Main animal groups and their influence on plant communities

Abstract

Seven native and one introduced (Cervus nippon Temmink, 1838) species of ungulates inhabit the Northwestern Caucasus (Sokolov & Tembotov 1993). Two of them (roe — Capreolus capreolus L. and elk — Alces alces L.) are extremely rare or absent in the vicinity of Teberda. Two other species (bison — Bison bonasus L. and red deer — Cervus elaphus L.) are typical woodland animals and they rarely occur in the alpine belt. So, only three species of ungulates, namely Caucasian goat — Capra caucasica Guldenst., chamois — Rupicapra rupicapra L. and wild boar — Sus scrofa L., spend significant parts of their life in the alpine area. These three species will be discussed in this chapter.

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