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.

N. V. Polikarpova Transect counts are one of the main methods o f studying the fauna and specific structure o f the passerine population. logical research (James e ta l. 1984; Schoener 1989; Wiens 1989; Khlebosolov 1996, 1999, 2002). According to this concept, the ecological niche is defined as a system whose holistic nature is determ ined by the species' function in the ecosystem and is m an ­ ifested in species-specific foraging behaviour. Foraging behaviour is a stable stereo ­ typed species-specific characteristic that governs m icrohabitat selection typical o f a particular species, habitat and geographic distribution, diet and the social organi­ zation pattern (MacA rthur 1958; Root 1967; Williamson 1971; Holmes et al. 1979; Robinson & Holmes 1982, Fitzpatrick 1985, Khlebosolov 1993, 1999, 2004). In order to be able to fulfil its function, i.e. to forage in a characteristic m an ­ ner, birds form various ecological, morphological, physiological, genetic, and other characters that form a system o f hierarchically organised adaptations to the envi­ ronment. Foraging behaviour as a special biological phenom enon stands out in importance with other characteristics o f a species. This is rather a system character that governs the development o f all other characteristics, is their integral represen­ tation and hoiistically characterises the specificity o f the species' ecological niche (Khlebosolov 1993, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2005). The study o f the mechanisms o f form ation and functioning o f communities was done in common species o f passerines that inhabit forests, wetlands, coastal shrubs, and the mountain tundra. As a stereotype o f foraging behaviour which is m aintained under different ecological conditions and in different parts o f the range ( Khlebosolov 1993), we used data obtained in o ther areas to characterise the forag­ ing behaviour o f some species. Characteristics o f foraging behaviour are closely 23