Relationship between the Biodiversity of phyto- and zoobenthos in the continuum of the model mountain river Komarovka (Primorye,Russia)

The structure of benthic communities was studied in the continuum of the model mountain river Komarovka, which flows in the conifer-broadleaf forest subzone in the southwest of the Silkhote-Alin Mountain Range (Primorye, Russia). The lowest species diversity of phyto- and zoobenthos was recorded in the upper reaches of the river, in a heterotrophic area; the highest species diversity, in the central part of autotrophic area. At the same time, the Shannon index for algal communities had the highest values in the heterotrophic area, while that for bottom invertebrate communities, within the autotrophic area. Thus, the increase in invertebrate species diversity in the river continuum was accompanied by complication of the structure of zoobenthos, while the increase in the taxonomic diversity of phytobenthos took place against the background of increasing dominance of a few algal species.     

Comparative analysis of small mammal communities in Chisinau and Yaroslavl, two European cities located in different biomes

Comparative analysis of the structure of small mammal communities has been performed in two European cities located in different biomes: Chisinau (2008?C2009) and Yaroslavl (1994?C2002). The parameters studied included abundance, species composition, similarity and difference of faunas, species diversity, and proportions of groups differing in predisposition to synanthropy. It has been found that the structure of small mammal communities in these cities depends on specific physiographic conditions of the surrounding areas and on the distinctive features of the cities themselves (their structure, age, etc.). The similarity between the faunas is accounted for by the common ecological patterns of fauna formation in the biota of urban cenoses.     

Specific features of the oribatid fauna in high-mountain pine forests of the Eastern Caucasus in relation to altitudinal zonality

The abundance, structure, and distribution of oribatid communities in high-mountain pine forest biotopes of the Eastern Caucasus are described in dependence on elevation above sea level. The oribatid fauna of high-mountain pine forests proved to be characterized by high abundance, an assortment of dominants, and species richness. It was shown that, as the elevation increases, specific dominants typical of particular altitudinal zones appear in communities, and changes in the mass species occur. These species are stable in terms of their long-term dynamics, and zonal groups (communities) demonstrate a high species diversity.     

Soil-dwelling Collembola in coniferous forests along the gradient of pollution with emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter

The results of three-year studies on Collembola communities in spruce-fir forests along the gradient of pollution with emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter (Revda, Sverdlovsk oblast) are presented. They show that the species and ecological structure of these communities change abruptly in the impact zone (1 km from the source of emissions), compared to the background zone (30 km from the source), which involves a decrease in the abundance and diversity of Collembola. Their total abundance and species richness in the zone of intermediate disturbance (7 and 4 km) are considerably higher than in the background zone, and the species structure of communities is characterized by superdominance. Four species groups differing in sensitivity to pollution are distinguished. Preference for zones with different pollution levels in closely related species is regarded as a case of ecological vicariation.     

Spatial differentiation of the total bird population in a definite area

The spatial structure of the total bird population at the level of communities has been studied in a definite area at the boundary between northern open forests and forest-tundra. The boundaries of communities have been delimited by mapping out areas with a homogeneous species composition. The pattern of communities is shown to be as follows: the species-richest part of a local species assemblage (characteristic of a given landscape type) forms the basic community, which is surrounded by poorer communities of increasingly variable composition and configuration, depending on distance from the basic community. The most distant communities consist almost exclusively of abundant and widespread species. A group of borderline communities of mixed composition is located at the boundary between two landscape complexes. Mechanisms accounting for such a pattern are discussed.     

Phylogenetic diversity scaling in small mammal communities: The example of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin

Traditional approaches to structural analysis of biotic communities, based on the data on species abundances, do not take into account phylogenetic relationships between these species. We propose a new approach to studying the scaling (scale dependence) of phylogenetic diversity by means of multifractal analysis in which the moments of phylogenetic diversity are used. The results of applying this approach to small mammal communities of Nizhny Novgorod region of the Volga Basin has shown that phylogenetic diversity scaling complies with the power law, which is indicative of the self-similarity of these communities. The multifractal spectra of phylogenetic diversity scaling markedly differ from the spectra of species diversity scaling, providing evidence that the proposed approach can provide novel information on the structure of biotic communities.     

The phenomenon of forest invasion to steppe areas in the Middle Urals and its probable causes

Steppes at the northern limit of their distribution are a convenient object for studying climate-induced modifications of the environment, being sensitive to regional climate changes. Over the past 46–47 years, herbaceous vegetation in the study steppe areas has been replaced by shrubs and trees. Petrophytic steppes on hilltops and stony knolls, where conditions are not favorable for tree growth, has proved to be more resistant to such changes. In these habitats, however, the influence of surrounding forest phytocenoses has also resulted in a gradual decrease in the proportions of species from the steppe and forest–steppe floras in the structure of communities and the invasion by species typical of forest vegetation.     

New data on the population structure of small mammals in the Denezhkin Kamen’ Nature Reserve

For the first time, continuous studies on the population structure of rodents and insectivores in three altitudinal belts on the eastern macroslope of the Northern Urals have been performed over several years in the Denezhkin Kamen’ Nature Reserve. The results show the mountain tundra communities are depleted, the small mammal populations of zonal habitats are similar to each other, and river valleys and sparse forests of the subalpine belt play a leading role in supporting the maximum species diversity of small mammals.     

Effect of ecotopic factors and nature resource use on the diversity of forest communities in northern Kostroma oblast

The results of studies on southern taiga forests in northern Kostroma oblast are presented. They include the typing of old-growth forests, their phytocenotic and ecological characterization, and assessment of their structural and species diversity, successional status, and degree of anthropogenic disturbance. Geomorphological features of the study area and parameters of soils under plant communities of different forest type groups are described. On the basis of generalization of available data, conclusions were drawn concerning specific features of the structure and species diversity of forest communities in different ecotopes and at different stages of succession.     

Typological and species diversity of dark conifer forests in the lower reaches of the Bol’shaya Porozhnyaya River, a tributary of the Pechora (Pechora-Ilych state nature reserve)

The structure of dark conifer forests in the lower reaches of the Bol’shaya Porozhnyaya River is described. Ordination of corresponding communities has been performed, and their ecological and ecocenotic characteristics and species structure have been analyzed. On this basis, a typological scheme of the forests has been constructed following the method by L.B. Zaugol’nova. The identified sections and variants of communities within the true moss and tall herb sections are described. Successive change of leading ecological factors in the hierarchical series of communities, from sections to variants, is demonstrated.     

Abundance and community structure of bats (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) hibernating in artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka

The structure of hibernating bat communities has been studied in eight artificial caves of Samarskaya Luka differing in size and layout. Three types of the relative abundance distribution (RAD) of species in these communities have been revealed. Conditions for hibernation are most favorable in large caves with a stable microclimate, where the abundance of bats is high, the Shannon index has the peak values, and variation in the index of species evenness is the lowest. In such caves, RAD fits the broken-stick and log-series models. Variation in diversity indices reaches the highest level in shallow adits with a changeable microclimate, where RAD fits the geometric series model. The abundance, diversity, and structure of communities depend mainly on cave size and the presence of absence of drafts and, to a lesser extent, on ambient temperature, availability of microshelters, and the type of landscape surrounding the cave. Anthropogenic factors have a weak effect only on the abundance of individual species (M. nattereri, M. daubentonii, M. dasycneme, and E. nilssonii) but not on the overall diversity of bat communities.     

Models of taiga-steppe communities on the western coast of Lake Baikal

As a result of monitoring spatial changes in the cenotic structure of plant communities at the taiga-extrazonal steppe boundary on the western coast of Lake Baikal, models of taiga-steppe communities reflecting the formation, dynamics, and genesis of forests in the taiga zone have been constructed. Changes in the species composition of communities, mesophytization of steppes, the expansion of moss synusiae characteristic of polydominant dark conifer and light conifer taiga forests, active forest invasion into steppe areas, and the presence of dark conifer tree species in light conifer forests have been revealed.     

Ecological assessment of murine rodent communities in the mountain forest belt of southern Central Siberia

The results of long-term studies on the fauna and ecology of murine rodents inhabiting the mountain forest belt of southern Central Siberia are considered. A comparative analysis of the composition and organization of rodent communities has been performed in 15 key plots located within three geographic-climatic facies: perhumid, humid, and semihumid. The species composition, dominance structure, and total abundance of these communities in each facies have significant distinctive features, despite the generally high similarity of the communities within the forest belt. Information indices have been used to determine parameters of the diversity and evenness of communities, which reflect their state and degree of resistance to various factors.     

Dynamics of the Mite Communities (Acari: Parasitiformes) in Nests of the Parus major

The dynamics of nest-dwelling mites from the nests of the great tit in the protected area of Kamchia Mountain in Northeastern Bulgaria was investigated. The mite fauna inhabiting the nests of great tit differs significantly in terms of the degree of infestation, species richness, abundance and structure of communities in study years. There are statistically significant differences in the specimens’ number between 2014 and the other years 2012, 2013 and 2015. The mite species such as Dermanyssus gallinae, Androlaelaps casalis and Ornithonyssus sylviarum demonstrated significant changes in the abundance over the study years. A relation between the abundance of a species and the species diversity in the nests was not registered. Comparison of the annual dynamics of mites in the nests of great tit and the nests of semi-collared flycatcher for the same period of time and for the same environment, showed similarities—a significant fluctuation in the abundance of mites over the years and differences—in the species richness. Regarding the structure of the communities, both similarities and differences were recorded.

     

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.     

金沙江干流浮游植物群落结构特征及其时空变化

为研究金沙江干流浮游植物群落结构及其时空分布特征,于2017～2018年春秋两季对干流14个断面进行调查分析。调查结果显示:金沙江干流水域共分布浮游植物8门100种(含变种),主要由硅藻(56%)、蓝藻(22%)、绿藻(11%)组成,浮游植物密度变化范围为0.019 3×10~6～0.341 0×10~6cells/L,浮游植物生物量变化范围为0.016～0.434 mg/L,各江段存在显著性差异。Shannon多样性指数变化范围1.168～2.519,Pielou均匀度指数变化范围为0.559～0.876,Margalef指数变化范围为1.573～3.36,各江段多样性指数变化各异,金沙江干流水环境综合评价为中污染状态。等级聚类和排序结果表明,2017、2018年的春秋两季样本点群落均分为3组。上中下游在不同季节、年份里表现出不同程度的相似性,由于不同断面的环境差异造成了浮游植物群落的时空差异。时间上,金沙江干流浮游植物群落结构上每个季节演替明显,既有延续也有交替;空间上,采样点从上游至下游浮游植物群落越均匀旺盛,具有较明显的空间趋异性,聚类和排序较好的揭示了金沙江干流各江段浮游植物分布组成、种类数量和生境的相似性。     

Composition of soil diatoms in zones of impact from oil production complexes

The impact of territorial oil production complexes on the species composition of soil diatom (Bacillariophyta) communities and the degree of their development has been studied. On the basis of comparisons between dominant diatom assemblages from different natural zones, suggestions are made concerning the strategy of their adaptation to extreme environmental conditions. A scheme of transformation of diatom communities under the impact of oil pollution is proposed.     

Distribution of plants differing in attitude toward thermal conditions in communities of the timberline ecotone on Mount Iremel’, the Southern Urals

Specific features in the distribution of plant species differing in their attitude toward thermal conditions have been studied in communities of the present-day timberline ecotone on Mount Iremel’ in the Southern Urals. It has been shown that the distribution of such species is characterized by significant spatial nonuniformity. Elevation above sea level, local conditions in habitats located at the same altitudinal level, and specific features of mountain slopes account for 13–84, 5–30, and 0.4–14% of the total variance of test parameters, respectively. The abundance of plants changes nonlinearly along the altitudinal gradient, whereas changes in the species diversity of different plant groups have an almost linear pattern. Marked differences between plant communities with respect to the proportions of species differently responding to changes in thermal conditions have been revealed on all slopes in the upper part of the timberline ecotone, upon transition from the slopes proper to the plateau-like areas of intermontane depressions.     

The State of Protected Forest Communities in the European Forest–Steppe Zone of Russia and Prospects for Their Reconstruction: A Case Study of Specially Protected Areas of Penza Oblast

The structure of most forest communities in the European forest–steppe, including protected areas, has been disturbed. The adverse consequences of these disturbances include the incomplete age structure of the populations of cenosis-forming species and the irreversibility of successions. The conservation of biodiversity in the structurally disturbed communities is impossible without human intervention, which must be aimed at restoring their age heterogeneity with regard to their specific ecological features.     

Changes in the size structure of carabid communities in forest ecosystems under technogenic transformation

The body size structure of carabid communities has been analyzed based on the 2009 and 2013 collections (with the use of pitfall traps) performed at 10 sites of a spruce–fir forest along the gradient of pollution with emissions from the Middle Ural Copper Smelter. A reduction in the unweighted mean body size of carabid individuals has been shown, as well as the heterogeneity of body sizes in the community (Gini coefficient) of the extremely polluted territory. It has been revealed that the weighted mean body size of individuals and the Lorentz asymmetry coefficient are not dependent on the level of pollution. Differences between the communities of carabids in the background and polluted territories are associated with the smaller number of large-sized species, while the similarity is explained by the dominance of medium- and small-sized species at all sites. The high interannual variability has been observed in the ratio of size groups of the analyzed communities at the background and moderate levels of pollution.