Lithuania

Lithuania (Taylor Martin)

Neighboring Countries: Poland, Latvia, Kaliningrad (Russia), and Belarus Topography: -River Nemunas is the longest river in the country and flows through the land covering almost 917 kilometers. -Other important rivers in the country include the Sesupe, the Neris and the Venta rivers. -The northern and eastern parts of the country are covered by a number of marshes and swamps. -The topography of Lithuania thus comprises of highlands, lowlands, plains, rivers, lakes, marshes and swamps. -The highest peak in Lithuania is situated at a height of 297 meters above the sea level.
 * Country’s Background Information:**
 * 1) Location: Northeastern Europe

2. Government Type: Parliamentary Democracy Currently in Power: President= Dalia Grybauskaitė Prime Minister= Andrius Kubilius

3. States: - Klaipeda County -Taurage County - Marijamole County - Alytus County - Telsiai County - Kaunas County - Vilnius County - Siauliai County - Panevezys County - Utena Count 4. 5. Language: Lithuanian 6. Population: 3,320,656 7. Lithuania is a Most Developed Country by the large amount of people in there population, they have a low to no Poverty Rate, and Gross Primary Productivity is high.


 * Country’s Biodiversity**
 * 1) The typical climate is transitional, between maritime and continental; wet, moderate winters and summers.

2. Herbivore: -**European Bison** -Is the largest herbivore in Europe. -Covered in a reddish-brown coat that blends remarkably well with the animal's surroundings and the head, neck and front of the body are covered in long hair, this forming the so-called 'beard' located along the lower part of the throat and upper part of the chest. -Optimal habitats for the Bison are deciduous and mixed forests, but the range should include about 20% of grassland habitats (meadows). Carnivores: -**Gray Wolf** -Capable of running at speeds of 35-40 mph. -Adult wolves are 41-63 inches in length and 32-34 inches in shoulder height. The tail is ⅔ the length of the head and body, measuring 11-20 inches in length. -Diet includes marmots, beavers, hares, badgers, foxes, weasels, ground squirrels, mice, hamsters, voles and other rodents, as well as insectivores. They can also eat larger sized animals that can be upwards of 10-15 times larger than themselves. Omnivores: -**Raccoon Dog** - Length can range from 18 to 28 inches. -Diet consists of insects, mouse-like rodents, amphibians, birds, fish, reptiles, mollusks, carrion and insectivores. Decomposers: -**The Death Cap (//Amanita phalloides//)** - The large fruiting bodies (mushrooms) appear in summer and autumn; the caps are generally greenish in color, with a white stipe and gills. - The principal toxic constituent is α-amanitin, which damages the liver and kidneys, often fatal. - Usually with the cap of the mushroom can grow from 2-6 inches across, initially rounded and hemispherical, but flattening over time. Scavengers: -**European Honey Buzzard** - The 20-24 inch long Honey Buzzard has a wingspan of 53-59 inches. - It appears longer necked with a small head, and soars on flat wings. - Being a long distance migrant, the Honey Buzzard relies on magnetic orientation to find its way south, as well as a visual memory of remarkable geographical features along the way.
 * -** It is of a dirty, earth-brown or brownish-grey color with black guard hairs and the tail is darker. A dark stripe is present on the back and the abdomen is yellowish-brown, while the chest is dark brown or blackish. The muzzle is covered in short hair, which increases in length and quantity behind the eyes. The summer fur is brighter and reddish-straw colored.

3. The associated biomes that are in Lithuania are Taiga, Wetlands, and Temperate forests. 4.Two species that are endangered in Lithuania are the Eurasian Peregrine Falcon; the reason why this species is endangered is because of the toxic effects of insecticides such as DDT and dieldrin in which high exposures can affect their ability to reproduce. Then the Przewalski's Horse is an endangered species of Lithuania because it is threatened by hybridization with domestic horses, loss of genetic diversity, vulnerable to severe weather conditions, and disease. 5. A species that went extinct in Lithuania are the Aurochs; the reason why they went extinct was because of the species was totally removed from the majority of its range by the 15th century.


 * Part D: Biodiversity**

5.
 * 1) The terrestrial biomes with-in Lithuania are the Temperate Deciduous Forest, Taiga, and Wetlands.
 * 2) The Wetlands is the only aquatic biome in Lithuania.
 * 3) The human impacts on these biomes in Lithuania are the destruction of small forests which are of particular importance to biological and landscape diversity, all resulting from privatization, damage to forest ecosystems as a result of natural disasters (droughts, pests, etc.) and pollution, and the significant amounts of chemicals used in vast arable field areas for care of monocultures, including: poorly balanced fertilizers, fungicides, herbicides, other pesticides.
 * 4) 5 species that are endangered/threatened:
 * Ferruginous Duck (Bird)
 * European pond turtle (Reptile)
 * Freshwater pearl mussel (Molluscs)
 * European Mink (Mammal)
 * Red Kite (Bird)
 * __Ferruginous Duck__**: Is threatened because owing to changing water levels, it is very hard to estimate the global population or trends.
 * __European pond turtle__**: Is threatened because of the habitat fragmentation and isolation populations contribute to an alarming loss of viability in turtle populations.
 * __Freshwater pearl mussel__**: Is an endangered species due to pearl fishing, pollution, siltation, and declines in host fish populations.
 * __European Mink__**: Is endangered due to habitat degradation/loss and the effects of introduced species.
 * __Red Kite__**: Is threatened because it is experiencing a moderately rapid population decline, owing mostly to poisoning from pesticides and persecution, and changes in land-use amongst other threats.

6.Two introduced species in Lithuania are 7.The laws that are used in Lithuania to sustain wild species are


 * Resource Management**
 * 1) Top three resources that are produced with-in Lithuania are mineral products 25%, machinery and mechanical appliances 9.7%, chemicals 9.5%.
 * 2) The number one export in Lithuania is the mineral products (25%).
 * 3) The Number one import in Lithuania is the mineral products consisting 29.3%.
 * 4) Lithuanian forests are maintained by protection of our natural environment and our forest heritage by ensuring the role of forests and forestry in soil protection, erosion control, water regulation, improvement of air quality, carbon sequestration, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change effects, conservation of biodiversity and the restoration of damaged forests. The protection of forests against biotic and abiotic factors.
 * 5) Rangelands are sustained by
 * 6) National Parks:
 * Zemaitija National Park
 * Dzukija National Park
 * Trakai Historical National Park
 * Kursiu Nerija National Park
 * Aukstaitija National Park

7.Lithuania is a polycultured type of agriculture by producing potatoes, wheat, rye, etc. 8.Lithuania does use pesticides to protect their crops in the country. 9.Lithuanian people have the granted right to food and are not malnourished. 10.The urban population of Lithuania is served by a centralized supply of groundwater for drinking, while a large part of the rural population still uses water from wells. 11.Parts that are outside of urban areas like the city have safe water standards, but other parts of the country have less water qualities.