Luschak M. Biocoenotics role and hunting management importance of large predators of the Ukrainian Carpathians

Object of investigation - large predators of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The objective - to estimate biocoenotic role of large predators in the present-day ecological conditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians and to find out their hunting management importance. Methods of investigation - field (number calculation, plots carding, lair search, individuals identification); laboratory (prey fragments analysis, questioning); statistical (electronic data base formation, calculation, mathematical analysis). Scientific novelty - for the first time in Ukraine general and species regularities of number and density dynamics of great predators in the Ukrainian Carpathians have been found out; seasonal composition of great predators food allowance in different ecological conditions has been cleared up; it has been determined that biocoenotic influence of beer on deer is small and makes 0,2 - 3,5% of their death cases number. Potential plundering of wolf in relation to deer is 8,0 - 82,1% and lynx in relation to roe is 11,7 - 89,2%; it has been determined that the most essential factor of large predators death cases is hunting, especially poaching which determines the state and dynamics of their group number; it has been cleared up that sanitary and epidemiological importance of great predators consists in the fact that their existence is the natural source of rabies and may cause the expansion of many diseases; actions in relation to Red Book brown bear and lynx as well as wolf and fox number regulation principles have been proved. Peculiarities data of large predators biology and ecology in the conditions of anthropogenic-transformed biotops of the calculation, large predators number calculation methods, large predators participation in the infection spreading data have been added and extended. Practical value - recommendations of great predators number calculation in the conditions of the Ukrainian Carpathians have been worked out. Estimation of great predators influence on hunting animals has been given and wolf and fox permissible density per unit of area has been determined. Strategy of attitude to the investigated large predators species has been proposed. The dissertation materials can be applied in great predators populations monitoring program working out as well as game management enterprises, nature reserves, national parks and other nature protected areas practical activity. Field of application: forest hunting management.