Dynamics of motor asymmetry profiles in striped field mouse (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Apodemus agrarius</Emphasis> pall.) populations

The ratios between individuals with different signs of motor asymmetry (right-pawed, left-pawed, and ambidextrous) were estimated in two urban populations of striped field mice. Right-pawed mice were prevailing in both populations. An increase in the stress of regulatory system (stress index) in mice from these populations was accompanied by a shift of the asymmetry profile towards a greater proportion of left-pawed mice. The ratio between the numbers of right-pawed and non-right-pawed animals varied with time with a period close to that of the population dynamics. Apparently, the changes in the asymmetry profiles reflected population rearrangement: dominance of animals with a specific set of physiological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics gave way to an increased proportion of animals with a different set of characteristics. Qualitative differences between right- and left-pawed animals are evidenced by the specific characteristics of behavior and humoral immunity found in animals differing in motor lateralization.     

Spatial population structure in forest voles of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clethrionomys</Emphasis> in the southern taiga of the Middle Irtysh region

A comparative analysis of spatial population structure in the northern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys rutilus Pall.) and large-toothed red-backed vole (Cl. rufocanus Sund.) has been performed in the middle taiga zone of the Middle Irtysh region (Omsk oblast). Populations of these species are represented by sets of territorial groups whose numbers and spatial distribution change from year to year depending on the ratio of these species in a biotope and their population density. There is no significant interspecific competition between cohabitant Cl. rutilus and Cl. rufocanus. In particular, this follows from the fact that the population density and distribution pattern of one species are independent of those of the other species. It has been found that the size of home ranges in Cl. rutilus inversely depends on its population density, with that in Cl. rufocanus remaining approximately the same at different population densities, and that the structure of the resident part of the population in both species changes during the season, as voles from neighboring habitats or dispersing voles settle in the study area.     

New Aspect in Understanding the Biocenotic Role of Domestic Ungulates in the Life of Wolf (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Canis lupus</Emphasis> L.)

The dynamics of wolf attacks on domestic ungulates at the levels of population group (the region of Central Forest Nature Reserve) and population (Tver oblast) have been analyzed over the period of 1971 to 2015. It has been found that the frequency of attacks increases during the phase of predator population growth under the effect of qualitative changes within the population. An increase in the frequency of attacks and the number of sheep and calves killed per attack also takes place in the summer–autumn period, as a consequence of training wolf cubs in methods of killing prey. Therefore, domestic animals are not only a source of food for the wolf but also an object for training the young.     

Analysis of monitoring data on the Russian desman (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Desmana moschata</Emphasis>) in the Oka state biosphere reserve in relation to the problem of species’ population decline

Data on the effect of environmental factors on the Russian desman population of the Oka Reserve (Ryazan oblast) have been analyzed over the period from 1938 to 2004. Against the background of global climate warming, the number of desmans has decreased by a factor of 2.75 as a consequence of hydrotechnical amelioration in the early 1960s. Prior to amelioration, relatively dry, low-water, and cool years were more favorable for these animals; after amelioration, their demand for more abundant moistening has increased.     

Female territoriality in small rodents: Interrelations with local population persistence

Samples of small rodent populations inhabiting Crabapple Island on Beldany Lake in NE Poland revealed that Clethrionomys glareolus was continously present there, whereas Apodemus flavicollis and Microtus agrestis appeared, stayed for some period, vanished and reappeared. It appears that sexually mature females of the bank vole are strictly territorial, their numbers are limited, and immature individuals hardly disperse at high population size. Sexually mature females of the yellow-necked mouse seem to be territorial only at low population numbers, and their numbers increase linearly with population size. Sexually mature females of the field vole exhibit high level of aggregation, and their numbers increase in streight line with growing population size. We discuss the idea that different social organization of the rodent populations is connected with various strategies (sedentary and nomadic) supporting local population persistence.     

Population Dynamics of Forest Voles (Clethrionomys,Rodentia) in Northern European Russia

Long-term data sets on the population dynamics of forest voles in northern European Russia were analyzed. Eastward and northward trends in changes of the ratio between model species and the degree of their dominance were revealed. In virtually all sites studied, the numbers of the northern red-backed and bank voles changed synchronously; however, the population dynamics became less synchronous as the distance between study areas increased.     

Factors affecting on the susceptibility of vetch cultivars to infestation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acyrthosiphon pisum</Emphasis> L. (Hemiptera,Aphididae)

Current trends in organic agriculture have led to the need of seeking alternative methods of pest control. For that reason the influence of weather conditions, some morphological and chemical traits of common vetch (Vicia sativa) cultivars–“Liya”, “Loryna”, “Villena”, “Moldavskaya 82” (Moldovan cultivars) and “Obrazets 666” (Bulgarian cultivar), and hairy vetch (V. villosa)–“Violeta” and “Viola” [Moldovan cultivars]) on the dynamic and preference of Acyrthosiphon pisum were determined. Moldovan cultivars belonging to V. sativa were distinguished by lower aphid numbers as they had shorter duration of the flowering period unlike the V. villosa cultivars, where that duration was significantly longer. The plant morphological traits as height, branch, flower and leaflet numbers influenced on the aphid density. The aphid density was affected by branch and leaflet numbers more than by height and flower plant. “Villena” had a shorter vegetative period, lowest flower and leaflet numbers as well as low nitrogen and phosphorus content, which resulted in the lowest A. pisum population. The use of vetch cultivars with some characteristics of tolerance would result in a reduction of losses due to pea aphids. That will provide an environmentally safer option for aphid control.     

Dynamics of phenotypic traits and intrapopulation processes in great tit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parus major</Emphasis> L.) populations of the Middle Ural

Variability of the length of the white area on the outermost quill feathers of the great tit from two cities in the Middle Ural has been investigated. Dynamics of the average length of the white area in the birds from the city of Asbest reproduced the dynamics observed in the city of Yekaterinburg with a one-year lag in the females and a two-year lag in the males. Phenotypic changes in the great tit population did not occur simultaneously in the whole population, but rather moved along the living range with a certain velocity (50–60 km/year for the females and 25–30 km/year for the males). The results obtained are discussed in view of the concepts of population biology.     

Assessment of the reproductive capacity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> trees growing under conditions of chronic exposure to radionuclides of uranium and thorium series

The reproductive capacity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) has been estimated in trees from the population growing in an area used to store tailings from uranium ore processing and radium production. Under such conditions, 12- to 15-year-old trees produce seeds of a quality inferior to that in areas with a normal background radiation level. As the weighted absorbed dose rate (at a weighting coefficient of 5) for generative organs increases from 0.002 ± 0.0003 to 0.344 ± 0.059 mGy/day, a proportional increase is observed in the proportion of empty seeds and the frequency of cytogenetic disturbances in the root meristem of seedlings, while the survival rate of seedlings decreases. The minimum absorbed dose rate leading to these changes in the pine population is 0.027 mGy/day, i.e., 12 times as high as the control value.     

Cyclicity of long-term population dynamics in damselflies of the genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coenagrion</Emphasis> (Odonata,Zygoptera) in the Lake Chany basin

The cyclicity of population dynamics of abundance has been analyzed in sympatric adult populations of three odonate species monitored for long time (1980–2010) in the Lake Chany basin (Western Siberia). The spectra of odonate population dynamics have been constructed for the first time and shown to be species-specific: each species has its own population cycles, and if the cycles are similar, interspecific differences manifest themselves in the relative power of these cycles. These differences provide for separation of species in time, reducing the stress of competition between them. The population rhythms of all studied species show synchronicity with natural rhythms that are important to them, such as fluctuations of climatic parameters (2–3 year cycles) and hydrological parameters of Lake Chany (2–4-year cycles).     

城镇化进程中用水量增长的门槛效应与动态作用机制分析

城镇化是发展中国家21世纪的主要发展趋势,在很大程度上主导着人口、经济和产业结构等各方面的转变,成为拉动用水量增长的关键因素。城镇化进程中城镇居民收入、人口结构、人口密度和人力资本等因素的变化,使得城镇化并非表现为线性发展规律,最终导致用水量也存在相应的门槛效应并呈现阶段性增长特征。本文首先对我国各地区城镇化水平和用水量进行统计分析,从地区层面直观描述我国城镇化水平和用水量的变化特征,然后采用面板门槛模型研究城镇化、城镇居民人均收入、人力资本、城市人口密度和人口年龄结构对于用水量的门槛效应,搜寻在城镇化进程中各人口因素对用水量影响的门槛点并分析阶段性变化特征,最后结合PVAR模型研究城镇化进程中各人口因素对用水量的动态影响和作用机制。门槛回归结果发现:城镇化对用水量的影响具有明显的阶段性特征,分别以城镇化和人均收入为门槛变量,超越门槛点后城镇化对用水量的弹性系数分别呈现先升后降的倒"U"型和先降后升的正"U"型变化趋势;以人力资本为门槛变化量,城镇化对用水量的拉动作用则不断减弱。脉冲响应结果显示:城镇化对用水量具有长期且稳定的正向冲击,而居民收入和人口年龄结构对用水量的正向冲击则逐渐收敛于零,人口密度和人力资本对用水量均具有负向冲击,且人口密度的负效应不断增强,而人力资本的负效应不断减弱。方差分解的结果表明,目前我国用水量的增长受自身的影响较大,除年龄结构外,人口密度、居民收入、人力资本和城镇化也具有小规模的贡献程度。     

Quantitative Relationships between Predatory and Nonpredatory Animals in Freshwater Ecosystems

The ratios between the sizes of predators and prey have been estimated. On average, the linear sizes and body weights of aquatic predatory animals are approximately three and nine times greater, respectively, than those of nonpredatory animals. The biomass of predators in waters with different productivity levels is, on average, about 20% of the biomass of nonpredatory animals. However, the ratio between the biomasses of predatory and nonpredatory animals in the same water body may vary seasonally and annually and differ in different parts of this water body. The average numbers of predatory fish in ichthyocenoses are no more than 3% of the numbers of nonpredatory fish. The living space (individual range) of predatory fish is about 40 times larger than that of their prey. The relatively low numbers of predators in water bodies may be accounted for by the lower number of predatory species and their higher mortality at early developmental stages, compared to nonpredatory species.     

Assessment of Present-Day Reproduction Efficiency in Stellate Sturgeon Acipenser stellatus in Different Spawning Zones of the Lower Volga

Studies performed from 1979 to 1998 provided data on the efficiency of natural reproduction of the stellate sturgeon Acipenser stellatus in the upper, middle, and lower spawning zones of the Volga. A correlation between the size of the progeny and environmental factors was revealed. Today, the main factors limiting the efficiency of reproduction in the stellate sturgeon are the numbers of fish admitted to the spawning grounds (especially in 1997 and 1998) and water level in the Volga during the summer low-water season. Measures to support natural reproduction of the stellate sturgeon are proposed.     

Population model of fluctuations in organophosphate resistance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila melanogaster</Emphasis>: Roles of a mutated acetylcholinesterase and a cytochrome P450

The dynamics of genetic variation in susceptibility to insecticides within a natural population of Drosophila melanogaster (Meigen) was examined using model systems and experimental data published previously. In a recent study, two resistance factors for three organophosphate insecticides (OPs) were suggested to be involved within the Katsunuma population (Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan): a resistant-type acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (cytochrome P450). Within this natural population, the relative contributions of the resistanttype AChE to genetic variation in resistance to the three OPs were larger than those of the cytochrome P450. The simulation analysis by means of the model, based on genotypic density-independent population projection trajectories, suggested that seasonal fluctuations of genetic variation in resistance to the three OPs were mainly caused by the change in the frequency of the resistant-type acetylcholinesterase (Ace) gene within the population.     

Some limitations of biological monitoring

Biological monitoring data are obtained to document changes in population abundance for resource management, to verify compliance with regulatory directives, and to assess cause and effect for research purposes. Particular statistical analyses are often not appropriate because suitable field designs are either not available or not matched a priori to the monitoring objectives. When monitoring to detect normal changes in population numbers, quantitative problems may not be as difficult as they are in detecting and assigning causation induced by a natural or man-made pollutant. Changes in biotic abundance can be caused or influenced by compensation, indirect effects, direct mortality, and interactions among environmental variables. Even though data from baseline monitoring programs should usually only be used to detect change in biotic abundance, they sometimes can be used to draw inferences about cause by correlation or to test laboratory results against a long-term historical record. Available quantitative methodologies useful in evaluating monitoring data are limited and interpretations about cause and effect are difficult.     

Impact of Regional Economy on Internal Migration in Yangtze Delta： Based on Panel Data

Metropolitan Shanghai, in Yangtze River Delta （YRD）, plays undoubtedly the leading role in the economic development in China, and becomes one of the most important population congregation areas. It is also widely regarded as the sixth uprising urban agglomeration in the world. Based on the quantitative studies on basic socioeconomic and demographic profile on the number and transition of population, this paper concluded that the migration is the key factor for population dynamics in YRD. Then, what are the regional economic factors affecting the migration of different cities in YRD？ The panel data show that the different wage level is the most important factor that affects the immigration in YRD. Moreover, the ratio of industry sector and service sector has an impact on attracting immigration. However, per-capital GDP and the share of foreign direct investment （FDI） to GDP have dual-side impact： not high per-capital GDP and FDI bring the high immigration.     

Chernov’s compensation principle and the effect of rodent community completeness on the variability of bank vole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Clethrionomys glareolus</Emphasis>) population in the Middle Urals

Using methods of geometric morphometrics, significant differences have been revealed in manifestations of variability and morphological disparity in allochronous samples from the population of model species, the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb. 1780), in the Middle Urals at different levels of rodent community (taxocene) completeness in different years. Two states of the taxocene—oligospecific (two species) and polyspecific (five species)—and the level of relative abundance of bank voles (high or low) have been taken into account. Comparative analysis of variation in the size and shape of the mandible in same-aged (late-summer) young of the year has shown that significant morphogenetic differences exist between the animals sampled from the rodent taxocene at its different states (oligospecific and polyspecific) and, to a lesser extent, at high and low levels of abundance. The level of variation and the parameter of intragroup morphological disparity (MNND) in the mandible shape reach a maximum when the community has a reduced composition and decrease to a minimum when its composition is complete (i.e., in the oligo- and polyspecific taxocene). A parallelism is observed in the manifestation of morphofunctional changes of the mandible in male and female voles under conditions when the taxocene has high abundance and oligospecific composition or low abundance but polyspecific composition. Different morphogenetic responses of the population to oligo- and polyspecific composition of the community are considered as a compensatory increase of morphological disparity in the dominant species (the bank vole) under conditions of incomplete composition of the taxocene and low population density, in accordance with Chernov’s ecological compensation principle.     

Residual Effect of Induced Water Stress and Nitrogen Addition on the Mycobiota in Scots Pine Stands

Mycobiota (fungi, lichens and myxomycetes) was examined in permanent plots following experiments of artificial drought (D) and nitrogen addition (N) and compared with untreated forest (C), in Scots pine stand planted on Arenosols. Species diversity and relationships between fungal community structure and environmental variables (plant species numbers and cover, bryophyte cover, soil and bark pH, tree mortality) were explored. Both D and N treatments lead to decrease of fungal species in general, however, responses of individual trophic and ecological groups varied. The strongest effect of the treatments was observed for soil fungi, especially mycorrhizal: numbers of fruiting species and ectomycorrhizal root tips decreased, and species composition has changed. Saprotrophic fungi reacted by changes in species composition but not in numbers. Of the studied environmental variables, the most significant effect on mycobiota had bryophyte and vascular plant cover as well as vascular plant species numbers.     

The Outcome of Northern Fur Seal Harvesting: The Results of Calibration of Mathematical Models Based on Observation Data (the Example of Tyulenii Island Population)

Tendencies in the dynamics of harvested northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) population on the Tyulenii Island have been analyzed in detail. The results show that retardation of reproduction (decrease in the numbers of pups) and decline in the survival of young females (up to 3 years of age) by the late 1980s resulted in a reduction of the total number of females and a significant increase in the proportion of older females. This tendency changed during the later observation period (after 1988–1989) due to increase in the survival of young females: the female population has gradually recovered, with the proportion of young females increasing at the expense of old females (aged over 10 years). The age composition of males has also changed: the proportion of young animals has decreased, while that of large mature males (bulls) has increased. Moreover, the number of bulls continues to increase and has already exceeded the level that formerly provided for the well-being of the population. This, a paradoxical situation has arisen: the numbers of females and bulls are increasing, whereas pup production remains at a low level.

     

Increase in Skull Size of Red Fox (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vulpes vulpes</Emphasis>) in the Second Half of the XX Century in Northeastern Europe

Based on the skulls of red fox collected in northeastern Europe for 20 years, we obtained new data on directed temporal variation. The increase in skull size is closely related to an increase in the mean annual temperature, i.e., global warming. It was found for the first time that some skull traits increase at different rates, both within and between structural population groups. The phenomenon of increasing skull size with increases in the mean air temperature contradicts Bergmann’s rule. The causes of such increase are especially important for an understanding the adaptive role of processes in populations resulting from climate changes.