Site Tenacity in the Willow Ptarmigan (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagopus lagopus</Emphasis> L.) in the Northern Yamal Peninsula

The return of willow ptarmigans to the sites in which they nested the previous year has been studied using color banding. No factors influencing the return index have been revealed, except for its dependence in males on the time when spring begins in a given year. In northernYamal, in contrast to the temperate zone, some surviving birds fail to return to their former nesting sites. Polymorphism of individuals with respect to territorial behavioral strategy is proposed for L. lagopus populations at the northern boundary of the species range.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 215–221.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Tarasov.     

Interspecific interactions of amphipods <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gammarus lacustris</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gmelinoides fasciatus</Emphasis>

Experimental studies of interactions between two amphipod species (Gmelinoides fasciatus and Gammarus lacustris) showed that predation is the basic mechanism accounting for their mutual exclusion in nature. Mortality from predation among similar-sized specimens of both species at an equal abundance ratio was similar (24–25% in G. lacustris and 27–30% in G. fasciatus). The displacement of G. lacustris by G. fasciatus was observed when the latter was dominant. Adult G. fasciatus and G. lacustris successfully preyed on juveniles of their competitors and did not differ significantly in daily food consumption as a percentage of body weight: 6–24% at a fresh body weight of 18–24 mg in both species. The potential for rapid population growth under new conditions contributed to the success of the invasive Baikal species G. fasciatus in displacing G. lacustris from many water bodies of Russia.     

Ecological and ethological characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvia</Emphasis> warbler colonies in patchy habitats on the courland spit,Baltic Sea

Territorial and nesting behavior of Sylvia warblers in a patchy environment has been studied. The results show that shortage of nesting sites and consequent high population density result in acute social strain. Under such conditions, changes are observed in species-specific forms of this behavior, which provide for the maximum possible realization of individual reproductive potential.     

On the effect of climate on the morphological structure of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus hirsuta</Emphasis> (Betulaceae)

An analysis of correlations between metric leaf characters and climatic parameters of habitats in the Siberian alder (Alnus hirsuta) has shown that phenotypic variation in this species depends on the gradient of climatic factors and that the morphological structure of the species is largely determined by variation in climatic conditions within the species range.     

The response of gypsy moth (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymantria dispar</Emphasis> L.) larvae infected with nuclear polyhedrosis virus to induced resistance in birch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis> Roth.)

The effects of birch resistance induced by its artificial defoliation on the development of gypsy moth larvae and their sensitivity to viral infection and on the state of the antioxidant and detoxification systems of the insect midgut were studied. The dynamics of larval body weight; larval mortality and its etiology; glutathione-S-transferase (GT), nonspecific esterase (NE), and catalase (CAT) activities; and the ratio between the concentrations of oxidized and reduced thiol-containing compounds (RSSR/RSH) were estimated. In larvae feeding on the leaves of a previously defoliated plant, body weight was decreased, NE was inhibited, and the RSSR/RSH ratio was increased.     

On the defensive behavior of the grass snake <Emphasis Type="Italic">Natrix natrix</Emphasis> (Linnaeus, 1758)

Demonstrative imitations in the defensive behavior of grass snakes (Natrix natrix) captured in the Galich’ya Gora Reserve (70 ind.) and Kulikovskii Forestry (13 ind.), Lipetsk oblast, have been analyzed using statistical methods. The results suggest that grass snakes can play dead and imitate a venomous snake independently of their sex, age, and experience in receiving injuries. At the same time, there is evidence that such an ability is a hereditary trait subject to natural selection.     

Reproductive parameters of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lobaria pulmonaria</Emphasis> (L.) Hoffm. in the Urals

The capacity of species for expansion and colonization of new habitats is a key condition for the maintenance of their populations. In this study, specific features of the reproductive potential have been analyzed in Lobaria pulmonaria populations growing under contrasting climatic conditions. Certain ecological determinants governing the development of this lichen species have been revealed.     

Effect of Ecological Factors on the Accumulation of Fluorine by Larches, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix gmelinii</Emphasis> (Rupr.) Rupr. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. sibirica</Emphasis> Ledeb., in Eastern Siberia

The accumulation of fluorine in the trunk wood and branches of Larix gmelinii growing on soils with a naturally increased fluoride content and of L. sibirica growing in a zone affected by atmospheric emissions from an aluminum plant has been studied. Based on results of in vivo and in vitro experiments, it is concluded that larch trees manifest individual differences in their response to fluorine.     

The role of rapid induced resistance of host plant in trophic interactions between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Betula pendula</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lymantria dispar</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus thuringiensis</Emphasis>

Life history traits of gypsy moth larvae markedly decrease under the effect of host plant insect resistance, but no significant changes occur in immunity parameters such as hemolymph phagocytic activity and lysozyme-like activity of hemolymph plasma and midgut tissue; moreover, alkaline protease activity in the midgut contents becomes higher. The actual sensitivity of the larvae to Bacillus thuringiensis remains unchanged.     

Ecological-demographic characterization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potentilla bifurca</Emphasis> L. cenopopulations

A discrete approach to the study of ontogeny has made it possible to reveal a high degree of age heterogeneity in P. bifurca cenopopulations. The basal ontogenetic spectrum of cenopopulations has been determined. The index of regeneration is higher in cenopopulations of the young type and decreases in cenopopulations of the old type, whereas the situation with the index of senescence is inverse. The density of cenopopulations depends mainly on parameters of the substrate (density, composition, and moisture), its slope, and the intensity of plant vegetative reproduction and spread.     

Prospects of using mosses (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fontinalis antipyretica</Emphasis> Hedw. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pylaisia polyantha</Emphasis> (Hedw.) Bruch et al.) as indicators of environmental contamination with heavy metals

The contents of Al, Ti, Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb, and rare earth elements (REEs) were determined in mosses (the hydrophyte Fontinalis antipyretica and the epiphyte Pylaisia polyantha) by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. These plants were used for estimating the spatial distribution of heavy metals (HMs) in the basins of small and medium rivers of Vologda and Kostroma oblasts (Russia). It was shown that water mosses are good indicators of REEs and epiphytic mosses, of the pollutant metals Cu, Zn, Se, and Pb. The epiphytic and hydrophytic mosses did not differ in the macroelement (Al, Ti, and Fe) content.     

Genetic differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus mugo</Emphasis> Turra and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. sylvestris</Emphasis> L. populations in the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Swiss Alps

The allozyme analysis of six local populations of Pinus mugo Turra and six populations of P. sylvestris L. in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Swiss Alps, and Schwarzwald has shown a higher polymorphism and greater interpopulation differentiation of the Carpathian group of P. mugo populations compared to the Alpine group (Nei’s genetic distance DN ₇₈ at the level of geographic population group is −0.023). A genetic differentiation of DN ₇₈ = 0.049 between these populations, which are isolated by a distance of more than 1000 km, has been found. This confirms the existence of the subspecies P. mugo ssp. mugo and P. mugo ssp. uncinata in the Carpathians and Alps, respectively. The hypothesis is put forward that the former subspecies has been formed in the Balkans and the latter, in the Pyreneans. It has been demonstrated that regional populations and geographic groups of P. sylvestris are less differentiated than those of P. mugo.     

On sexual dimorphism in the winter diet of the sable (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Martes zibellina</Emphasis> L.)

The contents of the digestive tract in sables (Martes zibellina L.) of known sex and age from the Middle Kolyma basin were examined to assess the winter diet in general and the frequencies of particular types of food in different sex and age groups of these animals. No statistically significant sex-related differences in the diet were revealed. This is probably explained by a considerable overlap of size and weight parameters between male and female Kolyma sables, due to which probable differences in their diets are leveled off.     

Pleistocene Refugia for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calluna vulgaris</Emphasis> (L.) Hull Populations in the European Atlantic Region

The distribution of nine chloroplast DNA haplotypes in four insular North-Atlantic and four European coastal Atlantic populations of Calluna vulgaris in the glacial zone of the range has been analyzed in comparison with that in six marginal southern populations in the nonglacial zone of the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. As a result, two hypothetical Pleistocene refugia (HPRs) for this C. vulgaris population group have been revealed, one in the Cévennes mountain range and the other in the Southern Alps (Trento). Judging from the 1–F_ST value, it has been found that the group of populations in the glacial Atlantic zone and adjacent European coastal Atlantic region is genetically similar to the HPR in the Cévennes at a highly significant level (p ≥ 0.999) and less similar to the HPR in Trento; however, it differs significantly from other Mediterranean and Atlantic populations. It has been concluded that the most probable hypothetical Pleistocene refugium for the recent C. vulgaris populations of the northeastern Atlantic and European coastal Atlantic regions was in the west of the Mediterranean, in the Cévennes, while the additional refugium was in the Southern Alps. Possible directions of the postglacial dispersal and recolonization of habitats by C. vulgaris populations from the western Mediterranean to the northeast of the Atlantic and to Scandinavia have been revealed.     

Mating systems in the steppe lemming (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lagurus lagurus)</Emphasis> and narrow-skulled vole (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus gregalis</Emphasis>) from the Northern Kulunda Steppe

A comparative analysis of reproductive behavior has been performed in the steppe lemming (Lagurus lagurus) and narrow-skulled vole (Microtus gregalis). The results show that the species are similar in certain behavioral features indicative of the stability of mating pairs. However, in the narrow-skulled vole, unlike in the steppe lemming, mature males in olfactory tests show preference for receptive sibling females versus non-kin females. Probably, it is the absence of the incest taboo that allows the involvement of young of the year in reproduction within growing family groups and accounts for “coloniality” of the species.     

Photosynthetic and biochemical characteristics of invasive species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L.</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iva xanthifolia Nutt.</Emphasis>) depending on soil humidity and phenological phase

Environmental factors like temperature and soil humidity are recognized as influencing factors on photosynthetic response and organic productivity, distribution and biochemical characteristics of plants. Here we present measurements of gas exchange parameters, water-use efficiency (WUE) and nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE) of field-grown invasive species Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Ambrosia trifida L. and Iva xanthifolia Nutt., in order to define their potentials as colonizers. Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC) in leaves and flowers depending on soil humidity were also investigated.     

Ecological prerequisites for changes in the parental behavior of male pied flycatchers, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficedula hypoleuca</Emphasis>

On the basis of long-term studies on the ecology of pied flycatcher in Karelia, it has been shown that male nonparticipation in nestling feeding is due to the course of postnuptial molt rather than to the mode of mating relationships, as it was considered previously. This is confirmed by the results of selective capture of birds that have stopped to feed their brood. It is suggested that reduction of parental care is associated with changes in the hormonal balance of molting birds.     

Reproductive parameters and disturbances of embryonic development in the fieldfare (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Turdus pilaris</Emphasis> L.) in the zone of impact from the nuclear fuel industry

The impact of emissions from the Siberian Chemical Plant (Tomsk oblast) on reproduction and embryonic development of the fieldfare was studied. Bird abundance, clutch size, and egg volume in the impact and background (control) zones were similar, but partial brood mortality in the impact zone proved to be significantly higher, and the frequency of embryonic pathologies (including developmental abnormalities) was also several times higher than in the control.