Central Forest Nature Reserve

The results of long-term (2017–2023) measurements of CO2 emission from soil in Kursk oblast of the central chernozemic region, which were carried out using infrared gas analyzers and the closed chamber method, are considered. The obtained estimates of annual soil respiration in anthropogenic and natural ecosystems that compose the modern forest-steppe agricultural landscape in the European part of Russia vary from 651 ± 88 (unfertilized vegetable garden) to 895 ± 91 (long-term plowland), 1040 ± 55 (meadow steppes and broadleaved forests), and 1549 ± 215 (2- to 8-year-old fallow) (in g C(CO2)/(m2 year). The contribution of microbial respiration during the growing season reaches 55.5% in broadleaved forests, 72.4% in meadow steppe, and 77.6% in fallow land. Estimates of the net ecosystem carbon balance calculated as the difference between the net primary production (according to the CBM–CFS 3 model and taxation data) and heterotrophic respiration (soil respiration and CO2 emission from coarse woody debris) obtained for the three broadleaved forest sites vary from +130 g C/(m2 year) indicating carbon sink from the atmosphere, to –112 g C/(m2 year) corresponding to carbon source. In the latter case, the net source is associated with the accumulation of significant amounts of coarse woody debris as a result of the death of trees from xylophages. On arable lands, the net carbon balance indicators similarly calculated from data on the net primary production and heterotrophic respiration vary from +186 to –144 g C/(m2 year). At the same time, the overwhelming contribution (87.9%) to interannual variations in heterotrophic respiration at different fields belongs to the type of cultivated crop. A conclusion is made about the applicability of the considered approach to estimating the net balance of C in both natural and anthropogenic ecosystems. However, the great degree of uncertainty is introduced by estimates of the share of microbial respiration.

Structural and functional vital activity of each animal species organically fits into the life of the biosphere. To understand their place and role, a new approach to study methods is needed. Based on many years of research (1975–2022) on the ecology and behavior of the wolf, an attempt was made to understand the features of the structural and functional hierarchy of the life strategy of this species. It has been shown with argumentation that he strategy of the Individual is to adapt to living in the environment; the couple’s strategy is to form a habitat and fit into the general structure of the population; the family’s strategy is to raise and educate wolf cubs; the population’s strategy is to preserve genetic diversity, established adaptations, and sustainability in the environment; the strategy of the species is to preserve the habitat; the strategy of the community (biocenosis) consists in participation in the conservation and formation of the biodiversity of certain species; and the strategy of the ecosystem (biogeocoenosis) consists in participation in structural, functional, and energy processes.

Structural and functional vital activity of each animal species organically fits into the life of the biosphere. To understand their place and role, a new approach to study methods is needed. Based on many years of research (1975–2022) on the ecology and behavior of the wolf, an attempt was made to understand the features of the structural and functional hierarchy of the life strategy of this species. Shown with argumentation: the strategy of the Individual is to adapt to living in the environment; the couple’s strategy is to form a habitat and fit into the general structure of the population; the Family’s strategy is to raise and educate wolf cubs; Population strategy — to preserve genetic diversity, fixed adaptations and sustainability in the environment; the strategy of the Species is to preserve the habitat; strategy in the Community (biocenosis) — participation in the conservation and formation of certain species biodiversity; strategy in the Ecosystem (biogeocoenosis) — participation in structural, functional and energy processes.

Although wolves, dogs and their hybrids can be discerned by genetic analysis, the study of morphology-morphometry to discern the three groups remains important as genetic analysis is not always possible or too expensive.In this study we aim to differentiate the three subgroups by analyzing two morphometric and ten morphological characteristics in 329 canid skulls.After morphometric-morphologic allocation, we applied genetic analysis on 108 skulls based on 11 autosomal microsatellites to verify the morphometric-morphologic results.In 30 specimens genetic tests were unsuccessful.In addition, 23 samples from wolves (14 skins and 9 muscle samples) as well as 32 samples from modern dogs (8 hair and 24 blood samples) were used as reference data in the genetic analysis.Based on morphologymorphometry we diagnosed 322 wolves, four dogs and three hybrids.Genetic testing was done on 78 specimens: one presumed dog, three presumed hybrids and 74 of the wolves, as diagnosed morphologically before.All, but one, morphologically diagnosed wolves, were confirmed as being wolves genetically.That one was identified a hybrid genetically.From the four morphological dogs one was confirmed genetically, the other three had failed genetic tests.Of the three morphological hybrids one was genetically a dog.The results of this study indicate the absence of reliable morphological criteria for identifying skulls of hybrids, which is a consequence of the high morphological variability in dogs and wolves.However, the use of morphometric and morphological characteristics, helps to narrow the numbers of skulls that require genetic analysis for more precise identification.

Проведен анализ индекса полового диморфизма и симметрии посткраниального скелета по 20 морфометрическим признакам американских норок (Neovison vison), населяющих дикую природу и содержащихся в зверохозяйстве. В качестве материала для исследования использованы 204 особи американских норок, из которых 99 диких особей, населявших территорию Тверской и Псковской областей, 46 одомашненных породы сапфир, 32 породы серебристо-голубая, 27 породы стандартная коричневая. Установлены средние значения индекса полового диморфизма всех групп исследуемых животных, выявлена достоверно направленная асимметрия. На основании полученных данных выдвинуты предположения о природе наблюдаемых явлений. Настоящая работа призвана расширить имеющиеся малочисленные данные по морфологической изменчивости посткраниального скелета дикой и доместцированной американской норки. The index of sexual dimorphism and symmetry of the postcranial skeleton was analyzed for 20 morphometric traits in wild and domesticated American minks (Neovison vison). 204 American minks were used as material for the study, of which 99 wild individuals inhabited the Tver and Pskov regions, 46 were domesticated sapphire breeds, 32 belonged to silver-blue breeds, and 27 wre standard brown breeds. The average values of the sexual dimorphism index of all groups of studied animals were established, and reliably directed asymmetry was revealed. On the basis of the received data assumptions about the nature of the observed phenomena are put forward. The present work is intended to expand the limited data available on the morphological variability of the postcranial skeleton of wild and domesticated American mink.

BackgroundKnowledge about the distribution of living organisms on Earth is very important for many areas of biological science and understanding of the surrounding world. However, much of the existing distributional data are scattered throughout a multitude of sources, such as taxonomic publications, checklists and natural history collections and often, bringing them together is difficult. A very successful attempt to solve this problem is the GBIF project, which allows a huge number of researchers to publish data in one place in a single standard. Our dataset represents a significant addition to the occurrences of amphibians in the Volga, Don riverine basins and adjacent territories.The dataset contains up-to-date information on amphibian occurrences in the Volga river basin and adjacent territories, located for the most part on the Russian plain of European Russia. The dataset is based on our own studies that were conducted in the years 1996-2020. The dataset consists of 5,030 incident records, all linked to geographical coordinates. A total of 13 amphibian species belonging to nine genera and six families have been registered within the studied territory, although the distribution of amphibian species in this region of Russia has not yet been fully studied. This is especially relevant with the spread of cryptic species that can only be identified using molecular genetic research methods.The main purpose of publishing a database is to make our data available in the global biodiversity system to a wide range of users. The data can be used by researchers, as well as helping the authorities to manage their territory more efficiently.New informationAll occurrences are published in GBIF for the first time. Most of the data are stored in field diaries and we would like to make it available to everyone by adding it in the global biodiversity database (GBIF).

Meteorological series and phenological data in the framework of our environmental monitoring in the South taiga Central Forest Reserve were analyzed. During 1984– 2017, the average annual air temperature was 4.63±0.41°C, and the average annual rainfall was 2.14±0.12 mm/day. For eight of the 43 (19%) climatic parameters, reliable linear trends of variability were found: an increase of air temperature in July, August, September, and December; an increase of soil temperature in December; an increase of precipitation in November and December; and a decrease of precipitation in September. Three causes of their directed long-term changes were revealed, namely: a shift of the winter timing, violation of the annual dynamics of climatic parameters and a change in the precipitation type during a longer autumn – snow to be replaced by rain. Of the 11 species of vascular plants, the statistical significance of the long-term displacement of phenological dates was proven for Anemone nemorosa: the longer the autumn and softer the beginning of the winter, the earlier the onset of its flowering. Two classification types of vascular plants in identifying interspecific synchrony in the phenological events variation were considered. Variability components of phenological phenomena occurrence was estimated: the share of long-term trends of the shift in phenological dates timing due to changes in reserve climatic system is from 20 to 68% of the total sign dispersion; interannual climatic fluctuations explain 5–34% of its variability; and the proportion of variability under unaccounted factors influence is high (21–64%). Species with a high proportion of their long-term variability components (Anemone nemorosa: more than 60%) are recommended to use as indicators of climate change under the conditions of the study area.

The study of the distribution and abundance of ungulate mammals in the Karelian part of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia (GBF) showed that these characteristics are subject to significant influence of natural and anthropogenic factors. GBF territory is a complex set of landscapes belonging to northern, middle and partly southern taiga, shaping the distribution of ungulates within it. High, compared to the regional average, moose and wild boar track densities are recorded in the North-Western Ladoga region (Lahdenpohsky, Sortavalsky Districts). A large share of the wild forest reindeer population is concentrated in northern districts of the Republic of Karelia (Louhsky, Kalevalsky), including their border zone with Finland. One core area of this North European endemic has been preserved at the southern limit of its distribution range within GBF, in Muezersky District. Protected areas within GBF are essential for the conservation and restoration of the wild forest reindeer. Currently, human impact has the decisive importance for the populations of both hunted (moose, wild boar) and rare (wild forest reindeer, roe deer) species. Since the southern part of the republic is quite extensively used in agriculture, the wild boar abundance there is higher than in other parts of Karelia. Heavy logging in vast areas in the north alters wild forest reindeer habitats, which inevitably affects the movement and distribution of the animals, and can lead to a decline in their numbers. There are "boreal (ecological) wildlife corridors" in the study area. They secure the connection between animals living in Finland and Russia. They act as channels for the arrival of new species (roe deer, wild boar) and for seasonal movements of native species (moose, forest reindeer). Along with the positive aspects, the migratory activity of ungulates brings about the risk of disease spread (chronic wasting disease, African swine fever).