Regional features of the radial growth of larch in north central Siberia according to millennial tree-ring chronologies

A 1138-year tree-ring chronology has been constructed for the region of the Bol’shoi Avam River (the Putoran Plateau). Its comparison with millennial chronologies for the Taimyr Peninsula and Mangazeya has shown that all these chronologies are fairly synchronous with respect to both high-frequency (annual) and low-frequency (long-term) components, although each has its specific regional features. The results of dendroclimatic analysis provide evidence for the prevailing influence of air temperature in July (compared to that in June) on the radial growth of larch in the middle reaches of the Bol’shoi Avam. Consistent long-term changes in radial tree increment (and in summer air temperature) in a large sector of the Subarctic over the past 1000 years have been revealed.     

Ecology of Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in the Altai mountain glacial basins

Data are presented on the ecology of Siberian stone pine and Siberian larch in recent Altai mountain glacial basins at elevations above 2100 m a.s.l. The representative example of the Aktru basin is used to demonstrate the ranges of tolerance of these tree species to a series of ecological factors.     

Evaluating land cover change and its impact on hydrological regime in Upper Shire river catchment, Malawi

A study was conducted to investigate hydrological impacts of land cover changes in the degradation of the hydrological on flow regimes of the Upper Shire river, Malawi. Remote sensing techniques were used to inventory temporal changes of land cover changes in the catchment. Hydrological data were analyzed to reveal the alterations and trends for two periods; 1989 and 2002. The study revealed significant changes in magnitude and direction that have occurred in the catchment between 1989 and 2002, mainly in areas of human habitation. Trends in land cover change in the Upper Shire river catchment depict land cover transition from woodlands to mostly cultivated/grazing and built-up areas. The land cover mapping showed that 23% of the land was covered by agricultural land in 1989. Subsistence agricultural area has increased by 18%, occupying 41% of the study area in 2002. The effects of the derived land cover changes on river flow in the Upper Shire river were investigated using the semi distributed soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model. River flows were found to be highly variable and sensitive to land cover changes. Simulation results show that 2002 land cover data produces higher flow peaks and faster travel times compared to the 1989 land cover data. The changes detected indicate the effects of land use pressure in the catchment. The study highlights the importance of considering effects of land use and land cover changes on ecosystems, and water resources for an informed decision on proper catchment planning and management.     

Climatic signal in radial increment of conifers in forest-steppe of southern Siberia and its dependence on local growing conditions

Radial increments have been studied in Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growing in the forest-steppe zone of southern Siberia in areas with different landscapes and levels of soil moisture supply but uniform climatic conditions. It has been shown that the radial increment significantly depends on climatic factors, primarily temperatures in April to July and September, sums of precipitation in April to July and September to November, and hydrothermal coefficient in May. The climatiC response in the wood of conifers in the forest-steppe zone differs depending on their species-specific features and local growing conditions.     

Variation and Interrelation of Characters in Brunnera sibirica in Natural and Disturbed Habitats

Russian Journal of Ecology -     

Climate changes in the past century and radial increment of pine in the Southern Ural steppe

Changes in the main climatic factors (air temperature and total precipitation) and their effect on the radial increment of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) over the period from 1933 to 2002 were studied in an insular pine forest growing in the steppe zone of the Southern Urals. Evidence for a significant increase in the amount of precipitation and air temperature in the second half of this period was obtained. Functions of response of radial increment indices to climatic parameters were analyzed. Relative contributions of air temperature and precipitation to variation in the radial increment of pine in different time intervals proved to differ in relation to climate changes during the past century.     

Exploration of the Climate Sensitivity of Xylem Parenchyma in Pinus sylvestris L. in the Forest-steppe of Southern Siberia

Russian Journal of Ecology - The forest-steppe ecotone in southern Siberia is the natural transition zone from the dry steppe in the south to the wetter taiga in the north, where tree growth is...     

Speciation and hydrological transport of metals in non-acidic river systems of the Lake Baikal basin: Field data and model predictions

The speciation of metals in aqueous systems is central to understanding their mobility, bioavailability, toxicity and fate. Although several geochemical speciation models exist for metals, the equilibrium conditions assumed by many of them may not prevail in field-scale hydrological systems with flowing water. Furthermore, the dominant processes and/or process rates in non-acidic systems might differ from well-studied acidic systems. We here aim to increase knowledge on geochemical processes controlling speciation and transport of metals under non-acidic river conditions. Specifically, we evaluate the predictive capacity of a speciation model to novel measurements of multiple metals and their partitioning, under high-pH conditions in mining zones within the Lake Baikal basin. The mining zones are potential hotspots for increasing metal loads to downstream river systems. Metals released from such upstream regions may be transported all the way to Lake Baikal, where increasing metal contamination of sediments and biota has been reported. Our results show clear agreement between speciation predictions and field measurements of Fe, V, Pb and Zn, suggesting that the partitioning of these metals mainly was governed by equilibrium geochemistry under the studied conditions. Systematic over-predictions of dissolved Cr, Cu and Mo by the model were observed, which might be corrected by improving the adsorption database for hydroxyapatite because that mineral likely controls the solubility of these metals. Additionally, metal complexation by dissolved organic matter is a key parameter that needs continued monitoring in the Lake Baikal basin because dependable predictions could not be made without considering its variability. Finally, our investigation indicates that further model development is needed for accurate As speciation predictions under non-acidic conditions, which is crucial for improved health risk assessments on this contaminant.

     

Habitus Diversity of Ladybirds (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae) in the Steppe Zone of the Southern Urals and the South of Western Siberia

In the ladybird fauna of the steppe zone of the Southern Urals and the south of Western Siberia, five variants, three forms, and two habitus types of adult beetles are distinguished, and their hierarchy is established. The habitus diversity of ladybirds is revealed using a new method of describing each form in a polar system of coordinates whose center coincides with the center of gravity of the insect body. The system of ladybird habitus reflects the main directions of trophic specialization in the family.     

Effect of Summer Monthly Temperatures on Light Tree Ring Formation in Three Larch Species (Larix) in the Northern Forest–Tundra of Siberia

Russian Journal of Ecology - Studies in the northern forest–tundra of Siberia have been performed to estimate temperature conditions in individual months of the growing season that have an...     

秦岭南北地区农业气候资源时空变化特征

利用秦岭南北地区1960~2016年47个气象站点的观测资料,运用气候倾向率、Mann-Kendall趋势检验、相关分析与反距离加权插值等方法分析了秦岭南北地区光、热、水等农业气候资源的时空变化特征。结果表明：1960年以来,秦岭南北地区气温、≥10℃活动积温呈显著增加趋势,1995年后气温快速上升,并在2002年增温达到显著水平。春、冬、秋季增温明显,空间上秦岭以北增温倾向率大于秦岭以南。 1960~2016年,秦岭南北地区降水量总体呈微弱下降趋势,从时间上看,1995年前降水量以下降为主,1995年后降水量转为上升趋势;从空间上看,1960~2016年,下降较明显地区为秦岭以北、嘉陵江沿线,其次为汉水流域丹江口水库区域;部分地区呈现微弱上升趋势,主要分布在巴巫谷地、汉水流域大巴山等山地段和秦岭南坡东部。相对湿度呈微弱下降趋势;日照时数呈显著下降趋势,四季下降程度为夏>冬>秋>春,下降显著地区为研究区东部平原、汉中盆地、关中盆地及巴巫谷地。 关键词： 农业气候资源,时空变化,秦岭南北地区     

The impact of bacterial larvicidal agent and larvivorous fish on the preimaginal phases of bloodsucking mosquitoes in aquatic ecosystems of Southern Western Siberia

It has been shown that ecological prerequisites for the spread of bloodsucking mosquitoes from different aquatic ecosystems in the south of Western Siberia may be controlled by reducing the density of larval hemipopulations. The bacterial agent Bactiñide is most efficient in open water systems. In ecosystems overgrown with herb-shrub vegetation, an integrated approach should be used, which involves both stocking with belica (Leucaspius delineatus) and application of Bacticide. The development of larvivorous fish in the permanent water systems of the Karasuk-Burlinsk region and Teletskoye Lake basin contributes to elimination of mosquito larvae and, thus, to the improvement of natural environment.     

The Variation of Species Diversity,Regeneration and Community Structure in Larix gmelinii Forest Shaping by Local Environment Factors

Russian Journal of Ecology - Inner Mongolia Hanma National Nature Reserve without human disturbance is a natural laboratory for the study of Larix gmelinii forest because it has well-preserved...     

Reconstruction of summer precipitation in the Southern Urals over the last 375 years based on analysis of radial increment in the Siberian larch

Considerable correlation was revealed between the annual radial increment of the Siberian larch (Larix sukaczewii Dyl.) and monthly precipitation in May, June, and July of the current year in the Southern Urals. The regression model of the dependence of latewood growth on the amount of precipitation in May to July was used for reconstructing spring-summer precipitation in the region over the past 375 years (from 1631 to 2005).     

Changes in the structure and phytomass of tree stands at the upper limit of their growth in the Southern Urals

Relationships between stem diameter and phytomass of trees and their parts (single- and multistemmed growth forms) have been studied at different altitudinal levels of the present-day upper treeline ecotone on the Iremel’ Massif, the Southern Urals. The time course of changes in the structure and phytomass of birch–spruce stands during the past centuries has been reconstructed. It is shown that the expansion of forests to the mountains in this period has occurred against the background of rise in summer and winter temperatures and increase in the amount of solid precipitation in the Southern Urals.     

Variation in the Composition of Secondary Metabolites in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Flavocetraria</Emphasis> Lichens from Western Siberia

The composition and contents of secondary metabolites in Flavocetraria lichens from Eastern Siberia were analyzed using herbarium specimens. Based on the composition of identified metabolites, three F. cucullata chemotypes and two F. nivalis chemotypes were distinguished. Distinct geographic differentiation between the F. cucullata chemotypes was revealed, probably reflecting their adaptation to environmental conditions. The content of usnic acid in F. cucullata thalli was found to correlate with the latitude of growing region. This may be regarded as evidence for a protective role of this metabolite in lichens growing at high latitudes and exposed to excess solar irradiation during the polar day.     

Variation of indoor radon progeny concentration and its role in dose assessment

Instantaneous measurements of equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon (EEC(Rn)) were taken over a period of 1 year in 2004 in a typical house at Amritsar city, located in the northwest part of India. A method based on absolute beta counting subsequent to grab aerosol sampling was used. During that year, EEC(Rn) varied between 1.56B qm(-3) and 22.77B qm(-3) with average value of 8.76Bb qm(-3). EEC(Rn) decreased with the transition from winter to summer and vice versa, having a negative correlation with outdoor temperature. The use of mechanical ventilation, under normal living conditions during summer, caused an extra decrease in the concentrations. The variations with temperature and mechanical ventilation are discussed. Some major issues related to the uncertainties in dose calculations caused by the lack of knowledge of equilibrium factor and ignoring the effect of life style on the radon and its progeny concentrations are discussed.