On the marmot resources reconstruction in Orenburg oblast of Russia [Sur les ressources permettant la restauration de la marmotte dans la région d'Orenbourg, Russie].

Résumé

Orenburg oblast is the steppe region of 124 thou ha square situated in the south of Urals. Over 1 million specimens of steppe baibac (Marmota bobac Müller, 1776) inhabited only the eastern part of the oblast before virgin landmasses were ploughed. The pioneering of 1.8 million ha virgin lands in the oblast in 1954-1963 has become the main cause f baibac resources fall because the habitats destruction and direct extermination. In 1970’s steppe baibac of the oblast was counted for the first time, its resources was estimated as 86050 specimens. Six protected areas of 314.3 thou ha in total were established for the species by oblast authorities in 1975-1984. There are 2600 baibac specimens in the reserve (zapovednik) “Orenburgskiy” established in 1989. A public organization has taken on lease the steppe plot “Orlovskaya step” of 16 thou ha, where the baibac population is successfully recovering itself. The main baibac resources of the oblast inhabit agricultural lands. Recent years exhibit tendency of baibac resources stabilization. Taking the whole limiting factors system into consideration, it is possible and a-priori tolerable to increase the number of baibac specimens to approximately 500 thou. Being one key (title) biological objects constituting the steppe, the baibac is merit to be one of priority objects in steppe ecosystems reconstruction.