River Pearl
The river pearl (Margaritifera margaritifera), a relatively large representative of the freshwater mussel species, is the only mollusk in Latvia that is capable of forming pearls. (The shell of the mature mussel is approximately 10 cm long.) Evidently, in the 16th-18th centuries, Latvia's rivers supplied the courts of Sweden and Russia with valuable pearls.
Intensive pearl diving in ancient times and river pollution in our own day have caused the river pearl to die out not only in Latvia but also in the entire Baltic area.
The requirements for the river pearl's habitat are highly specific - small, oligotrophic rivers with cold, swiftly flowing water, a sandy river bed free of sludge and algae, and forested coasts.
Currently, only five beds of river pearls are known in Latvia. Their number has decreased fivefold during the past 100 years. Latvia is unique in that river pearls have survived in lowland rivers, whereas elsewhere the species can be found only in clear mountain streams. This is yet another indication that Latvia's environment is less polluted than that of most of Europe.
Amphibians
Amphibians include frogs, toads, and newts. These creatures are abundant. In the spring almost every pond has a frog concert; on summer evenings toads and newts hunt insects and mussels while tritons sun themselves in shallow waters. Amphibians are also indicators of the quality of the environment because they shun polluted areas.
One of the rarest amphibians in Latvia is the fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina), which is occasionally found in the southern part of the country. Mature toads live in shallow standing water of old rivers and ponds. The fire-bellied toad can be recognised by the bright orange-red spots on its belly.
A rare and protected species is the running toad (Bufo calamita), which can be recognised by the light stripes on its back. Approximately 450 running toads live in the Karateru restricted area of Salaca rural district in the Limbazi region.
The history of the common tree frog (Hyla aborea) is interesting and complex. Its appearance was first noted around Liepaja in the 18th and 19th centuries; there are also unverified sightings in the 1970s and 1980s. This small, graceful amphibian with suckers at the ends of its toes is also found in Lithuania. In the 1990s the reintroduction of the common tree frog was begun in Latvia; the frogs are artificially propagated and released into suitable habitats.
According to the Bern Convention, all of Latvia's amphibians are protected - the common newt (Triturus vulgaris) and great newt (Triturus cristatus); running toad (Bufo calamita), green toad (Bufo viridis), and fire-bellied toad (Bombina bombina); common spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus); and common tree frog (Hyla arborea), edible frog (Rana esculenta), moor frog (Rana arvalis), marsh frog (Rana ridibunda), pool frog (Rana lessonae), and grass frog (Rana temporaria).
Reptiles
For centuries, snakes have been regarded as symbols of evil and cunning (sometimes wisdom) - as in the familiar biblical account of the snake's role in banishing Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. However, in Latvian folk beliefs from pre-Christian times snakes are depicted positively. For example, snakes, such as the ringed snake (Natrix natrix), were regarded as household spirits; they were protected and fed. It was believed that a snake lived under every house; if the snake left, the house would soon burn down. Snakes were believed to suck up evil from the earth so that people could live.
Lizards are common throughout Latvia - the slow worm (Anguis fragilis), viviparous lizard (Lacerta vivipara), and sand lizard (Lacerta agilis). The viviparous lizard is quite common. If you are walking through tall, unmown grass and a tiny critter whizzes past you, it's probably a viviparous lizard. The rarer sand lizard can be found in dry and sunny pine forests. Both types of lizards often sun themselves on warm rocks.
Many people are afraid of snakes and consider them all as poisonous. Actually, only one snake indigenous to Latvia is poisonous - the adder (Viper berus). All other snakes, such as the ringed snake (Natrix natrix) and smooth snake (Coronella austriaca), are harmless. Even the adder does not attack humans; it saves its valuable poison for hunting tiny animals, not careless tourists. The adder typically protects itself by hiding or slithering away; it is uncommon for a berry- or mushroom-picker to encounter an adder. Adders inhabit clearings, marches, meadows, and sometimes forests.
Lesser-Spotted Eagle
The territory of the lesser-spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina) is relatively small - central Europe, parts of eastern and southern Europe, and Iran. Approximately 12% of the world's entire lesser-spotted eagle population nests in Latvia (about 2,400 pairs). After wintering in Africa, this bird returns at the end of March or beginning of April. It nests in old mixed-tree forests dominated by birch, spruce, ash, or black alder. It builds its nest near the edge of the forest in the side branches or forks of old trees. One reproductive period produces only one bird, though the nest usually contains two eggs.
The lesser-spotted eagle weighs approximately 1.5kg, and its plumage is dark brown. Young birds characteristically have a yellow patch on the shoulders and the back of the head. The lesser-spotted eagle is difficult to distinguish from the medium eagle, which is extremely rare - not more than five pairs nest in Latvia. The lesser-spotted eagle spends most of the day scanning the surroundings from an elevated perch and awaiting its prey. It feeds on small mammals and frogs.
Black Stork
The black stork (Ciconia nigra) is a large black bird with a white belly. In size it is slightly smaller than the common white stork (Ciconia ciconia). It is found in all regions of Latvia, though their distribution is uneven. Approximately 10% of the world's black stork population nests in Latvia (about 1,000 pairs). The black stork nests in secluded places, such as in old forests near lakes, rivers, and mires. For its large nest (approximately 1 m in diameter) it needs large trees with thick branches - old pines, aspens, oaks, ashes, and birches. While they are nesting, the birds must not be disturbed; the young become highly excitable when they see a human, and they fly out of the nest. If their wings are not yet fully formed, the young bird cannot get back to its nest and thus perishes. Therefore, a macroreserve is formed around nesting places so that no commercial activity disturbs the birds. Storks leave their nest if they detect any change in their surroundings. For the same reason, it is desirable to avoid logging activities in the vicinity during the storks' nesting period.
White Stork
This large, noble bird is considered sacred by Latvians and many other nationalities. Almost at every third farm house a pair can be found nesting. Often the stork is enticed to a house by hoisting a wheel on top of a pole to supply the foundation for a nest. Many beliefs are associated with storks; for example, the house where a stork lives has good fortune; a stork protects the home from fire; if a stork's nest is destroyed, the house burns down; and, of course, a stork brings babies.
The white stork, unlike the black, is not afraid of people. It boldly walks behind a mower in quest of frogs or lizards cut by the mower.
The white stork lives in part of Europe and a small portion of Africa. During the past 50 years, the condition of the stork has rapidly deteriorated. Data indicate that since 1984, nesting storks can no longer be found in Belgium, Switzerland, and Sweden. Between 1934 and 1984 the number of nests has decreased by 80% in north-western Europe and by 50% in central Europe. By contrast, the number of storks has increased in Russia, Estonia, and Latvia, but that increase does not compensate for the losses.
Approximately 10,000 pairs of white storks nest in Latvia (in 1934 there were 7,000 pairs) - that is, one pair per 250 inhabitants; that is why Latvia can be called the land of storks. In some places storks live in huge colonies and walk en masse through neighbouring fields. One such colony with more than 30 nests is located near Matisi in a lane by the Valmiera - Mazsalaca road. Here one can see up to three or four nests in one tree. White storks are not people shy, and they let themselves be observed and photographed. Nesting colonies of storks are characteristic of southern regions; of all such colonies, the northernmost one is located in Latvia.
The condition of storks is an indicator of the quality of the environment and of people's attitude toward nature. That is why the increase in the stork population is a sure indicator that the environment is less polluted here than elsewhere.
Corncrake
The corncrake (Crex crex) is slightly larger than the thrush. Its plumage is yellowish-brown, its wings are reddish-brown with chestnut brown stripes on the wings and under the tail. The bird runs quickly and hides in the grass. Because it is so rarely seen, there is a widespread misconception that it journeys on foot to its wintering places in Mediterranean countries or Africa. Actually, the corncrake migrates in the usual way, but it flies only at night.
The corncrake nests in moist meadows, tall grass, and grain fields, where it covers a slight hollow with stalks of dry grass. A nest contains from 7 to 12 eggs.
The corncrake signals its presence by its characteristic cry - the oft-repeated "creck-creck" - which is rather common in the Latvian countryside. According to some sources, from 26,000 to 38,000 corncrake pairs nest in Latvia. In other European countries the corncrake is rare because of intensive farming and environmental pollution.
Eurasian Beaver
The Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber) lives in various bodies of water - rivers, lakes, and even drainage ditches. The proximity of large cities does not disturb the beaver; traces of beaver activity have been sighted in small rivers within the Riga region.
Beavers subsist on the bark of deciduous trees. They gnaw large and small trees to satisfy their craving for bark. These damaged trees can be used to build dams and to flood ponds, both of which are essential for the beaver's normal life.
Beaver skins are extremely valuable because they are strong, soft, and beautiful. Roasted beaver meat is said to be tasty; it was a popular dish at the feasts of rulers, and thus beavers were intensively hunted. By the end of the 19th century, beavers had been totally destroyed; the last ones were shot in 1871 or 1873 on the Rauza River near Smiltene.
In 1927 two pairs of beavers were imported from Norway and released into the Stende River (the Irbe River basin). In 1952 several more pairs were imported from Voronez (Russia), and at the beginning of the 1960s beavers were brought in from Belarus, Lithuania, and Russia.
Currently, there are approximately 80,000 beavers in Latvia - that is, about six beaver pairs are active per 10 square kilometres. A patient tourist has the chance to catch sight of a beaver. It is not definitely known why the number of beavers has increased so dramatically, but such population density is excessive - beavers dam up drainage ditches, as well as small rivers and streams, and if the terrain is flat, large territories are flooded. We would gladly export some beavers if only buyers could be found.
European Wolf
The Latvian people have an ambivalent attitude toward wolves (Canis lupus). On the one hand, the testimonies and beliefs recorded in ancient texts indicate the wolf was honoured as a deity or as a servant of God. In many folk songs the wolf is called God's dog. When wolves howl, they are said to be praying to God; therefore, they should not be ridiculed or hunted. There are many incantations for avoiding a wolf or persuading it to go on its way. On the other hand, the advent of Christianity, wars, and epidemics changed the attitude toward the wolf. Legends were created about werewolves - that is, people who could transform themselves into wolves and then return to their human shape. It is said that one can become a werewolf by stripping naked on a night when the moon is full and crawling under the exposed roots of a tree; such roots are formed when the soil under the tree has been washed or blown away. The person must attach a grass stalk to his bottom; the thicker the stalk, the bushier the wolf's tail. To regain human form, the person has to crawl under the roots in the opposite direction; however, if someone has touched his discarded clothes, he must remain a werewolf forever.
The original area inhabited by wolves included the greater part of Eurasia and North America. Then, for a variety of reasons (e.g., deliberate extermination to protect domestic animals and free-ranging herbivores and lack of suitable habitat), the number of wolves declined dramatically, and in many places they are completely extinct.
Wolves came into Latvian territory in the early post-Ice Age. Hunters' efforts to kill off wolves were unsuccessful. Only in isolated historical periods wolves were seldom seen. In times of war or plague, the wolf population increased; possibly stray dogs joined wolf packs because the two species could cross-breed.
In 1998 there were approximately 1,000 wolves in Latvia; there was one wolf per every 65 square kilometres or per every 28 square kilometres of forest (forests cover about 44% of Latvia). One need not fear encountering a wolf in the forest because this cautious animal avoids humans. One can see a wolf by following its tracks or by going to the Ligatne Nature Park, where wolves are kept securely behind a fence.
European Lynx
The fur of the European lynx (Felis lynx) varies from ash blue to reddish brown; also, the number and arrangement of spots varies. Its ear tips characteristically have tufts of hair. The lynx is a huge cat; it can weigh up to 30 kg, and its height (at the withers) can reach 70 cm.
The lynx belongs to the boreal forest fauna, and its territory includes the boreal forest zone of North America. At one time these great cats inhabited almost all of Europe; now, however, their area has become considerably smaller and more fragmented. In some European countries, such as France, Switzerland, and Austria, the lynx has been reintroduced; however, lacking sufficient prey, the lynx attacks flocks and herds. In Latvia there have been no reported attacks on domestic animals - evidently, there are sufficient numbers of rabbits, deer, beavers, rodents, and birds for the lynx to hunt.
Although the lynx is a forest dweller, it cannot be found in every large forest. Like the wolf, the lynx avoids contact with humans. Very few people can boast of encountering a lynx. In 1998, 700 lynx were counted. It is legitimate to hunt lynx, and in recent years approximately 100 lynx have been killed annually.
European Elk
The European elk (Alces alces) is the largest representative of the deer family. A mature elk bull can weigh up to 400 kg. The elk's short body, long legs with large hoofs, large head with a crooked snout and long upper lip, and powerful withers make it appear ungainly, but actually the elk moves quickly and gracefully even in deep snow of through bogs. Elk like to swim in rivers and lakes; sometimes they even venture far out to sea.
Elk can be found throughout Latvia, and they have inhabited this region for centuries. Archaeological excavations indicate that elk appeared in the Baltic territories right after the end of the Ice Age. The size of the elk population has varied, depending on the intensity of hunting, the number of predatory animals, and the prevalence of diseases. In 1998 the elk population numbered approximately 8,000.
European Red Deer
The European red deer (Cervus elaphus) is a beautiful animal - a proudly held head with large ears, a proportional body, reddish-brown coat, black hoofs and snout. A mature bull can weigh up to 240 kg.
European red deer appeared in Latvian territory approximately 8,000 years ago, but by the first century of our era they had disappeared. The current red deer population has been introduced artificially in the 17th century. The first imported deer were enclosed in the so-called deer parks because it was thought that they could not survive in the wild. However, at the end of the 19th century some deer broke free and reproduced. In 1998 the number of European red deer in Latvia has been estimated at around 20,000.
European Roe Deer
The European roe deer (Capreolus careolus) is the smallest member of the deer family in Latvia. Its weight seldom reaches 40 kg - that is, about the size of a large dog. It has a slender body, long, thin legs, a small head, and large ears.
The boundaries of the European roe deer distribution are chiefly determined by the depth of snow: for the most part, European roe deer do not live in places where snow is deeper than 40 cm. For that reason, roe deer have difficulty surviving in the winter; they are also threatened by a growing wolf population, stray dogs, and poachers.
European roe deer could be found in Latvian territory as early as the 7th century BC, but their numbers were smaller than those of other artiodactyla. As with the European red deer and elk, the roe deer population was affected by hunters, predators, and disease. In 1998 there were approximately 40,000 European roe deer in Latvia.
Wild Boar
The wild boar (Sus scrofa) has a more massive body than the domestic pig; it has a powerful, muscular front torso, a large head, and short legs. Its skin is covered by black or dark brown bristles. In the winter it also has a thick undercoat.
Judging from archaeological excavations of the dwellings of Stone Age people, the wild boar was one of the most hunted animals. In the 17th century their numbers began to decrease, and although farmers were forbidden to hunt wild boars, the animals disappeared by 1900.
Occasionally, a few wild boars could be spotted along the southern boundary of Latvia. In 1911 some wild boars were imported from Poland and brought to the Zlekas and Targale estates. There they were allowed to roam freely, and it is believed that the current wild boar population of around 18,000 is descended chiefly from these imported animals.
Eurasian Otter
The Eurasian otter's (Lutra lutra) slender and agile body is approximately 80 cm long and weighs from 5 to 10 kg. Its fur is short and thick with a very soft undercoat and rough awnhair. The animal has adapted itself to live in the water; it even has special occlusive valves in its ears and nose for diving. It subsists on other water creatures, such as fish, frogs, crabs, as well as waterfowl, muskrats, and water rats.
As a result of water pollution, forest clearing, and the drying out of land, the number of Eurasian otters has greatly declined. In 1977 the animal was added to Latvia's Red Book of endangered species. Thanks to its protected status and the decrease in farming and water pollution, the otter population has stabilised and is even beginning to increase. In 1998 there were approximately 5,000-6,000 Eurasian otter in Latvia.
Fungi
Fungi are a mysterious, little-studied group of living organisms, which belong to a kingdom parallel to the plant and animal kingdoms. In addition to the fungi we can see with the naked eye are a myriad of microscopic fungi, such as yeast and mold.
Latvia's forests, meadows, fields, and even cities abound with a diversity of fungi. Many are rare and protected species whose existence is threatened mainly by the lack of a suitable habitat. Such, for example, is the Aurantiporus croceus, one of the most endangered species in Europe. In Latvia it can be seen in many places. This colourful, bright-orange bracket fungus requires very large oaks (about 4 m in circumference) that may be alive or fallen. Likewise, the common beefsteak or ox-tongue fungus (Fistulina hepatica), a rare fungus whose appearance and consistency are reminiscent of fresh liver, needs large oaks as hosts. The maitake (Grifola frondosa), which consists of many joined caps and which is connected to the root system of oaks, can attain great size - sometimes more than 5 kg. The ox-tongue fungus and maitake can be found even in Riga.
Fungi that are rare in Europe are relatively common in Latvia; for example, the fuzzy orange polypore (Pycnoporellus fulgens), which grows on old, decaying fir or birch trees, is rare in Scandinavian countries but rather common in such Latvian forests that have been almost untouched by humans.
Lichen
Polluted air is inimical to lichen; sulfur dioxide is particularly harmful. Thus, the number and variety of lichen on old tree trunks is a sure indicator of air quality. If we examine the trees in old parks of Latvia's villages and small towns, we are likely to see thick tufts of lichen on the tree trunks - a testimony of clean air. Lichen also grow on the ground; for example, reindeer moss (Cladina rangiferina), as well as other shrub-like varieties, forms a white carpet in pine groves.
Some varieties of lichen are less common because they have highly specific requirements. Many of these lichen are so tiny that they are invisible without a magnifying glass. More visible is the lungmoss (Lobaria pulmonaria); it can spread along the trunk of a tree to the width of a palm. It is called lungmoss because the indentations on its surface look like the alveoli in a human lung. The lungmoss thrives abundantly in virgin broad-leaved forests where there is high humidity and plenty of light. Now it is found in more than 400 sites around Latvia. Very rare are Collema spp. and Cetrelia olivetorum, which are found ony in some places.
Ferns
Ferns have a special place among folk beliefs. The fact that ferns do not have flowers has inspired many tales and legends. For instance, it is believed that the fern flowers only on Midsummer's Eve and that seeing its flower can ensure great wealth, success in love, and the ability to pass through locked doors and to understand animal languages. Unfortunately, they are merely legends; in truth, ferns, like fungi, reproduce through spores.
The ferns that we can see in Latvia's forests or forest glades, on the edge of forests, in shady ravines, on sandstone cliffs, as well as in gardens and parks, are extremely beautiful. Ferns are no rarity in Latvia, but some varieties are rare and protected.
One of these is the small grapefern or least moonwort (Botrychium simplex). It grows in North America, where it is distributed over a wider, more compact area; on the continent of Europe, however, it is found only in isolated beds. That means that this species is rare and needs to be protected throughout all of Europe. There are a few places in Latvia where this small (3-10 cm tall), inconspicuous plant can be found - in dry forest edges, on sandy hillocks, and chiefly on the coast of the Gulf of Riga. The small grapefern does not look like the typical fern - it has a bipartite leaf, which has a sterile part that looks like an ordinary leaf, and something like a spadix on top of the stalk; the latter is the fertile part on which spores are formed.
Yew
The yew (Taxus baccata) is an evergreen tree or shrub, similar to the juniper that usually hides in the undergrowth. The yew used to be called the German juniper, however, the yew and the juniper are not related. The yew is ancient; plants similar to it were extant 200 million years ago. The stump of a yew has been found in 150-million-year-old silt deposits on the banks of the Letiza from the Venta tributary in Latvia. Thus, the yew is one of the oldest tree species, but it is slowly dying out. Ruthless felling of forests to obtain this durable and handsome red wood has accelerated this process. In our century the wood of the yew is used to make expensive furniture and other valuable objects. In Latvia's climate, the yew's height does not exceed 12 m, and, as far as we know, no yew is older than 300 years. (Latvia is the north-westernmost boundary for the yew.) The record is held by a yew tree on the slopes of the Blue Hills of Dundaga; when it was chopped down in World War II, its diameter was measured at 46 cm, and its age was estimated at 300 years.
Yews are seldom seen in the wild. Some can be found in the western part of the country and along the Vidzeme coast. Many more trees - native and imported - can be found in Slitere National Park. Stands of yew trees can also be found in various restricted nature areas - the Nica and Rucava yew stands near Liepaja, as well as the Daiki and Dizkalni yew stands in the Talsi region.
Orchids
Do orchids grow in Latvia? Yes, they do; in fact, approximately 30 varieties of orchids can be found in Latvia's forests and meadows. The most colourful one is the lady's slipper (Cypridedium calceolus), a species protected under the Bern Convention and thus a rarity in Europe. On the list of protected species is another orchid native to Latvia - the fen orchid (Liparis loeselii).
The lady's slipper grows in the limy soil of deciduous, mixed, or fir forests; at the edges of forests in brushwood; or in forest glades. Its flower is yellowish-brown with a large, yellow lip. It has been cultivated in the botanical gardens of Europe since the 18th century. The flowers of the fen orchid are not as flashy; they are smaller and yellowish-green. Nevertheless, they are true orchids. Because this plant also needs limy soil, it thrives in shallow mires and wet meadows.
Almost all orchid species are listed in the Red Book. The reasons for protecting the plant are varied. Primarily, the bright-coloured orchid is tempting to pick; moreover, orchids are easy to destroy because their seeds can lie dormant for many years (up to 10). In order to sprout, orchids require particular mycorrhiza fungi. As much as 10 years can elapse between an orchid's sprouting and flowering.
European Water Chestnut
The European water chestnut (Trapa natans) is an annual plant whose roots are at the bottom of a lake but whose leafy rosette floats on the water. Another variety has leaves under the water; its separate leaves are fleecy and delicate, like peacock feathers. Its tiny, inconspicuous flowers are found in the axils of the floating leaves. In the fall, rather large (about 5-cm) horny nuts are formed. They sink to the bottom of the lake, and in the warm mud they await favourable conditions.
Impressions of the European water chestnut and its fruit have been discovered in 55-million-year-old deposits. In the warm period following the Ice Age, the European water chestnut was distributed over a large territory - even in southern Sweden and Finland. Archaeological excavations indicate that in the territory of Latvia the nuts of the water chestnut were used as food since the Bronze Age. In our day, this species can be found in central and southern Europe.
Deposits of the plant in Latvia lie beyond its northernmost boundary. Currently, the European water chestnut can be found in three lakes - Klaucani and Priekulani lakes in the Jekabpils region and Lake Pokrate in the Balvi region. All these lakes are under state protection as restricted nature areas.
 Treasures_of_Latvian_Nature.pdf (11.16 MB)
..........................................................................................................................................................................
Further information
Nature of Latvia Photogallery - daba.lv
http://www.daba.lv/scripts/atteli/albums.cgi?l=en
Checklist of Species - daba.lv
http://latvijas.daba.lv/scripts/db/saraksti/saraksti.cgi?l=en&s=en
Explorers guide to Latvia - BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/features/265feature1.shtml
..........................................................................................................................................................................
© Text: Jolanta Bara, The Nature Protection Board of Latvia, 2002
© The Latvian Institute
This fact sheet can be freely printed from homepage of the Latvian Institute, distributed and cited, on condition that the Latvian Institute is acknowledged as the source. The Latvian Institute promotes knowledge about Latvia abroad. It produces publications, in several languages, on many aspects of Latvia.
|
