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Usage of integral desire-function-based indices for complex estimation of sewage quality. – Gelashvili D.B., Lisovenko A.V., and Bezrukov M.E. – Several algorithms of applying the generalized desire function for complex estimation of the quality and toxicity of sewage as a multicomponent system have been developed and justified. Using weight coefficients in the desire function calculation has allowed us to improve the discrimination degree of waste water samples under comparison by both chemical composition and toxicity.
Key words: generalized desire function, weight coefficient, ecological toxicology, sewage.
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Vegetation monitoring of the Kuncherovskaya steppe. – Novikova L.A. – The results of our decennial monitoring of the Kuncherovskaya steppe's vegetation status with the usage of repeated geobotanical mapping are presented. The vegetation as a whole has kept its steppe character, but mutually opposite succession processes are observed on different relief elements. Mesophillous meadow-steppe communities are formed on the watershed in the nature reserve conditions, and their more xerophytic variants are formed on the southern slopes because of the steppe restoration after anthropogenous influence.
Key words: Kuncherovskaya steppe, steppe vegetation, monitoring, geobotanical mapping, succession processes.
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Bird and mammal complex transformation of steppe ecosystems under ploughing up (with Saratov steppes as examples). – Oparin M.L. and Oparina O.S. – The influence of ploughing up steppe landscapes on the bird and mammal population status is considered with the steppes of the Saratov region as examples. The population of ground-nesting birds and small mammals on crop rotation fields is a depleted version of the population of steppe landscapes with all their habitat variety. The species dominating on fields are, as a rule, the birds and mammals having inhabited the steppes before their continuous ploughing up in intrazonal landscape elements, and only few species of zonal steppe habitats have adapted themselves to habitation on crop rotation fields.
Key words: steppe, ploughing up, pasture, haying, mammal population, bird population.
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Ecological aspects of oil-oxidizing microorganisms' acid-resistance during contaminated soil bioremediation. – Pleshakova E.V. – 13 microbial strains were isolated from oil slime with pH 1.15, which were identified as Corynebacterium spp., Dietzia maris, and Bacillus sp. and characterized as moderate acidophiles capable of destructing oil hydrocarbons in acidic and neutral media. The strain D. maris AM3 has a number of functional and ecological advantages, namely, growth within wide ranges of temperatures (10 – 40°C) and pH (4 – 9) in the presence of 10% NaCl, the ability to destruct alkane and aromatic oil hydrocarbons the bioemulsification activity for oil. The microorganisms investigated are recommended for remediation of oil-contaminated soils with an increased acidity. The strains have been submitted to the Bacteria Collection of the Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants and Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences (Saratov, Russian Federation).
Key words: oil-contaminated soil, hydrocarbons, microbial strains, acid-resistance, destruction.
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Ecological analysis of the carabid population of the Cis-Caucasian steppes. – Sigida R.S. – Numerous data (2003 – 2008) describing the population status of carabid bugs (Coleoptera, Carabidae) in the Cis-Caucasian steppe conditions are analyzed. Polytopic mesophyls of 76 species (29.2% of the total number of species) prevail among them, then steppe mesophiles of 50 species (20.0%) follow.
Key words: anthropogenic pressure, population, ecological spectrum, dominants.
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Distribution of cryptic shrew species of the genus Sorex (Mammalia) on the plain between the Don and Kuban rivers with molecular marker diagnostics. – Stacheev V.V., Balakirev À.Å., Grigoryeva Î.Î., Shestak À.G., Potapov S.G., Borisov Yu.M., and Orlov V.N. – Microsatellite and cytochrome b markers were used to identify two pairs of cryptic shrew species, namely, Sorex araneus L. – S. satunini Ogn., and Sorex minutus L. – S. volnuchini Ogn. New data on the distribution of these species on the plain between the Don and Kuban rivers have been obtained. The shrew S. volnuchini and Caucasian mole occur on the plain northward up to the Eya river. The endemic species of Caucasus, S. satunini and S. volnuchini, are wide-spread in the surveyed area alongside small streams on the steppe plain. Both Sorex species are most abundant in thick grass, bushy scrub, and deciduous woodlands. They display no clear differences in habitat preferences.
Key words: Sorex, S. araneus, S. satunini, S. minutus, S. volnuchini, cytochrome b, microsatellite locus, cryptic species, distribution, habitat.
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Biotopic distribution, population structure, and some reproduction features of small mammals in Kishinev City. – Tikhonov I.A., Muntyanu A.I., Uspenskaya I.G., Konovalov Yu.N., Burlaku V.I., Karaman V.I., Nistreanu V.B., Tikhonova G.N., and Kotenkova E.V. – Comparative analysis of the species composition, biotopic distribution, population structure, and reproduction of rodents and insectivores in Kishinev City was carried out in October and November, 2008 (3,029 traps/day, 715 animals). Sylvaemus sylvaticus appeared to be most numerous, its reproductive strategy consisted in intense reproduction in the summer. The second abundant species, Microtus rossiaemeridionalis, had a different reproductive strategy, a part of its population continued to actively reproduce in the autumn. Urban forests are most close to natural biotopes by the species composition of small mammals. The highest number of small mammals was observed in meadows and gardens. No rodents and insectivores have been caught on waste grounds and lawns.
Key words: rodent and insectivore ecology, biotopic distribution, population, urbocenosis.
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Hibernation features of Evermsan hamster (Allocricetulus eversmanni Brandt, 1859) in the Saratov Trans-Volga region. – Ushakova M.V., Feoktistova N.Yu., Petrovski D.V., Gureeva A.V., Najdenko S.V., and Surov A.V. – The hibernation of Eversman hamster is proven for the first time. The body temperature, measured with a thermoaccumulator implanted into the abdominal cavity, has dropped down to +5°C several times during the winter. This species differs from some other hibernating mammals by peculiarities of its seasonal fluctuation of steroid hormones (cortisol, progesterone, estradiol, and testosterone) and the absence of fat depot before hibernation.
Key words: Eversman hamster, hibernation, body temperature, seasonal fluctuation of steroid hormones, fat depot.
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Population structure, abundance, and populational indices of small mammals in the Saratov Right-Volga-bank region. – Tsvetkova A.A. – The results of our survey of the abundance dynamics of small mammals in the lower stream of the Chardym river on the Volga Height are presented. A high abundance of Apodemus uralensis and A. àgrarius, Microtus arvalis and Clethrionomys glareolus, Mus musñulus, Cricetulus migratorius, and Sicista strandi was noted in 2004 and within 2007 – 2008. The abundance dynamics of the basic background species (A. uralensis, A. agrarius, and Cl. glareolus) in natural and anthropogenous biotops has a similar pattern, abundance decreases and increases occur almost synchronously, but with different amplitudes of oscillation and abundance. The influence of the abundance level of the background species on the biotopic distribution of rodents is shown. A. uralensis and A. agrarius, Cl. glareolus have stable populational parameters at different abundance levels, a significant reproduction potential, and a high value of litter.
Key words: small mammals, abundance dynamics, biotopic distribution, demographic parameters.
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Analysis of clutch status of Siberian newt Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870 (Caudata, Amphibia) near the Urals region. – Litvinov N.A., Faizulin A.I., Shurakov A.I., and Ganshchuk S.V. – The status of clutches (total number, fertility, asymmetry assessment) was studied at the Verkhnyaya Kvazhva station of Perm Pedagogical University (Dobryanka district, Perm region). From 1971 till 2004 the number of clutches of Salamandrella keyserlingii Dybowski, 1870 in the monitored pond decreased by 6.5 times. A statistically reliable decrease in the number of eggs within 1971 – 1996 was discovered, and the asymmetry index (by the number of berries of the left and right cord) was definitely higher in this period.
Key words: Siberian newt, clutch, Perm region.
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Ecologo-morphological features of Rubus idaeus L. obtained from apical cuttings. – Mostovoy O.A. and Sorokopudov V.N. – Data on apical cuttings of Rubus idaeus L. are presented, which have a 100% vitality and are capable of forming bushes in the first year of life depending on the current ecological factors. At apical cutting reproduction, R. idaeus forms bushes in the first year of life, which are less powerful with poorer expressed morphometric indices than those at landing ratoons. In the first year of life, few root offsprings are formed in both studied and reference variants, independently of the weather conditions in the years of examination.
Key words: Rubus idaeus, apical cutting, ratoon, offspring, height of seedling.
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Body size of Bombina bombina Linnaeus, 1761 (Amphibia, Anura, Discoglossidae) near its habitat's southern border. – Peskova T.Yu. and Zhelev Zh.M. – The body sizes of Bombina bombina are the least ones near the southern border of its habitat. The maximum sizes (41.4 mm, females; 40.3 mm, males) are noted on the southwest of the habitat, and 45.0 mm (females and males) are on the southeast. In the southwest of the habitat, an increase in the relative leg length of B. bombina in comparison with other parts of the habitat is noted.
Key words: Bombina bombina, body size, Bulgaria, Western Ciscaucasus.
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Primary production and organic carbon stocks in basic forest phytocenoses in the Khvalynskiy National Park. – Polikanov S.N., Boldyrev V.A., and Davidenko T.N. – The paper presents the results of our study of the stock of phytomass, organic carbon and primary production in the basic forest phytocenoses of the Khvalynsky National Park (Saratov region). The most abundant variants of plant communities in the park are shown to be characterized by a significant variety of their structural and specific components, however, the total stock of their biomass is similar. The maximum stocks of organic carbon (as well as phytomass) are concentrated in oak forests, which is due to relatively high values of the average stock of phytomass and the area of the territory occupied by such forests. The maximum indices of annual increase (of primary production) are noted in pine forests, which is in agreement with the average annual increase in these phytocenoses and the quite large area of the territory occupied by pine forests.
Key words: phytomass stock, primary phytomass, oak forest, linden forest, pine forest, maple forest, Saratov region.
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Interregional conference «Small rivers of Chuvashia: their ecological status and development prospects». – Podshivalina V.N. and Maximov S.S.
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