First European record of Paramecium septaurelia and the discovery of new European habitats of P. pentaurelia and P. sexaurelia in Russia (Astrakhan and Volgograd regions)

The presence of several species of the P. aurelia complex was revealed in the studied regions. In the Volgograd region P. primaurelia, P. biaurelia, P. triaurelia, and P. novaurelia were recorded. In the Astrakhan Nature Reserve P. primaurelia, P. pentaurelia, P. sexaurelia, and P. septaurelia were identified. Among these species, P. septaurelia was recorded for the first time in Europe, known before only from the territory of the USA, P. pentaurelia and P. sexaurelia are species rare in Europe. The studied regions are very rich in species of the P. aurelia complex and worthy of future studies.     

Recent data on the occurrence of species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in Europe

Among 15 species of the Paramecium aurelia complex known world-wide, 10 have been found in Europe, namely: P. primaurelia, P. biaurelia, P. triaurelia, P. tetraurelia, P. pentaurelia, P. sexaurelia, P. septaurelia, P. novaurelia, P. dodecaurelia, and P. tredecaurelia. Recent data on the frequency of occurrence of the species in Europe are given in the paper.     

Molecular polymorphism of strains within Paramecium septaurelia (Ciliophora, Oligohymenophorea)

RAPD-PCR fingerprinting and ARDRA riboprinting revealed polymorphism within P. septaurelia strains from Russia (4 strains from Lower Volga Basin), and one strain from USA, Florida. However, the first method showed the existence of four RAPD genotypes while the second revealed only two groups of strains with different band patterns. All studied strains had a high percentage of surviving hybrid clones in the inter-strain crosses, with little differentiation of strains within species. Intra-species differentiation of strains in RAPD band patterns may be connected with the degree of inbreeding for the studied species. Species of the P. aurelia complex can be arranged according to the degree of inbreeding characteristic for each, which is correlated with the degree of DNA polymorphism revealed by the RAPD method from extreme inbreeders (e.g. P. sexaurelia), moderate inbreeders (e.g. P. triaurelia) to weak inbreeders (e.g. P. pentaurelia). P. septaurelia of the P. aurelia complex should be included in the group of extreme inbreeder.     

The dynamics of the composition of mtDNA haplotypes of the ancient population of the Altai Mountains from the early bronze age (3rd millennium BC) to the iron age (2nd–1st centuries BC)

The mtDNA polymorphism in representatives of various archaeological cultures of the Developed Bronze Age, Early Scythian, and Hunnish-Sarmatian periods was analyzed (N = 34). It detected the dominance of Western-Eurasian haplotypes (70.6%) in mtDNA samples from the representatives of the ancient population of the Early Bronze Age–Iron Age on the territory of Altai Mountains. Since the 8th to the 7th centuries BC, a sharp increase was revealed in the Eastern Eurasian haplogroups A, D, C, and Z (43.75%) as compared to previous cultures (16.7%). The presence of haplotype 223-242-290-319 of haplogroup A8 in Dolgans, Itelmens, Evens, Koryaks, and Yakuts indicates the possible long-term presence of its carriers in areas inhabited by these populations. The prevalence of western Eurasian haplotypes is observed not only in the Altai Mountains but also in Central Asia (Kazakhstan) and the south of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. All of the three studied samples from the Western Eurasian haplogroups were revealed to contain U, H, T, and HV. The ubiquitous presence of haplotypes of haplogroup H and some haplogroups of cluster U (U5a1, U4, U2e, and K) in the vast territory from the Yenisei River basin to the Atlantic Ocean may indicate the direction of human settlement, which most likely occurred in the Paleolithic Period from Central Asia.     

Relationships of species of the Paramecium aurelia complex (Protozoa, Ph. Ciliophora, Cl. Oligohymenophorea) based on sequences of the histone H4 gene fragment

A fragment ofhistone H4 gene (160 bp long) was sequenced in the standard strains of P. primaurelia (DQ067620), P. biaurelia (DQ067621), P. tetraurelia (DQ067622), P. pentaurelia (DQ067623), P. septaurelia (DQ067624), P. octaurelia (DQ067625), P. decaurelia (DQ067626), P. undecaurelia (DQ067627), P. dodecaurelia (DQ067628), P. tredecaurelia (DQ067629), and P. quadecaurelia (DQ067630). The tree constructed according to the Kimura model presents two main species clusters, one comprising P. undecaurelia, P. octaurelia, P. septaurelia, and the second cluster with P. pentaurelia, P. tredecaurelia, P. quadecaurelia, P. tetraurelia, P. decaurelia, P. primaurelia, P. biaurelia. P. dodecaurelia was recovered as a separate branch. The tree constructed on the basis of the maximum likelihood method also presents two species clusters, one with P. undecaurelia, P. octaurelia, P. septaurelia, and the second with P. primaurelia, P. decaurelia, P. pentaurelia, P. tredecaurelia, P. quadecaurelia, P. tetraurelia. P. biaurelia forms a basal clade to the latter cluster, and P. dodecaurelia was recovered as a clearly distinct branch from the clusters.     

New data on the distribution of hantavirus in rodent populations in Siberia

New foci of hantavirus infection were found in Altai and Krasnoyarsk krais, in Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, and Tomsk oblasts, and Altai Republic. It is shown that hantaviruses are distributed in all landscape zones and subzones. The bank vole, the gray red-backed vole, the northern red-backed vole, the narrow-headed vole, the field vole, the root vole, the steppe lemming, and the Korean field and striped mice.     

Lichen biota of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion

Study was given to the distribution of diverse lichen species in the Altai-Sayan ecological region comprising Altai krai, Krasnoyarsk krai, Kemerovo oblast, Novosibirsk oblast, republics of Altai, Khakassia, and Tyva, as well as Kazakhstan and Mongolia. At present, the list includes 1765 species of 318 genera, which belong to 94 families. Data on the biodiversity of lichens of the nine largest regions of southern Siberia are given for the first time.     

新疆山地苔藓植物区系相似性的数量分析

应用相似性系数分析方法,对新疆阿尔泰山、天山和昆仑山苔藓植物区系间的相似性进行了定量研究。结果表明：阿尔泰山与天山苔藓植物区系之间的相似性最大,其科、属、种的相似性系数分别为86．11％,64．45％和50．45％,表明阿尔泰山与天山苔藓植物区系有较近的亲缘关系;昆仑山与天山苔藓植物区系间的相似性大于它与阿尔泰山间的相似性。上述结果与对三大山地气候条件的分析结果相一致。     

On the northernmost distribution of leaf beetles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreomela</Emphasis> (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae): New species from mountains of southern Siberia

Three new species of leaf beetles are described: Oreomela dudkorum sp. n. (Terektinskii Ridge, Central Altai Mountains), O. tuvensis sp. n. (mountains of southeastern Republic of Tuva), and O. romantsovi sp. n. (Western Sayan Mountains). The representatives of this genus, and especially of the nominotypical subgenus, were found in Russia and in the territories mentioned for the first time. Thus, the distribution boundary of this genus is shifted 3–4° northwards. The representatives of Oreomela have most probably migrated from Tien Shan to the mountains of southern Siberia via the Mongolian Altai Mountains.     

Paleolithic Man of Denisova Cave and Zoogeography of Pleistocene Mammals of Northwestern Altai

Mammal population of the northwestern Altai included residents, autochthonous species, cosmopolitans, and migrants. The last clearly indicate biogeographical relationships of the biota of the Altai Mountains in the Pleistocene. Most of them penetrated into the Altai from the south. The majority of ungulates and rodents migrated from Central Asia. Yak, red dog, and snow leopard came from the Himalayas, Pamir, and Tien Shan. The natural environment of the Altai Mountains in the Pleistocene enabled migrations of these mammals from the south to north. The same opportunity was true of the ancient man. It is possible to assume that humans migrated from southeastern Asia and Indochina along the eastern foothills of the Himalayas and Nan Shan Mountains to the northwest, to the Zaisan Depression and Altai. This resulted in inevitable exchange of gene material of Paleolithic human populations of southeastern Asia and the Altai.     

Tracing the Origin of the East-West Population Admixture in the Altai Region (Central Asia)

A recent discovery of Iron Age burials (Pazyryk culture) in the Altai Mountains of Mongolia may shed light on the mode and tempo of the generation of the current genetic east-west population admixture in Central Asia. Studies on ancient mitochondrial DNA of this region suggest that the Altai Mountains played the role of a geographical barrier between West and East Eurasian lineages until the beginning of the Iron Age. After the 7th century BC, coinciding with Scythian expansion across the Eurasian steppes, a gradual influx of East Eurasian sequences in Western steppes is detected. However, the underlying events behind the genetic admixture in Altai during the Iron Age are still unresolved: 1) whether it was a result of migratory events (eastward firstly, westward secondly), or 2) whether it was a result of a local demographic expansion in a ‘contact zone’ between European and East Asian people. In the present work, we analyzed the mitochondrial DNA lineages in human remains from Bronze and Iron Age burials of Mongolian Altai. Here we present support to the hypothesis that the gene pool of Iron Age inhabitants of Mongolian Altai was similar to that of western Iron Age Altaians (Russia and Kazakhstan). Thus, this people not only shared the same culture (Pazyryk), but also shared the same genetic east-west population admixture. In turn, Pazyryks appear to have a similar gene pool that current Altaians. Our results further show that Iron Age Altaians displayed mitochondrial lineages already present around Altai region before the Iron Age. This would provide support for a demographic expansion of local people of Altai instead of westward or eastward migratory events, as the demographic event behind the high population genetic admixture and diversity in Central Asia.     

Response of xylem formation of Larix sibirica to climate change along the southern Altai Mountains,Central Asia

Under the ongoing warmer and wetter climate in the arid and semi-arid Altai Mountains, the key to understanding and predicting how forest growth responds to the changing climate in this area is to explore the dynamics of xylem formation and its climate drivers. However, such precise and high-time resolution knowledge is currently scarce. Here, we investigated the cambium activity and xylem formation of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in four sites along the southern Altai Mountains during the two consecutive growing seasons of 2018 and 2019. We found that the onset of xylem formation along the southern Altai Mountains started from mid-May to early June and ceased from late August to early September. The linear mixed model results showed that the onset of xylogenesis happened earlier when April was warmer and with lower precipitation. The cessation of xylem differentiation was closely related to the total number of xylem cells, regardless of temperature and precipitation. Therefore, a greater number of xylem cells resulted in delayed completion of cell enlargement and wall thickening. In addition, xylem cell production (total number of xylem cells) was negatively affected by May–July temperature and positively affected by May–July total precipitation. Our findings provide key data at the cellular level and high time resolution (weekly) and new insights into how forest ecosystems in the southern Altai Mountains respond to a warmer and wetter climate in the context of global warming.     

Effects of competition and climate on tree radial growth of Pinus sibirica in Altai Mountains,Xinjiang, China

阿尔泰山的北方森林是中亚以及全球的生态系统的重要组成部分, 其生长动态可以影响到全球范围的热辐射、碳平衡等。因此, 探究影响阿尔泰山树木径向生长的主要因素至关重要。该研究以新疆喀纳斯国家级自然保护区的西伯利亚五针松(Pinus sibirica)为研究对象, 建立西伯利亚五针松年表, 通过分析不同时间间隔累年生长量、竞争指数以及气候因子之间的关系, 运用线性混合效应模型、相关分析等方法, 探究竞争和气候对新疆阿尔泰山西伯利亚五针松树木径向生长的影响。结果表明: (1)线性混合效应模型结果显示竞争树胸径和与西伯利亚五针松过去30年的累年生长量之间的拟合效果最好; (2)标准年表与3月的平均气温、平均最高气温、平均最低气温之间有显著正相关关系; (3)累年生长量最高值出现在气温0-5 ℃, 竞争指数低于100的时候。累年生长量最低时, 气温达到-10 ℃, 竞争指数也超过了300。目标树的树木径向生长受到竞争树胸径和及生长季前期气温的影响, 两者共同作用。但相较于气候因子而言, 竞争对西伯利亚五针松的树木径向生长有更大的影响作用。     

竞争和气候对新疆阿尔泰山西伯利亚五针松树木径向生长的影响

阿尔泰山的北方森林是中亚以及全球的生态系统的重要组成部分, 其生长动态可以影响到全球范围的热辐射、碳平衡等。因此, 探究影响阿尔泰山树木径向生长的主要因素至关重要。该研究以新疆喀纳斯国家级自然保护区的西伯利亚五针松(Pinus sibirica)为研究对象, 建立西伯利亚五针松年表, 通过分析不同时间间隔累年生长量、竞争指数以及气候因子之间的关系, 运用线性混合效应模型、相关分析等方法, 探究竞争和气候对新疆阿尔泰山西伯利亚五针松树木径向生长的影响。结果表明: (1)线性混合效应模型结果显示竞争树胸径和与西伯利亚五针松过去30年的累年生长量之间的拟合效果最好; (2)标准年表与3月的平均气温、平均最高气温、平均最低气温之间有显著正相关关系; (3)累年生长量最高值出现在气温0-5 ℃, 竞争指数低于100的时候。累年生长量最低时, 气温达到-10 ℃, 竞争指数也超过了300。目标树的树木径向生长受到竞争树胸径和及生长季前期气温的影响, 两者共同作用。但相较于气候因子而言, 竞争对西伯利亚五针松的树木径向生长有更大的影响作用。     

新疆阿尔泰山曲尾藓科2个中国新记录种

阿尔泰山是欧亚大陆最为宏伟的山脉之一,其中段的西南坡坐落于中国新疆境内,众多具温带性质的藓类植物分布于此。作者在对阿尔泰山进行苔藓植物区系调查过程中,发现了分布于阿尔泰山的喀纳斯自然保护区及布尔津县禾木乡的2个藓类植物中国新记录种——隶属曲尾藓科的短叶曲尾藓[Dicranum brevifolium(Lindb.)Lindb.]和卷叶小曲尾藓[Dicranella crispa(Hedw.)Schimp.]。由地理分布可知,短叶曲尾藓和卷叶小曲尾藓在中国皆为稀有种类。     

我国寒温带至亚热带森林多孔菌区系和多样性比较

多孔菌是木材腐朽菌的重要类群, 具有重要的生态功能和经济价值。本文比较分析了我国寒温带至亚热带的阿尔泰山脉、秦岭山脉和南岭山脉的多孔菌物种、生态习性和区系特征。经调查, 在三个山脉共发现多孔菌8目29科107属287种, 其中阿尔泰山、秦岭和南岭分别为84种、132种、160种, 优势科均为多孔菌科和锈革孔菌科。三个山脉的共有属和共有种分别为25个和14个。区系地理分析发现, 阿尔泰山脉和秦岭山脉以世界广布成分和北温带成分为主, 南岭山脉以世界广布和泛热带成分为主。在寄主选择性方面, 阿尔泰山脉的多孔菌偏好生长在裸子植物上, 其比例高于被子植物, 而秦岭和南岭则相反。在腐朽类型方面, 从寒温带至亚热带白腐真菌物种数量呈现逐渐上升的趋势, 而褐腐真菌数量逐渐下降。通过比较分析3个不同气候带的多孔菌物种多样性、寄主偏好性和引起的腐朽类型, 发现气候和植被类型是影响多孔菌区系组成的主要因素。     

Species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in Italy

New stands of Paramecium pentaurelia were recorded in Valmarana, Veneto region in Italy and one stand of P. primaurelia was found at the same locality.     

The influence of late pleistocene mountain glaciations on the genetic differentiation of long-tailed ground squirrel (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Urocitellus undulatus</Emphasis>)

Long-tailed ground squirrel (Urocitellus undulatus) is a polytypic species with a wide distribution from the Tien Shan to the Amur River region. Previously, considerable genetic differentiation between eastern and western populations of this species was demonstrated. Moreover, the greatest differences were observed in the western part of the range located in Central Asia, the region that was subjected to repeated glaciations in the past and represents one of the centers of the ground squirrel secondary diversification. The analysis of polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA control region was carried out on long-tailed ground squirrels living in the northern part of Central Asia, on the territory of the Altai Mountains (45 individuals from 23 localities). The presence of two genetically differentiated (7.7% differences) and geographically separated lineages (western and eastern) was revealed. The data obtained disprove the hypothesis on unidirectional, from west to east, colonization of the Altai Mountains after the end of the last glacial maximum and show the two pathways of the ground squirrel colonization of the Altai, from both western and eastern refugia.     

Species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in the middle Sudeten of Czecho-Slovakia.

On the investigated territory three species of the complex were identified, namely Paramecium biaurelia, P. triaurelia, and P. novaurelia. P. novaurelia dominated over the other species with regard to the number of clones established from nature as well as to habitats.     

Species of the Paramecium aurelia complex in Russia (western region of European Russia) with molecular characteristics of Paramecium novaurelia

The presence of P. primaurelia, P. biaurelia, P. triaurelia, and P. novaurelia of the P. aurelia complex was revealed in the studied region of Russia. RAPD-PCR fingerprints (band patterns) of newly identified P. novaurelia strains from Russia were compared to those characteristic for the other chosen European strains of the species. The strains revealed intraspecific polymorphism as several groups of genotypes confirming the existence of polymorphism within P. novaurelia.