Characteristics of the contact zone of three chromosome races of the common shrew <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sorex araneus</Emphasis> L. (Mammalia) as indices of interpopulation competition

The distribution of three chromosome races (Moscow, Western Dvina, and Seliger) of the common shrew Sorex araneus L. in the zone of contact between their ranges in the Valdai Heights (32°00′ E, 57°00′ N) is discussed. The area co-inhabited by all the three races is extremely small. Representatives of all the three races have been captured on only one trap line, although there are no obstacles to the expansion of shrews. The extremely small area co-inhabited by the three races, as well as the strictly parapatric distribution of the Moscow and Western Dvina races, may be related with competition forms such as avoidance of contacts and separation of ecological niches.     

On the introduction of the Kamchatka King crab Paralithodes camtschatica (Decapoda: Anomura: Lithodidae) into the Barents Sea

About 2,500 specimens of the Kamchatka king crab Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius), ca. 5 to 15 years old, and about 10,000 juveniles, ca. 1 to 3 years old, were released into the Barents Sea from 1961 to 1969. One large berried female was caught in 1974, and the number of records increased in 1976 (at least 100 records, including 6 reliable ones). The crab therefore seems to have become a permanent inhabitant of the Barents Sea. It will be important in future to continually record new occurrences of the crabs, especially of juveniles, in order to document the extent of their distributional range and to obtain evidence of successful reproduction of the species.     

Lost benefits and carbon uptake by protection of Indian plantations

There is a range of problems in assessing how protection of a specific forest to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) affect global emissions of greenhouse gases. This paper shows how knowledge and information about the biophysical characteristics of forests can be combined with theories of forest management and economic behaviour to derive the impacts on global emissions of REDD+. A modelling experiment from India, where 10% of the forest plantations in eight different regions are protected, shows that the biophysical characteristics of forests are decisive for the global impacts on emissions. In regions with slow-growing forests, agents in the non-protected forests are able to increase their output significantly to fill the demand from the protected forests. This opportunity is strictly limited in regions with fast-growing forests. Therefore, prices increase far more in regions with fast-growing forests than in slow-growing forests. Over time, the markets for Indian forestry products contribute to reduce the resulting price differences across regions. When the carbon uptake from protected forests approaches zero, the leakage of emissions to other Indian forests is between 20 and 40%. Only a small part of this is international leakage. Combining different models also helps to identify knowledge gaps, and to distinguish gaps that potentially may be filled with data and new knowledge, and gaps due to different angling of modelling biophysical processes and modelling of economic behaviour.     

Plutonium, 137Cs and 90Sr in selected invertebrates from some areas around Chernobyl nuclear power plant

Results are presented for ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁰Sr and plutonium activity concentrations in more than 20 samples of terrestrial invertebrates, including species of beetles, ants, spiders and millipedes, collected in the highly contaminated area of the Chernobyl exclusion zone. The majority of samples were collected in Belarus, with some also collected in the Ukraine. Three other samples were collected in an area of lower contamination. Results show that seven samples exceed an activity concentration of 100 kBq/kg (ash weight - a.w.) for ¹³⁷Cs. The maximum activity concentration for this isotope was 1.52 ± 0.08 MBq/kg (a.w.) determined in ants (Formica cynerea). Seven results for ⁹⁰Sr exceeded 100 kBq/kg (a.w.), mostly for millipedes. Relatively high plutonium activity concentrations were found in some ants and earth-boring dung beetles. Analyses of activity ratios showed differences in transfer of radionuclides between species. To reveal the correlation structure of the multivariate data set, the Partial Least-Squares method (PLS) was used. Results of the PLS model suggest that high radiocesium activity concentrations in animal bodies can be expected mainly for relatively small creatures living on the litter surface. In contrast, high strontium activity concentrations can be expected for creatures which conduct their lives within litter, having mixed trophic habits and a moderate lifespan. No clear conclusions could be made for plutonium.     

Radionuclide migration in forest ecosystems--results of a model validation study

The primary objective of the IAEA's BIOMASS Forest Working Group (FWG) was to bring together experimental radioecologists and modellers to facilitate the exchange of information which could be used to improve our ability to understand and forecast radionuclide transfers within forests. This paper describes a blind model validation exercise which was conducted by the FWG to test nine models which members of the group had developed in response to the need to predict the fate of radiocaesium in forests in Europe after the Chernobyl accident. The outcomes and conclusions of this exercise are summarised. It was concluded that, as a group, the models are capable of providing an envelope of predictions which can be expected to enclose experimental data for radiocaesium contamination in forests over the time scale tested. However, the models are subject to varying degrees of conceptual uncertainty which gives rise to a very high degree of divergence between individual model predictions, particularly when forecasting edible mushroom contamination. Furthermore, the forecasting capability of the models over future decades currently remains untested.     

Oxidation of volatile organic compounds on SBA-15 mesoporous molecular sieves modified with manganese

Catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds, such as propene, has been studied on manganese modified mesoporous molecular sieves. Powder X-ray diffraction, (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance, nitrogen sorption and transmission electron microscopy show that the SBA-15 mesoporous silica molecular sieve can be modified with manganese using Mn(2)(CO)(10) or Mn(O(2)CMe)(2) without significant distortion of the host structure. The two products were catalytically active in propene oxidation, with SBA-15 modified with Mn(2)(CO)(10) showing significantly higher activity, possibly due to higher Mn content, than SBA-15 modified with Mn(O(2)CMe)(2).     

Changes in the abundance of parasitic gamasid mite Macronyssus corethroproctus (Oudemans, 1902) during the overwintering period of its host, the pond bat Myotis dasycneme (Boie, 1825)

The population dynamics of the parasitic gamasid mite Macronyssus corethroproctus (Oudemans, 1902) during the overwintering period of its host, the pond bat Myotis dasycneme (Boie, 1825), has been analyzed. Regression equations have been obtained that describe the dependence of the abundance of mites on the time since the start of overwintering and on host??s sex and body condition.     

Assessment of physicochemical parameters and metal distribution in bog peat of the western segment of the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region)

This article is devoted to the study of physicochemical parameters and the assessment of the accumulation and distribution of metals in peat deposits from the North European part of Russia (Arkhangelsk region). Peat profiles were selected both in the area with a high anthropogenic load and in a bog remote from industrial pollution. The determination of metals was carried out by using the methods X-ray fluorescence analysis and atomic absorption spectroscopy. It was determined that the studied bogs can be attributed to the low ash type, and the recorded pH and mineralisation values make it possible to attribute these deposits to the acid-oxidising facies of oligotrophic peatlands, characteristic of taiga landscapes. Assessment of metal accumulation showed a high content of titanium, chromium, lead, nickel, vanadium, cobalt, aluminium, silicon, and copper in peat, mainly caused by the burning of fossil fuels and industrial production, as well as the burning of urban and industrial waste. The peat profiles are characterised by significant fluctuations in the content of elements in different horizons. Studies have shown the need to monitor the content of metals in peatlands from the Arkhangelsk region to assess atmospheric pollution from industrial emissions, both at the moment and in the past.