The birds of Pasvik / E. I. Khlebosolov, O. A. Makarova, O. A. Khlebosolova [et al. ; English transl. Nikita Chernetsov]. - Ryazan : Golosgubernii, 2007. - 175 с. : ил., портр.

Due to the warm current influence Europe's n o rth ernm o st con ifer forests grow in the Pasvik valley. Therefore here m any avian species typical o f the north and the south co-occur, and many o f them are here on the border o f th e ir range. The fauna o f this area is well studied which makes it possible to pursue various population studies and m on ito r changes in avian population. These studies form the basis for more detailed studies o f avian comm unities. Thus, Pasvik is a good model area for advanced ornithological research. This monograph presents the results o f a long-term research o f the species structure o f avian population and the m echanism s o f fo rm ation o f Pasvik's bird communities. We aimed to explain why certain bird species breed here, what e co ­ logical niches they occupy, how they avoid com petition and form characteristic communities. The m onograph opens w ith a b rief review o f the geographic position and pecu ­ liarity o f natural conditions in the Pasvik valley in its upper, m iddle, and lower part. It is followed by the description o f the main approaches and m ethods o f research. The following three chapters are devoted to the analysis o f the fauna, population and comm unity ecology o f Pasvik birds. The first ch ap ter reports the history o f study and the current condition o f the avifauna in this area. In the second chap ter the specific structure o f the population o f the main taxonom ic and ecological groups o f birds is described. The third ch ap ter discusses the m echanism s o f form a­ tion and functioning o f the Pasvik avian comm unities by the example o f common passerine species. This monograph is a stage in the study o f the Pasvik avifauna that can be a starting point for advanced basic and applied research in this area. The work has been financially supported by Ryazan State University, Pasvik state n atu re reserve, Russian F o u n d a tio n o f Basic R esearch . Svanhovd Environm ental Centre (Norway), D epartm ent for Env ironm en t o f F innm ark county governor's office, Metsahallitus Forestry Unit (F inland). During the work, the help o f A.P. Liferov, K.I. Dagargulia, S.I. Ananyeva, T.V. Selivanova, M .Ph. Sokolova, G.A. Kapralova, V.M. Mokhova from Ryazan State University, A .M . Khokhlov, T.N. Solovieva, G.A. Dm itrenko , S.G . Zvyagin, V.V. Paltyshev, S.M . Tkachuk, O.V. Makarov from Pasvik state nature reserve, A.S. Chavgun, V.V. Bianchi, A.S. Koryakin, I.P. Tatarinkova, R .G . Chemyakin, V.E. Vdovin from Kandalaksha nature reserve, S. Schanche, B. Christiansen, P.E. Fiskebeck, T. Aarseth, E. Lund, T. Oschet from F innm a rk Environm ental Office, C. B rodersen, R.V. Pedersen, H .G . E iken, S. W ikan, P. A spholm . M. Gunther, T-A . Bjern from Svanhovd Environm ental C entre was indispensable. The officers o f Russian and Norwegian border guards helped a lot. S tuden ts o f Ryazan State U niversity S.V. Balashov, E.V. Barantsev, I.V. Boyarchenkova, O.V. Boyarchenkova, A .G . Bulychev, N .N . Chizhikova, D .N . Gorshkova, G.V. E lizarova, L.P. Fedyak ina, V.N. G rachev, 8