Scientists: Chernobyl zone fauna of amazing variety
The researchers studied the inhabitants of the banks of the Pripyat river.
A new study published in the journal Food Webs, showed that the number and variety of wild animals in the exclusion zone of the Chernobyl NPP increases.
Fishing for CEZ scavengers! Efficiency and composition of vertebrate scavengers at the land-water interface in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone by P. E. Schlichting @CISAASU, @CaraNLove @UGAEcology, Sarah C. Webster @UGASREL, James C. Beasley @UGAWarnell https://t.co/Ax5YFwIA6C pic.twitter.com/BH1rqe4GYS
— SREL (@UGASREL) January 31, 2019.
Dr. James Bisley of University of Georgia and his colleagues used to observe the animals camera traps, which were placed on the banks of the river Pripyat and the nearby irrigation channels. Nearby they left the fish as bait.
98% of fish carcasses were eaten in one week a variety of animals.
During the 83 tests the camera took 10 mammal species and 5 bird species: field mouse, geliogaliu mouse, little one, jays, magpies, raccoon dogs, American mink, otter, wolf, crow and the white-tailed eagle.
White-tailed eagle, the American mink and river otter caught on camera scientists in the Polesie state radiation-ecological reserve for the first time.
The first large-scale study of biodiversity in the Chernobyl zone began in 2015. Since then, scientists have managed to photograph here, even the bear and bison. And the population of wolves in the exclusion zone has increased so much that they began to migrate to Russia.
See also:
- Who and how to make the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster
- Chernobyl launched a solar power
- Abandoned country. Chernobyl 2018: how to live in the exclusion Zone today