Monitoring of Vegetation Development in Technogenically Disturbed Areas of the Usinskoe Oil Field

Vegetation development and changes in the characteristics of the substrate in technogenically disturbed sites in the Usinskoe oil field were monitored for ten years (1992–2002). It has been demonstrated that 86 species of vascular plants and 12 species of bryophytes constitute the vegetation formed on fill-up soils during the first stages of recovery succession. A succession of dominant species was observed in the tenth year of monitoring. Differences in plant composition on the ground surface of different technological zones of plots located in different landscapes are described.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 269–274.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Zheleznova, Kuznetsova, Evdokimova, Turubanova.     

Postfire succession in a forest of the cryolithozone: The example of central Yakutia

The results of studies on postfire succession in larch forests of the permafrost zone are discussed. The main directions of successional processes in burned-out areas of different ages are described. It has been shown that secondary pyrogenic successions in larch forests follow the scheme of rapid regeneration without tree species replacement and the model of succession tolerance. Groups of plant species with different life strategies and indicator species characterizing different stages of the overgrowing of burned-out areas have been identified.     

Changes in Species Diversity of Rove Beetles (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae) Depending on the Age of Pine Plantations in Central Belarus

Trends of changes in species richness and dominance in staphylinid communities depending on the age of pine plantations have been analyzed. The species richness of these communities is high in the plantations of age classes 1 and 2 (11 and 28 years, respectively) but decreases in the plantations of age class 3 (60 years). The highest and lowest indices of species diversity are observed in the plantations of age classes 2 and 3, respectively. Four groups of rove beetles have been distinguished by the criterion of their dominance in pine plantations of different ages.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 306–313.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Derunkov.     

Specific features of early stages of progressive succession in an anthropogenic landscape: An example from southeastern Belarus

Specific features of progressive succession in the vegetation of anthropogenically transformed landscapes in southeastern Belarus have been studied in permanent test plots. Using phytoindication scales proposed by Ellenberg (1974) and Tsyganov (1983), trends of changes in ecological conditions in the first years of succession have been revealed.     

筑坝蓄水过程对高原湿地拉市海湖滨植被的影响

选择滇西北高原湿地拉市海湿地湖滨作为研究区域，采用传统的野外植被调查和定位观测相结合的方法对该区域植被特征、分布格局及受筑坝蓄水过程的影响进行分析和研究。结果表明：研究区共有维管束植物97种，隶属于34科76属，可划分为2个植被类型，3个植被亚型，10个群落类型；拉市海筑坝蓄水过程对研究区植物群落分布格局和组成结构产生明显的影响，草甸植被、沼泽植被和湖泊水生植被占研究区面积比重分别从2009年的4454%、1869%和3676%变为2011年的3259%、1368%和5359%，草甸植被和沼泽植被的面积不断缩小，湖泊水生植被面积持续扩大，狗牙根〖WTBX〗（Cynodon dactylon）逐渐取代蒿属（Artemisia）〖WTBZ〗植物在草甸植被中的优势地位，而李氏禾群落（Com.Leersia hexandra）成为了研究区湖滨带水生植物的主要成分；研究区植被在筑坝蓄水过程的胁迫下呈草甸植被（杂草群落、狗牙根群落Com.Cynodon dactylon），沼泽植被（葱状灯心草群落Com.Juncus allioides、菖蒲群落Com.Acorus calamus、刚毛荸荠群落Com.Eleocharis vallcculosa、水蓼群落Com.Polygonum hydropiper），湖泊水生植被（李氏禾群落Com.Leersia hexandra、两栖蓼群落Com.Polygonum amphibium、满江红群落Com.Azolla imbricata、鸭子草 穗状狐尾藻群落Com.Potamogeton distinctus Myriophyllum spicatum）的演替格局；拉市海植物群落受筑坝蓄水过程影响发生的逆向演替，从理论上延长了湿地的服务年限，但蓄水过程对鱼类的生存和繁殖、越冬水禽的生境及整个湿地生态系统结构和功能的影响是长期的，还有待深入的研究     

Relationship between Habitat Properties and Composition of Communities in Conifer–Broadleaf Forest

Ecological and phytocenotic features of forest communities were studied in the southwest of Moscow oblast. Based on the ecomorphological groups of species prevalent in the herb–dwarf shrub and moss layers, five groups of communities typical of the conifer–broadleaf forest zone were distinguished (small-herb, small herb-large herb, large-herb, moist-herb, and mixed-herb communities), and their composition was analyzed. Discriminant analysis of the species composition of lower vegetation layers revealed significant differences between the syntaxa, with the percentage of correct classification being 89.8%. To evaluate ecological determination of the above groups of communities, a hypothesis was tested concerning the correlation of their composition with ecotope properties. This hypothesis was verified by means of (1) ordination by ecological indicator values and interpretation of the axes, (2) revealing differences in ecological regimes between habitats of the syntaxa, and (3) combined analysis of on-ground and remote sensing data, particularly spectral brightness of satellite images and morphometric characteristics of the terrain surface. The results confirmed the informativeness of the syntaxa distinguished based on the species composition of the ground vegetation layer and mapping of the ecological regimes of habitats.     

Condition of the Soil Fauna near the Epicenter of an Underground Nuclear Explosion in the Northern Urals

Radioactive contamination affects soil organisms and causes profound structural rearrangements in soil zoocenoses, which are manifested in the decreased species diversity of invertebrate communities and low relative abundance of large soil invertebrates. However, these communities gradually recover their initial structure. The soil biota near the epicenter of an underground nuclear explosion performed 30 years ago in Perm oblast has been studied to reveal specific structural features of the soil macro- and microfauna. Its structural diversity is considered with regard to such components as species (taxonomic) composition, the structure of dominance, and the ratio of ecological and trophic groups.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 171–179.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kolesnikova, Taskaeva, Krivolutskii, Taskaev.     

Dynamics of plant communities in insular pine forests of Krasnoyarsk forest-steppe

The dynamics of vegetation have been studied in forest-steppe pine (Pinus symvestris L.) forests affected by anthropogenic factors such as felling and fires. Gradient analysis has been used to reveal specific ecological features of plant communities and trace the main directions of succession. The results show that these forests are at different stages of progressive succession, with the development of theircommunities following similar trends over the past few decades.     

Structural Changes in the Fauna of Pollinating Insects in Urban Landscapes

Species composition, abundance, and some ecological features of pollinating insects have been studied in urbanized landscapes. Changes in the composition of bumblebees (Hymenoptera) and butterflies (Lepidoptera, Rhopalocera) and their adaptive potential in urban environments are considered.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 286–293.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Eremeeva, Sushchev.     

The use of ecological scales for indication of the current state of forest communities

A method for estimating the current state of plant communities based on the ecological amplitudes of constituent species is proposed. An original program, Fitoindikatsiya, has been developed to compute the indices of disturbance and homogeneity of plant communities from species ecological scale values. The current state of pine forests in the part of Novosibirsk oblast east of the Ob River has been analyzed; slightly, moderately, and severely disturbed zones have been distinguished.     

Spatial population structure of rare orchid species in rich fens in the central part of Murmansk oblast

The spatial structure of 10 populations of rare orchid species (Dactylorhiza incarnata, D. traunsteineri, Listera ovata) has been studied in rich fens sporadically occurring in Murmansk oblast. Two levels of plant aggregation within populations have been distinguished: (1) clusters of individuals and (2) isolated population subsets consisting of clusters. General spatial demographic features of orchid populations in the fens are small area (77 m²) and low ecological density (0.009 ind./m²). Characteristics of the population subsets (their number, area, composition, and distance to the neighboring subset) are species-specific and reflect the degree of species rarity in plant communities.     

Relict communities and populations of petrophilous plant species in northern regions of Sverdlovsk oblast and problems in their conservation

An inventory of rock vegetation has been taken in river valleys on the eastern slope of the southern part of the Northern Urals and the northern part of the Middle Urals. New habitats of some rare plant species, relict communities of forest-steppe species at the northern limit of their distribution, and ultrasmall populations of petrophilous species growing in isolation for a long time have been revealed. In studies on a group of similar specially protected areas (e.g., within river valleys), it is proposed to identify key sites distinguished by the highest species richness of vegetation     

Role of the Forest Entomofauna in Successional Processes

Participation of the entomofauna in the succession of forest biogeocenoses is analyzed. In stable ecosystems, insects serve as a mechanism providing for long-term ecological stability. In unstable ecosystems, their activities are essentially negative and cause ecosystem degradation.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 3, 2005, pp. 227–230.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Yanovskii.     

Composition, structure, and formation factors of bottom invertebrate communities in lakes of the southern Ob-Irtysh interfluve

The composition and structure of bottom invertebrate communities have been studied in 37 lakes of the southern Ob-Irtysh interfluve in 2008–2011. The aquatic fauna of these communities includes 146 species of eight classes. The influence of the main abiotic ecological factors (hydrophysical and hydro-chemical parameters of water, bottom substrate type) on the composition and fauna of bottom communities have been estimated. It is shown that hydrochemical factors determining the total salt content of the water, substrate type, and water transparency have the strongest effect on the level of bottom invertebrate community development.     

Influence of Clear Fellings on the Bryophyte Component of the Broad-leaved Forests of the Bashkir Cis-Ural Region

The change in the composition of the bryophyte component of succession communities that occur in the process of natural regeneration at the site of clear felling of the indigenous elm—maple–linden forests of the Bashkir Cis-Ural Region has been studied. The vulnerability of species to the consequences of felling is affected by their substrate confinement, ecological amplitude in relation to the factors of temperature, humidity, variability of soil moisture, and type of life strategy. In the secondary aspen forests, the absence or low constancy of nemoral epiphytic and ground mosses was noted.     

铜陵铜尾矿复垦现状及植物在铜尾矿上的定居

安徽省铜陵市位于长江中游,是我国主要的铜矿产区,其铜尾矿共有5个主要的分布区域。随排放时间的延长,各尾矿库的持水保肥能力和植被覆盖率提高;铜尾矿限制植物定居的主要因素是极端贫瘠和重金属毒性,各尾矿库的重金属含量都很高,而N 、P、K和有机质的含量很低甚至为零。自然和人工定居于尾矿上的植物共有9 科37 属40种,其中禾本科、豆科、菊科植物占所有植物种的72.5%,此3科植物因有完美的生态适应机制而能成为在尾矿上定居的先锋植物和优势种。铜尾矿库植被自然演替属于几十年甚至上百年的长期演替,铜矿废弃地的治理和恢复重建更是一项长期而艰巨的工作。     

镇江内江湿地植物群落演替动态研究

采用“空间代替时间”方法,于镇江内江湿地选择4类典型样地,分别代表群落演替的4个不同时间段,从物种组成、多样性及生活型等方面研究湿地植被的演替规律,从而探索受损群落的修复途径。结果表明：不同演替阶段植物群落的物种组成、多样性指数和生活型变化明显。物种丰富度指数和多样性指数随演替呈上升趋势,且演替中后期最高,均匀度随演替递增,而优势度递减;在生活型上,多年生草本的重要值随演替先降后升,其物种数逐渐上升并在后期维持相对稳定,并在各演替阶段处于主导地位。而一、二年生草本植物的重要值和物种数均为先升后降;在科属总数上,科属数随演替逐渐增加,其中,禾本科植物始终处于优势种地位。     

Effects of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astacus astacus</Emphasis> L. Population on Biomass of Macrophytes in a Fresh Water Body

In experiments performed in aquariums, the daily consumption of Chara vulgaris alga by crayfish (Astacus astacus L.) has been determined. These quantitative data have been used to make a prognosis of the effect of the A. astacus population on the biomass of macrophytes in Lake Berezovo (Pskov oblast). The density of the crayfish population and the biomass of higher aquatic vegetation in the lake have been determined in field studies. Extrapolation of the results of laboratory experiments to a natural water body has shown that crayfish are capable of controlling no less than 40% of submersed macrophytes in the area used by their population.__________Translated from Ekologiya, No. 4, 2005, pp. 300–305.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kholodkevich, Shumilova, Fedotov, Zhuravlev.     

Dynamics of floristic composition of communities dominated by Carex acuta in the northern Volga-Akhtuba floodplain

The floristic composition of plant communities dominated by Carex acuta in the northern Volga-Akhtuba floodplain has been analyzed over the period from 1928 to 2009. It has been shown that, in 2008 to 2009, some hygrophytes disappeared from these phytocenoses; simultaneously, their composition was enriched with mesophytes and adventive species. Ramenskii??s ecological scales have indicated a decrease in water supply to habitats of the communities studied.     

Assessment of nonselective elimination effects in rodent communities by methods of geometric morphometrics

Methods of geometric morphometrics and population phenogenetics have been used to evaluate morphogenetic rearrangements in two sympatric species of Myodes voles (M. glareolus Schreb. 1780 and M. rutilus Pall. 1779) from syntopic populations recovering after exposure to local “ecological vacuum” created as a result of rodent extermination in a natural focus of hemorrhagic fever in the southern taiga subzone of the Udmurt Republic. The model used in the study simulates the situation that arises upon nonselective elimination of rodent populations and communities in spring and their subsequent recovery. Analysis of variation in the size and shape of the mandible and in a complex of 30 nonmetric cranial characters has revealed similar (parallel) and species-specific morphogenetic and epigenetic changes occurring during the recovery of local rodent community. Species-specific differences in the pattern of change in the parameter characterizing within-group morphological disparity in the mandible shape (MNND) have been revealed between the dominant species (M. glareolus) and the subdominant species competing with it for territory (M. rutilus). Different reactions of close Myodes species in the course of filling the ecological vacuum are considered as a result of reduction in the level of competition for the subdominant species and a compensatory increase of morphological disparity in the dominant species under conditions of low density and incomplete composition of the community, in accordance with Chernov’s (2005) ecological compensation principle.