Historical dynamics of the composition and ecological structure of the bird popu lation of Minsk

The historical dynamics of the avifauna in Minsk are analyzed in the context of the division of species into ecological avifaunal complexes. Qualitative changes in the ecological structure of the avifauna have been established. The breeding avifauna of Minsk is comprised of 140 species from six avifaunal complexes, with a predominance of the forest (55 species; 39.3 %) and the water-coastal complex (35 species; 25.0 %). The dynamics of each avifaunal complex and the main trends in changing the ecological structure of the urban avifauna as a whole are revealed based on the representation of each of them in different historical periods, starting from the mid-20th century. A predictive assessment of its future changes under conditions of progressive synurbization of individual species is also given. The synanthropic (84.2 %) and dry open spaces (75.0 %) avifaunal complexes are the most fully represented in the urban area relative to the overall composition of avifauna in Belarus. The dynamics of the avifaunal structure of Minsk since 1946 is attributable to the expansion of the city’s area and changes in its habitat structure, which had an impact on the representation of different avifaunal complexes. Another factor was the synurbization of certain bird species. Over the course of a 70-year period, there was an increase in the relative share of the water-coastal (+8.6 %), marsh (+4.2 %) and forest (+2.5 %) avifaunal complexes, while the relative contribution of the other avifaunal complexes decreased: synanthropic (–7.4 %), trees and shrubs (–4.2 %) and dry open spaces (–3.8 %). In the future, changes in the structure of the avifauna of Minsk can be expected to occur due to the presence of species from the forest and water-coastal avifaunal complexes, which possess a reserve of species suitable for colonizing urban landscapes.

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