ECOLOGY OF RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (<i>Mergus serrator </i>L., 1758)
The article reviews distribution character and features of nesting biology of red-breasted merganser in Baikal. It is shown that choosing nesting place this species is rather adaptive though they prefer caverns and rock niches in cliffs where success of nesting is higher. The success of brooding depends on biotype and time of egg laying and at different islands changes from 0 to 60%, 47.3% in average for mass laying and 25.6% for second laying. Basic reasons of eggs' death are caused by female (16.3-29.3%) leaving and damage from ravens and seagulls (19.1-21.6%). Population dynamics character in general shows low allegiance of females to breeding site.