The role of topography in forming the thermal regime and biological diversity of relict ecosystems on limestones in the northeast of European Russia

Integrated studies on the temperature regime in a limestone outcrop area have been performed, including analysis of the latitudinal trends and dynamics of direct solar radiation input onto slopes of different exposures and the redistribution of temperatures depending on mesotopographic features of the slopes. Assessment of the diversity of ecological conditions in this model landscape has shown that about 3.3% of its area is potentially suitable for the formation of a relict lithophytic floristic assemblage.     

Influence of the zebra mussel and fish fry on structural and functional characteristics of microorganisms in experimental ecosystems

The interactions of zebra mussels, invertebrates, fish, and microorganisms were studied experimentally. Trends in the distribution of total bacterial biomass, the abundance of heterotrophic organisms, and their functional activities in water and grounds were analyzed. The most favorable conditions for development of bacteria developed in June, in the presence of fish and without zebra mussels. In experimental ecosystems with zebra mussels, a decrease in the abundance and activity of microorganisms and a change of dominant yeast forms were observed.     

Microflora Associated with the Digestive-Transport Surfaces of Fish and Their Parasitic Cestodes

The symbiotic microflora is described that is associated to various degrees with the digestive-transport surfaces of pike and burbot and their parasitic cestodes T. nodulosus and E. rugosum, respectively, as well as of L. intestinalis plerocercoids from the body cavity of bream. Some of these bacteria possess amylolytic and proteolytic activity, which indicates their participation in both the digestion of the host and of the parasite.     

Landscape-climatic changes on the eastern macroslope of the Northern Urals over the past 50000 years

Landscape-climatic changes are described that took place in the second half of the Late Neopleistocene and Holocene on the eastern macroslope of the Northern Urals. On the basis of geochronological and palynological data, the composition of paleocommunities in different time sections over the past 50000 years has been reconstructed in detail. Paleoclimatic parameters calculated by the zonal-formation method are presented.     

First data on the Middle to Late Holocene dynamics of vegetation in the Upper Kama region

A detailed palynological record and the results of radiocarbon dating of sediments from the Dedyukhinskii floodplain massif in the vicinity of Lake Chashkinskoe (the Upper Kama region; 59°23′ N, 56°34.5′ E) have been used to reconstruct basic stages in the Middle to Late Holocene dynamics of vegetation. The results show that in the Atlantic period broadleaf tree species played a secondary role in forest formations of taiga and subtaiga types. Broadleaf–conifer forests became dominant in the Subboreal period, with fir widely spreading in the forests during its second half. During the Subatlantic period, forest formations acquired their recent taiga character.