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.     

Specific Features of the Formation of Animal Species Communities in Technogenic and Urbanized Landscapes

The formation of the species composition and specific functional, physiological, and phenotypic features of populations in technogenic and urbanized areas was studied by analyzing murine rodents, amphibians, and soil invertebrates. It is shown that, against the background of decreasing total abundance and biomass of animals, their formerly continuous ranges become mosaic, with the locally increasing animal density and heterogeneity and specific population dynamics. Species diversity decreases; however, species alien to the natural ecosystems of the given territory appear. Changes in the strategies of reproduction and food resource use were revealed in the species communities of small mammals and amphibians.     

Heavy Metals in the Environment of the Middle Urals and Their Effects on the Organism

The kinetics of accumulation of essential and toxic trace elements (TE) in vitally important organs were studied in small mammals typical of the Middle and Southern Ural fauna. The results revealed a discrepancy between the increased uptake of Cd, Zn, Pb, and Cu by animals and the virtually constant concentrations of heavy metals (HMs) in their organs, which could be explained by the existence of special elimination systems activated upon excessive HM uptake. It is shown that HM accumulation in animal tissues is energy-dependent and species-specific, and the effects of highly toxic TE correlate with physiological processes.     

浙江省人口分布的空间格局及其时空演变

改革开放以来,随着经济社会的快速发展,浙江省各地区人口分布发生了明显的变化。文章运用空间自相关、不均衡系数、人口重心和偏移增长法,对浙江省69个县级行政单元人口分布的空间格局及其在1985-2007年间的时空演变特征进行了深入分析,并得出以下几点结论:①浙江省人口密度分布具有"点—带—区"结构特征,即以经济发展水平高的地区为高值点,通过杭甬高速和甬台温高速将各高值点连接成带,其他地区则形成人口密度低值区;②浙江省人口分布存在一定的空间关联性,在浙东北环杭州湾地区和浙东南沿海地区呈现高高集聚,在浙中和西南内陆地区呈现低低集聚;③浙江省人口呈不均衡分布状态,并且人口不均衡系数不断增大;④浙江省人口偏移增长在三大区域之间具有明显差异,浙东南沿海地区人口总偏移量为正,浙东北环杭州湾地区基本稳定、浙中和西南内陆地区为负,人口重心逐渐向东南沿海偏移。     

The Distribution of Tree Species in the Ridge Landscape (Southern Karelia)

The distribution of tree species in the landscape was studied using the approach based on the comparison of the ecological requirements of species and the properties of ecotopes distinguished by their position in the relief and peculiarities of basement rocks. The types and specificity of ecological regimes were determined for the typical ecotopes of the southern Karelian ridge landscape. The main environmental and successional factors determining the distribution of seven forest-forming tree species in the ecotopes of this landscape were identified. The results of this work can provide a basis for the prognosis of forest vegetation in the landscape studied.     

Heavy Metals in Organs and Tissues of the European Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus): Dependence on Living Conditions

The distribution of Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Ni in the organs and tissues (kidneys, liver, lungs, brain, heart, muscles, and feathers) of the European black vulture (Aegypius monachus) was studied. It was shown that heavy metals were not responsible for the mass mortality of these birds in southern Primorye in the winter of 2001–2002. The level of pollution with heavy metals of the range of European black vultures wintering in this region (northern China and western Mongolia) may be regarded as insignificant.