Winter route census of mammals
(method of counting mammals by footprints)
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Winter accounting work includes carrying out activities related to determining the number of mainly animals on routes, on trial plots, on feeding grounds.
Route accounts. The main method of state registration of hunting resources in the Russian Federation is winter route registration (ZMU), carried out by all hunting users on the instructions of the Department for the Protection and Rational Use of Hunting Resources.
ZMU is used to determine the population density and the number of hunting animals and upland game in large areas (republic, territory, region).
ZMU refers to complex accounting methods, i.e. with its help, you can simultaneously determine the number of many species of animals: elk, roe deer, wild boar, red deer, lynx, wolf, fox, sable, martens, trochee, wolverine, ermine, squirrel, hares, hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie, partridge, as well as to obtain relative indicators of population density of otters, minks, arctic foxes, taiga populations of reindeer.
The method of counting animals in the ZMU is based on the fact that the average number of crossings of the traces of animals of the considered species by the counting route is directly proportional to the population density of this species. In turn, the number of crossed (recorded) traces depends on the average length of animal traces. The longer the traces, the more likely they are to be crossed by the registration route.
Thus, to determine the population density of animals (the number of individuals per unit area), two indicators must be determined: 1) the average number of crossings of daily tracks of the considered animal species per unit length of the route; 2) the coefficient associated with the length of the daily course of animals.
In a simple form, the formula for calculating the population density (number of animals per unit area) for each individual species of animals is as follows:
D= AK,
where BUT– accounting indicator (average number of crossings of daily animal tracks per unit length of registration routes); TO– conversion factor associated with the length of the daily movement of animals during the accounting period in a given territory.
Most of the territory of Russia is suitable for conducting ZMU, with the exception of some southern regions that do not have stable snow cover in winter, as well as tundra with very dense snow and high mountains.
Accounting is carried out in the period from January 25 to March 10. Extreme weather conditions (hard frosts, blizzards, thaws) are avoided during accounting.
The work is carried out in two days. On the first day, passing along the route, the census taker wipes out all traces crossed. On the second day, while walking along the route, he marks on the diagram all new traces crossing the route, indicating the type and number of animals that left traces, as well as the category of land.
The conversion factor is determined by tracking the tracks of animals, followed by the calculation of the average length of the daily course. For its correct determination, it is necessary to use all the information on the average length of the daily course of game animals, obtained by various methods in different years in different regions. Therefore, at present, the determination of WMU conversion factors is carried out only centrally by the accounting group of the central research laboratory of the Department for the Protection and Rational Use of Hunting Resources.
Accounting of birds is of subordinate importance and is carried out by the tape method. At each meeting with birds, the distance from the counter to the bird at the time of its detection is noted. Twice the average detection distance is equal to the width of the counting tape. By multiplying the width of the accounting tape by the length of the route, the area of \u200b\u200bthe tape is obtained. The number of birds encountered, divided by the area of the belt, gives the population density of birds of a particular species.
The volume of these works should not be less than 25 km of the route for the ranger bypass, and if the area of the bypass exceeds 5000 ha, then 25 km for every 5000 ha of land, plus sections of the routes passed when counting animals on trial sites. Routes should be laid in each Jaeger bypass in such a way that the ratio of the types of land they cross would have the same correlation as in the entire area of the given Jaeger bypass. Routes coincide with viziers, narrow quarterly clearings, forest roads and well-marked paths. Routes should not be laid along wide clearings, asphalted and improved dirt roads and places where for a considerable distance the course coincides with the boundaries of different types of land, especially along the edge line (forest - field). The main part of the route should pass across the relief, frequent passage along the floodplain should be avoided. The route should be positioned so that the recorder makes as little idling as possible, which is achieved on routes that have the shape of a ring or a semicircle. Direct routes are also possible, for example, on the day of grouting, the accountant passes from the village to the hunting base or the ranger's cordon, and the next day, when traces are fixed, he returns to his starting point.
For state hunting records, routes are divided into three groups of land types - forest, field, swamp. As with salary accounting, snowmobiles and dogs are not allowed here. Approximate daily production rate can be 10-15 km, depending on the complexity of the route (deep loose snow, clutter, difficult terrain, etc.). In mountainous conditions, the length of the route can be reduced to 7-8 km.
Accounting for mink and otter along the coastline of water bodies. The European otter and mink are currently banned from hunting in most areas. However, the farm is interested in knowing the situation with these species on its territory. The American mink, acclimatized in a number of areas, took root well and significantly expanded its area of habitat, invading the range of the European mink in a number of places. Differences in the biology of reproduction of these 2 species ruled out the possibility of their hybridization, however, the introduced species occupies a dominant position in the common ecological niche. It is also fished for in a number of areas, therefore, in order to determine the possible percentage of removal from the population, it is desirable to carry out work to account for the number of these animals.
Accounting is carried out on routes along the coastline of rivers, rivers and lakes. The most convenient time for accounting is the first half of winter, after the establishment of a snow cover of 5-10 cm.
If the hydro network in the area where the farm is located is poorly developed, then accounting can cover the entire hydraulic system. With an average and highly developed hydro network, a part of it, but not less than 20% of the length of the coastlines of reservoirs, is subject to passage. Route sections are distributed evenly over the territory of the economy, while the ratio of the length of individual route sections by category of water bodies (rivers, lakes, etc.) is observed.
These accounting work should be entrusted to experienced rangers who can distinguish traces of a mink from an ermine, a polecat from a column, and an otter from a beaver.
Although the record is kept on the tracks, in the end it is not the number of tracks that is counted, but the number of individuals. To do this, the census taker must be able to well determine the boundaries of the individual areas of these animals, the size of which varies greatly depending on the population density of the species.
On the outline of the route, not traces are marked, but the boundaries of individual sections, the number of which will approximately correspond to the number of animals counted.
Accounting processing is simple. Prior to the start of the census, using large-scale maps, using a curvimeter, the total length of rivers, streams and shorelines of lakes, flowing ponds, oxbow lakes of deaf channels, etc., is calculated. (tortuosity factor can be ignored). Suppose it was 260 km, of which 120 km along medium and small rivers, oxbow lakes and channels, 60 km along large rivers (30 x 2 - both banks) and 80 km along the coastlines of lakes. In this case, with a production rate of 20%, the length of the accounting routes will be 24 km along medium and small rivers (20% of 120 km), 24 (12 x 2) km along large rivers, and 16 km along the coastlines of lakes. Let's assume that 6, 4 and 3 minks were taken into account for the listed types of water bodies, respectively, then with direct extrapolation along medium and small rivers, 30 (120 x 6:: 24) animals should live, along large rivers - 10, and along lakes - 15, with population density in terms of 10 km of coastlines, respectively - 2.5; 1.7 and 1.9. The total number of minks on the farm will be 55 animals.
There are more sophisticated methods for determining the abundance of these semi-aquatic animals, but the latter have never been mass species, being commercial hunting objects, and therefore the proposed accounting method for sports farms should be considered quite sufficient.
Aerial census of forest ungulates. Aerial census of ungulates is the most expensive type of census. It is possible to conduct it almost once every 3-4 years. In this case, in essence, only elk and deer are taken into account. It is not possible to see a wild boar on a day trip, the roe deer often hides, and the percentage of passes for these species reaches large limits, in connection with this, their registration from an airplane in the forest does not reach the goal.
The most probable possibility of carrying out an aerial survey is to combine it with training flights of fire aviation, which begin already in early March with well-preserved snow cover.
It is expedient to carry out an aerial survey only in those farms where dark coniferous plantations are absent or have a small area.
There are quite a lot of methodological instructions and guidance documents related to aerial surveys, but the most acceptable method should be considered the method developed and successfully applied by specialists of the Sverdlovsk Regional Department of Hunting (now the Yekaterinburg Branch of the Department for the Protection and Rational Use of Hunting Resources).
The advantage of this method is that with two observers on each side (An-2), the percentage of misses is significantly reduced, the record is kept by one person from the words of observers who are busy only with accounting and are not distracted by records and course correction. The course and correctness of the closing of the shuttles (turns with access to a new accounting tape), together with the letnab, is monitored by another performer located in the cockpit, he also dictates a change in land types. Thus, the accounting team consists of six people. When voice recorders are used by onboard observers, there is no need for a recorder to make records.
The cargo-passenger version of the An-2 is more suitable for accounting, the passenger version is hardly acceptable, since the inner fuselage skin narrows the field of view, and the location of the seats creates inconvenience for the observer sitting behind.
Forward-looking observers (from each side) are located facing the cockpit, occupying a position in which the aircraft wing does not overlap the field of view, i.e. is at the back. The rear observers sit with their backs to the lookouts, choosing a position in the seat combination in which the wing of the aircraft is again behind, without blocking the view.
Before the beginning of the counts, a one-hour training flight is carried out, during which (depending on the terrain) the optimal flight altitude is selected - 120 - 150 m and the elements of the actions of the counting team are worked out. If the flight altitude is too low, so-called flickering occurs, in which the observer may not have time to examine the animal, at high altitude, the animals can merge with thickets of bushes, snags, eversion, etc.
The most difficult thing is to set the distance at which the view of the terrain does not go beyond the registration tape. With this method of aerial counting of ungulates, the counting tape - 400 m (200 from each side) remains unchanged regardless of the types of changing ground. Only the percentage of passing animals (moose) changes, which on average is 20% for pine plantations, 15% for old deciduous stands, 10% for young stands, and 35-40% for old coniferous and coniferous pole stands. There is no pass percentage in open areas.
Thus, using in the future for calculations a different percentage of skips with a constant width of the accounting tape, a constant width of the shuttles is maintained, and most importantly, their displacement is eliminated.
Naturally, the width of the counting tape will be visually different for each of the four recorders, therefore, in order to achieve uniformity, adhesive plaster stickers are made on the planes of the aircraft so that the projection from the porthole to the mark on the wing corresponds to a review of 200 m. To determine the location of the mark on plane, during a training flight, you need to fly 2-3 times perpendicular to the power line. If the aircraft flies exactly over the column of this line, then on both sides 4 columns with an interval of 50 or 2 columns with an interval of 100 m will correspond to the width of the counting tape from one side. The place of intersection of the far pillar with the plane is remembered, and at this place a mark is pasted on both wings, and tapes are attached to the back (on the flaps), fixing the width of the registration tape for the rear observers during flight. The place for labeling can also be calculated by a mathematical method.
The route scheme is applied to the flight chart and a copy is made from it, which is kept by the accountant, who makes notes from the words of observers on the sides.
Accounting for trial plots.Accounting for wild ungulates and predators on trial sites using the triple salary method. This type of accounting work is perhaps the most difficult both in its implementation and in the processing of accounting work materials, which, in addition to mathematical calculations, also require a logical comparison of accounting data for individual days.
The salary method of counting game animals on a test site is based on calculating the difference in the number of input and output tracks of the animals being counted, marked on the boundaries of the sample and inside it (usually along the boundaries of forest blocks) and has been known for a long time. It has been used and is being used in the practice of hunting, as well as in accounting for the number of ungulates and some predators.
The triple salary method has found wide application in a number of state and ascribed hunting farms and reserves, as well as in the practice of hunting management. In many cases, it is accepted as the main method of winter census of the number of ungulates and predators, and with the correct organization of work, it gives good results.
The essence of the method is that, having bypassed the selected area of land in the presence of snow, the accountant calculates how many traces of animals lead to the area and how many from it. If, for example, there are 6 input traces, and only 2 output traces, i.e. there are reasons to believe that there are 4 animals inside the salary. If there are more output tracks than input ones, there are apparently no animals in the salary.
Despite the apparent comparative simplicity of salary accounting, however, it does not always make it possible to determine the number of animals in a salary with sufficient accuracy, which is hindered by two circumstances.
The first difficulty arises when there is an equal number of input and output traces on the borders of the salary (or the area inside the sample). In this case, two options are possible. One - the animals left the trial area and re-entered it, and therefore, are in the salary. Another - the animals entered the test, and then left, and they are not in the salary. Which of these options is correct can only be determined using additional accounting methods (running, trailing). This requires significant labor costs and in most cases in practice is simply impossible.
However, since the trial site occupies a much smaller area compared to the surrounding territory, then, naturally, the most probable case is when there are no animal tracks in the salary (quarter) if the input and output are equal.
The second difficulty comes down to the fact that it is completely unknown whether all the animals located inside the oklad (or the quarter inside the oklad) left traces on its borders. Some of them could not reach the line along which the survey route passed. In this case, their traces will not be found, and the animals themselves will not be taken into account. Such a possibility is especially probable with a large area of the salary and during the period of deep snow, which sharply reduces the tracking activity of ungulates. However, the movement of animals, recorded in their tracks for three days in a row, makes it possible to largely sort out those inaccuracies that inevitably arise in the process of conducting a one-time salary accounting.
It is advisable to start winter counts immediately after the end of ungulate shooting, approximately from January 5, and end by the end of the month. At a later date (2nd half of February - early March), the tracking activity of ungulates will be sharply reduced due to the increase in snow cover. At this time, deer, roe deer and wild boar concentrate in places of feeding, and in predators (fox, lynx) the beginning of the “rut” is approaching, and trail activity, on the contrary, increases by 1.5-2 times. Weather with heavy snowfalls is also unsuitable for accounting.
The purpose of accounting is to determine the population density of animals on trial plots with subsequent extrapolation to the entire area of suitable land in the context of huntsman rounds and for the farm as a whole. The Laboratory of Non-Timber Forest Products and Forest Fauna VNIILM found that when sampling ungulates, the error does not exceed 10% if the sample is reduced to 25% of the area being taken into account, i.e. one sample per average ranger round (4-5 thousand ha). Such a scale of accounting is not always feasible for the economy. Therefore, if the lands in it are relatively uniform, and the number of animals is relatively the same throughout the entire area of the farm, one sample can be placed on an area of about 30 thousand hectares.
Labor costs for one trial site will be 12-16 man-days. The limiting factors are short daylight hours and a relatively frequent sudden change in weather.
With a triple salary, trial plots of at least 1000 hectares in size each and in different parts of the economy are laid in order to cover the whole variety of hunting grounds. Trial plots are laid in the forest land of the farm in such a way that their total area in terms of the composition of the land approaches that part of the farm where it is laid. For example, if in this part of the economy 40% of the land is old spruce forests, 10 is old pine forests, 30 is young deciduous forests, 15 is old deciduous forests and 5% are glades and clearings, then on the sample plots (in aggregate) the listed types of lands should occur approximately in the same ratio.
It is impossible to lay sites in the immediate vicinity of a developed or fresh cutting area. In this case, the trace activity of elk and roe deer will be overestimated, and that of wild boar will be underestimated. Sites should not be planned near large settlements, busy highways and in places of mass recreation of people. It is undesirable to lay sites in insular forests if the main part of the farm territory is a continuous forest massif.
In order to avoid obtaining overestimated results, it is contraindicated to lay test sites in dormant zones and in lands adjacent to species-specific sanctuaries for ungulates.
It is desirable to lay trial sites in forest lands where the quarterly network is in good condition. In this case, the site can be easily divided into separate plots of a relatively small size - 100 hectares, and if roe deer live in the land - 25 hectares.
Wild boar, roe deer, elk, deer, fox, marten are counted on the indicated trial site, traces of the wolf, lynx, and wolverine are also noted.
The preparatory work includes instructing accountants. First of all, a segment of the route on the trial site is assigned to the accountants. Each accountant must receive a diagram of the section of the route that he will pass on the days of registration, and instructions with what sign he should mark the tracks of animals.
The trial site on the eve of the survey day should be passed through all quarterly clearings or sights crossing it (the total length of the routes with a kilometer quarterly network and a sample size of 1000 ha is 27 km, the ideal site configuration is 2x5 km). At the same time, along the line of travel (along the clearings and sights), all traces of animals are rubbed out, regardless of their age (usually the traces are crossed with a ski pole or rubbed with a ski across the course of the meter).
On the day of counting (on the next day after the traces are smoothed out), the counters go to the sections of the trial site assigned to them and pass them, putting on the scheme they have (drawn from the plans of forest plantations) the traces of the counted animals crossing the route lines. On the test site, all traces encountered are again overwritten. It is forbidden to use snowmobiles when moving along the route, take dogs with you, give sound signals with a shot, shout loudly.
The same work is done on the second and third days of accounting. At the same time, the number, species affiliation and direction of the tracks are noted each time on a new outline of the route. On the last day of counting, traces are not overwritten.
This completes the field part of the work and you can proceed to the processing of accounting data, which is performed by the hunting manager of the farm or production site (department).
Accounting for a white hare using the double salary method. Accounting of the white hare on trial plots using the double salary method and processing of the materials of these accounting works are carried out in the same way as the salary of ungulates and large predators. The volume of work on the farm should be at least 4% of the area of forest land.
At the request of the State Hunting Committee, squirrels, ermine, European hare, Siberian weasels, and polecats are also taken into account at the same trial sites.
The size of the site is not more than 200 and not less than 100 hectares (0.5 x 2 or 0.5 x 4 km) with the area of individual parts not more than 25 hectares (the forest quarter of 100 hectares is divided into 4 parts). It is better to work on such a platform together. The timing of the count compared to the count of ungulates may be somewhat shifted to a later period.
Accounting for a hare and a fox using the double salary method. In the forest-steppe and transitional regions, where there are practically no large forests and the forest fund is represented by insular forests, open agricultural lands will inevitably be included in the economy. In this case, simultaneously with taking into account other species, an additional accounting site should be laid in the field to account for the fox and European hare. Its size is set at 500-1000 ha (depending on local conditions).
This trial site should include both field lands and their edges occupied by forests. The trial site in the field is limited to the outline and in nature. According to local landmarks and a compass, it is divided into squares (parts) no larger than 40-50 hectares in size. The scope of work is at least 4% of the field area.
Accounting for ungulates by noise run. In the absence of a stable snow cover or, conversely, in deep snow, when trace activity drops sharply, which subsequently can significantly reduce the reliability of the results of the salary method of accounting, instead of it, accounting should be carried out by a noise run.
A site for a run measuring (4-5) x 1000 km or 400 - 500 hectares is chosen according to the same principle as in salary accounting.
The boundaries of the trial site should be clearly visible, so they should be laid along fairly wide clearings, the boundaries of a forest area with open lands, swamps, clearings, etc.
Beaters are placed on one of the narrow sides of the test site at a distance of no more than 100 m from each other. At the same time, observers are placed on the side, long and opposite short sides of the test site. There should be so many observers that the boundaries of the run area are completely visible, with the exception of the side occupied by the beaters.
After the observers take their places, the beaters noisily pass the entire trial area to its opposite border. At the same time, they must observe alignment and intervals. Animals expelled from the trial site are fixed by observers, their number is recorded, materials are transferred to the head of accounting work. Processing is carried out by the hunting manager of the farm or department.
The areas of all trial plots are added up, after which, by means of simple calculations, the population density of each animal species per 1,000 hectares of farmland is derived.
The volume of wild ungulates counting by the noise run method should cover 25% of the land area.
The continuous noise run method is relatively simple, gives fairly reliable results, but requires significant labor costs - there should be at least 10 beaters (with a short side of the site of 1 thousand m), the number of observers depends on the possibility of viewing along the boundaries of the test site.
Persons of any hunting qualification and even high school students can participate as beaters in the test sites. With a clear organization, even on a short winter day, you can work out on two test sites.
Accounting for the white hare by noise run. Recording the number of white hare on the trial site by noise run replaces, if necessary, the calculation of this species by the salary method, while maintaining the standards for the percentage of the counting area to the total forest area of the farm (4%).
Trial plots with a size of at least 100 ha each are laid out according to the same principle as for salary accounting (in different parts of the farm, differing in the composition of the land, etc.). The best size and configuration for each trial site is 500 x 2000 or 500 x 4000 m.
Preliminarily, the census takers go around the borders of the trial site and erase all traces of animals. After the tracks have been smoothed out, the beaters line up on the narrow side of the trial area. At the signal of the head of accounting, the beaters noisily pass the test site to its opposite border, observing the alignment and the distance established between them (no more than 50 m). After that, the census manager and his assistants again bypass the trial site along its borders and determine the number of animals that left it by the number of fresh rutting tracks. With a high number of white hare, this method is less laborious than salary accounting.
Accounting for feeding grounds. If, for some reason, the counting of ungulates on trial plots was not carried out at the optimal time for some reason, then with the onset of deep snow, when the trace activity of animals decreases, this type of counting can be replaced by counting on feeding grounds.
Near the feeders, the largest number of wild boars, roe deer and especially deer is concentrated by the end of February - beginning of March. At this time, they should be accounted for.
At some distance from the feeding area on the leeward side, a storehouse is arranged or a tower is installed. Observation points should be well camouflaged, all sides should be clearly visible. The optimal platform height is 6 m.
The counting of animals is carried out at different times of the day, for which the accountants must change after a certain period of time. This is explained by the fact that not all animals visiting a certain feeding point come to feed at the same time. Usually one group replaces another, singles can come during breaks.
For counting animals at night, the use of night vision devices is highly desirable.
This accounting method allows you to note not only the species, number, but also the sex, age and individual characteristics of some animals.
MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT
RUSSIAN FEDERATION
ON APPROVAL OF METHODOLOGICAL INSTRUCTIONS
WINTER ROUTING
In accordance with subparagraph 5.2.46 of the Regulations on the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 29, 2008 N 404 (Collected Legislation of the Russian Federation, 2008, N 22, Art. 2581; N 42, Art. 4825; N 46, item 5337; 2009, N 3, item 378; N 6, item 738; N 33, item 4088; N 34, item 4192; N 49, item 5976; 2010, N 5 , item 538; N 10, item 1094; N 14, item 1656; N 26, item 3350; N 31, item 4251, item 4268; N 38, item 4835; 2011, N 6, item 888; N 14, item 1935; N 36, item 5149), I order:
To approve the attached Guidelines for the implementation by the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation of the transferred powers of the Russian Federation to carry out state monitoring of hunting resources and their habitat using the method of winter route registration.
Acting Minister
N.V. POPOV
Appendix
to the order of the Ministry
natural resources and ecology
Russian Federation
METHODOLOGICAL INSTRUCTIONS
FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION BY THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES OF SUBJECTS
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
OF THE STATE MONITORING FEDERATION
HUNTING RESOURCES AND THEIR HABITAT BY THE METHOD
WINTER ROUTING
I. General provisions
1. These Guidelines for the implementation by the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation of the delegated powers of the Russian Federation to carry out state monitoring of hunting resources and their habitat using the method of winter route accounting (hereinafter referred to as the Guidelines) are intended for use by authorized executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation when they implement the separate authority transferred by the Russian Federation to carry out state monitoring of hunting resources and their habitat on the territory of a constituent entity of the Russian Federation, with the exception of hunting resources located in specially protected areas of federal significance, in order to obtain information on the number of ungulates, fur animals and birds classified in accordance with with the Federal Law of July 24, 2009 N 209-FZ "On hunting and on the conservation of hunting resources and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation and" (Sobraniye zakonodatelstva Rossiyskoy Federatsii, 2009, N 30, art. 3735; No. 52, Art. 6441, Art. 6450; 2010, N 23, art. 2793; 2011, N 1, art. 10; No. 25, Art. 3530; No. 27, art. 3880; No. 30, art. 4590; No. 48, Art. 6732) to hunting resources, by counting the tracks of ungulates and fur animals in the snow and visually registering birds along a predetermined route.
2. These Methodological Guidelines are used in determining the number of elk, roe deer, wild boar, red deer, spotted deer, wild reindeer, musk deer, lynx, wolf, fox, corsac, sable, martens, trochee, wolverine, ermine, column, squirrel, hare - hare, hare (hereinafter referred to as animals), hazel grouse, black grouse, capercaillie, white and gray partridge, pheasant (hereinafter referred to as birds).
3. The data of accounting for the number of animals and birds by the method of winter route accounting are used in determining the quotas for the extraction of the corresponding types of hunting resources, the norms for the permissible extraction of hunting resources and the norms for the carrying capacity of hunting grounds, for making decisions by state authorities on regulating the number of hunting resources, for analyzing the state of hunting populations. resources.
4. These Guidelines apply to areas with stable snow cover (snow cover persists for more than one month), with the exception of the tundra zone and high mountains.
5. In areas with unstable snow cover (snow cover lasts less than one month), these Guidelines apply in cases where stable snow cover appears.
6. Field work on counting tracks of animals on the snow on the counting route and visual registration of birds (hereinafter referred to as counting) in areas with stable snow cover are carried out from January 1 to February 28 (29) (hereinafter referred to as the counting season).
7. The period of accounting in areas with unstable snow cover is determined by the presence of snow cover.
II. Preparation for work
winter route accounting
8. Prior to the start of work to determine the number of hunting resources by the method of winter route accounting:
8.1. a scheme of the territory suitable for the habitation of animals and birds is being prepared, for which it is necessary to obtain information on the number and (or) density of the population of animals and birds (hereinafter referred to as the study area) with drawing on it the length and number of routes on which it is planned to census animals and birds (hereinafter referred to as the counting route);
8.2. a list of accounting routes is compiled and an explication of the areas of habitat categories of animals and birds (habitat categories provided for in paragraph 7 of the Procedure for the implementation of state monitoring of hunting resources and their habitat and the use of its data, approved by order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation of September 6, 2010 N 344 "On Approval of the Procedure for State Monitoring of Hunting Resources and Their Habitat and the Application of Its Data" (registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on October 8, 2010, registration N 18671, as amended by order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation dated November 10, 2011 N 884 "On Amendments to Clause 9 of the Procedure for State Monitoring of Hunting Resources and Their Habitat and the Application of Its Data, approved by Order of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation of September 6, 20 10 N 344" (registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation on November 28, 2011, registration N 22415), are distributed into three groups of habitat categories: "forest", "field", "swamp". The group of categories "forest" includes the following categories: forests, young forests and shrubs, floodplain complexes, transformed and damaged areas (with the exception of areas with soil cover disturbed as a result of mining and other technogenic impacts). The group of categories "fields" includes the following categories: meadow-steppe complexes, deserts and stones, agricultural lands, inland water bodies that freeze during the period of accounting, coastal complexes). The group of categories "bogs" includes swamps.
9. The list of accounting routes contains the following information:
9.1. The name of the subject of the Russian Federation, the municipality of the subject of the Russian Federation, the hunting ground (other territory) on the territory of which the number of hunting resources will be determined by the method of winter route accounting;
9.2. Account route number;
9.3. The total length of the survey route and the length of the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") in kilometers;
9.4. Geographical coordinates of the beginning of the accounting route from the satellite navigator (latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes and seconds);
9.5. Geographical coordinates of the end of the accounting route from the satellite navigator (latitude and longitude in degrees, minutes and seconds);
9.6. Brief description of the accounting route;
9.7. Total indicators for the total length of survey routes and the length of survey routes for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") in kilometers;
9.8. Position, surname and initials of the person responsible for filling out the record route sheet;
9.9. Date of completion of the register of accounting routes.
10. The survey routes should be located evenly on the map of the study area.
11. Accounting routes can be unidirectional or closed.
Turns of accounting routes should be planned at an angle of at least 90 degrees.
12. Parallel segments of the survey routes on the scheme of the study area should be located at a distance of at least 1 km from each other.
13. The length and number of counting routes in the study area is determined taking into account the need to obtain data on the number of animals and birds with a statistical error of no more than 15%, calculated in accordance with paragraphs 47 of these Guidelines.
14. The length of one accounting route should be at least 5 and not more than 15 km.
15. In the study area of up to 200 thousand hectares, at least 35 registration routes are determined, with a total length of at least 350 km.
16. In the study area with an area of over 200 thousand hectares, at least 35 registration routes are determined, the total length of which is determined by the following formula:
D - length of accounting routes, km;
S is the total area of the study area, thousand ha;
Regional coefficient.
Regional coefficient for the study area located on the territory of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Central, Northwestern (with the exception of the Republic of Karelia, the Republic of Komi, the Arkhangelsk region, the Murmansk region), the Volga, Southern, North Caucasian federal districts, as well as the Kurgan region, Chelyabinsk region, is 1.
The regional coefficient for the study area located on the territory of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Ural (with the exception of the Kurgan region, Chelyabinsk region), Siberian, Far Eastern federal districts, as well as the Republic of Karelia, the Komi Republic, the Arkhangelsk region, the Murmansk region, is 0, one.
17. If the area of the study area does not allow determining 35 or more survey routes, the number of survey routes is determined based on the possibility of their placement on the scheme of the study area in accordance with paragraphs 10 - and - of these Guidelines. At the same time, accounting is carried out along the same accounting routes the required number of times during the entire season of accounting until filling in accordance with the requirements of these Methodological Instructions of winter route accounting statements in the amount of at least 35 pieces.
18. The total length of survey routes by groups of habitat categories should be proportional to the areas of habitat categories available in the study area ("forest", "field", "bog").
19. Accounting routes should not be located closer than 300 meters from feeding grounds, salt licks, living quarters, linear objects (roads, rivers and streams).
20. The intersection of the linear objects by the registration routes specified in paragraph 19 of these Guidelines must pass at an angle of 90 degrees.
III. Carrying out work to determine the number of hunting
resources using the method of winter route accounting
21. Accounting is carried out along a predetermined accounting route with simultaneous recording of the parameters for passing the accounting route to the receiver of global satellite navigation systems (hereinafter referred to as the satellite navigator).
The parameters for passing the accounting route can be the waypoints of the beginning of the accounting route, its turns and the end, or the full electronic track of the accounting route, calculated by the satellite navigator during the accounting.
22. When passing the registration route, the traces of animals left by them during the last 20 - 28 hours, and the birds seen are taken into account.
23. Accounting is carried out in one or two days.
24. On the first day of counting on the counting route, the traces of animals are smoothed out, which makes it possible to determine, on the second day of counting, the traces of animals left by them within 20-28 hours from the end of the smoothing out of traces of animals.
25. On the first day of counting, any traces of the Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard crossing the counting route are entered in the winter route record sheet (Appendix 1 to these Guidelines).
26. Grouting of animal tracks may not be carried out if snow fell to a depth of no more than 3 cm the day before the count and it can be visually determined that the track was left by the animal after the snow fell. Between snowfall and the start of work on determining the number of hunting resources by the method of winter route accounting, 20 - 28 hours should pass.
27. On the second day of counting on the counting route, the number of traces of animals crossing the counting route and the species of such traces are noted in the statement of winter route counting, as well as the symbols of the intersection of traces of animals at the points of their intersection with the counting route by groups habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp").
28. Accounting is not carried out in a blizzard, snowfall, and also if a blizzard, snowfall occurred after the end of the erasure of animal tracks.
29. Accounting is not carried out if during its conduct it snowed or a snowstorm began and it became impossible to determine that the traces of animals were left in the period of 20-28 hours from the date of completion of the grouting of animal traces.
IV. The order of registration of materials of work
to determine the number of hunting resources by the method
winter route accounting
30. After passing each accounting route, the winter route accounting sheet (Appendix 1 to these Guidelines) is filled in, and the parameters of the accounting route calculated by the satellite navigator are entered on the accounting route scheme during the accounting.
31. A printout of the accounting route scheme from a satellite navigator is carried out.
32. An assessment of the quality of statements of winter route accounting, their processing and calculation of the number of animals and birds is being carried out.
33. The results of assessing the quality of winter route records, in the form of winter route records accepted for processing, are entered in the record for calculating the number of ungulates or the record for calculating the number of fur animals or in the record for calculating the number of birds.
To calculate the number of this species of animals, conversion factors are used (Appendix 2 - to these Guidelines).
34. The sheet for calculating the number of ungulates contains the following information:
34.1. The type of ungulate animal for which the number is calculated;
34.2. The name of the subject of the Russian Federation, the municipality of the subject of the Russian Federation, the hunting ground (other territory), on the territory of which the number of the ungulate animal species is determined by the method of winter route registration;
34.3. Conversion factor for a given species of ungulate;
34.4. The total number of winter route records, the number of winter route records accepted for processing, the number of unaccounted winter route records;
34.5. The total length of the survey route and the length of the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") in kilometers;
34.6. The number of intersections of traces of a given species of ungulates for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
34.7. The number of crossings of traces of this species of ungulates per 10 kilometers of the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
34.8. Population density of this species of ungulates for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") (individuals per 1,000 ha);
34.9. Area of groups of each habitat category (thousand ha);
34.10. The number of this species of ungulates for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
34.11. The total statistical error of the accounting index and the statistical error of the accounting index for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
34.12. The total indicators of the information specified in paragraphs 34.5 - 34.11
34.13. Position, surname and initials of the person responsible for filling out the statement;
34.14. Date of completion of the statement.
35. The provisions of paragraph 34 of these Guidelines apply to the statement of calculation of the number of fur animals.
36. The sheet for calculating the number of birds contains the following information:
36.1. Species of bird for which the number is calculated;
36.2. The name of the subject of the Russian Federation, the municipality of the subject of the Russian Federation, the hunting ground (other territory), on the territory of which the number of bird species is determined by the method of winter route registration;
36.3. Conversion factor for a given bird species;
36.4. The total number of sheets for calculating the number of this species of birds, the number of sheets - accepted for processing, the number of unaccounted sheets;
36.5. The total length of the survey route and the length of the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") in kilometers;
36.6. The number of birds of this species encountered on the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
36.7. The number of birds of this species per 10 kilometers of the survey route for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
36.8. Population density of a given bird species for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp") (individuals per 1,000 ha);
36.9. Area of groups of each habitat category (thousand ha);
36.10. The number of this species of birds for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
36.11. The total statistical error of the accounting index and the statistical error of the accounting index for each group of habitat categories ("forest", "field", "swamp");
36.12. The final indicators of the information specified in paragraphs 36.5 - 36.11 of these Guidelines;
36.13. Position, surname and initials of the person responsible for filling out the statement;
36.14. Date of completion of the statement.
V. Evaluation of the quality and conditions for the exclusion of statements of winter
route accounting from processing
37. When calculating the number of animals and birds, winter route accounting statements filled out with violations of the requirements of these Guidelines, as well as winter route accounting statements that contain corrections that do not include an accounting route scheme, with a record of the parameters for passing the accounting route, are not taken into account when calculating the number of animals and birds. obtained during the accounting using a satellite navigator.
VI. Calculation of the number of types of hunting resources
and statistical error
38. The number of animals of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
Population density of animals of a given species in a given group of habitat categories, individuals/1000 ha;
The area of this group of habitat categories, thousand ha.
39. The number of animals of a given species in the study area is calculated as the sum of the number of ungulates and fur animals of a given species in all groups of habitat categories represented in the study area.
40. The population density of animals of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
An indicator of accounting for animals of a given species in a given group of habitat category;
K - conversion factor for this type of animals.
Conversion factors for ungulates of this species are given in Appendix 2 to these Guidelines, for fur animals of this species (with the exception of squirrels and wolves) - in Appendix 3 to these Guidelines, for squirrels - in Appendix 4 to these Guidelines, for wolves - in Appendix 5 to these Guidelines.
41. The accounting index for animals of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
The number of crossings of traces of animals of a given species by registration routes in a given group of habitat categories;
Length of survey routes in this group of habitat categories, km.
42. The accounting index in the study area for all groups of habitat categories is calculated by the formula:
The area of this group of habitat categories in the study area, thousand ha;
The total area of groups of habitat categories represented in the study area, thousand ha;
43. The number of birds of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
Area of this group of habitat categories, thousand ha;
Population density of birds of a given species in a given group of habitat categories, individuals/1000 ha;
44. The population density of birds of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
45. The indicator of registration of birds of a given species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
The number of birds registered on the part of the j-th route passing in this group of habitat categories (u) in the study area (r);
The length of the part of the j-th route (in km) passing in this group of habitat categories (u) in the study area (r) (during a two-day count, the corresponding part of the route is doubled);
The total length of all survey routes in the study area (r) passing in this group of habitat categories (u);
The number of survey routes in the study area.
46. The conversion factor for a given bird species in a given group of habitat categories is calculated using the formula:
Effective census bandwidth (average detection range) for a given group of habitat categories;
Detection distance for each (i) bird sighting (m) measured from the census taker to the nearest bird in a group of birds or a single bird;
Number of birds in each (i) group found;
The total number of birds found in the study area in the lands of this group of habitat categories;
The total number of groups (encounters) of birds found in the study area in a given group of habitat categories.
47. The total number of a given bird species in the study area is calculated as the sum of the number of this bird species in all groups of habitat categories present in the study area.
48. The statistical error of the accounting index for animals in this group of the habitat category in the study area is calculated by the formula:
49. The statistical error of the count for animals in the study area is calculated by the formula:
50. The statistical error of the census indicator for a given bird species for a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
Accounting indicator for the part of the j-th route passing in this group of habitat categories (u) in the study area (r), calculated by the formula:
51. The statistical error of the conversion factor for a given bird species for a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
52. The statistical error of abundance for a given bird species in a given group of habitat categories in the study area is calculated by the formula:
53. The statistical error of the number for a given species of birds in the study area is calculated by the formula.
The history of absolute methods of counting animals on tracks along tracks begins with the work of A.N. Formozov (1932), in which he first published the formula for quantitative counting.
When constructing the formula, the author proceeded from the fact that the more traces of animals are found on the routes in winter, the higher the population density of the species should be; the greater the distance the animal travels in a day, the lower the population density of the species should be with an equal occurrence of traces. Thus, the population density z is directly proportional to the number of tracks S and inversely proportional to the length of the route t and the length of the animal's daily track d:Z = S:md.
A. N. Formozov, based on proportionality, nevertheless, put an equal sign between the left and right parts of the formula. Soon, experts noticed that this formula is a proportion that requires a proportionality coefficient to bring it into equality. This coefficient was found in various ways and independently of each other by V. I. Malyshev (1936) and S. D. Pereleshin (1950); it is equal to π / 2 (or with some rounding 1.57) and is called the Malyshev-Pereleshin correction. Subsequently, several other investigators, in different ways, arrived at the same constant correction of 1.57.
What does this correction mean, that is, a constant factor of 1.57?
Let us assume that we have only rectilinear daily traces. At the end of every trail we have a beast. If all traces are extended in one direction and if the route runs strictly perpendicular to the lines of traces, then the population density of animals can be calculated using the Formozov formula without any amendments: the number of animals equal to the number of traces crossed would refer to an accounting strip with a length of the route and a width of the length of the daily course of the animal.
Now let's complicate the task: we will place the straight traces at different angles to the route line. The probability of crossing the trail with a route has decreased. For those traces that remained perpendicular to the route (90° angle), the probability of their intersection remained the same. For trails that are elongated along the route (angle 0°), the probability of crossing is zero: theoretically, they cannot be crossed, since parallel lines never cross.
How many times did the average probability of crossing tracks decrease for the entire set of differently placed tracks, or how many times did the width of the registration strip decrease in comparison with the perpendicular arrangement of routes? Apparently, the probability of crossing the track can be expressed by the length of the projection of the track onto the perpendicular to the route. With perpendicular traces, the probability is maximum and can be expressed in terms of 1, with traces parallel to the route, the probability is zero; at an intersection angle of 30 °, the projection of the segment is equal to its half, and the relative probability of intersection can be expressed as 0.5, that is, it is proportional to the sine of the intersection angle. For all possible angles of intersection of the daily trace and the counting route, the probability of intersection will be expressed by the arithmetic mean of the sines of various angles. This figure is 0.6366. Compared to unity (probability with perpendicular tracks), the probability of crossing tracks located at angles to the route decreased by 1: 0.6366 = 1.57 times; the width of the registration band decreased by the same amount, to which animals whose tracks were crossed by the route can be attributed.
Thus, the Formozov formula without correction is suitable only for the case when all traces are rectilinear and perpendicular to the route; with a correction of 1.57 (in the numerator), the formula is suitable for a variety of angles of intersection of traces by the route.
Let's see what happens to the curved, bent in the daily movements of animals, the traces of various configurations? Here the famous Buffon problem can be called upon to help, with the help of which the needle problem was solved - one of the most significant problems in probability theory. Buffon showed that the mathematical expectation of the number of intersections of a needle repeatedly and randomly thrown onto a surface with marked lines is strictly proportional to the length of the needle, regardless of its shape. This means that the number of intersections must be constant, no matter how the needle is bent or whether it is straight.
For accounting purposes, lines drawn on the surface can be taken as accounting routes, needles - for daily traces of animals. This means that no matter what configuration the diurnal tracks may be, the number of their intersections should not change with the same number of tracks and, accordingly, the number of animals. Buffon's problem also means that Formozov's formula with an amendment of 1.57 is suitable not only for straight tracks, but also for tracks of any configuration, if the numerator of the formula contains the number of intersections of traces, if all intersections of all individuals are counted, no matter how many times each animal crossed the route line.
Logically, Buffon's problem can be explained as follows. Let's make pieces of soft wire and imagine that these are daily traces of animals. If you throw wires on a piece of paper
with drawn lines and write down the number of throws and intersections, then their ratio should not change when the shape of the wires changes. When they are straight, they will more often lie on lines - routes, but always give one intersection. When the wires are bent, the daily traces will become more compact, and the more complex the configuration of the trace, the more compact it will be. From this, they will fall less and less frequently on the route lines. But if the trace falls on the route, then it will immediately give a lot of intersections.
Thus, the number of successful throws of wires on the route line is closely related to the number of intersections of the track and the route. This relationship is inversely proportional. For this reason, the probability of getting, say, 100 crossings of a trail by a route does not depend on the configuration of the wire: with the same density of routes and length of wires, it is necessary to make approximately the same number of throws with different configurations of trails.
In the Buffon problem, there is a condition that the lines on the surface (counting routes) are drawn in parallel at the same distance from each other. The value of this distance does not affect the main conclusion, it only matters for the number of throws, as a result of which a certain number of intersections must be obtained. So, if the distance between the parallel lines is equal to the length of the wires, then with a large number of throws and the complete randomness of the experiment, the number of intersections will be less than the number of throws by about 1.57 times. The more rarely the lines are located, the more throws are needed to obtain a given number of intersections, and, conversely, the thicker the lines are, the fewer throws will be required.
It is possible to prove the validity of the Formozov formula with correction not only for rectilinear, but also for any curvilinear traces not only with the help of the Buffon problem, but also with the help of reasoning used in differential calculus. Each curved line can be represented as a set of extremely small straight segments, for which all the conclusions concerning the whole straight line are valid. In a popular form, such reasoning was carried out by V. S. Smirnov (1969), and S. D. Pereleshin (1950) used one of the formulas of differential calculus to determine the coefficient 1.57. Formozov (1932) spoke of the need to assume the straightness of all traces. In this case, it does not matter which of the two indicators is in the numerator of the formula: the number of intersections of tracks or the number of individuals whose tracks are crossed by the counting route, since with straight tracks the track of each individual will give only one intersection and the number of crossed tracks and intersections of tracks will be equal to . Apparently, for this reason, A.N. Formozov did not specify which indicator should be substituted into the formula.
However, with curved daily tracks of animals, the indicator set in the numerator is of great importance. The more sinuous the track, the more intersections of the tracks will be given by one inheritance (the daily course of one individual) and the greater the difference between the two indicators under consideration. Above it was said about the universal validity of the formula with a correction of 1.57, if the numerator is the number of crossings of tracks, and not the number of individuals whose daily tracks are crossed by the route. What happens to the formula if we substitute the number of individuals (inheritances) into the numerator?
O. K. Gusev (1965) proved that if the numerator of the formula is the number of individuals, then the denominator should be the average diameter of the daily area of the individual, i.e., the space enclosed in the daily heritage of one individual.
Logically, this can be explained as follows. Let us assume that the denominator of the formula denotes the area of the counting tape, the length of which is equal to the length of the route, and the width is the distance within which an individual can be located. The animal is at the end of its daily course, and the maximum possible distance from the route to the animal is equal to the diameter of its daily track (daily hunting area). With such a maximum distance, the animal can also be near the route, but not be included in the count if the route did not touch its daily course. Weighing all possible options, we come to the conclusion that the average width of the counting tape in one direction from the route is equal to half the average diameter of the daily area, and the width of the entire tape is equal to the whole average diameter (diameter) of the daily area of the animal.
In other words, the value of the average diameter of the daily area means the probability of crossing the trail by the route, the probability of finding an individual. The smaller the diameter, the less such a probability, therefore, when accounting, it is necessary to take a smaller width of the abstract accounting band, corresponding to the average diameter of sections of a given type at a given place and time of accounting.
When using the number of met individuals (heirs) in the numerator, and the average diameter of the daily area in the denominator, no amendment to the formula is needed.
Thus, the formula of A. N. Formozov was refined and transformed in two directions - using in the numerator the number of intersections of all traces and the number of individuals whose traces are crossed by the route.
The first deep critical analysis of the possibility of using these indicators was carried out by O. K. Gusev (1965, 1966), however, the author did not distinguish between these indicators to the end, leaving behind both of them the same letter symbol S. It seems that these different indicators need assign different symbols: after the number of intersections of traces, leave the letter S (the initial letter of the word “trace”, according to the author of the formula), and after the number of traces (individuals, daily moves of animals) - the letter N (the initial letter of the word “heritage”). Since the number of individuals per unit area of land is now most often referred to as population density, it is advisable to replace the symbol z (the initial letter of the word “stock”) with the symbol P (the initial letter of the word “density”). The remaining symbols correspond to the meaning of the designations: m - route, d - track length, D - diameter, average diameter of the daily area of animals.
So, by now we have two formulas for the route accounting of animals by footprints in the snow:
P = 1.57S:md, P = N:md,
where P is the population density of animals, the number of individuals per 1 km 2;
S is the number of trace intersections;
N is the number of daily tracks (individuals) crossed by the route;
m - route length, km;
d - the average length of the daily course (heritage) of animals, km;
D - the average diameter of the daily area of the animal, km.
If in the length of the route we substitute not kilometers, but the number of tens of kilometers (for example, if 250 km are covered, 25 tens of kilometers are substituted into the formula), then the number of animals per 1000 hectares of land can be determined.
There is another formula that is used to calculate data on winter route records organized by the biological survey group of the Oksky Reserve:
where P is the population density of animals;
P y - accounting indicator: the number of intersections of traces per 10 km of the route;
K is a constant conversion factor.
This formula is suitable for any combined accounting, where route accounting of traces is used as one of the methods. The coefficient K is determined by some other method. I. V. Zharkov and V. P. Teplov (1958) propose accounting for this at the sites; the coefficient is necessary for the transition from the indicator of relative accounting to the indicator of absolute accounting.
S. G. Priklonsky (1965, 1972) proposed to determine the coefficient K on the basis of tracking data along the length of the daily course.
The author conducted a simulation of winter route counts to determine the reliability and mathematical correctness of the formulas. An area of 320X500 mm was outlined on a sheet of paper, which on a scale of 1:50,000 depicted an area of 400 km 2. On this area, daily traces were drawn, taken from the tracking materials of 3 species of animals. Thus, the natural configuration of the tracks was maintained, which were brought to a scale of 1:50,000, and the tracks of the hare, hare and elk were equated approximately to the size of sable daily passages.
Each trace was previously drawn on a separate sheet of thick paper, where all the parameters of the trace were marked. From here, its shape was copied to a model area of 400 km2. On the model scale, the length of the tracks varied from 3.5 to 14 km, averaging 8.7 km; the average diameter of the daily range of animals ranged from 1.8 to 3.7 km.
First, individual routes were randomly placed on the model area (by throwing a ruler), then a network of routes equally spaced from each other. In both cases, the results were close, and straight and curved routes did not give any difference in the results. The network of tracks, drawn through 2 km on the model scale, was first placed parallel to the frame of the rectangular model area, then rotated 15° 6 times, and the intersections of the track tracks were taken each time. Thus, the network of routes crossed the area at various angles spaced 15° apart.
In each experiment, the length of a separate route was measured, the number and numbers of crossed tracks, the number of intersections of traces of each track were determined.
Thus, knowing the length of tracks and the diameters of the daily sections of animals, the number of intersections of tracks and tracks, the length of routes, we had all the data to determine the population density of animals on the site and thereby check the mathematical correctness of the formulas on a model that is as close as possible to winter route accounting in field.
The actual population density on the model site was also known from the number of traces placed on it. The difference between the result of the experiment and the actual population density in the model was the error, and its relation to the actual density was the relative error in percent. The errors were both positive (the number turned out to be overestimated in the experiment) and negative (the number turned out to be underestimated).
The resulting errors in the calculation of the number by both formulas do not amount to large values. This means that the formulas are correct and can be applied in the practice of accounting for animals.
The models marked the number of each track crossed by the route. In the process of modeling, sufficient material was accumulated for each trace to determine the number of n for it. In order to obtain more voluminous material and a more reliable indicator, each trace depicted on a separate card was processed. A transparent tracing paper with parallel lines every 2 mm was randomly superimposed on the image of the trace, and the number of intersections of the traces was determined for each line (route). Then the tracing paper was rotated by 15° relative to the first position, and again the number of intersections was determined for each route. The tracing paper was rotated through an angle of 15° until it returned to its original position. In this way, we obtained sample data for all possible directions of intersection of the track by the route and all routes spaced at different distances from the edges or the middle of the track. This ensured randomness and determined the actual mean value of n. During this experiment, an average of 815 intersections of tracks 5 and 357 intersections of tracks N was obtained for each of the 32 tracks. This applies not only to data averaged over different leg configurations, but is also valid for each specific leg.
Comparing the errors obtained with the three methods of processing the material, we can say that the smallest errors were according to the formula with the average diameter of the daily track. Here, the largest error was slightly more than 7% when the route crossed only 28 animal tracks.
With the length of the traces measured with a curvimeter, the errors were maximum: here, to all other errors, the inaccuracy of measuring the length of the trace with a curvimeter was added. Judging by the predominance of positive errors, there was some underestimation of the length of traces. In fact, the price of a division of the scale of the curvimeter is 1 cm, while the diameters of the daily area of the animals were measured with a ruler with millimeter divisions. In addition, in the curvimeter, deviations from the true length are more likely due to the backlash of the mechanism parts. There is no doubt that straight line segments are easier and more accurate to measure than curved lines. This applies not only to the model, but also to the field conditions of the surveys.
The errors obtained when calculating the length of the trace from its diameter turned out to be somewhat smaller than when measuring traces with a curvimeter. However, they were larger than when processing materials according to the formula with the diameter of the trace. The difference was only in the numerator of the calculation formulas: in one case there was the number S, in the other - N. It would seem that according to the formula with S, the number of accounting units is greater, so the statistical errors should be smaller. The model did the opposite.
This is because the exponent 5 is a much more random variable than N. The number of intersections S is based on the value n, and if n is received on the routes that is not equal to the average for a given trail configuration, an error occurs. A careful analysis of the placement of traces on the models showed that the maximum errors occur when a certain orientation of the traces involved in the calculation of the reliability of the methods prevails. Despite the fact that in each experiment data were calculated for a network of mutually perpendicular routes, errors arose, and the errors are considerable.
All this concerns the ideal conditions of the model, when a certain orientation of the traces was obtained by chance. In the field, the regular orientation of the daily movements of animals is a frequent phenomenon, and it manifests itself much more strongly than in the model. In this regard, during field counts, special attention should be paid to a very important methodological detail: routes should be laid in different directions relative to the terrain, in particular, relative to the linear elements of the terrain.
Routes that run perpendicular and at an angle to roads, river and stream valleys, forest edges, other natural boundaries, etc., not only cover areas of different types of land more proportionally, but also cross animal tracks at different angles, which ensures the correct averaging of the number intersections. After all, the daily passages of animals are often extended along oxbow lakes, streams, hollows, manes, edges, forest and woodland boundaries, other relief elements, and often, on the contrary, extend across these linear elements. During migrations, the traces are also extended in one specific direction. Animals often run along the edge in both directions, leaving several threads of tracks stretched along the edge, and sometimes - in one zigzag, as if stitching together two bordering phytocenoses. In the first case, the trail will give the maximum number of intersections if it is crossed across the edge, in the second - along the edge. In both cases, the resulting number of intersections will be far from the average, which will lead to significant accounting errors.
Thus, in order to obtain a truly average number of crossings per track, it is necessary to lay routes in different directions, at different angles to the linear elements of the terrain.
Accounts on routes carried out according to two different formulas are conducted in different ways. For the formula, with the length of the animal's daily run, the intersections of traces are recorded in the field, regardless of the number of individuals that left these traces. When counting according to another formula, with the average diameter of the daily area, it is necessary to count the number of individuals that left traces crossed by the route, and for this it is necessary to determine whether the individual left this trace as the previous crossed one, or another. This definition is called trace identification.
Identification of traces during accounting can only be done by an experienced hunter-accounter. Therefore, formula accounting can hardly be entrusted to a wide range of accountants with different, including low, accounting qualifications. For this reason, in large areas, a formula is used, for accounting, according to which it is only necessary to erase all old traces on 1 day, and on the next day to calculate all the intersections of new traces of each type. Any accountant can do this.
For accountants with extensive experience, it is advisable to conduct accounting using two formulas at once. In this case, in the field records, not only the number of intersections of tracks is noted, but also their identification is carried out (the number of individuals is determined). According to the tracking data, two quantities can be immediately determined - the length of the daily run and the diameter of the daily section - and at the same time two mutually controlling calculations of the population density of animals can be carried out. When identifying traces, qualified accountants can be guided by the recommendations of G. D. Dulkeit (1957) and O. K. Gusev (1966). O. K. Gusev (1966) proposes to simultaneously use seven signs of identification:
1. The freshness of the trail. Even during the day, the tracks of animals undergo changes: the snow is compacted, or the tracks are powdered with snow, covered with hoarfrost, or spread in the thaw. The author proposes to use artificial traces left by the accountant with a stick or plank during the night with an interval of 2 hours; in the morning they will harden to varying degrees, and the morning inspection, turning over the track in the future will help to accurately determine the freshness of the track on the route.
2. Track direction. Marked on the route outline. This sign is very important and often allows you to accurately recognize the tracks of two animals.
3. Visual assessment of the trace. Each trace crossed is carefully examined, the accountant tries to capture in memory the size and nature of the paw prints of animals. Measurements on loose snow are not accurate and can be misleading. Experienced hunters always believe that the trail does not need to be measured, it must be looked at.
4. Accounting for the probability of meeting traces of the same animal at a certain distance. The trail of the same animal is unlikely to be encountered again on the route through a distance exceeding the maximum diameter of the daily area of the animal or the length of the daily run.
5. Individual footprint signs. Some individuals of animals have individual differences in their paws and their prints in the snow.
6. Measurement of track width. According to the crust and fine powder, measurements of the width of one paw in a sable serve as a good sign for determining the sex of the animal.
7. Urine-fecal remains as indicators of sex determination. Partial tracing of the trail to find fecal remains may clarify the sex determination of the small predator.
All these features, developed for sable tracks, can be used when accounting for most species of animals (for ungulates, one more feature can be added - the number of animals in one group). Reliable identification can be carried out only with the joint use of all these features.
Accounting for animals according to the Formozov formula in both of its modifications involves a combination of relative accounting with trace tracking. As a result of tracking, the length of the daily track of the animal or the diameter of the area enclosed in the daily course of the animal (daily habitat area) is revealed.
It is easy to see that we use the word "daily" everywhere: this is an indispensable condition for time in accounting. If the number of crossings of daily tracks or the number of individuals that left tracks during the day is substituted into the numerator of the formulas, then the length of the daily run of the animal or the diameter of the daily habitat area should also be in the denominator. Thus, when tracking, the distance that an individual travels within 24 hours is determined.
It is most convenient to weed out the animal’s legacy from one daytime haul to another, from hole to hole, from nest to nest, from coming out from under the snow to “launching”, etc. Since a number of animal species, especially ungulates, can lie down repeatedly, and it can be difficult to determine the freshness of the track with an accuracy of up to a day, it is advisable to start tracking after a small powder, a day or a little more after the end of snowfall. After heavy powder, trailing should not be done, since many animals either do not go out after a snowfall, which makes it difficult to find a trail for trailing, or greatly reduce the distance of their movement, which distorts the results of trailing.
Unfavorable for trailing are days with a blizzard, drifting snow or strong crusts on which paw prints do not remain. It is best for trailing to choose weather with a slight frost without wind, heavy snowfall during work is also undesirable, although light powder is useful.
The accountant, after finding the trail, follows it after the animal to the place where it should be at the moment. Care must be taken not to startle the animal until it is visually detected, which gives the keeper full confidence in the location of the end of the trail.
Having found the animal, the accountant returns to the starting point of tracking and follows the trail "in the heel" to the place where the animal was before the powder, and if it was not, until yesterday's day of the animal. With this method of tracking, which consists of two parts, it is convenient to work together: one accountant follows the beast, the other - “on the heel”.
During tracking, a record is kept in the form of a diagram of the daily course of the animal with a mark with badges of haulouts, fattening, hunting, eating, excrement, urinary points, the paths of animals under snow or through trees. All necessary additions and notes can be written in words on the same sheet.
Despite the fact that the plan of the daily move must be made on a certain scale and the length of the daily move of the animal can be determined according to the plan, it is necessary to measure the length of the daily move of the animal in nature during tracking. This measurement is made in steps, using a ski counter, thread, measuring rope, or other available means.
In some cases, it is possible to trace the many-day legacy of one individual. Such tracking is a valuable material, although there is an opinion in this regard that the accuracy of such tracking is lower than that of daily tracking. The value of multi-day tracking lies in the fact that the recorders immediately receive the length of the daily course, averaged for different days with different weather conditions and unequal satiety of the animal. The latter is especially important for predators, whose daily course is sharply reduced after successful hunts; a well-fed animal may not leave the shelter at all.
Technically, multi-day tracking is best done a few snowless days after heavy powder. Knowing the number of such days, the most recent trail is traced to the animal, and then “on the heel” to the location of the individual during a snowfall. It is far from possible to carry out such tracking in all conditions, especially with multiple tracks due to the high population density of animals.
It is easier to carry out tracking for many days in the way of “catching up” with the animal: from visual detection the day before to scaring away the next day. However, the frequent (daily) restlessness of the animal can disrupt its natural daily activity and noticeably lengthen the daily cycle, which will cause errors in the use of tracking materials. With both methods of tracking for many days, the length of the trail is divided by the number of days the animal moves.
When counting on routes and tracking, the calculation of fat traces is of great importance. During tracking, on the diagram of the daily course of the animal, the fattening, as a rule, is shown with an off-scale icon, which is provided for in the instructions for winter route accounting. This means that according to the tracking materials, the length is determined not of a real one (with all bends, loops), but of a generalized, slightly straightened trace, and the straightening of the trace is carried out mainly due to fattening.
Since the formula must have a full correspondence between the values in the numerator and denominator, it means that the numerator should also contain the number of intersections not of the real, but of the generalized heritage, i.e. on the route, fattening should be taken as one track or two tracks, if the animal left after the fattening in the same direction from the route from which it came to the fattening. This recommendation has been tested on special models.
Speaking about the winter route counts of animals on the tracks, it is necessary to mention one more method. IV Zharkov (1958) proposed the following method for accounting for ermine in floodplain lands. The routes are established across the floodplain, and since stoats usually have individual and diurnal habitats extended along the floodplain, the routes will cross the diurnal tracks across. On the routes, the number of tracks (individuals) is counted, which, to obtain the population density, is divided by the product of the length of the route and the average of the maximum diameters of the daily tracks. Thus, accounting is carried out according to the formula with the diameter of the daily area, according to the formula, which was subsequently refined and justified by O.K. Gusev (1965, 1966). The only difference is that according to the method of O.K. Gusev, the accounting is universal, the traces intersect at different angles and the average diameter of the traces is used. According to I. V. Zharkov's method, the tracks intersect across and the maximum width of the track is used, i.e., the accounting conditions are limited: they are apparently suitable only for ermine and only in some floodplains.
The objectivity of the results of accounting work and the reliability of the information obtained in this case depends on the quality of the methods used and the correct choice of initial indicators for the calculation formulas.
Winter route accounting of hunting animals (ZMU) is recommended by Glavokhota as the main one for determining their numbers after hunting in hunting grounds over large areas. ZMU gives a general picture of the biotopic distribution of hunting animals, their abundance and biodiversity of species. It is carried out along pre-planned linear routes, evenly covering the types of hunting grounds. Accounting for ZMU is based on counting the number of traces of mammals of different species crossing the route line. It is believed that the greater the number of traces of the animal will be met on the route, the higher its density in the given territory. It is usually assumed that the number of tracks crossing the route line is proportional to the number of animals of this species, depending on its activity and the length of the daily course in given specific conditions. The indicator of accounting for the relative number of animals is determined by the formula: Pu \u003d N / m x 10- (the number of traces of the species encountered, divided by the length of the route, multiplied by 10 km).
The calculation of the indicator of the absolute number of animals is based on the use of the formula by A.N. Formozov (1932):
P = S/dm(1) - the population density of an animal species (P) is equal to the number of individuals encountered on the route (S) divided by the area of the recording strip (dm, where m is the length of the route in km, d is the width of the recording strip, equal to the length of the daily course of the animal in kilometers).
With the general logic of the formula A.N. Formozov, it originally included two unknown indicators - S and d. They raise questions:
1 - how to move from the number of counted traces N to the number of individuals S;
2 - how to determine the width of the registration band and what does d have to do with it - the length of the daily run of the beast?
The formula for calculating the indicator of absolute abundance (Priklonsky 1972), recommended by the Tsentrokhotkontrol: P \u003d Pu x K(2), (where K = 1.57/d is the conversion factor), does not answer these questions.
Meeting traces of the animal on the registration route means crossing its habitat. The daily course of the animal d in the lands inhabited by it can be different in length, highly tangled or slightly sinuous. Its outlined heritage - habitat, usually has the shape of an irregular ellipse (Figure 1). In this case, the field route can cross the area of the animal at any point and in any admissible direction, regardless of its shape and location on the ground. Passing along a linear counting route m and registering the number of crossings of the animal n on it, the counter deals not with the length of its daily course d, but with daily activity, which is highly variable due to changes in weather, sex, age and the animal's own physical condition. Therefore, for calculations, we need not the length of the daily course of the beast, calculated by the steps of the counter, but only the configuration of the track. For this purpose, it is invaluable to use a modern satellite navigator.
The proposed method for calculating accounting indicators is as follows. On the habitat of the beast (foxes), 4 points (A, B, C, D) are randomly marked within the contour. Through each of them spend 4 possible routes (1, 2, 3, 4). If the same section of the animal is crossed at one point (for example, A) in several directions, add together different lengths of the path within the contour (D1, D2, D3, D4), then their arithmetic average will be close to the diameter - D of an equivalent habitat of an individual in the form of a circle (Gusev, 1965). Each segment in the figure (as well as on the route) can cross the fox's trail several times. The number of intersections within the segment reflects its daily activity (n1, n2, nЗ, n4), and their arithmetic average reflects the average daily activity - n.
Figure 1. Scheme for determining the diameter of the habitat area (D) and the indicator of daily activity (n) of the fox:
1 - daily legacy; 2 - control points and routes within the contour; 3 - diameter of the habitat.
Knowing the average daily activity of the animal - n, you can easily go from tracks - N to the number of individuals - S, dividing by the activity indicator the total number of its tracks registered on the route: S = N/n.
The width of the registration strip should be measured not by the length of the daily track (d), but by the diameter of the hunting area (D) of the animal. This is logical, since the meeting of the tracks of the animal on the census route occurs only when crossing the area of its habitat. At the same time, the accountant can register habitats both on the right and on the left (Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7), including traces that barely touch the ski track of the route (Nos. 5 and 8) (Figure 1).
However, with a narrowed counting band (1D), part of the territory of the counted plots turned out to be outside it, while the absolute number was overestimated. But with a wide recording band (2D), there were unaccounted-mi sections of animals that did not touch the track of the route (No. 1 1 ; 2 1 ; 4 1 ; 5 1 ; 8 1), i.e. there was an underestimation of the number. Therefore, experimentally, an average correction factor of 1.5 D was taken to calculate the width of the accounting strip.
It is necessary that the passage of routes and trailing of the tracks of animals be carried out in a short time in stable weather without a noticeable change in the indicators of the activity of animals.
After replacing in formula (1) S (an unknown number of individuals encountered on the route) with the N / n ratio, and d (the ridiculous width of the registration strip) with 1.5 D
formula (1) has acquired the most perfect form (3): P = N/1.5Dmn (3), where: P is the population density of individuals; N is the number of tracks on the route; 1.5Dm is the area of the counting band; n - indicator of activity.
Calculation of the results of ZMU according to formula (3) gives the most accurate results relative to the recommended formula (2), since it does not need a conversion factor. We have verified the accuracy and advantages of the proposed calculation method during a continuous transect count of sable on control plots (Naumov, 2010).
The diameter of the habitat area (D) of a particular individual (its borders) with a low population density of animals with the appropriate skill can be determined immediately on the counting route by marking the coordinates of the first and last crossings of the counting line by the field navigator. It is also possible, when processing the results, to highlight the boundaries of the area of the animal (D) along the extreme traces crossing the route on the accounting scheme. To establish the indicator of the daily activity of the animal (n), the census takers within the boundaries of the individual site register all traces crossing the route in both directions. To calculate the average diameter of the habitat area of an individual and the indicator of its daily activity, only sufficiently distinguishable data are usually used. If due to the “multi-track” it was not possible to determine the boundaries of individual areas of individuals, then such doubtful data are not included in the processing. Indicators can be specified in regional scientific centers by statistical processing.
Figure 2. Scheme of distribution of fox habitats on the counting route A - B (12 km) with its high winter population density and different widths of the counting tape (1D; 1.5D; 2D)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gusev O.K. Methods for determining the number of sable // Bureau of technical information of the Glavokhoty of the RSFSR. M., 1965.
Priklonsky S. G. Instructions for winter route registration of hunting animals. M. : Iz-vo Kolos, 1972. 16 p.
Formozov A., N. Formula for quantitative accounting of mammals by footprints. Zool. magazine 1932. S. 65-66.
