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Abstract: Abstract Tree-ring chronologies based on the annual ring width of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) have been studied at eight test sites in insular pine forests in the north of the Republic of Kazakhstan from the Turgay Depression to the eastern part of the Kazakh Uplands. Analysis of the relationships between radial increment of pine and climate shows that the climatic signal in the chronologies can change depending on geomorphological conditions caused by the edaphic factor, relief, and absolute elevation marks. These features must be taken into account when using tree-ring chronologies for spatiotemporal reconstructions of climate. PubDate: 2024-10-01
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Abstract: Abstract Tritium (3H) has natural and anthropogenic origins. Its high migration ability, the presence of different physical forms and chemical compounds, affinity with organic molecules, and involvement in exchange processes in the biosphere draw attention to this isotope in the field of radiation protection of living organisms and humans. The data from 324 publications (230 of which are in the Supplementary Information) based on laboratory and field studies were analyzed to understand the approaches to the methodology for assessing 3H doses in the reference groups of plant and animal organisms specified in International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) Publication 108. The basic principles and features of calculating the absorbed dose rate from inorganic and organic forms and compounds of 3H for different levels of biological organization are described. More than half of the studies were found to be unrelated to dosimetry issues but analyzing radiobiological effects. Prospects for further research may be associated with a differentiated approach in assessing doses from different forms and compounds of 3H, ensuring closer contact between laboratory and field studies, as well as shifting the focus of attention from the level of reference organisms to the level of populations. The results will find their application in setting problems in the field of radioecology and radiobiology, as well as in improving radiation safety standards related to the operation of existing nuclear industry enterprises and the development of new nuclear technology facilities. PubDate: 2024-10-01
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Abstract: Abstract The data on the variability of aggregated transfer factors (Tag) of 90Sr in different species of woody plants growing in the area influenced by the Mayak Production Association are summarized. The radioecological situation in this territory is primarily determined by two events: the discharge of radioactive waste into the Techa River (1949−1951) and the Kyshtym accident (1957). The main causes of Tag variability are analyzed, including species-specific characteristics of plants, different soil moisture regimes, and the level of 90Sr contamination. The dependence of this radionuclide’s Tag in trees on soil contamination density is described by a power function. In buffer zones and background areas the 90Sr Tag corresponds to the variability ranges established by the IAEA, while in more contaminated impact areas, the accumulation capacity in trees tends to decrease. PubDate: 2024-10-01
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Abstract: Abstract This paper estimates the abundance of broad whitefish generations in the lower reaches of the Ob River. Data on the numbers of larvae running down from spawning grounds collected in the main spawning rivers in 1981–2023 make it possible to draw conclusions on the current demographic situation in the broad whitefish population inhabiting the lower reaches of the Ob River, on the impact of anthropogenic factors, and on the water content in the Ob River floodplain with respect to broad whitefish reproduction. In the 1980–1990s, the Severnaya Sosva River was of the greatest significance for broad whitefish reproduction. Since 2010, the contribution of more northern rivers, Voykar and Sob, to the abundance of broad whitefish generations has increased. The significance of the Severnaya Sosva River decreased due to climate warming in the region and the growing extraction of potential breeding stock by the fishery industry, including extraction for fish-farming purposes. The reproduction of the broad whitefish population depends insignificantly on the water content in the Lower Ob floodplain. To restore the broad whitefish population, the reproductive guild protection system should be significantly modified, and a protected area must be designated in the Khulga River basin. Artificial broad whitefish reproduction is not required. PubDate: 2024-10-01
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Abstract: Abstract Overall, 34 local floras of vascular plants were analyzed at testing sites in the Middle Volga region with an area of 400 km2. Noticeable differences were revealed in the nature of correlations between the number of species of adventitious and native flora fractions and environmental factors: climate and relief. In the region, the number of native species is negatively related to air temperature, evaporation rates, and water deficit, while adventive species show a positive relationship with these characteristics. Adventive species are more often found in gently sloping lowlands in polygons characterized by increased elevation differences and drainage area. In general, adventitious species are more associated with semi-arid conditions in sites with relatively high ranges of environmental factors and standard deviation. Multiple regression showed that adventive species are more closely related to environmental factors than native species. In the region, adventive species are distributed predominantly in places (ecotopes) with increased environmental heterogeneity. An analysis of the relationships with environmental factors of the studied fractions may indicate that their distribution on the test sites is consistent, as a result of which they do not show opposition, which is also confirmed by the weak positive relationship between the richness of their species. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract The studies were carried out on the territory of the Kindasovo forest-bog research station of the Karelian Research Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, located in the middle taiga subzone (61°48′ N and 33°35′ E). The experiments were carried out in the Nenazvannoe natural mesoeutrophic bog of the aapa type in seven permanent bog areas located in different ecological and coenotic conditions. The paper presents long-term results (from 10 to 38 years) of studies of the dynamics of annual growth of 11 widespread hygro- and hydrophilic species of sphagnum mosses. Based on fluctuations in the average annual growth data during the years of study, the largest increases were observed for Sphagnum riparium (140 mm) and S. obtusum (93 mm), growing in heavily watered bog areas and not withstanding drying out; medium growths of S. fallax (65 mm), S. subsecundum (57 mm), S. majus (42 mm), S. balticum (36 mm), and S. warnstorfii (28 mm) are found in low-flow watered bogs, hollows, and on carpets; the lowest growth was shown for S. divinum (17 mm), S. centrale (15 mm), S. papillosum (12 mm), and S. fuscum (8 mm), growing on ridges, low hummocks, and carpets under conditions of sharply variable conditions hydration. A correlation analysis to study the influence of precipitation and average temperature on the annual growth of sphagnum mosses did not show any significant dependence of moss growth on temperature during the growing season. For S. fuscum, S. obtusum, and S. warnstorfii, negative dependences on the temperature of individual months are observed in different months of the growing season. Precipitation during the growing season is the main factor determining the dependence of the annual growth of sphagnum mosses. A significant dependence of annual growth on precipitation during the growing season was shown for species S. obtusum, S. papillosum, S. centrale, S. fallax, and S. subsecundum, while the significance was weak for S. divinum, S. fuscum, and S. majus. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract On 12 sample plots established in the ecotone of the northern forest boundary in the Khadyta-Yakha River valley on the Yamal Peninsula, time of emergence and death, as well as productivity of about 1000 Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) trees were analyzed. Over the last 140 years, there has been a sharp increase in the stocks and annual growth of stem phytomass of woody plants within the studied ecotone. Since the 1970s, the average annual growth of phytomass has been increased by 1.2–39 times, which was facilitated by a 0.9°C increase in average June–July air temperature. However, this effect is insignificant in areas of mixed open forests subjected to periodic logging. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract The distribution of trematodes Paracoenogonimus ovatus and its first intermediate hosts, viviparous Viviparus viviparus and V. contectus in the Ob–Irtysh basin were analyzed. Until the 1990s the spreading of P. ovatus in this region was associated with habitats of V. contectus, which is considered a native species in Western Siberia. Since the mid-1990s European species V. viviparus began to spread in the Ob basin. Before this, only one source of infection with P. ovatus was known associated with finding V. viviparus in the Lower Irtysh. This paper describes another such outbreak in the Tura River near the city of Tyumen. In fish from the Tura River, a generally high extent and intensity of invasion were noted. Further expansion of the range is predicted P. ovatus associated with expansion V. viviparus. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract We tested the hypothesis that the number of seedlings from the soil seed bank (SSB) in forests polluted by heavy metals and disturbed by recent fires decreases. It was also assumed that the consequences of pollution and fires for the soil seed bank are additive. We estimated the number of seedlings from the SSB of pine forests located near the Karabash copper smelter (KCS) (contaminated by Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd) and from uncontaminated forests of the Ilmen State Reserve (ISR). In both areas, samples of the forest litter and humus horizon were taken from forests recently exposed to ground fires and long-term unburned forests. Samples were exhibited from June to September, conducting seven rounds of counting seedlings. Small peculiarities of the emergence of seedlings on the samples of the forest litter and the humus horizon were established. However, the regularities of the reaction of SSB to pollution and fire disturbances did not depend on the soil horizon. The number of seedlings on substrates from contaminated forests was 5–8 times lower than the number of seedlings on substrates from background forests. A decrease in the number of seedlings on polluted substrates was accompanied by an increase in the share of dicots in the total number of seedlings. The relationship between the number of seedlings and the age of fires was not found. The additivity of the consequences of pollution and fires has also not been established. Of the two types of damage, pollution and fires, the pollution factor is of leading importance for SSBs. The results indicate a low recovery capacity of the herb-shrub layer of polluted forests. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract The consequences of a catastrophic windthrow in a old-growth hemiboreal stands of the Kologrivsky Forest Reserve were investigated. The degree of damage to tree stands was assessed by interpretation of the Sentinel-2 satellite images. Data from the GBIF portal, SRTM global terrain height models, and tree stand heights were used for the quantitative analysis of factors affecting the presence of wind damage. It was found that tree stands on an area of 277.9 hectares (40.5% of the entire massif) were damaged by windthrow. The results of the analysis of height models and regression models showed that spruce stands are more vulnerable to wind damage, as well as stands of greater height or those growing at higher elevation on the ground. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract Diapause is a coping strategy characteristic to many invertebrates and vertebrates including more than 100 mammalian species. Preserving the genetic diversity of rare and endangered diapausing species is important for maintaining ecological systems. The purpose of this work was to compare the surgical model of diapause and the pharmacological model based on injecting DL-α-difluoromethylornithine (DL-α-DFMO) into mice. Another goal was to investigate the intriguing possibility of controlling the state of diapause in vitro by exposing murine embryos to putrescine and/or DL-α-DFMO. Although the pharmacological model a priori seems to be attractive for applying it to other mammalian species besides mice, since it does not require surgical intervention, our results on mice demonstrated that this model is less effective compared to the traditional surgical model of diapause. Our data indicates that the effects of DL-α-DFMO on mouse embryos are mediated via its effect on the uterus, as it was not possible to maintain dormancy state in diapausing embryos in vitro by this agent. Meanwhile, in vitro exposure to putrescine facilitates the re-activation of diapausing embryos, as evidenced by the higher rate of blastocysts adhesion and the more advanced stages of ICM outgrowth compared to controls. Our results on mice presented hereby indicate that the surgical model is more reliable than DL-α-DFMO diapause model. Moreover, our results proved that putrescine is a potent tool to re-activate murine diapausing embryos in vitro; this may be considered an ecologically important issue relevant to the conservation problem. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract We present the main demographic parameters of the Western Siberian pied flycatcher population, nesting in natural habitats, at different stages of population dynamics. The average values, range, boundaries, and direction of changes in the survival of sexually mature individuals, fecundity, and the encounter probability at different ages were analyzed. Using matrix models of population structure and population dynamics, an estimate of the true survival rate of fledglings is given. The range of values of demographic parameters that characterize viable groups of the studied bird species is indicated. PubDate: 2024-08-01
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Abstract: Abstract This study was designed to estimate the land snail diversity of coastal Karnataka, India, and to compare it with that of the Western Ghats mountain range. Altogether, 23 species of land snails were recorded, of which 18 species were found in coastal Karnataka and 3 species were confined only to Western Ghats. The highest number of land snails were found in national parks, followed by plantations, and the lowest in open areas. Rhachistia praetermissus was confined to the nagabana of Harekala and Rishetia sp. was only seen in home gardens. Among the plantations, land snail diversity was higher in arecanut plantations and lower in rubber plantations. Land snails such as Mariaella dussumieri and Macrochlamys indica were common to most of the visited habitats. Significant correlation between humidity and species richness of land snails indicates that humidity determines the land snail diversity in coastal Karnataka. Reserve forests/National Parks studied encompass more land snail diversity as they provide heterogeneous habitats and suitable ecological niches. Lower diversity of land snails in plantations and open areas compared to the reserve forests can be attributed to lower habitat complexity and anthropogenic disturbances. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract Faxonius limosus (Rafinesque, 1817) was first discovered in the rivers of Belarus in 1997. The striped crayfish spread along rivers originated in Poland. Currently, F. limosus is found in the Neman River and in all tributaries of the first and second orders within the borders of the Grodno region and the rivers of the Western Bug basin of the Brest region of Belarus. The striped crayfish colonizing new places moved upstream of the rivers: the maximum speed of spread was 20 km/year, and the average speed was 7–8 km/year. Males of older age groups appear first in new habitats. As a result of human activity, the migration of striped crayfish from the Neman basin to the Dnieper basin has been noted. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract Changes in the macrozoobenthos of two northern lakes differing in degree of humification of water over the 50-year period that have passed since the first studies were considered. In the lake with water uncolored by humus, the benthos biomass increased, and in the humified one, it decreased. The changes that have occurred are due to climate warming, especially pronounced in winter. It was concluded that even closely located bodies of water can respond differently to climate change. Depending on the nature of the catchment area and the morphology of the lakes, either an increase in their productivity due to the supply of nutrients or a decrease due to humification can be observed. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract The proportion of leaves of downy birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh.) damaged by insects at ten sites of coniferous forest along the pollution gradient of the Middle Ural copper smelter was analyzed. The study was conducted during periods of moderate (2009) and low (2019) emissions in early and late summer. The proportion of damaged leaves was higher in 2019 and increased towards the end of the growing season but was not associated with distance to the smelter and lead concentration in leaves. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract The results of a study on the productivity of plant communities after a crown fire in a drained oligotrophic bog in the southern taiga of Western Siberia are presented. A quantitative assessment of biological productivity in areas with varying degrees of pyrogenic disturbance is given. The reserves of the grass-shrub and moss layers in the most disturbed area in the second year of restoration amounted to 1220 g/m2, production was 324 g/m2 per year; in the third year, reserves increased to 1635 g/m2 and production increased to 1038 g/m2 per year due to the growth of blueberries, while the production in the control site with high reserves of living phytomass (2200 g/m2) amounted to 745 g/m2 per year. There was a change in the structure of the phytomass, compaction of the deposit by 34%, and an increase in the mortmass of vascular plants by three times. The living mass of roots in the disturbed area concentrated in the upper layer of 0–10 cm, while it was distributed in the control area in the layer of 10–30 cm. It was found that the roots of dead pines retain the morphological characteristics of living ones during the first two years and pass into the fraction of dead roots on the third year of pyrogenic succession. Carbon losses during burning of the top layer of tow up to 20 cm amounted to 3016 g C/m2, 500 g/m2 of which can be buried as a layer of coal in peat. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract The anatomical structure of the annual rings of Scots pine, formed before and after the Kyshtym accident, is analyzed. In trees growing closer to the central axis of the East Ural radioactive trace (EURT), a decrease in the number of cells in the annual ring, as well as a decrease in the diameter of the lumens and the thickness of the cell walls, was noted. It is assumed that radiation-induced damage to the photo-assimilation apparatus of trees led to disturbances in physiological processes that were reflected in the anatomical structure of wood. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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Abstract: Abstract Ground-based laser surveys of the upper parts (from the ridge crests to the border of closed forests) of six steppe slopes of the mountains of the Southern and Northern Kraka massifs (Southern Urals) on a total area of 20.82 hectares were carried out. As a result, 3584 trees were identified in all studied areas, their morphometric parameters (crown height and size) and exact geographical position were assessed with an accuracy of 3–10 cm. It was shown that the closure and density of tree stands are extremely low in the upper third of the surveyed altitudinal profiles, and a local increase in these indicators is observed only on some slopes. It is also widely noted that these characteristics of forest stands increase sharply at a distance of about 2/3rd of the length of the profiles from the ridge crests. Measurements of the depth of the soil layer showed that the soils in the upper parts of the slopes are thin (on average 7–12 cm), and their average depth reaches 29 cm only on some slopes in places where the density of forest stands increases. Soil depth on sections of profiles remote from the ridge crests 1/4th to 2/3rd of their length gradually increases and reaches average values of 20–30 cm. We associate both local and stable (in the lower part) increase in the density of forest stands in the forest–mountain steppe transition zone with the increase in the thickness of the soil layer and the volume of moisture retained by it. PubDate: 2024-06-01
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