Hoverflies (Diptera,Syrphidae) in Agrolandscapes of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province

A total of 57 species from 32 genera of hoverflies (Diptera, Syrphidae) were found in the agricultural landscapes of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province. One species, Cheilosia vulpina (Mg.), was recorded in the region for the first time. The largest numbers of species occurred at forest and field edges covered with wild grasses and shrubs, while 21 species of hoverflies were recorded in crops. The species most commonly found in crops were representatives of the genera Melanostoma, Sphaerophoria, and Platycheirus whose larvae feed on aphids.     

The Hunneberg Stage (Ordovician) in the area east of St. Petersburg, north-western Russia

The bio- and lithostratigraphy of the poorly known early Ordovician (Arenig) Hunneberg Stage is described from the area east of St. Petersburg (Putilovo Quarry and Lava river), where the Lakity Beds (Leetse Fm.) consist of glauconitic sands and silty clays. The described fauna includes graptolites, conodonts, brachiopods, acritarchs, foraminifers, and several problematic groups. The Lakity Beds are unique within the lower Ordovician sequence of the East Baltic in the abundance of graptolites, co-occurring with conodonts. The conodonts from the lower part of the Lakity Beds belong to the uppermost subzone (Oelandodus elongatus — Acodus deltatus deltatus) of theParoistodus proteus Zone, coinciding with the lower part of theTetragraptus phyllograptoides Zone. This suggests that there is a hiatus between the Lakity Beds and the underlying Nazya Formation. The lower Lakity Beds also contain the brachiopodsLeptembolon lingulaeformis andEosiphonotreta cf.acrotretomorpha, which suggest that they may be correlated with the Joa Member of the Leetse Formation in North Estonia. In the upper part of the Lakity Beds, conodonts of thePrioniodus elegans Zone co-occur with graptolites indicating the upper subzone of theTetragraptus phyllograptoides Zone in the Scandinavian sections. There are still problems of defining and correlating the base of the Billingen Regional Stage, which are outside the scope of this paper.     

Species of Apionids (Coleoptera,Apionidae) New to St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province

Entomological Review - Two apionids (Coleoptera, Apionidae) new to the fauna of Northwestern European Russia have been found in the recent years: Aspidapion radiolus (Gyll.) in St. Petersburg, and...     

A review of the leaf beetles (Coleoptera,Chrysomelidae) of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province

A total of 245 species of 59 genera and 12 subfamilies of Chrysomelidae are recorded for St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province. The distribution of 219 species is proved by the author, 30 species are recorded for the region for the first time. For most species data on the phenology and ecology are given.     

Current features of HIV-infection in St. Petersburg

Dynamics of HIV-infection epidemic in St. Petersburg was analyzed. New features of epidemic process, which were not observed in St. Petersburg earlier, whereas noted in other territories of Russia, were revealed and described.     

利用人工围隔研究沉水植被恢复的生态效应

近几十年来,随着水体富营养化加剧和其它人类活动影响,一些湖泊,尤其是我国长江中下游地区浅水湖泊中,沉水植被锐减甚至消失。如武汉东湖,６０年代十分繁茂的沉水植被现已濒临灭绝。沉水植被作为主要初级生产者,在水生态系统中起着一定的作用。在退化湖泊生态系统重建与恢复中,重建沉水植被是关键性的步骤。本研究利用人工围隔,在富营养化水体中重建沉水植被,通过与近旁无沉水植被的湖区对照,从水体理化性质、浮游植物叶绿素ａ含量以及原生动物群落结构与多样性几个方面,研究沉水植被恢复的生态效应,以期为退化湖泊生态系统的重…     

Oxygen Budget of a River Rich in Submerged Macrophytes (River Zschopau in the South of the GDR)

The oxygen budget of the river Zschopau, a flowing water typical of hilly areas in the south of the GDR, was investigated in regard of seasonal variations in the activity of submerged macrophytes. Oxygen concentrations were continuously measured in the river by means of electrodes. Seasonal activity patterns of Ranunculus penicillatus, the dominant macrophyte in the river stretch investigated, were found by laboratory experiments. The oxygen budget was obtained by measuring CO₂ concentrations by infrared gas analysis (IRGA) and CO₂ and O₂ concentriations by means of electrodes.     

Type Specimens of Conopidae (Diptera) in the Collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,St. Petersburg

Entomological Review - A catalog of the type specimens of Conopidae (Diptera) described by Th. Becker and L.V. Zimina and deposited in the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in...     

Ecological Status of the Chusovaya River by Its Epilithon and Hydrochemical Indices (Near the Town of Chusovoi)

Biology Bulletin - Abstract—As a result of our research, we obtained data on the structure of the epilithon and physicochemical parameters of waters in the Chusovaya River near the town of...     

Long-Term Monitoring of the Numbers of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodinae) in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province

Entomological Review - Changes in the distribution and abundance of ixodid ticks Ixodes persulcatus and I. ricinus in St. Petersburg and Leningrad Province over the period of 1970–2018 are...     

Molecular-biological characteristics of rubella virus strains isolated in St. Petersburg

In the surveillance of the incidence of rubella in the northwestern region of Russia, an analysis was conducted of swabs from the noses and pharynxes of 37 patients with rubella treated in Solovev District Military Clinical Hospital No. 442. To isolate the virus, the RK-13 cell line was used, in total 22 strains were allocated. The strains of the Rubella virus isolated in St. Petersburg during the 2007 outbreak belong to the 1E genotype. In the culture of RK-13 cells, changes of cellular morphogenesis and the formation of replicative complexes, as well as the shells of virions of rubella viruses, were detected.     

Bioassay responses of micro-organisms to sediment elutriates from the St. Lawrence River (Lake St. Louis)

A sediment study, involving both chemical and biological analyses, was carried out in the St. Lawrence River near Montreal (Lake St. Louis). About 60 stations were sampled during 1984–85, and the sediments were analyzed for support variables, heavy metals, and organochlorinated compounds. Subsamples were elutriated using a 1 to 4 sediment/water ratio. The resulting elutriates were analyzed for several chemical variables, while toxicity was measured using the Microtox test, algal ¹⁴C assimilation, and lethality/developmental inhibition in cladocerans, rotifers, and nematodes. The results showed a great variety of responses and sensitivity, and correlations between the tests were non-significant. In terms of toxic responses, the algal and Microtox tests were the most sensitive. Toxic responses could not be explained in simple terms of contaminant concentrations. Therefore, the chemistry of elutriates is not predictive of the toxic potential of contaminated sediments. Biotests can give an insight into the hazard assessment of sediments, but no single test will be sufficient; the use of a battery of standardized biotests, representing different levels of organization/food chain, including representative natural species, is highly recommended.     

Type specimens of argasid and ixodid ticks (Ixodoidea: Argasidae, Ixodidae) in the collection of the Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences (St. Petersburg)

The catalogue contains data on type specimens of 79 species and subspecies of argasid and ixodid ticks. The data on 32 holotypes, 35 lectotypes, and 2 neotypes are given; paratypes and paralectotypes of 47 taxa are present in the collection. Within each family, type specimens are listed in alphabetical order.     

Transthyretin gene V30M,H90N,and (del9) mutations in cardiomyopathy patients from St. Petersburg

A search of transthyretin (TTR) gene mutations was performed in patients with cardiomyopathies from St. Petersburg. Mutations H90N, V30M and deletion (del9) of nucleotides GACTTCTCC in position 6776 from the start codon of the TTR gene (in position 98782 according to reference sequence AC079096 (NCBI) was found. The H90N mutation in the third exon of TTR gene was detected in a son of a cardiomyopathy patient and in his mother, which lacked any clinical manifestations. Mutation V30M in exon 2 of TTR gene was found in heterozygous in one of the probands. Deletion (del9) was revealed in a patient with cardiomyopathy and in his two daughters from different marriages, who had no clinical manifestations of the disease. All the mutations revealed in this study were previously identified in other populations.     

Genetic Demography of the Population of St. Petersburg: Migration Processes

Russian Journal of Genetics - The principal genetic demographic parameters that describe migration processes affecting the structure of the St. Petersburg population gene pool were determined on...     

Species Composition and Population Dynamics of Dominant Dendrophagous Moths (Lepidoptera) in St. Petersburg and Its Environs

Entomological Review - The paper summarizes new and literature data on the species composition, trophic relationships, and population dynamics of phyllophagous lepidopterans dominant on woody...     

Macrophytes of the River Wear: 1966, 1976, 1986

Summary

A survey was made during 1986 of the longitudinal distribution of macrophytes in the River Wear (N-E. England) in order to make comparisons with surveys in 1966 and 1976. The presence or absence of species recognizable with the naked eye was recorded in 1986 for 74 of the possible 211 0.5-km lengths of river. In contrast to the marked differences between 1966 and 1976, changes since 1976 were minor; many were probably merely a reflection of recent flow events. The most clear-cut difference was the loss of most of the Elodea canadensis population. The only other change in records which may reflect a longer-term environmental change was a marked increase in the moss Amblystegium riparium, a species characteristically associated with organic pollution.     

Etiology of the epidemic outbreak of community-acquired pneumonia in children in St. Petersburg

In September-December 1998 the epidemic rise of outhospital pneumonia (EP) among children was observed in St. Petersburg, which led to a twofold increase in morbidity rate this year. The study of the etiology of EP during the period of 1998-2001 confirmed the prime role of Streptococcus pneumoniae (74.5%) and, for the first time in Russia, revealed the epidemic outbreak of acute chlamydiosis (Chlamydia pneumoniae), diagnosed in 67.3% of children, the maximum occurrence (87.5%) in 1998 with only 19% of the patients having the disease in the form of monoinfection. The prevalence of S. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in the etiology of EP and more severe course of mixed infection suggested that these infective agents played a leading role in the epidemic outbreak of acute respiratory infections in St. Petersburg.