Year: 2018, Number: 1, Pages: 121-136
Clusters of the Magadansky Reserve are located within the Northern Far East mainland mountain and upland physical-geographical province. Each cluster has its own distinctive features in locality appearance, climate conditions, composition of flora and fauna.Among them emerges the Okhotsko-Kolymskoye highland standing on the watershed between Kolyma basin (Arctic basin) and rivers falling into the Sea of Okhotsk. From the west the area is adjoined by the south-eastern edge of Cherskogo mountain system and a line of intermountain areas the most noteworthy of which is Seimchano-Buyundinskaya depression. The Reserve's area is situated in the zone of moderate and sub-polar climate characterized by cold long winter and cool short summer. The vegetation period is not enough provided by heat, typical are summer frosts and uneven humidification. All landscape-vegetation groups of the Magadan Region are presented at the Reserve. The most significant features of each cluster from the conservational point of view: Yamsky mainland cluster – features the disjunctively located part of Siberian spruce areal on the north-eastern edge of its distribution. The cluster is distinguished by the high biodiversity and the abundance of relic plant species. Yamsky marine cluster – features the peculiar vegetation of the bird colonies of Yamsky islands which had apparently been formed as the result of long-time interaction of birds and coastal vegetation. Kava-Chelomdginsky cluster – except its vast area and great diversity of vegetation types, is unique by its species composition and wetland complex typology. A line of species on their eastern edge of areal grows here. Olsky cluster – has one of the richest specific flora of the northern Far East with great number of endemics of the different floristic regions and relics of different age and genesis. The peninsula is an intersection spot of arctic and arctic-alpine species' southern migration routes and routes of' Far East species moving to the north. Seymchansky cluster – is the only continental cluster with the composite flood plain structure and rich and diverse wetland and flood plain vegetation. It is peculiar by many species common in the Pacific found in its inland flood plain forests as relics. Due to the cluster organization the reserve in fullness represents the natural complexes of the taiga of the North-East of Russia – in its territory there is an entire gradient transition from ultracontinental to ocean conditions, as well as the whole range of altitudinal zonation. The description of climate, relief, geography and unique natural objects is given. According to the latest data, at the area of three near-Okhotsk clusters were noted 618 species of vascular plants. At floristically poor Seymchansky cluster grow 307 plant species, but the share of continental species absent at other clusters is high here. In rivers and lakes of the кeserve are met 33 fish species. The most numerous are migrating salmons – Pink [humpback] salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha, Chum [dog] salmon 0. keta, Coho [silver] salmon O. kisutch, Separate specimen of sock-eyed [red] salmon 0. nerka and King [chinook] salmon O. tschawytscha are met. In rivers and lakes of the Seymchansky cluster are common: Arctic grayling Thymallus arcticus, Siberian whitefish Coregonus lavaretus pidschian, Lenok Brachymystax lenok, Round whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum, Long-nosed sucker Catostomus catostomus rostratus, Pike Esox lucius, River perch Perca fluviatilis and Burbot Lota lota leptura. Avifauna of the Reserve is representative for the Okhotsk-Kolyma area. Avifauna list includes 187 species, 143 of which are nesting; the others are noted on passage. 37 species of terrestrial and 4 species of marine mammals have been registered within the Reserve. Most common are Shrews Sores caecutiens and Sores daphaenodon, Northern redbacked vole Clethrionomys rufocanus, Chipmunk Tamias sibiricus, Pika [rat hare] Ochotona hyperborea, Alpine hare Lepus timidus, Brown bear Ursus arctos, Red fox Vulpes vulpes, Sable Martes zibellina, Ermine Mustela erminea, American mink Mustela vison, locally – Elk Alces alces and Okhotsk snow sheep Ovis nivicola. At all clusters are met, but less typical are: Red and Russian flying squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris and Pteromys volans), Least weasel Mustela nivalis, Wolverene Gulo gulo. One species of mammals and 17 species of birds are included in the IUCN-Red List of Thre atened Species and the National Red Data Book: Steller's Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus, Steller’s Sea Eagle Haliaeetus pelagicus, Osprey Pandion haliaetus, Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus, Blakiston's Eagle-Owl Ketupa blakistoni, Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus, Bewick’s Swan Cygnus bewickii, Eastern Curlew Numenius madagascariensis, Kittlitz’s and Marbled murrelets (Brachyramphus brevirostris and Brachyramphus perdix) and others. The Steller's Sea Eagle is a symbol of the Magadansky State Nature Reserve and it is depicted on its official logotype.