanin et al., 2010), as well as in the Bashkir Trans large areas of the steppe TransUrals simultaneously. Urals (Valuev et al., 2006). Thus, by the beginning of In the same period—the first half of the 1990s—its the 21st century, in the steppe TransUrals, the little initial stages were traced in the Arkhaim Museum and bustard again settled north of the 54th latitude, which Nature Reserve located in the northwestern part of the

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Population density of the little bustard at a key site in the steppe TransUrals (May), ind./km2 On the whole Perennial Year Virgin pastures Fallow lands Stubble fields Plowed fields in the agricultural grass crops landscape 1988–1990 0 – 0 0 0 0 1991 0.2 – 0 0 0 0.06 1992 0.2 – 0.2 0 0 0.08 2000 1.3 1.2 1.6 0.4 0 1.1 2001 1.3 1.6 1.5 0 0 1.1 2003 1.2 3.3 1.0 0.6 0 1.2 2004 0 3.3 2.9 1.5 0 1.4 2005 0 2.4 1.3 2.0 3.5* 1.3 2006 0.6 4.5 2.9 3.2 0 2.6 2007 0 6.1 1.4 1.9 0 2.6 2008 0.3 4.8 0.3 2.9 0 2.1 * Stubble field plowed in spring (route length 3 km); the dash signifies the absence of the biotope.

Bredinskii district, 80 km from the key area. An inten 1986, 2001; Moseikin, 1986; Chernobai, 2003 and sive examination of this site in May 1993 yielded only others). The assimilation of this new niche apparently one encounter of the little bustard: in the steppe along played a key role in the restoration of the size of its the crest of a farmland ridge (Korovin, 1995b). Single populations (Belik, 2001). findings of it during this period were reported by the Appearing in the north of the steppe TransUrals staff of the reserve as well. However, three years later, after a long period of absence, the little bustard began the little bustard was found to be quite common in the to colonize both fescue and feather grass steppes on reserve (Korovin, 2004). The greatest number of birds virgin pastures and perennial grasses since the first was observed in the crops of perennial grasses Hungar years. Colonization may have occurred mainly by ian brome and alfalfa Medicago sativa L., where by the birds that had already mastered this nesting niche. In mapping of stationary males, around a dozen couples the subsequent period, restoration of the little bustard were counted (5 ind./km2). In places, they formed population occurred against the background of the compact group colonies: in an area of about 50 ha deepening economic crisis and decline of agriculture. sown with Hungarian brome, five males were observed By the end of the 1990s, significant changes in the eco at a distance of 150–200 m from each other. Slightly logical appearance of the steppe agricultural landscape less frequently, the little bustard was found in virgin had occurred. Reduction in the area of cultivated land steppe (3 ind./km2). A similar level of abundance was led to the appearance of fallow lands, which, on the registered in the reserve area in the following years as key plot, constituted by the end of the decade 38% of well (Gashek, 1998, 2006). the total arable land. Simultaneously, the numbers of Biotopic distribution. Compared with the bustard, livestock decreased. By the early 2000s, relative to the the little bustard had long remained a more conserva level of the late 1980s, the number of cattle declined by tive inhabitant of the virgin steppe, which avoided half, that of sheep decreased four times, and that of farmlands (Kirikov, 1966; Golovanova, 1985; Isakov horses, almost ten times (Korovin, 2004). Reduced and Flint, 1987; Lindeman and Lopushkov, 2004; grazing pressure stimulated the development of demu Shlyakhtin et al., 2004, etc.). It appears that strict tation steppe vegetation succession, a consequence of adherence to the original steppe landscapes was one of which was a significant increase in the height and can the main causes of the major depression of little bus opy of virgin pasture grasses, especially noticeable in tard populations following the largescale agricultural humid years. Complete cessation of irrigation in this assimilation of the steppe zone. Early in the second period led to the degradation of alfalfa and Hungarian half of the 20th century, the plowing of steppes reached brome crops, which were replaced by a more drought a maximum. On the remaining virgin lands, as a result resistant crop: wheatgrass Agropyron sp. of widespread overgrazing, the processes of digression Against the background of the characterized of vegetation and desertification intensified. With the dynamics of the environmental situation, notable sharp reduction in the area of steppe habitats suitable changes occurred in the distribution of the little bus for nesting, the tendency toward colonization of tilled tard over the breeding grounds. By the end of the lands—primarily perennial grasses—by the little bus 1990s, their significant diversification was observed: tard became more pronounced (L’vov, 1983; Belik, along with virgin pastures and perennial grasses, they

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% ground of powerful tall herbage prevailing at this stage 100 of succession, such sites occur as edaphically deter mined modifications of vegetation. With the develop 80 ment of restorative succession, during which a reduc tion in the average height and canopy of the vegetative 60 cover occurs, as well as a significant increase in its spa tial heterogeneity, the attractiveness of fallow lands for the little bustard increases. The average population 40 density of the species in successive series from young (2–3 years) to middleaged (4–7 years) and longterm 20 fallow lands (8–10 years and older) changed respectively from 1.7 to 3.2 and 4–5 ind./km2. At some sites of old fal 0 low lands, the local abundance of the little bustard 19912000 2003 2005 2007 reached maximum values: 20–30 ind./km2. In recent 1992 2001 2004 2006 2008 years, the main part of the nesting population of little Year bustards in the studied area—up to 70–80%—concen Pastures Fallow lands trated on fallow lands (figure). It should be noted that the Perennial grasses Stubble fallow lands, especially longterm ones, served as one of the main breeding ground for the little bustard in the past Dynamics of biotopic association of the little bustard (% of (Ryabov, 1949; Kirikov, 1966; Kostin, 1978, etc.). the total population of the key area). In the last decade, the little bustard has been assim ilating harvested crop fields, represented in spring by included fallow lands and harvested grain fields (fig the stubble of cultivated cereals. In recent years, it has ure). The subsequent dynamics of the biotopic distri settled on such fields regularly and the population bution reflects the direction and magnitude of changes density has reached here 2–3 ind./km2, second only to in the environmental conditions in separate habitats. that of fallow lands (table). Fall plowing of winter till By the end of the first decade of the 2000s, the little age is currently held on a limited scale, and plowed bustard had practically ceased settling on the land fields appear mostly in the period of presowing treat masses of virgin steppes. The main cause for avoiding ment. It is interesting in this connection to mention this biotope was, apparently, the change in the vegeta the fact of registration of displaying little bustard males tion cover in the course of continuing demutational on fresh largelump plowed fields (table). Evidently, succession. Spring burns held annually on most virgin the birds had settled among the high wheat stubble and pastures to burn the accumulated plant waste could did not leave the field after deep plowing of it with a also have had a strong negative impact. On the turn plow, after which its surface was covered with exploited pastures, the high level of disturbance could large lumps and ridges of soil with tufts of stubble and also have played a role. It should be emphasized that, green shoots sticking out. This example indicates the due to the natural patchiness of conditions, steppe formation of sufficiently strong ecological links with areas with low herbage that are suitable for little bus field agrocenoses in little bustards. tard populations persist to this day in the form of The birds that settle on harvested fields often fall into inclusions and spots of varying size. However, it seems an “ecological trap,” when in the process of presowing that when choosing habitats, birds react to average, treatment of the soil all nests die. Favorable nesting con generalized landscape characteristics and do not try to ditions can emerge only in the fields left fallow. stay on the islands of still remaining suitable habitats. On perennial grasses, the little bustard population CONCLUSIONS density is experiencing noticeable changes depending In the northern steppe TransUrals, after years of on the prevailing conditions. Typically, little bustards deep depression in the second half of the 20th cen settle on the crops mowed in the previous year, on tury, when the little bustard was practically absent for which the herbage does not exceed 15–20 cm in the 2–3 decades, from the beginning of the 1990s, the res spring. However, in recent years, haying has been car toration of its population in the region began. In the ried out selectively, only in areas with a relatively high early stages, this process is likely to have occurred stock of phytomass, while degraded old crops often owing to settling to the north and northeast of the cen remain wholly unmowed. In the subsequent spring, tral districts of the birds’ habitat, in particular the the dry herbage of such sites is reminiscent of the grass Southern Urals. An important prerequisite for restor steppes, reaching a height of 30–40 cm. Little bustards ing populations was the realization of the potential tend to avoid such sites. ecological plasticity of the species: change to nesting Fallow lands have been colonized by little bustards in agrocenoses, primarily on perennial grasses and fal almost since their appearance. On fallow lands over low lands. Enduring an unfavorable situation in most grown with wild grasses, they choose sites with the parts of the steppe landscapes original for the species scarcest and lowest vegetation. Against the back (limited area, overgrazing and associated vegetation

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