Cyprus

Latvia's background information:

Latvia's location is North Eastern Europe. It's neighboring countries are Lithuania, Estonia, Russia. It's topography consists of t he highest point - Gaizinskalns Hill (312 m above sea level) which is situated on the Vidzeme Upland in the central part of East Latvia. The average altitude is only about 10 - 25 metres and maximum local relief is about 90 metres.Latvia's government is Republic, it's p rime minister is Valdis Dombrovskis, and it's president is __ [|Andris Bērziņš] .__ Latvia's regions includeThe Kurzeme, Latgale, Riga, Vidzeme and Zemgale regions.Latvia'spopulation is 2,242,916, and it is considered to be a less developed country due to high infant mortality rate in the majority of the country. Official languages inclue Latvian, and some Russian. Latvia's Biodiversity:

Latvia's typical climate is humid, continental and temperate owing to the maritime influence of the Baltic Sea. Summers are warm, and the weather in spring and autumn is fairly mild; however, the winters can be extreme due to the northern location.Latvia's gross productionm is a total of $34.921 billion. Herbivores that live in Latvia are the Eastern Roe Deer and Western Roe Deer which grow to about 90 pounds, and can jump 40 feet high, and eat leaves ad berries. Carnivores that live in Latvia are the Amur Tiger feeds on Wild Boar, can be up to 4 feet tall, and can weigh up to 700 pounds. It is native to Latvia. Russian Boar is native to Latvia. It can weigh up to 500 pounds and are very vicious. Omnivores include Grizzly bears, which eat berries and fish. And all of the native squirrels in Latvia are omnivores, eating berries, nuts, and also meat such as fish. Scavengers are the hawks and eagles, who feed on carcuss. Decomposers are Earthworms and fungi, such as mushrooms. The Maritime state, Krasnodar state, Dagestan republic, Sakhalin province and the Jewish province are all “hot spots” in Latvia. These are all mountainous territories on Latvia's southern border. Indicator species i n Latvian forests are plants, fungi and invertebrates. Key stone species are Grizzly bears that bring salmon from water into the forest. When the bear leaves salmon on the forest floor, it provides nutrients to the soil. Native species are Elk and wild boar. A nonnative species is the ring necked pheasant, and a specialized species is the White Wagtail. Biomes that are associated with Latvia are mostly tundra, although quite a lot of the Taiga Forest. An example of endangered species are the European mink because of habitat destruction and the European eel because of human disruption of habitat and hunting.An example of an extinct species is the //Moehringia lateriflora// because of construction of hydroelectric dams on the Daugava.

Human Population:

The rate of growth for Latvia's population is -0.597%.The doubling time is -117% which is lower than the world's average. Latvia's birthrate is 8.4 per 1000, the death rate is 12.8 per 1000, the immigration rate is 19.46%, and the emigration rate is 2.31%. Latvia's stage of demographic transition is stage 5. Latvia does not have any family planning.

Biodiversity in Lavtia:

Terrestrial biomes in Latvia are theTundra and Taiga. Aquatic biomes include the Atlantic ocean located north of Russia. A human impact on these biomes is acid rain. It is caused by nitrogen, from burning gas, and sulfur, from burning coal. Acid rain is a very harmful impact on the Taiga biome and can ruin vegetation and kill animals. Oil drilling pollutes the water, land and air surrounding the tundra. Russia's nickel mines serve as a vivid example of the effect that oil drilling can have on the habitat. Five species that are extinct/endangered/threatened in Lattvia are the Broad fingered crayfish, Dalmatian pelican, Ferruginous duck, Eurasian Peregrine falcon, European eel

1. Broad fingered crayfish- susceptible to crayfish plague

2. Dalmatian pelican- habitat loss

3. Ferruginous Duck- habitat loss

4. Eurasian Peregrine Falcon- suffer from toxic effects of insecticides such as DDT and dieldrin. High exposures of these toxins effect their ability to reproduce.

5. European eel- overfishing, parasites, and hydroelectric plants

An introduced species to Latvia is the Mustela Vison (American mink). The most serious effect of //Mustela vison// is its competition and intra-guild aggression with //Mustela lutreola// (European mink). Another introduced species is the //Trachemys scripta elegans// (fresh water turtle) and results in a direct competition of the species with the extremely rare Latvian species of turtles //Emys orbicularis.// Legislation that protects wild species in my country are The Bern Convention on the Preservation of European Wild Plants and Animals and their Natural Habitats.

Resource Management:

The number one export from Latvia is wood and wood products, and the number one import into Latvia is machinery and equipment. The forests are managed by state forestry institutions and managed by collective or state agricultural farms. Forests become reserves, and some forests are on restriction from any causes of soil erosion. Some National Parks in Latvia are Gauja National Park and Gemeri National Park. Latvia practices sustainable agriculture.