Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2024 number 1

For the first time with high spectral resolution (0,00016 cm^-1) and threshold sensitivity (~ 1E-26 cm/molec.), the absorption spectrum of the H₂S molecule was recorded in the spectral ranges 6227.506-6236.844 and 6244.188-6245.348 cm^-1 at room temperature and pressures of 0.001-0.06 atm. The measurements were carried out at the Institute of General Physics on a high-sensitivity high-resolution diode laser spectrometer with a signal-to-noise ratio of more than 10000. Line center shift coefficients Δ₀/ P and collisional widths Г₂/ P have been estimated for the first time; new spectral lines have been recorded. The estimates of the experimental values of the positions of the line centers determined in this work differ from the calculated positions of the centers in the HITRAN database by the value Dν = (ν_H - ν_exp) × 10³ cm^-1 ≈ 0.001-0.01 cm^-1. The intensity estimates coincide much worse, the relative differences 100% × ( S_H - S _exp)/ S_H amount to tens of percent, the intensities of five lines differ by hundreds of percent or more.

The problem of controlling the parameters of the filamentation region of high-power femtosecond laser pulses for amplitude modulation of radiation by a metal mesh mask is theoretically considered. To this end, the initial laser beam is split into individual lower energy subbeams. This leads to a pronounced regularization of the spatial structure of the filaments, which is formed at the stage of radiation self-focusing due to diffraction interaction between subbeams in a nonlinear medium. Generally, the total length of the filamentation domain of femtosecond laser radiation in air is reduced when using modulation meshes. At the same time, the longitudinal continuity of laser plasma in such filaments can significantly increase. We show that the spatial parameters of filaments (coordinate of the start, length, and continuity) can be controlled over a wide range by changing mesh parameters (crosshair thickness and cell size), as well as the position of the mesh mask relative to the laser beam center. The results are important for predicting the propagation of high-power femtosecond laser radiation in a nonlinear medium, in particular, along atmospheric paths.

Transit observations of exoplanets make it possible to measure temperature and relative abundance of various elements in their atmospheres. The infrared line of metastable helium HeI 10830 Å is widely used to study the atmospheres of exoplanets by the transit absorption method. The emission spectra of stars have a significant impact on the physical and chemical parameters of the upper layers of the atmospheres. In this paper, we consider the features of absorption in the helium line for stars of different spectral classes by numerical simulation. The results show the key role of the star's emission spectrum in the formation of the upper atmosphere and in the amplitude of transit absorption of exoplanets in the HeI 10830 Å line.

Tundra lakes are an important indicator of climate change; therefore, the analysis of the dynamics of their size is of particular interest. This paper presents the results of using the U-Net convolutional neural network for tundra lakes segmentation in satellite optical images using Landsat data as an example. The comparative assessment of segmentation accuracy is performed for the original U-Net design and its modifications: U-Net++, Attention U-Net, and R2 U-Net, including with weights derived from a pre-trained VGG16 network. The segmentation accuracy is assessed based on the results of manual mapping of tundra lakes in northern Siberia. It is shown that more recent U-Net modifications do not provide a practically significant gain in segmentation accuracy, but increase the computational costs. A configuration based on the classic U-Net gives the best result in most cases (the average Soerens coefficient IoU = 0.88). The technique suggested and the resulting estimates can be used in analysis of modern climate trends.

We estimate the long-term variability of the parameters of single-layer cloud fields over the territory of Western Siberia in winter for the period from 2001 to 2019 based on MODIS data. The main idea of the applied method is to use the results of recognition of 11 cloud types from daily winter (December, January, and February) daytime satellite images. Features of single-layer clouds are considered for three latitudinal zones of Western Siberia: southern (< 60° N), transitional (60-65° N), and northern (> 65° N). We found linear trends for the following parameters of different cloud types: the coverage fraction of the target zones, optical thickness, effective particle radius, waterpath, and top height. The paper discusses the results of comparing the data we obtained with information from the annual Roshydromet assessment reports. We propose hypotheses about the reasons for the anomalous parameter values in the time series for different cloud types in the latitudinal zones of Western Siberia under study in winter.

In continuation of the first part of the work, experimental results of Kelvin-Helmholtz wave sounding with an UV BSE-5 lidar (355 nm), with the sensitivity higher than that of BSE-4 lidar (532 nm), are presented. Experiments on atmospheric sounding with the BSE-5 lidar were carried out in the winter-spring period over a built-up area, which is a “heat island". Improved lidar parameters in combination with thermal conditions in the atmospheric boundary layer, which is mainly stable stratified in the cold season, enables us to acquire new data on the shape of Kelvin-Helmholtz waves. It is ascertained that echo signals in both receiving channels of the lidar decrease by 30% after a sounding laser beam passes a turbulence intensity peak at the top of the wave arc. This effect of the atmosphere on echo signals of the turbulent lidar can be explained by beam broadening due to multiple scattering on random inhomogeneities of the medium.

The possibilities of using molecular scattering to determine the wind speed from measurements by a pulsed coherent Doppler lidar (PCDL) from an aircraft at altitudes from 10 to 20 km are numerically studied. The simulation was carried out for probing radiation focused at 500 m at wavelengths of 1 mm and 2 mm, the aperture diameter of the receiving-transmitting telescope was set equal to 10 cm. It is shown that the threshold SNR in measurements from an aircraft is attained at a pulse energy much lower than when sounding from the Earth. Modern PCDLs with probing pulse energies of 1-4 mJ, after adding a molecular scattering recording channel, can be used for airborne wind measurements at altitudes of 10-20 km.

Based on the multiyear expedition studies in the Kara Sea basin (11 expeditions in 2007-2022), we presented for the first time a statistical generalization of the atmospheric aerosol characteristics: the volume contents of submicron and coarse aerosol ( V_f и V_с ), the black carbon concentrations (еВС) and the spectral aerosol optical depth (AOD) of the atmosphere. Increased content of submicron and absorbing (eBC) aerosol was clearly manifested in the average spatial distribution in the southwestern part of the Kara Sea and minimal content in the northern part. The difference in the average concentrations V_f and еВС between these regions is 30-60%. The average aerosol characteristics for the entire Kara Sea had been: the atmospheric AOD (0.5 mm) was 0.043 at the Ångström exponent 0.8; the concentrations еВС were 22.8 ng/m³; and the particle volumes V_f and V_с were 0.26 and 1.39 μm³/cm³ respectively. The average concentrations V_f and еВС over the Kara Sea are shown to be intermediate between the data from the “Cape Baranov” and the Barents Sea.

Seasonal variability of the vertical distribution of chlorophyll a concentration, coefficients of spectral light absorption by optically active components of water and, spectral downwelling irradiance has been investigated in coastal waters of the Black Sea near Sevastopol in 2022-2023. Concentration of phlorophyll a in euphotic zone was minimal in winter (0.66 mg/m³) and maximal in spring (3.57 mg/m³). It has been revealed that colored dissolved organic matter was dominated in absorption at 438 nm in all the seasons. It was noted that the relative contribution of phytoplankton to the total non-water light absorption by all optically active components at 438 nm was the highest in summer. It has been shown that an increase in the total light absorption by suspended and dissolved organic matters led to a narrowing of the euphotic zone and a change in the spectral features of downwelling irradiance. Vertical distribution of Tchl- a and optically active components was associated with hydrophysical characteristics of waters.

Ecologo-geographical differentiation and dynamics of spring migration of water and semiaquatic birds of the Putorana Plateau are analyzed. In 1988-2007 on an area of 250000 kmІ, 8 points were surveyed in the northern, southern, western and eastern parts of the region. The method of route accounting was used. The water and semiaquatic avifauna of the Putorana Plateau in the spring migration period includes 68 species. The most significant in its formation are tundra species (53 %) from among the Anseriformes and Charadriiformes, totaling 94 %. Birds fly in north, east and west directions. They make stops at the early areas of river deltas that are freed from snow and ice. There are species that are distributed in stopping places everywhere (38 %), locally (22 %), pointwise (40 %). Bird population density at stops 15-227, on average ( n = 8) 94 ind./1 km of coastline. The population of birds on lakes is always much poorer than on adjacent river sections. The vast majority of individuals of almost all migratory species are united in monospecific, rarely polyspecific flocks. The entire spring migration of water and semiaquatic birds on the Putorana Plateau takes place from May 19 to June 27 and lasts an average ( n = 10) 23 days. The main passage runs from May 25 to June 17 and lasts an average of ( n = 8) 7 days. Spring migration is most intense in the west of the Putorana, where at least 20000-30000 individuals of woter and semiaquatic birds fly through the surveyed points. The span is much weaker in the center and, especially, in the east of the region. There are 19 species among the dominants of water and semiaquatic habitats, incl. Eurasian Wigeon, Common Teal, Grey-taild Tattler, Northern Pintail, Little Stint.

Participating in the circulation of nutrients epilithic biofilms play an important role in water bodies. Denitrification actively proceeds in the epilithon of water bodies. However, the information on environmental factors that affect the process in biofilms is still limited. The object of study in this article involves the number of cultivated denitrifying bacteria in biofilms formed on the stony substrates in different parts of Lake Baikal littoral zone. It has been found out that the main factors explaining the differences in the number of cultivated bacteria who perform complete denitrification were the temperature and the concentration of total nitrogen in shallow water. The article shows that lower amount of denitrifiers is a typical for biofilms experiencing nitrogen deficiency as indicated by the low stoichiometric N: P ratio in biofilms. An uneven distribution of heavy metals in the biomass of epilithic biofilms has been determined. It also may potentially impact denitrification in the epilithon of Lake Baikal.

The hydrochemical and microelement composition of water and bot tom sediments was determined in the Kuchiger thermal spring (Baikal rift zone). The entry of chemicals with groundwater and high temperatures create favorable and specific conditions for the development of microorganisms. The taxonomic diversity of the microbial community of water and bottom sediments was studied using the analysis of 16S rRNA gene aplicons. 107619 nucleotide sequences assigned to 211 OTUs were analyzed. In the studied samples of water and bottom sediments, bacteria dominated, representatives of archaea accounted for 0.2-3.1 %. The phylum Proteobacteria dominated in microbial communities. The subdominants in the studied samples were the phyla Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Nitrospirae, Acetothermia, and Actinobacteria, where their ratio varied depending on the biotope. A characteristic feature of the microbial community in the Kuchiger thermal spring is the dominance of chemolithotrophic bacteria.

In 2015-2019 catching of young bluethroats was carried out in order to determine the parameters of their migration stop in the taiga zone in the east of the Russian Plain. A total of 272 birds were analyzed, of which 186 were males and 86 were females. The average duration of the migration stop for young bluethroats was 1.45 days. Transient individuals have fat reserves that allow them to make migratory throws lasting an average of 4.39 ± 0.20 hours. Bluethroats with an average stopping time have a fat accumulation rate of 0.04 ± 0.36 g per day and by the time of departure are able to make non-stop flights lasting an average of 3.89 ± 0.58 hours. Individuals that make the decision to stop lose little of their fat reserves, reducing their ability to fly non-stop until the next stop. The significance of the river valleys in the east of the Russian Plain for a successful stopover remains open, and it has not been fully clarified whether these places have the necessary ecological conditions for the successful stopover of small birds.

The climate change is well pronounced in high latitudes. The quick westward expansion of the Sandhill Crane breeding range in Eurasia requires an analysis of the species impact on the Arctic ecosystems. We employ the data about 223 Sandhill Crane nests in the Chaun-Delta, West Chukotka. Weinvestigated date of clutch onset, clutch sizes, egg sizes, nesting density and nesting success. We tested above parameters vs climatic characteristics of the site in order the learn their effect on the reproductive potential of the species. The most important climatic characteristics that determine the increase in nesting density, clutch and egg sizes, earlier clutch onset and higher nesting success included the First frost free day, the integrated characteristic of May (cold or warm according to the sum of positive temperatures) and the sum of average daily temperatures in the second half of May. The maximum reproductive potential Sandhill crane is realized in conditions of warm and early spring.

Changes in the total weight of live clams Pisidium amnicum and weight of their shells were studied by comparing uninfected clams with clams infected with trematods Allocreadium crassum, Phyllodistomum folium and Bunodera spp. Mean total and shell weights of clams infected with A. crassum were significantly lower than those of uninfected clams. Characteristics of clams infected with P. folium and Bunodera spp. were not different from the control with the exception of the weight of clams infected with Bunodera spp. Clams infected with mature metacercariae of A. crassum possessed light and fragile shells that weighed on average 3 times less than those of uninfected clams (25.6 vs 74.1 g.). The weight of shells of clams with immature metacercariae was not different from that of uninfected clams. The obtained results were analyzed from the viewpoint of the hypothesis of adaptive manipulation of the host phenotype.

Complex studies of soils, vegetation cover, and microbiota of coastal depressions of highly mineralized drainless chloride lakes in Southeastern Transbaikal Region (Dauria, Lake Babie) were performed for the first time. It was revealed that the lakeside ecosystems formed within the steppe zone under cyclic changes in the level of lakes and the resulting change in the lake water chemical composition. The eolian factor has a certain influence. The dynamic properties and material composition of soils of superaqueous-subaqueous, superaqueous, and eluvial-superaqueous positions have been studied. Current continental salinization of various chemistry and hydrogenous carbonization has been revealed there. The study of the spatial structure of phytocenoses and their species composition, depending on relief location in lakeside depressions, soil conditions and halogenesis revealed the confinement of pioneer hyperhalophytic and halophytic communities to quasigley solonchaks. Within the superaquatic part of the lakeside depression, plant communities grow with a predominance of halophytes and mesophytes with the participation of glyco-oligohalophytes and mesoxerophytes. The feather-grass-forb-leymus (Leymus chinensis, Artemisia frifida, Bupleurum bicaule, Stipa krylovi) steppe was formed on the light-humus soils, similar in composition to zonal steppes, with the presence of mesophytes and xerophytes. Various microbiomorphic complexes have been established to be in dynamically evolving lakeside soils, depending on abiotic factors. Highly mineralized chloride lake waters contribute to forming of similar microbial communities in the bottom sediments of the Lake Babie and highly saline horizons of the quasigley solonchak. At the same time, a large proportion of unclassified prokaryotes were found in all soil samples. This important unstudied microbial component is present at the level of the Bacteria domain in solonchaks (up to 22 %), saline humus-quasigley (up to 15 %), and light-humus saline (up to 16 %) soils. The microbiome structure in humus-quasigley soil is characterized by the presence of halobacteria and krenarcheotes. A significant proportion of taxa involved in carbon and nitrogen cycles, and play an important role in global biogeochemical cycles, have been established in light-humus saline soil. Also, halobacteria were no revealed in this type of soil due to insignificant content of easily soluble salts in the humus and transitional horizons.

The contribution of fungi and bacteria to the process of net ammonification in the soddy-podzolic soil of the sour-bilberry birch forest of the Yaroslavl region was determined using inhibitory analysis. Representatives of the genera Penicillium Link (70-99 %) and Trichoderma Pers. (6-20 %) dominated in the mycobiota of saprotrophic fungi. Seasonal changes in the total number of fungi and the content of C_org and N_org in the soil correlated only in the eluvial horizon, with r = -0.8 and -0.7. In horizons A₀ and A₂, total fungal abundance was negatively correlated with nitrogen accumulation, with _r = -0.85 - -0.89. It has been established that the litter is characterized by an equal participation of fungi and bacteria in this process. In the humus horizon, a slight excess of the participation of fungi over bacteria was noted. In the eluvial part of the profile, the contribution of bacteria is slightly higher than the contribution of fungi. The maximum air temperature is able to regulate the seasonal dynamics of the number of saprotrophic fungi in the soil.

Recent long-term dynamics of high mountain communities can be caused by climate warming as well as decrease in land use intencity. Every year, during the period of 1987-2019, we counted shoot numbers of vascular plants on permanent plots of an alpine Festuca varia grassland (Teberda national park, Karachai-Cherkessian, Russia). In the regression models of shoot number dynamics, the predictors were year (to reveal linear trends) and weather variables: mean temperatures and sum of precipitation in the previous growing season (July - August) and the beginning of the current season (May - June). Shoot numbers increased significantly in 6 species with lower mean value of altitudinal distribution in the national park area, and decreased in 5 high alpine species. However, these trends were not caused by increase in mean temperatures of July - August. Changes of weather variables influenced fluctuations in several species independent on the direction of their dynamics. The linear trend values in one of the sites were positively correlated with specific leaf area, leaf water content and ruderal strategy scores, and negatively correlated with stress-tolerant strategy scores. The dynamics of Festuca varia grasslands is mostly linked with long-term restoration succession after cessation of grazing, but not with growing season warming. The main community dominant Festuca varia Haenke is less subjected to fluctuations and climate change at the current amplitude, thus ensuring community stability.

Distribution and range of ecological factors of the rare species Hedysarum grandiflorum Pall. in the European part of Russia are discussed. Data on 387 species localities from 10 regions of the Russian Federation were used. Climate and soil indicators were calculated using raster data of 19 bioclimatic variables of BIOCLIM, the SoilGrids global digital soil mapping system and the SRTM 1arc_V3 digital elevation model. Indicators of the average annual temperature, temperature of the summer and winter months of H. grandiflorum habitats decrease in the northeast direction from the Rostov region to the Republic of Bashkortostan, and the annual precipitation is less in the southern regions of the steppe zone and more in the regions of the forest-steppe zone, while there is a higher amount of summer precipitation than winter. Boundary localities of the species range in most cases have extreme (maximum or minimum) values of climatic factors. In the northeast of the range of H. grandiflorum, the progress of the species is limited by low temperatures in the summer and winter months, from the south, the progress of the species is limited by high summer temperatures and low precipitation in the summer. Species protection is carried out in 19 reserves, wildlife areas, natural and national parks, as well as in more than 80 natural monuments, and is generally sufficient, but regional small localities of the species require special attention.

Tugai ecosystems of desert river valleys are one of the most affected and endangered landscape types. The largest areas of tugai vegetation in Uzbekistan are preserved in the lower basin of the Amudarya River. Here are the main massifs of poplar forests. To assess their current state the analysis of 284 relevés representing tugai plant communities in the lower basin of the Amudarya river was carried out. For each of them the position on ecological gradients was determined by species indicator values. It is shown that the greatest scatter of relevés is observed on moisture gradient - from 17 to 97 grades, it is noticeably smaller for pasture digression (2.5-6.5) and soil salinity (16.1-19.5). To reveal the relationships between the species composition and environmental factors, CCA ordination was done. Groups of relevés were identified, representing the native tugai vegetation and three ecological series which are connected with salinity, soil moisture, and anthropogenic pressure. Accordingly, 4 generalized plant communities were distinguished, differing in species composition, floristic diversity, and structure. Indicator plants were identified on the base of formalized assessment of species constancy and importance values. The changes in species composition and structure of communities (life form spectra) are shown. It has been established that the most active process followed the progressive desertification is the halophytization of vegetation. This process is reflected in the replasement of poplar forests to shrub communities dominated by Halostachys belangeriana and Tamarix hispida. As a result of intensive anthropogenic impact, the vegetation is transformed and the importance value of ruderal annual plants become higher.

In course of many years of research on assessing the state of pine forests polluted by emissions from the Bratsk aluminum smelter, a large array of data of different sizes has been accumulated, and when generalized and structured, two groups of representative indicators were identified. The first group includes indicators with a high degree of reliability characterizing a state of the assimilating phytomass and growth processes of polluted trees: percentage of green needles in the tree crown, mass of needles on the shoots, total content of chlorophyll in the needles of the shoot, ratio of protein and non-protein nitrogen in the needles, value of the ratio F_v / F_m . The second group included indicators reflecting the efficiency of the antioxidant system: content of low-molecular metabolites (proline, catechin, total glutathione digetogulonic acid), as well as the activity of peroxidase enzyme. Based on these parameters, integral indices were calculated. The regression dependences between the indices and a level of pollutant elements accumulation in needles were used to develop a scale for assessing the vital state of forest stands under conditions of technogenic pollution by emissions from a large aluminum smelter. Applying this scale, it is possible to identify changes at the earliest stages, when the external signs of tree weakening are not yet manifested or are minimally expressed. A schematic map has been compiled, reflecting the distribution of pine forests of varying degrees of oppression. It has been established that the maximum weakening in the state of forest stands (more than 70 %) is observed in local areas in the industrial zone of BrAZ, strong (within 50-69 %) is found in different directions from the smelter at a distance of up to 10 km, average (by 31-49 %) - typical for forest stands at a distance of up to 40 km, weak (by 11-30 %) - at a distance of 40-60, less often 80 km from BrA Z. In the rest of the surveyed area, changes in the vital state of pine stands are minimal, which makes it possible to characterize the stands as healthy (background).

The year 2023 marks the 85^th anniversary of the birth of two outstanding researchers and developers of methods for cartographic study of the nature of Siberia: Dr. Sci. (Geogr.) A.V. Belov (1938-2017) and Dr. Sci. (Biol.) V.F. Lyamkin (1938-2019). Their life careers were intimately linked with V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS. They played the main role in devising methodological approaches and specific techniques for mapping natural systems as developed within the framework of the ideas of Academician V.B. Sochava. The article discusses the stages of formation of biota mapping as a special area of cartographic work on the study of the main components of natural complexes: flora and fauna. These areas have been pursued within the framework of the Siberian (Irkutsk) school of regional mapping since the 1960s and were related to the scientific support of active development of Siberian territories. Particular emphasis was placed on the study of vegetation in the regions as the source of various resources and as a critical component of natural complexes which determines many modes of their functioning. In those studies, A.V. Belov and his colleagues were responsible for the direction of the cartographic study of vegetation of geosystems, and V.F. Lyamkin headed the team that dealt with the problems of mapping faunas and faunistic complexes. Under their leadership, a large number of geobotanical and zoogeographic maps of the Baikal region and its individual territories were compiled in the form of survey small-scale versions and large-scale products for key areas. A.V. Belov and V.F. Lyamkin often acted as co-authors. The total number of their publications amounts to more than 300 scientific papers which implied the vector of development of geobotanical and faunistic mapping in V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS.

This article presents results from reconstructing vegetation in the south of Eastern Siberia along the meridional profile passing through paleogeographically poorly studied subregions: Khandinskaya depression, the south of the Angara-Lena plateau, and the middle mountain taiga belt of the Oka plateau (Eastern Sayan). Patterns and features of subregional and local vegetation development in the Mid- to Late Holocene have been established. The metachronism of maximum development of taiga vegetation, which underlines the determining role of subregional climatic factors in the transformation of the regional climate of the Holocene, has been revealed in the subregions under study. It is suggested that the depth of penetration of permafrost may be one of the determining factors limiting the synchronous spread of arboreal plants, delaying it for several centuries compared to subregions lying outside the permafrost zone. It is shown that in the subregions under study, the regularity in the reconstructed biome dynamics is a gradual expansion of the forest biome and a reduction of the tundra biome. The role of the steppe biome in the low-mountain subregions turned out to be insignificant, while in the middle-mountain subregions of the Oka plateau it is becoming more significant. Pollen records show the formation of secondary birch forests both in the Khandinskaya depression and in the south of the Angara-Lena plateau during the last millennium, which should be regarded as the onset of the anthropogenic influence of forest fires or deforestation on subregional vegetation. No distinct indicators of human activity within the watershed of Lake Sagan-Nur (Oka plateau) have been detected. A comparison of the reconstructed dynamics of the forest biome from the subregions under study with the climatic records of the northern hemisphere during the Mid- to Late Holocene showed that a gradual expansion of the forest biome followed a decrease in the continentality of the climate in the northern hemisphere, which is evidenced by a decrease in summer and an increase in winter insolation.

It is suggested that thematic maps with zoological contents should all be differentiated into zoogeographical and geozoological by the essence of the objects to which the maps are devoted. A review of the creation of such maps is made. On zoogeographical maps, parts of the earth’s surface are the main objects, and animal assembly parameters are features of objects. To create such maps, a thematic base map (drawing base) is first prepared on the basis of an administrative, landscape or plant map. This base map initially does not depend on the parameters of animal populations. Zoological characteristics will be given to each unit of the legend of the base map upon its creation. As a result of certain generalizations of this legend, the prepared zoogeographic maps reflect the similarity and differences in the territorial divisions of the base map according to their zoological features. An analysis is made of the structure and contents of legends of such maps. The most common cases of their incorrect reading were considered. The objects of geozoological maps are animal species or their populations. In this case, the features of a species (a population) are represented by individual areas of the earth’s surface with the characteristics of the species on them. These maps generate ideas of the spatial heterogeneity of the density of a species, its morphology or vital activity. When creating geozoological maps, a preliminary division of the territory into the elementary spatial units under consideration is carried out in many instances. These units should be of equal magnitude for the most objective image of the phenomenon. The smaller are the elementary spatial units, the more fully can the uniqueness of the spatial distribution of the species and the changes in its vital activity be reflected. The inexpediency of using landscape or plant maps as the basis for creating geozoological maps has been demonstrated.

The system of higher spatial categories of vegetation cover of the Altai-Sayan mountainous region has been developed and presented on a small-scale geobotanical map at a scale of 1:1 000 000. The study is based on V.B. Sochava’s methodology of the dimensionality of vegetation cover and the hierarchy of leading ecological and geographical factors as well as on results of classification of plant communities using the Brown-Blanquet method. The hierarchy of the map legend reflects four levels of spatial units. The first level represents the main patterns of vegetation of mountainous areas, i. e. altitudinal belts. The second belt includes the largest phytogeographic subdivisions: phytochors (combinations of vegetation classes), dominated by Euro-Siberian and North Asian types and phytochors with a predominance of East Siberian-Central Asian types. The ecological content of these phytochors in the Altai-Sayan mountain region is conditioned by the interaction of orography and the leading climatic processes: westerly moisture transport and the Asian anticyclone, leading to the effects of the “rain barrier” and “rain shadow” as well as the oceanic-continental climate gradient. The latter factor, along with the conditions of humidity-aridity of the climate, determined the allocation of four phytochors of bioclimatic content: vegetation of cyclonic excessively humid, cyclonic humid, anticyclonic insufficiently humid, and anticyclonic dry bioclimatic sectors. Each sector corresponds to a characteristic combination of alliances of different vegetation types: steppe, forest, and highland. The third level of the map legend reflects intra-belt differences within each bioclimatic sector. The fourth level characterizes different regional geographical combinations of units (mesocombinations) of the rank of vegetation associations within each sub-belt. As an example of the implementation of the regularities described above, an abbreviated fragment of the legend (limited to the four highest hierarchical categories) characterizing the forest belt of the Altai mountain system and reflected on the map-scheme (1:1 000 000) of this region is presented.

A map of modern vegetation at a scale of 1:200 000 was created in the ArcGIS program for the territory of the potential habitat of the Saiga tatarica tatarica population with an increase in its number in the North-Western Caspian Sea region. The mapped territory with an area of 220 × 145 km² lies within the steppe and desert zones. The modern cover of the region is characterized by extreme heterogeneity which reflects both the natural complexity caused by the existence of solonetzes and solonchaks, and the dynamics of vegetation on fallows and pastures. In the steppe zone, dwarf semishrub communities occupy large areas along with feather-grasses and firm-bunch grass communities. They are either halophytic variants of steppes or one of the stages of overgrowth of fallows. They give the plains a “desert” view. In the desert zone, vegetation is represented by pastures with varying degrees of grazing intensity. In places on the sands, because of grazing, the feather-grasses create an aspect, and the plains have a “steppe” appearance. The dynamic processes of vegetation in the North-Western Caspian Sea region create great difficulties for mapping. In the map legend, the division of the territory into the steppe and desert zones is shown by the headings of the highest rank. The diversity of formations of steppe and desert vegetation and spatial heterogeneity of vegetation cover are reflected by the following hierarchical units. Five such units (I-V) characterize the steppe zone, and six units (VI-XI) correspond to the desert zone. They are arranged according to the degree of increase in soil salinity and the degree of grazing. Probably, the lowest mapped units of the legend should be considered as transformation series. However, for the series there is not enough data on the time of plowing and its existence, on the degree of pasture load, on the time of fires. Signs out of scale are used to show features that are not expressed at the map scale.

This paper presents new data on vegetation of the key area in the mid-flow of the Northern Dvina River (Arkhangelsk oblast). Studies of floodplain vegetation and mire vegetaion have been conducted since 2009 and 2013, respectively. Original geobotanical data on floodplain and mire vegetation of the currently established Specially Protected Area, “Zvoz Nature Park”, are provided. The protected area is located in the Zvoz karst region known as a unique landscape of the European part of Russia. Gypsum and anhydrites of the Permian geological period emerge on the day surface and various types of karst such as sinkholes, ravines and silk fields occur there. The floodplain and above-floodplain river terraces were studied and mapped. Two large-scale vegetation maps of the key area were compiled: the vegetation map of the Northern Dvina River valley (at a scale of 1:25 000) with a detailed display of floodplain communities (trees, shrubs, meadows) and communities of above-floodplain terraces; and the vegetation map of the mire massif near the village of Zvoz (at a scale of 1:4 000). The legend to the map of the Northern Dvina River valley is based on the landscape and ecological-phytocoenotic methods. The main divisions of the legend correspond to geomorphological elements (“Vegetation of the floodplain”, and “Vegetation of the terraces above the floodplain”). The lower divisions of the legend are identified on the basis of dominant species and by taking into account the indicator groups of species. The legend divisions of floodplain vegetation are built from pioneer to primary plant communities. The mire map and its legend demonstrate the heterogeneity of the horizontal structure of vegetation and its complexity. The relationship between patterns of formation of the vegetation cover structure and modern karst processes is discussed.

An analysis is made of the paleogeographical distribution of Coniopteris ferns in Europe, Central Asia and Siberia over the course of seven ages (from the Gettangian to the Bathonian) of the Early and Middle Jurassic. It has been established that in the Gettangian the Coniopteris had a wide distribution from Europe to Southern Siberia. This may be indicative of its late Triassic origin. It is shown that in the Early Jurassic, the centers of evolution of the genus were located in the Siberian paleofloristic region: in the Hettangian and Sinemurian in the Ural subprovince, and in the Pliensbachian and Toarcian in the Cis-Yenisei subprovince. Particular attention is paid to the distribution of Coniopteris during the Early Toarcian climatic optimum. It has been established that due to climate warming, the center of evolution of the genus had shifted toward the north, i. e. to Western Siberia, and migrants from Europe and Central Asia (Coniopteris burejensis, C. maakiana, and C. murrayana) appeared in the Cis-Yenisei and Angara-Vilyui subprovinces. The main migration route could pass through the Turgai trough which connected Siberia and Central Asia. It was revealed that the C. kirgisika, C. latifolia, C. nerifolia, C. porcina, C. pulcherrima, C. spectabilis and C. zindanensis species first appear in the Pliensbachian in the Cis-Yenisei subprovince and penetrated into Central Asia no earlier than the Aalenian. Thus these ferns cannot be considered as indicators of the Early Toarcian warming in the territory of the Siberian region, and their appearance in the Aalenian in Central Asia should be regarded as evidence of a cooling. It has been established that the most dynamic processes of migration and extinction of Coniopteris species manifested themselves in the north of the Siberian paleofloristic region (Angara-Vilyui subprovince) where climate change had the most dramatic effect.

This paper presents experience of using geoinformation data in the evaluation of vegetation cover restoration in the pine forests of the Badary tract after the fires that occurred in 2010. This study was preceded by a nine-year period of monitoring observations of the specificity of the species composition of the forest stand, shrub layer and living ground cover in burnt areas and in undamaged forests. The correlation of the generated geobotanical database with the vegetation indices NDVI and EVI obtained from processing medium spatial resolution geoinformation material is considered. The features of the dynamics of the NDVI and EVI indicators were identified both in space and in time. In the burnt areas in the period 2009-2019, a fluctuation of the values of vegetation indices was noted in almost every seasonal group, which correlates with geobotanical parameters that show an upward data dynamics. In forests not affected by fires and, hence, in stable ecological conditions, the NDVI and EVI indicators remained stable or showed a small fluctuation throughout the long-term period. It is noted that NDVI is characterized by an overestimation of values, especially at the peak of vegetation, whereas EVI indicators are more reliable. Multi-temporal analysis showed that both field data and NDVI and EVI indicators show the success of reforestation processes. However, the study of the values of the vegetation indices cannot be considered an independent source of information in the assessment of demutation processes.

Presented are the results from studying the spatial structure of vegetation in the foothills of the Malkhan Ridge (Kyakhta district of the Republic of Buryatia). On the basis of long-term field studies in combination with remote sensing methods, a vegetation map of the model site was compiled at a scale of 1:12 500 by highlighting homogeneous and heterogeneous units of landscape-topological level. It was found that the southeastern foothills of the Malkhan Range are characterized by mountainous expositional forest-steppes in which pine forests, shrub thickets and steppe communities of different composition form a complex spatial structure of vegetation. Pine herbaceous forests form macrocombinations with birch spirea-grass forests on shady and semi-shady slopes of spurs. The slopes of southern exposures have a more complex vegetation structure; here, an ecological series of litho-topological genesis is distinguished according to the catena levels. The specificity of the study area is formed by communities of Siberian apricot (Armeniaca sibirica), occupying the warmest habitats in the landscape at transit positions. Homogeneous phytocenoses of sod-grass (and forbs) steppes, and also complexes of rhizomatous-grass (and hard-sedge) steppes were described for the rear parts and the bottom of the creek valley. It is established that the spatial structure of vegetation of the foothills of the Malkhan Ridge reflects its boundary role in the formation of modern habitats of plant species. It is revealed that in the conditions with special microclimate formed on the southern foothills of the Malkhan Ridge, refugial areas with high concentration of Dauro-Manchurian and East Asian plant species have persisted.

We examine the problem of the territorial heterogeneity of bird assemblage in Northern Eurasia within the USSR borders as of 1990. The experience of zoning was discussed as one of the ways to generalize zoogeographic information, a method for its analysis and development of the basis for mapping. Based on cluster analysis results of extensive material, trends in the bird assemblage heterogeneity and the natural-geographical regimes that determine them, that is, the spatial-typological structure and organization of ornithocomplexes, were identified, and the strength and commonality of the relationship between the variability of the environment and bird communities in the first half of summer was assessed. Using a linear qualitative approximation of the similarity matrices (one of the regression analysis methods), the integral information content of the resulting representations was calculated (dispersion of the similarity matrix which is removed by classification and structure, and the multiple coefficient of their correlation). These indicators characterize the significance of the completeness of the explanation of the bird assemblage territorial differences. A bird assemblage map of the study area was compiled. The results of the study are not only of cognitive interest, but also of practical importance. They can be used for environmental purposes and in the process of teaching geographical and biological disciplines. The statistical programs used were developed relatively recently specifically for the analysis of data on the animal assemblage territorial heterogeneity. They have been well tested, showing a high degree of correctness and reliability in the processing of material on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates and vertebrates as well as on lichens, fungi, and flowering plants. The maps, graphs and assessments of their information content were all made for the study area for the first time.

In spite of the fact that the theriofauna of Baikal Siberia has long been studied, there was no work on the conduct of theriogeographic zoning of the territory. The currently available options for zoning the entire country do not take into account the specifics of the regional differentiation of the mammalian population, and the division itself is carried out only at the level of high ranks (regions, provinces, etc.). The basis for the study was provided by accumulated numerous data on the distribution of 101 native species of mammals belonging to six orders, making it possible to identify the features of spatial heterogeneity of the theriofauna of the region. The scheme of the teriogeographic zoning of Baikal Siberia presented in this paper permits a detailed analysis aimed at reflecting the features of differentiation of the regional diversity of fauna and the structure of the mammalian population as well as their genesis, taking into account the landscape-zonal features of the territory. The complexity of zoning such vast territories is due to the fact that the final result is influenced by poor knowledge of remote and hard-to-reach areas, a significant anthropogenic disturbance of old-developed areas, invasions of alien species, changes in the boundaries of native mammal species as well as taxonomic revisions of recent years. By comparing the degree of similarity of mammalian communities by species composition using the Jacquard coefficient, 10 theriogeographical districts of different extent and landscape diversity were identified. The identification of districts is due to the fact that this territory largely differs from the district in its landscape appearance and the specific composition of the theriofauna. A change in the species diversity of mammals clearly shows a decrease in the indicator from the south to the north of the region, which is due to the increased severity of the climate and a decrease in the landscape diversity of the territory. The map is made at a scale of 1:11 000 000 and includes 16 map units in the main layer. Theriogeographical zoning should be considered as a step-by-step generalization in the field of reconstructing faunogenesis and phylogeographical constructions.

The structure of a species’ range (internal structure, and difference in abundance within the range) implies naturally determined changes in the abundance of the species within its range. The optimum of the range is the territory most favorable for the species in ecological terms, with the greatest abundance of animals. The medium of the range is characterized by average numbers. The pessimum is the territory with a low abundance of the species. Maps of the range structure reflect the geographic location of territories with different abundances of animals. Information on the structure of the species range provides a basis for predicting the response of the species to natural and human-induced transformation of the environment. It is also necessary for the spatial assessment of the resource potential of economically valuable species and for developing the conservation strategy for rare and endangered species. Ascertaining spatial patterns of changes in a species’ abundance within its range is essential for identifying ecological relationships of the species and environmental factors that determine the high abundance of the species in the optimum of the range. The typology of structures of species ranges underlies the identification of faunistic complexes, i. e. groups of species associated with certain zonal conditions by the common origin and development. The history (experience) of studying the structure of species ranges with terrestrial mammals as an example is shown. A special significance of the cartographic method in the development of such studies is argued. The structures of the ranges can be mapped if the numbers of local populations in different parts of the species range were estimated with standard methods. The feasibility of using various survey methods for mapping the structure of mammal ranges is evaluated. The role of cadastral reference maps of population census locations for the geographic localization of census results and the subsequent territorial assessment of the quantitative data coverage is shown. Maps of the structure of the ranges of mammals are presented. The reasons that hinder the mapping of the range structures for species of some taxonomic groups of mammals are designated. The scientific and applied significance of studying the structure of species ranges is stated. Results from using maps and the prospects for revealing ecological relations of species in ecological chorology are discussed.

Using as an example the most dangerous nine invasive mammals of Northern Eurasia (Castor canadensis, Ondatra zibethicus, Apodemus agrarius, Mus musculus, Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Procyonlotor and Neogale vison), the patterns of formation of their distribution ranges in new regions are considered. The wide invasive ranges of intentionally introduced species (O. zibethicus, N. vison, and N. procyonoides) have formed over 60-70 years. This was possible due to a wide geographical spread of release sites (primary centers or cores), a huge number of released animals, and the subsequent merger of these cores in the continuous range due to the mammal self-dispersals. Two other North American intentionally introduced species (C. canadensis and P. lotor) are distributed regionally due to a set of factors (biological, natural, competitive relationships). The range of accidentally introduced species (the commensal rodents M. musculus, R. rattus, and R. norvegicus) was formed as humans explored the Earth. The agrophilous rodent A. agrarius in Eastern Europe was spread by itself to the north of the native range as forests were cleared for plowing and to the south for irrigation. The rate of change in the boundaries of the range and the distance of their shift decreased in the following order: intentional introduction, accidental introduction, and self-dispersal. Maps of the movements of the invasive mammal range were created. The informativeness of such maps is determined by available zoological material. They are of interest, because they reveal the habitats of invasive species, the speed of their dispersal, and regions for planning measures to minimize the negative consequences of invasions.

The first experience of developing a legend and mapping a medium-scale “Population map of small rodents (Rodentia: Cricetidae, Muridae, and Sminthidae) of Primorskii krai” at a scale of 1:800 000 for the Russian Far East is outlined. The research was based on these authors’ material on the spatial distribution of myomorphic rodents collected by the authors during 1973-2004, and on published data (the analysis used more than 22 000 rodents of 12 species). The main principle in this study is the landscape-biotopical one, where the map legend is based on the habitat. A legend was developed, based on N.V. Tupikova’s principles. The pictograms proposed by N.V. Tupikova were a visual and informative alternative to the text rubrications of the map. We have generalized and reduced species abundance gradations to three (low, medium, and high), the semantic content of which has become individual for each species separately and reflects the maximum value of abundance noted in a particular type of habitat. The legend made it possible to estimate the polyvariance of the population, due to the asynchrony in the dynamics of the species included in them (contours with such structures can be characterized by increased instability). An analysis of data was carried out, which took into account the entire structural diversity of communities during the years of population peaks, not associated with regular changes in the population observed during changes in the population phases of abundance. The transformation of the structure of the animal population in the natural-anthropogenic succession series of the main plant formations is shown to give the map predictive and retrospective capabilities.

One of the priority areas of joint research of the Dzherginsky Nature Reserve and V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS is thematic geoinformation mapping of ecosystem components, with the aim of optimizing the accumulated information and planning scientific, recreational and environmental activities. The development of the methodology for compiling maps and legends, the introduction of geographic information systems and computer data processing significantly expand the modern possibilities of zoological mapping. The paper discusses the experience of compiling a zoological map of the population of mammals in the Amut Depression, made at a scale of 1:50 000, based on a previously compiled map of the vegetation of the depression and using Landsat 5 TM and 7 ETM+ images, forest inventory plans, and landscape and topographic maps of different scales. The territory is characterized by a relatively low species diversity of mammals, which is associated with rather severe natural and climatic conditions of their habitat. The collected and generalized information on the distribution of 26 species of mammals in the Amut Depression served as the basis for compiling a large-scale map including 58 sections in the main layer, reflecting the patterns of spatial organization of the animal population, represented by five types and three subtypes. The initial mapping units were the population of mammals, taken within the boundaries of plant associations; it was this unit of vegetation cover that was the first to be used by V.B. Sochava. The generalization of disparate data by creating a map of the population of mammals makes it possible to visualize the structure and distribution of various types of population as well as to identify the general patterns of their formation over a vast territory.

The problems of assessing the status of rare species of Acridoidea and their populations in the south of Asian Russia and neighboring territories are discussed. Using an example of steppes and forest-steppes of the southeast of the West Siberian Plain, the possibility of a comparative analysis of maps of species locations in different periods of research to identify changes in the distribution of populations is shown. The possibilities and limitations of ecological-geographical modeling of distribution were demonstrated for two model species, namely, Aeropedellus baliolus, an inhabitant of flat steppes, and Stenobothrus newskii, an endemic of the western part of the Altai-Sayan mountain system, generally characterized by a very stable distribution. The possible results from using different sets of variables are evaluated. It is shown that the use of extended sets of variables (including data on absolute altitudes, and vegetation type) is justified for endemics of mountain systems. It is emphasized that habitat mapping, primarily in different time periods, in combination with one or more approaches to ecological-geographical modeling, makes it possible to identify areas of probable existence of populations of rare species, which is extremely important for areas with low density of collection points. The use of sets of bioclimatic variables calculated in accordance with different long-term projections of climatic transformations makes it possible to estimate, to a certain approximation, the probable trends in changes in the distribution of species.

Results from mapping coenotic groups of true bugs (Order Heteroptera) coenotic groups mapping on the basis of the vegetation map are presented. The geobotanic map for the key site (Senokosnyi Island, Selenga River valley, Eastern Cisbaikalia) was created. The map includes eight legend items corresponding to vegetation contour types of the level of groups of associations, two of which contain derivative (pyrogenic) variants. For each group of plant associations, the species composition of true bugs was revealed. In total, 62 species of Heteroptera were registered on Senokosnyi Island. Comparing to the groups of associations of the geobotanical map, for Heteroptera insects ecotone habitats were additionally distinguished. The ecotones are formed along the border between densely closed Japanese elm mesophilic grass forests and adjacent meadows. Using the Sørensen coefficient the similarity of the true bug species composition in different plant associations has been computed. The true bugs species composition both of pyrogenic variants of elm mesophilous grass forests and willow communities have been combined into one cluster with a high similarity coefficient. Ecotones and elm mesoxerophilous herbaceous forests were also combined into one cluster. Based on the data obtained, a map of the population of true bugs was created, which includes nine items of the legend. In general, the distribution of Heteroptera obeys the distribution of plant communities. In some cases, however, there are differences in the true bugs spatial distribution when compared to the vegetation contours, for example, for ecotone habitats. As a consequence of ground fires, most of the characteristic species of bugs that inhabit the plant litter, the soil surface, and the grass layer disappear from the post-pyrogenic habitats. At the same time, the role of mesoxerophilic species inhabiting open biotopes becomes stronger. The method of coupled mapping can be applied for creating maps of invertebrate populations in different territories.

Biological invasions into dark coniferous forests of Western Siberia by dangerous alien stem pests: four eyed fir bark beetle (Polygraphus proximus Blandf.) and small spruce bark beetle (Ips amitinus Eichh.) were studied using traditional and modern methods of mapping. Along with the monitoring of invasion carried out in Tomsk oblast, which included a wide survey of its territory to obtain factual data on the degree of degradation of damaged forests, special attention was paid to the use of GIS technologies. Using an example of some aspects of these invasions, the features and possibilities of compiling as well as using map material for scientific and applied purposes are presented. The high efficiency of spatiotemporal assessment of observed processes and phenomena at the local level by using modern mapping methods with the involvement of ground monitoring material and orthophotos from unmanned aerial vehicles is shown. A spatial assessment of the degree of degradation, vital state, and the amount of damage caused by invasive bark beetles in model areas using GIS is made. The highest degree of risk from the expansion of P. proximus and I. amitinus was revealed for the southern and southeastern parts of Tomsk oblast. The use of the GIS functionality made it possible to create a series of original thematic maps that reflect various aspects of the spatial features of invasions, which permits short-term forecasts of the origin and spread of pest foci, monitoring and control of their development, as well as identifying the direction of the pest spread process at different levels of the territorial hierarchy.

This paper considers the use of the comparative-geographical method in investigating soil-biotic communities from the Tunka depression, for the purposes of cartographic modeling of the spatio-temporal state of taxonomic diversity of soil zoocenoses. To assess the current state of the soil biota, it is proposed to use the Margalef index which implies the value of the number of taxa with a total abundance in soil invertebrate communities. The limits of these changes make it possible to single out a uniform scale with five categories of diversity. The functional and trophic structure of soil zoocenoses with the identification of dominant species of pedobionts permits determination of the optimal composition of the indigenous population of biocenoses as well as understanding the mechanisms of recovery with a decrease in anthropogenic impacts. The generalized data obtained should be represented on a cartographic model. To do this, it is proposed to use a landscape basis which, in turn, reflects both the terrain features and the totality of the set of natural factors: from hydrothermal conditions to the phyto-edaphic appearance of the study area. In general, the results of the study can be used for timely decisions aimed at preserving biological diversity of the region, which, in turn, is one of the main principles of world ecology. An attempt is made to combine and analyze theoretical and methodological knowledge of soil zoogeography and its practical application with the possibility of further development of a so-called symbiosis with related branches of geography, biology and cartography. The results of the research can be used in planning measures for optimal nature management with access to the next level, i. e. the predictive level, which permits management of the processes occurring within the ecosystem of the region.