The specific use of nesting territory by the lesser sandhill crane in Yakutia

The left Indigirka riverside in Yakutia is the western periphery of the habitat of the lesser sandhill crane. The size of its population, time budget, and use of territory during the nesting season were studied in the period from 1998 to 2007. The density of population of this species is much lower here than in the northwest of Chukotka and in Alaska, which is reflected in the specific behavior of broods. For a decade, the size of its population increased more than 20 times.     

Radioecological situation at the villages of the Techa river

The Techa river was contaminated in 1949-1956 from the nuclear enterprise "Mayak". The investigations were carried out in flood plain of the Techa river in 1992-2001. 90Sr and 137Cs stores were calculated in the soil-vegetation cover. There is uneven character of the spatial radionuclides contamination of the investigated area. The store with 90Sr changes from 25 to 930 kBq/m2 (0.7-25.0 Ci/km2) and that with 137Cs--from 30 to 1700 kBq/m2 (0.8-46.0 Ci/km2). In the preriver-bed soils the ratio 90Sr/137Cs increases with further from discharge point. Individual effective dose was calculated for the Brodocalmak population. 90Sr was revealed in the flood plain soils of the Iset river. The contribution of the contaminated Techa river and its flood plains soils accounted for as by incorporated radionuclides as background gamma-radiation does not exceed 0.13-0.17 mSv/yr if the contaminated Techa river utilization is limited. In other case the contribution of the contaminated Techa river increases to 1.6-3.0 mSv/yr. These values exceed international safety norms.     

Radioecological problems in coastal landscapes of the Sea of Azov

The features of the spatial distribution, of the migration, and of the accumulation of natural (232Th) and manmade (137Cs) radioactive nuclides in the coastal landscapes of the Sea of Azov are studied. It was shown, that the specific activity of 232Th in the accumulation of the so-called "black sands" was shown as high as 6000 Bq/kg, that increases the natural geochemical background in 200 times. The impact of aerial transfer of the "black sands" on 232Th migration and accumulation in the soil-plant system was clarified. The 232Th distribution down the soil profile suggests that the "black sands" are likely the product of the erosion of the coastal parent materials enriched by natural radionuclides. In general, the specific activity of 137Cs in the beach sand is not high and it is close to the background (global fallout) value. It was determined that 137Cs content in the coastal ecosystems is connected only by aerial pathway as a part of global and Chernobyl-born fallout.     

Radioecological problems of aquatic ecosystems of the chernobyl exclusion zone

The dynamics of the main contaminating radionuclides in the components of aquatic ecosystems within the Chernobyl APP exclusion zone is considered. The possible causes are analyzed for the marked increase in the specific activity of ⁹⁰Sr in water and hydrobionts of the lakes at the dammed left bank of river Pripyat. Notable is the elevated frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the root meristems of aquatic higher plants (up to 17%) and in the embryonal tissues of gastropod mollusks (up to 27%), alterations in the hematological indices for gastropods, and high infestation of aquatic higher plants by parasitic fungi and gall arthropods in the most radiocontaminated reservoirs.     

Male Seychelles warblers use territory budding to maximize lifetime fitness in a saturated environment

In cooperatively breeding species, helping at the nest and buddingoff part of the natal territory have been advanced as strategiesto increase fitness in an environment that is saturated withterritories. The importance of helping or territory buddingas a determinant of lifetime reproductive success (LRS) hasbeen debated because the potential benefits of both strategiescould not be separated. Here we test the causes and the immediateand future fitness consequences of single dispersal decisionstaken by male Seychelles warblers (Acrocephalus sechellensis).Males breeding in high-quality territories (high food abundance)have significantly higher LRS than similar-aged males buddingoff part of the parental territory. Initially, budders havea low reproductive success (because of limited food resourcesor absence of a breeding partner). However, they have a longlife span and inherit high-quality territories through sitedominance, by which they gain higher LRS than breeders on low-qualityterritories, helpers, or floaters. Experimental creation ofmale breeding territory vacancies showed that most young malesbecame budders because of intense competition for high-quality territories. The translocation of warblers to the previouslyunoccupied Aride Island shows that males behave according tothe expected fitness benefits of each dispersal strategy. Inthe absence of competition for territories on Aride, all youngmales bred in high-quality territories. However, after saturationof high-quality habitat with territories, most males becamebudders rather than breeders on low-quality habitat, helpers,or floaters.     

Radioecological indexes of fallout measurements from the Fukushima nuclear accident

Fallout from the Fukushima nuclear accident has been monitored for about 1 month in Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Three different radionuclides, one short-lived, one relatively long-lived and one long-lived fission product were identified in air, grass and milk samples. The ¹³¹I, ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³⁴Cs activity concentrations in air reached 497, 145 and 126 μBq m⁻³, respectively on 4 April, 2011. These radionuclides are of particular concern regarding their transfer from the environment to population through the ingestion pathways for the assessment of the Fukushima accident consequences. Radioecological indexes (eco-indexes) of fallout measurements in the air–grass–cow-milk–man pathway for ¹³¹I were determined, as they are related to radiological impact of the Fukushima derived radionuclides on the public and environment.     

Radioecological condition of cleansing structures on the territory contaminated with radionuclides as a result of the accident on the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station and the problems handing with the forming precipitates of sewage in republic Belarus

This article deals with the problems, connected with the formation of radioactive deposits in sewage (D.S.). It's shown that the main places of the accumulation of D.S. are the fields of filtration, silty sites and biological pools. In order to reduce the extent of the risk of the secondary contamination of environment we could offer the modernization of the elements of the cleansing structures, the development of refining technologies and reduction of mobility of radiocaesium.     

Cold adaptation in insects of Central Yakutia

The mode of cold hardening was for the first time assessed for 20 insect species living in the extremely cold climate of Yakutia. All insects tested were found to adapt through freeze tolerance, producing ice-nucleating agents that cause the hemolymph to freeze at high subzero temperatures. For the first time ice-nucleating agents were demonstrated in Lepidoptera. Pieris rapae exemplified the possibility of switchover in the survival strategy depending on the climatic conditions.     

Segetal vegetation of Central Yakutia

Seven associations of segetal vegetation are distinguished for the vast arable lands of Central Yakutia. Low species richness and the prevalence of annual weeds are the main features of these communities. Only two dominant speciesSphallerocarpus gracilis andSaussurea amara represent Asian types of areals. Other dominantsFallopia convolvulus, Elytrigia repens, Chenopodium album, Brassica campestris, Lappula squarrosa, Scutellaria galericulata, Thlaspi arvense, Avena fatua andCrepis tectorum are typically cosmopolitan. The phytosociological system of the segetal communities is described.     

杭州湾六市土地生态环境的数量评价及其在国土规划上的意义

在系统调查分析和特尔斐测定的基础上,选取人口密度、耕地人口负荷量、土地工业经济密度、居民点、厂矿用地、>25°土地面积、单位森林蓄积占用土地、耕地非旱涝保收面积7项指标,应用分值权重累加、系统聚类分析和模糊综合评价3种方法对杭州湾6市土地生态环境作综合分析评价,结果可应用于国土规划实践,对探讨土地生态环境评价的理论与方法有参考价值。     

Classification of ultracontinental boreal forests in central Yakutia

Using the Braun-Blanquet approach, five associations of boreal forests were distinguished in central Yakutia, the most continental part of eastern Siberia. Ecological features of the syntaxa were explained with the use of the DCA ordination of 50 relevés. All available data from eastern Siberia were involved in the study for syntaxonomic analysis. Central Yakutian boreal forests were classified into two classes:Rhytidio-Laricetea sibiricae Korotkov etErmakov 1999 — ultracontinental light coniferous hemiboreal forests, andVaccinio-Piceetea Br.-Bl. inBr.-Bl. et al. 1939 — typical coniferous taiga forests of northern Eurasia. A new concept of higher syntaxonomic units of the classVaccinio-Piceetea in eastern Siberia has been developed. Three orders represent the diversity of taiga forests: (1)Cladonio-Vaccinietalia Kielland-Lund 1967 (with alliancesHieracio umbellati-Pinion sylvestris Anenkhonov etChytry 1998 andSaxifrago bronchialis-Pinion sylvestris all. nov.) — light coniferous boreal forests occurring in dry and moderately dry oligotrophic sites in various climatic sectors of Northern Eurasia; (2)Lathyro humilis-Laricetalia cajanderi ord. nov. (with alliancesAulacomnio acuminati-Laricion cajanderi all. nov. andRhododendro daurici-Laricion gmelinii all. nov.) — zonal boreal forests with xeric elements, which are typical of regions of northern Asia with cold, dry ultracontinental climate; (3)Ledo-Laricetalia cajanderi ord. prov. (with allianceLedo-Laricion cajanderi prov.) — North Eurasian boreal forests occurring in cold sites with excessive soil moisture, sometimes water-logged. Phytogeography and ecology of these orders are discussed in comparison with other regions of northern Asia.     

Chondrichthyans from the Lower Carboniferous of Yakutia,Russia

Paleontological Journal - Teeth of Cladodoides cf. wildungensis (Jaekel), fin spines of Ctenacanthus cf. angulatus Newberry et Worthen and Ctenacanthus sp. occur in the Lower Carboniferous Emyaksin...     

Monitoring of the Bewick’s Swan in the tundra zone in Yakutia

In 1982—1995 and 2007 the Bewick’s swan was monitored. The air record routes were 48 000 km long. An increase in population, widening of the range in the north and west directions are recorded. The data on dynamics of population, territorial location, social structure, and breeding parameters are given. The ecological problems related to the increase in the swan population are discussed.     

Anastomoses in the territory of the posterior cerebral arteries

Anastomoses in the region of the posterior cerebral arteries were found in all of 40 brains examined. Anastomoses were channel-like, plexiform or combined. The former measured from 0.07 mm to 1.1 mm in diameter. They were most often found among the interpeduncular perforating vessels (71.2%), and between the branches of the posterior and anterior cerebral arteries (75.7%). The functional significance of the anastomoses is discussed.     

Migration of Cs-137 in frozen soils of Yakutia

The present-day levels of 137Cs global fallout in frozen soils of the tundra and taiga zones of Yakutia are analyzed in the paper. Patterns of radionuclide migration in different types of zonal soils have been considered. Influence of the frozen forms of micro- and mesorelief over redistribution of 137Cs in soils is investigated. Mean velocities of vertical 137Cs migration in the main types of the frozen soils have been determined. We have found that mean velocity of 137Cs vertical migration in soil profiles depends on water condition and texture of soils.     

Radioecological research of the Irtysh-River's and Ob-River's water, base and flood depositions

The radioecological research of Irtysh-river and Ob-river was held. The content of 137Cs in Irtysh water was compounded 0.62-1.23 Bq/m3, in Ob-- 0.24-0.27 Bq/m3, and the one of 90Sr in Irtysh-- 10-20 Bq/m3, and in Ob-- 5-10 Bq/m3, that is much lower than the permissible sanitary-hygienic norms for the population. The 137Cs stores density on Irtysh-river input lease was compounded 2.7 kBq/m2, is almost in 11 times slashed downstream and is peer 245 kBq/m2 before the Irtysh-river lockin. The 90Sr stores density also was slashed in surveyed leases with 212 down to 106 Bq/m2. Two variants of integrated stores of 137Cs and of 90Sr in flood of the Irtysh-river was held. The balance calculation of annual radionuclides sinks confirms the dominant amount of 137Cs and of 90Sr in downstream Ob-river leases acts now on the Ob's sleeve, instead of from the Irtysh-river as it was supposed earlier. The 137Cs medial annual inflow from the Ob's sleeve almost is in 2 times, and the 90Sr inflow is in 2.3 times more, than are acts from Irtysh-river sleeve.     

Cold adaptation strategy in insects inhabiting central Yakutia

Cold hardiness in 20 insect species living in extremely cold climate of Yakutia has been investigated for the first time. It was shown that the Yakutian insects prefer to use the strategy of freeze tolerance according to which they produce special substances initiating the freezing of hemolymph at high subzero temperatures. The presence of ice-nucleating agents in the haemolymph of insects belonging to the phylogenetic group of Lepidopteran was shown. We postulate that Pieris rapae may shift between the different cold hardiness strategies when they move from moderately cold regions to a more severe environment.