On Two Little Known Species of Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from the South Urals

120 years ago G.G. Jacobson described two species of leaf beetles from the South Urals that have remained poorly studied until recently. Chrysolina roddi, previously known only from the foothills and low mountains of the South Urals, the low Zhiguli Mountains, and the limestone cliffs on the Don River, is recorded here for the first time from the alpine tundra of the Iremel massif; its host plant in the alpine zone is the small alpine lovage Pachypleurum simplex (= Ligusticum mutellinoides), family Apiaceae. Two species of the subgenus Crositops, Ch. roddi and Ch. kabaki, are presently treated as foothill-alpine disjunct taxa. The distribution of Ch. poretzkyi, described from the low-montane part of Bashkortostan, also shows a foothill-alpine disjunction. Alpine populations of Ch. poretzkyi are described here as a new subspecies Ch. (Arctolina) poretzkyi olschwangi Mikhailov subsp. n. Revision of the type of Ch. poretzkyi that has long been considered lost confirms that this species belongs to the subgenus Arctolina, in disagreement with its previous placement in the subgenus Pleurosticha. Within Arctolina, the identity of Ch. tundralis and its differences from Ch. poretzkyi are discussed.     

Courtship song analysis in two hybrid zones between sibling species of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chorthippus albomarginatus</Emphasis> group (Orthoptera,Gomphocerinae)

Two new hybrid zones between sibling species of the Chorthippus albomarginatus group were described on the basis of the courtship song analysis. Not only the sounds emitted but also the accompanying stridulatory movements of the hind legs were analyzed, which allowed the temporal parameters to be classified in a more reliable way. One hybrid zone between Ch. albomarginatus and Ch. karelini was found in Ulyanovsk and Samara Provinces of Russia. The other hybrid zone, presumably between Ch. karelini and Ch. oschei, was found in the protected Askania-Nova steppe area in Kherson Province of Ukraine. Based on comparison of the natural and laboratory hybrids, a hypothesis on the structure and dynamics of the hybrid zones is proposed.     

On the Distribution of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pleurozium schreberi</Emphasis> (Bryophyta,Hylocomiaceae) in the East European Plain and Eastern Fennoscandia

Pleurozium schreberi is one of the most common moss species in the forest area. It is dominant in the moss layer of blueberry and wood sorrel forests. It can occur in small quantities in almost all types of forests (even in bogs). It is also a typical component of the moss layer in tundra. The article considers the distribution of Pleurozium schreberi in the East European Plain and Eastern Fennoscandia. On the basis of literature sources on the occurrence of the species in different regions (according to point data), a model map of species distribution using the kriging-method has been created. The overlaying of the model map on the maps of spatial distribution of climatic parameters and vegetation zones in this area has revealed that the biogeographical preferences of the species. P. schreberi is characterized by its highest distribution in the forest zone. It often occurs here and represents a phytocenotically active species. The occurrence of Pleurozium schreberi dramatically decreases in the transition from the forest to the steppe zone, where it is a rather rare species, growing exclusively in pine and birch pegs. This species disappears in the open steppe. From the steppe zone to the south, the occurrence of Pleurozium schreberi gradually decreases with increase in summer temperatures and decrease in precipitation and with forest disappearance. In the north, where the species is highly active, its range abruptly ends on the coast of the Arctic Ocean. This pattern of distribution of Pleurozium schreberi is associated both with cenotic preferences and with climate: it becomes rare in regions with summer temperatures higher than +23°C and annual precipitation of less than 400 mm.     

Beetles (Coleoptera) in polar deserts of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago

In the course of five expeditions to the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago, four beetle species were found: Micralymma brevilingue (Staphylinidae), Chrysolina subsulcata, Ch. septentrionalis (Chrysomelidae), and Dienerella filum (Latridiidae). The zonal plant communities do not contain beetles at all. All the species found prefer intrazonal habitats, where the snowless season is prolonged. Only M. brevilingue is common enough in various biotopes of the archipelago. All the beetle species found are wingless, rather small, polytopic and have vast distribution areas (D. filum is a cosmopolitan polyzonal species, and the others are semi-circumpolar arctic forms). Obviously, M. brevilingue should be considered as the most cold-tolerant beetle species of the Northern Hemisphere. This is the first report on the coleopteran fauna in the polar desert zone.     

Dynamics of the range of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia</Emphasis> genus over the territory of Western Siberia and adjacent regions in holocene in connection with climate change on the basis of pollen data

Reconstruction of the dynamics of the range of Artemisia genus was carried out with the help of palynoareological method on the basis of the data of 97 pollen diagrams from the territory of Western Siberia and the Altai-Sayan mountainous region over the millennial time sections since the Late Glacial time till the present time. It was revealed that the maximal spread of the Artemisia steppe communities (probably of the cryoarid pattern) occurred at the territory under examination at 13–10 ka yr BP. After the time point of 9 ka yr BP a fundamental change in landscapes of Western Siberia occurred which resulted in the disintegration of previously continuous Artemisia steppe cover into separate blocks. Since 8 ka yr BP the Artemisia steppe communities of modern appearance occupied the zones of modern steppe and forest-steppe of Western Siberia and Northern Kazakhstan while over the taiga zone the Artemisia plant communities were spread occasionally under the extra zonal conditions and as the pioneering plant groupings on naturally disturbed soils. Since the time point of 4 ka yr BP till the present time the northern boundary of the steppe zone under-went pulsing shifts to the north and back and also broadening and narrowing of isolated insular steppes in Altai-Sayan mountain region took place. At present time we observe an increase in the role of plants of Artemisia genus in the tundra zone of Western Siberia and in the Altai mountains.     

Composition and distribution of sibling species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus</Emphasis> Meigen, 1803 (Diptera,Chironomidae) in Curonian Lagoon of the Baltic Sea

The species composition of Chironomus in the Curonian Lagoon has been investigated. It was shown that three sibling species of the plumosus group, namely, Ch. plumosus, Ch. balatonicus, and Ch. muratensis, and a first-generation interspecific hybrid Ch. muratensis × Ch. plumosus lived here. The occurrence frequency in the lagoon was 87, 19, 6, and 3% for Ch. plumosus, Ch. balatonicus, Ch. muratensis × Ch. plumosus, and Ch. muratensis, respectively. The species Ch. plumosus was recorded in all the areas (southern, central, and northern), while Ch. balatonicus was found only in the northern area in the village of Juodkrante near the city of Klaipeda. Presumably, the distribution of these sibling species is due to the presence of a salinity gradient in the lagoon.     

New leaf-beetle species (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China: VIII

Chrysolina baoshanica sp. n., Ch. amica sp. n., Ch. baimana sp. n., Ch. sergeyi sp. n., Ch. korotjaevi sp. n., Ch. volkovitshi sp. n., Ch. aeruginosa kabana subsp. n., and Phratora belousovi sp. n. from Chinese provinces Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan are described. Types of the new species are deposited in the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg.     

On the biology of anthocorid bugs (Heteroptera,Anthocoridae), predators of grass aphids in the forest-steppe zone of West Siberia

Four species of the heteropteran family Anthocoridae, Orius niger Wolff., O. majusculus Reut., O. minutus L., and Anthocoris confusus Reut., feeding on grass aphids on grains and bird cherry occur in the foreststeppe zone of Western Siberia. Orius niger and O. majusculus possess the greatest population numbers, with 98% of all the bugs collected in 1987 and 1988 belonging to these species. In 1998–2000, O. niger was predominant (97–100%). Data on the bionomics, seasonal abundance, feeding intensity, and role of anthocorids in the control of aphids are reported. Density of Orius bugs on wheat has been shown to be independent of the preceding culture. Permanent wheat is a preferable habitat of the predatory anthocorids. Mass reproduction of Orius bugs on pea-oat and alfalfa has been recorded.     

Dynamics of the Abundance and Community Structure of Small Mammals in the Saratov Trans-Volga Region

A typical feature of the populations of small mammals in different areas of the Saratov Trans-Volga region is the long-term and constantly increasing abundance of Sylvaemus uralensis and its wide distribution in a variety of habitats. The maximal abundance of S. uralensis is 72.0 individuals per 100 trap-days, and its share in catches is 73.0%. The abundance of Microtus arvalis tends to increase. It was shown that Lagurus lagurus has been found again in the steppe zone, on fallow lands and fields, after a prolonged depression in 2012–2013, the average density of species being 4.0 individuals per 100 trap-days. A high abundance of other typical steppe inhabitants (Allocricetulus eversmanni and Ellobius talpinus) was noted as well. The highest indices of species diversity (H = 1.18) are typical of fallow lands.     

Construction of the phylogenetic model for the genera of the tribe Arctiini (Lepidoptera,Arctiidae) with the SYNAP method

A new scheme of the phylogeny of the tribe Arctiini is proposed. The Western Mediterranean genus Atlantarctia is considered the most primitive one in the tribe; the rest of genera form two large clades Arctia-Pericallia and Gonerda-Platyprepia. The first clade is supposed to have been subjected to radiation in western Eurasia, and the second clade, in Asia and North America in the Palaeogene when the eastern part of Asia was isolated from western Eurasia. Subsequently, most probably in the Neogene-Pleistocene, representatives of both clades spread over the whole Eurasia and North America. The Arctiini fauna of the tundra zone, which includes the genera Acerbia and Pararctia, was formed in Asia and North America, whereas the subboreal fauna (both steppe and nemoral) originated in western Eurasia. The boreal genus Borearctia has most likely also originated in Asia.     

New leaf-beetle species (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China: IX

The following new species are described from Chinese provinces Gansu, Sichuan, and Yunnan, based on the material from the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, where the types are deposited: Zeugophora nigroaerea sp. n. (Zeugophorinae), Cryptocephalus pseudosplendens sp. n. (Cryptocephalinae), Chrysolina kippenbergi sp. n., Ch. irinae sp. n., Ch. sinica sp. n., Ch. nixiana sp. n., Ch. yunnana sp. n., Oreomela fulvicornis sp. n., O. multipunctata sp. n. (Chrysomelini), Geinula cheni sp. n., and Furosawaia continentalis sp. n. (Galerucini).     

Alpine bistort (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Bistorta vivipara</Emphasis>) in edge habitat associates with fewer but distinct ectomycorrhizal fungal species: a comparative study of three contrasting soil environments in Svalbard

Bistorta vivipara is a widespread arctic-alpine ectomycorrhizal (ECM) plant species. Recent findings suggest that fungal communities associated with B. vivipara roots appear random over short distances, but at larger scales, environmental filtering structure fungal communities. Habitats in highly stressful environments where specialist species with narrower niches may have an advantage represent unique opportunity to test the effect of environmental filtering. We utilised high-throughput amplicon sequencing to identify ECM communities associated with B. vivipara in Svalbard. We compared ECM communities in a core habitat where B. vivipara is frequent (Dryas-heath) with edge habitats representing extremes in terms of nutrient availability where B. vivipara is less frequent (bird-manured meadow and a nutrient-depleted mine tilling). Our analysis revealed that soil conditions in edge habitats favour less diverse but more distinct ECM fungal communities with functional traits adapted to local conditions. ECM richness was overall lower in both edge habitats, and the taxonomic compositions of ECM fungi were in line with our functional expectations. Stress-tolerant genera such as Laccaria and Hebeloma were abundant in nutrient-poor mine site whereas functional competitors genera such as Lactarius and Russula were dominant in the nutrient-rich bird-cliff site. Our results suggest that ECM communities in rare edge habitats are most likely not subsets of the larger pool of ECM fungi found in natural tundra, and they may represent a significant contribution to the overall diversity of ECM fungi in the Arctic.     

Little known leaf beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) from China

Chrysolina (Semenowia) chalcea (Weise, 1889), Ch. (Pezocrosita) cyanopurpurea (Ballion, 1878), and Ch. (Chrysocrosita) fuyunica Chen, 1961 are redescribed. A male (topotype) of Ch. cyanopurpurea was examined for the first time. Ch. belousovi Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. cyanopurpurea; Ch. bienkowskii Lopatin, 2000 is a new junior synonym of Ch. chalcea. The taxonomic position of all the taxa mentioned is discussed.     

A new species,a new synonym,and new records of the hover-fly genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cheilosia</Emphasis> Meigen (Diptera,Syrphidae)

A new species, Cheilosia richterae sp. n., is described in the nominotypical subgenus, being most closely related there to Ch. annulifemur Stackelberg, 1930. Two species, Ch. sootryeni Nielsen, 1970 and Ch. rufimana (Becker, 1984), are recorded from Russia for the first time. Ch. kuznetzovae Skufjin, 1977 is recorded for the first time from the Urals and western Siberia. The subgenus Nephocheila Barkalov, 2002 is synonymized with Nephomyia Matsumura, 1916. Figures of the male and female heads and the male genitalia are given for all the species.     

Invasion of Siberian Pine Populations in Mountain Tundra in the Northern Urals

A new method for determining the upper forest border (UFB) as the border of the “root-closed” stand and regrowth as its potential vanguard is proposed. The mass dispersal of Pinus sibirica populations by the nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes) in the UFB ecotone in the Northern Urals (Pavdinskii Kamen’ and Tretii Bugor Mountain) from the middle-mountain taiga to the mountain forest tundra and tundra at a distance reaching 1 km is found. It is done based on the original reconstruction method of the dynamics of population number in P. sibirica annual seedlings and on an analysis of their relations with the dynamics of the seed bearing and population number of the nutcracker. The trustworthy consortive relations of the number of Pinus sibirica generations in the mountain forested tundra and tundra zones, with its seed bearing and nutcracker number in the previous year in the middle-mountain taiga zone, are found. A significant increase, 3.7 times, in the number of seedling generations during the last 49 years is found in connection with the increase in the summer air temperature in the subarctic to 2.0°C. A hypothesis of the formation of the united genetic metapopulation of P. sibirica in the forest–tundra mountain ecotone zone as a consequence of its seed ornitochory from the highly different populations is formulated. A forecast of the mosaic formation of the vanguard “thin forests” in 20–25 years and the root-closed curtains of the forest in 40–50 years in the mountain tundra of the Northern Urals at the current rate of the rise in temperature is made.     

Findings of the leaf beetles <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina tundralis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chrysolina roddi</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) in the middle part of European Russia

Two species of leaf beetles, Chrysolina tundralis and Ch. roddi, were found in the “Galich’ya Gora” Nature Reserve (the middle part of European Russia), 1200 and 700 km, respectively, from the main part of the ranges of these species. Adults and larvae of Ch. tundralis feed on Lamium purpureum, those of Ch. roddi feed on Seseli intermedia there. Diagnostic characters of the adults of both species are reported.     

Isolation mechanisms in closely related grasshopper species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chorthippus albomarginatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ch. oschei</Emphasis> (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Two closely related grasshopper species Chorthippus albomarginatus and Ch. oschei are known to hybridize in the narrow contact zone at the territory of Ukraine and Moldova. Different isolaton mechanisms providing reproductive isolation between the two species were studied. In choice mating experiments, females of the both species demonstrated a strong assortative mating (80–90% preference for the conspecific males). Comparison of the parental and hybrid viability revealed a reduced hatching and increased larval mortality in F₁ and F₂ hybrids. In choice mating experiments, the hybrid females mated less assortatively than the parental females. An assymmetry was found in mating preferences and in viability of hybrids. The results demonstrate the existence of pre-and post-mating isolation between Ch. albomarginatus and Ch. oschei. A possible fate of the hybrid zone is discussed.