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Calandra Lark (Melanocorypha calandra) and Corn Bunting (Miliaria calandra) (Passeriformes, Aves) current distribution and abundance assessment in the Northern Lower-Volga region and adjacent territories. - Belyachenko A. V., Piskunov V. V., and Belyachenko A. A. - Features of the Calandra Lark and Corn Bunting spatial distribution and abundance dynamics in the Northern Lower-Volga region were studied in the framework of the «Atlas of breeding birds of European Russia» project. Significant habitat boundary changes to the north (Calandra Lark) and north-east (Corn Bunting) were found over the last 10 - 15 years. Extension limits of the habitat boundaries of both species studied in the European Russia were forecast.
Key words: Calandra Lark, Corn Bunting, spatial distribution, habitat, dynamics, European Russia.
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Effect of copper smelter emissions on the stem shape of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) and Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.) (Pináceae, Pinopsida). - Bergman I. E. - The influence of industrial pollution on the stem shape of Siberian spruce and fir trees was estimated in the Middle-Ural Copper Smelter vicinity (Revda, Sverdlovsk region, the southern taiga). As the pollution source is approached, the stem taper increases with a decreasing form factor. A statistically significant increase of the stem taper of Siberian spruce in the butt end (by 22.9%), the lower (35.7%), middle (18.0%) and upper (9.0%) parts of the stem is shown. No significant influence of pollution level was detected for the tree shape of Siberian fir and spruce from the second tree layer.
The stem taper increase can be caused by the increased wind load upon the trunk due to changes in habitat conditions and restructuring of the tree’s fractional structure, as well as the direct effect of pollutants to decrease the cambium activity (mainly in the upper part of the trunk).
Key words: industrial pollution, stem taper, form factor, Siberian spruce, Picea obovata, Siberian fir, Abies sibirica, tree stem, tree layer, wind load.
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Characteristics and main directions of anthropogenic florogenesis in the southern Volga Uplands. - Berezutsky M. A. - The whole range of aspects of anthropogenic florogenesis in the southern part of the Volga Uplands is considered. Trends in the anthropogenic dynamics of local floras during the last 100 years are reported. A 50 - 100 km shift north of the southern boundary of the habitat of some boreal species (Antennaria dioica (L.) Gaertn, Maianthemum bifolium (L.) F. W. Schmidt, Pyrola rotundifolia L. etc.) is noted. Data on the adventive flora and contemporary migration paths of the plants in the area under study are provided. The adaptation activity of native species to the full range of anthropogenic habitats in the region is characterized. Data on protected plant findings on anthropogenic habitats are given.
In general, the aridization and xerophytization of the flora, as well as an increased role of tree and shrub life forms in the human florogenesis are noted. It is proposed to use the method of revealing the anthropochorophilic element of the native flora to forecast flora adaptation to the conditions of anthropogenic habitats.
Key words: adventive flora, protected plants, anthropogenic habitats, migration routes, modern, Volga Upland.
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Aerobic and facultative anaerobic microbiota of urban water bodies (Samara City). - Gerasimov Yu. L., Klenova N. A., and Orlova S. A. - A study was made of the aerobic and facultative anaerobic microbiota of five small standing water bodies in Samara City during the summer-autumn period of 2013. An excess of the total number of bacteria, the presence of enterobacteria in all reservoirs, continuing in the autumn, were revealed. Four of the reservoirs studied have a poor ability to self-purification, which requires taking measures to monitor their condition and treatment.
Key words: urban water bodies, aerobic and anaerobic microbiota.
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On repeated settlement of burrows by Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis (Alcedinidae, Aves). - Kotyukov Yu. V. - Counts of kingfisher burrows were conducted during our boat routes on the Pra and Oka rivers (the Ryazan region) in 1976 - 2000. At every visit to a burrow, its contents were examined to ascertain the start date and clutch size, the egg size and shape, the number and age of chicks; adult birds were caught. On a control plot of the Pra river within the boundaries of Oka Nature Reserve, 1,087 inhabited burrows were found, of which 17 were re-settled during the season. Outside of the control area on the Oka and Pra rivers, 660 inhabited burrows were found, including 11 ones inhabited iteratively. Such reoccupation of burrows is shown to be primarily due to the scarcity of steep slopes suitable for making burrows and, to a lesser extent, to the deficiency of time needed to build the next hole before ordinary oviposition.
Cases of double-settled burrows were recorded significantly more often in those years when the part of the females nesting 3-4 times during the season increased. In the re-inhabited burrows, without proper interpretation of findings, increased (as compared to the species norm) clutch size and duration of the breeding cycle can be observed.
Key words: Common Kingfisher, breeding, re-occupation of burrows.
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Free nucleotides and chlorophyll contents in the plankton of the Upper Volga reservoirs. - Mineeva N. M., Andreeva A. M., and Ryabtseva I. P. - The content and distribution of chlorophyll (CHL) and free total nucleotides (FTN) in the plankton of the Ivankovo, Uglich (August 2005), Rybinsk and Sheksna (July 2007) reservoirs were studied. With the average CHL from 7.6±1.5 to 13.1±1.4 µg/L and the average FTN content from 76±8 to 138±20 µg/L, the highest values were obtained in the eutrophic Ivankovo reservoir. The relation of CHL and FTN with environmental factors is analyzed. It has been shown that under stable external conditions, the plankton distribution over the reservoirs is characterized by moderate variability. A hypothesis is made of the nature of the relationship between chlorophyll and nucleotides reflecting the ratio of autotrophic organisms and total plankton.
Key words: plankton, chlorophyll, nucleotides, Upper Volga reservoirs.
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Spatial heterogeneity of the ichthyofauna of Northern Eurasia and its biogeographical division. - Ravkin Yu. S., Yadrenkina E. N., Interesova E. A., Bogomolova I. N., Yudkin V. A., Lyalina M. I., and Kosareva A. M. - Biogeographical division of Northern Eurasia (within the former USSR borders) was carried by the results of our cluster analysis of the fish fauna from 597 sites according to the BIODAT database territory division. Our classification obtained on the basis of the Jacquard similarity coefficients includes 2 regions, 12 dominion, 8 provinces, and 11 districts. The offered division considers 67% of the similarity coefficient dispersion of the fauna analyzed, which is by 21% higher than an earlier developed scheme (Berg, 1962) which includes a bigger area of the continent.
82% of the fish fauna heterogeneity can be explained by relations to some revealed environmental factors and natural modes (the multiple coefficient of correlation being 0.91). The most important factors are non-orthogonal relations with temperature regime (67% of the similarity coefficient dispersion), landscape and climatic zoning (58%), connections with river basins (57%), and provinciality (30%).
Key words: biogeographical division, fauna, Cyclostomata, fish, Northern Eurasia, Palearctic area, cluster analysis, factors, correlation.
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Composition and structure of the Heteroceridae (Coleoptera) population in the shore zone of water objects in the Saratov region. - Sazhnev A. S. - The composition and structure of mud-loving beetles in the conditions of the shore zone of water objects in the Saratov region were studied for the first time. Main characteristics of the water bodies surveyed are provided. Data are presented on the biotopical corrrespondence, seasonal dynamics and hibernation of several species of mud-loving beetles.
Key words: shore zone, water objects, Heteroceridae, Saratov region.
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Floristic richness of physical-geographical areas and a floristic subdivision scheme of the Middle-Volga region. - Senator S. A. - A scheme of floristic division of the Middle-Volga region has been compiled for the first time on the basis of available material and our analysis of the distribution of plants over the physical-geographical regions of the Middle Volga and identification of their floristic similarity. A brief description of each floristic region is given. The species of vascular plants determining the specificity of these regions are listed.
Key words: vascular plants, floristic subdivision, Middle-Volga region.
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