Gornensky (reserve)

In 1876, steppe afforestation began on the territory of the modern reserve. Its borders include the territory of the former Gornensky State Hunting Reserve, which since 1974 included the Don Training and Experimental Farm of the Novocherkassk Engineering and Land Reclamation Institute. In the 1930s, the first arboretum was laid, and the collection of the second included many species of woody plants. The modern arboretum, created in 1973, is located in 21 squares, its size is 9.5 hectares. Seeds and plants for its organization were brought from the Main Botanical Garden of the USSR Academy of Sciences, the Botanical Garden of Rostov State University, and the Central Republican Botanical Garden of the Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR. To date, the arboretum contains 182 species of woody and artisanal plants from different countries ^[2] . Within the current borders, the reserve was created in 2014 ^[1] .

The Gornensky Reserve consists mainly of flat territory, but some of it is occupied by ravines and rivers. The territory of the reserve partially includes the former state hunting reserve and land areas of Donleskhoz ^[2] .

In the reserve there is vegetation of grass-feather grass and fescue steppe. Oak , pine , maple , elm , ash and many other species grow. The presence of 155 species of higher flowering plants was recorded. Common Ukrainian feather grass, Lessing feather grass , common yarrow , medicinal sweet clover , common creeping tansy, common tansy , bluegrass meadow , medicinal sweet clover , meadow foxtail , German elecampane, common chicory , bitter wormwood , spreading cornflower , milky fern . Plants that were listed in the 1996 book “Rare and Endangered Species of Plants, Mushrooms and Lichens of the Rostov Region” were preserved on the territory of the conservation area. Among them: the beautiful feather grass , Bieberstein's tulip , Russian cornflower . Several types of medicinal plants are presented: St. John's wort , wormwood , water pepper , bird highlander , shepherd’s bag , motherwort five-lobed, thyme , Valerian officinalis , water pepper , yarrow ^[2] .

The fauna of the Gornensky Reserve is represented by a variety of species. Invertebrate species are found: watchman-lord , bandaged dragonfly, ringed scolopendra , Eisenia Gordeeva worm, beauty girl , brilliant beauty, crocotemis red, fragrant beautiful odoriferous , steppe corm, wavy brachycerus , stag beetle , brown broom beetroot, melanidae broomstick, melanidae broomstick, melanidae melon bacchus, melanidae , giant scolium, steppe scolonia, polyxena, giant ginger, black apollon, callimachus, Prozerpina hawthorn, oak hawthorn, Hera bear .

Reptiles are represented by several, few species. There is a water snake , an ordinary snake lizard . Less commonly, you can see a copperfish, steppe viper , yellow-bellied snake. A marsh turtle lives in the reservoirs.

The following species predominate among amphibians : red-bellied toad , lake frog , green toad, and common garlic .

Mammals are found : white-breasted hedgehog, small shrew , common shrew , common fox, wolf , raccoon dog , marten , badger , weasel , steppe ferret .

Artiodactyls are represented by such species: European deer , wild boar , elk , European roe deer . There is a hare-hare . In the reservoirs there are water voles and muskrats ^[2] . In November 2016, it became known that 10 mouflons were hooked on the territory of the reserve. Until the end of 2016, species such as a white-tailed eagle and an eagle owl should have appeared on the protected area. The authorities also take measures to restore the population of moose , fallow deer and sika deer ^[1] .

There are species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation: European Tuvik , bustard , eagle owl , dressing , Saker Falcon , Lesser spotted eagle , and some species considered rare in the Rostov Region.

The woody-artisanal vegetation that prevails in the reserve contributes to the diversity of bird species. Such representatives are found in this area: large and small spotted spotted eagles , buzzard buzzard, dwarf eagle , goshawk , small falcon , European tuvik , woodcock , pheasant , whirlwind , ringed dove , common dove , coddling , goat , big spotted woodpecker , gray-headed woodpecker , ringed doveroot , common doveroot , forest horse , black-faced shrike , waxwings , roe , chaffinch , oak tree , oriole .

There is a gray goose , mallard , mute swan , shirokonoska , gray crane , corral beetle, moorhen, moorland, coot , coot marsh , gray crane , corral , gray red heron, small white heron , little bittern , big grebe , gray-toed grebe , small grebe , small grebe , small grebe , small grebe , small grebe , small snake , stilt , kingfisher , marsh warbler , nightingale cricket , reed oatmeal , turukhtan , herbal grasshopper , snipe , black-headed gull , marsh tern, teal-cracker , mallard , rucock , garlic , nightingale cricket , reed warbler , shrub, you can see varakush y . In the open landscapes of the reserve, field harrier , meadow harrier , quail , gray partridge , eagle owl , bustard , bluefin , lark , crested lark , pink starling , onion mint, millet and many others are found. In the winter, the avifauna is represented by species such as the winter runner , goshawk , ternopilos , partridge , pheasant , ringed turtledove , eagle owl , eared owl , large spotted woodpecker , crested lark , gray shrike , gray-headed woodpecker , quailweed , raven , waxwing , jay , magpie , magpie , mountain ash , titmouse , blackbird , wren , blue tit , finch , goldfinch , pika ^[2] .