Новая находка лесной мышовки Sicista betulina (Pallas, 1779) на севере Архангельской области (Rodentia: Sminthidae)

Relevance: conducting a comparative analysis of demographic processes in two Arctic regions of the European North of Russia makes it possible to determine the main directions for improving the demographic policy of the territories. The aim of the study is to analyze mortality rates in the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk Region to assess demographic prospects in these regions. Materials and methods: the main demographic indicators that form the population decline in the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic over the past 20 years were analyzed. A comparative study was conducted between them, as well as with the average statistical values in the Russian Federation. The main source of information was the website of the database of the Federal State Statistics Service. Results and discussion. Fluctuations in demographic indices in the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk Region as a whole have a similar trend and a common nature. Population losses in the Arctic territories of the country – the Arkhangelsk region and the Komi Republic as a whole are higher than the average for the Russian Federation. The greatest losses in these regions are formed due to high mortality from cardiovascular diseases in people of working age. Among the external causes of mortality, attention is drawn to the high suicide rate, which exceeds the national average in the Arkhangelsk region by 2.36 times, in the Komi Republic by 2.2 times. The deterioration in the level and structure of mortality in one region compared to another can be interpreted as a change in the quality of medical care during the period of negative changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis of the main demographic indicators in dynamics and in specific territorial entities makes it possible to identify possible predictors, causes of fluctuations in different time periods, the duration of responses to specific challenges and incentives.

<p>Soils and sediments serve as complementary sources of detailed information on paleofires in various ecosystems. Despite the abundance of charcoal material entrapped in soils they remain relatively less studied pyrogenic archives in comparison to the sedimentary paleofire records (e.g. lacustrine and peat deposits), and that is especially the case for the most territory of Russia. We report here on the numerous soil archives of the Holocene forest fires at the Kola Peninsula (66.347°N, 37.948°E) and the north of Arkhangelsk region (64.747°N, 43.387°E) in Russia. Series of buried Podzols (up to ten successive profiles) separated by the distinct charcoal layers were revealed in specific geomorphological traps like the thermokarst depressions inherited from the early stages of moraine sediments formation (Kola Peninsula), as well as in active and paleokarst sinkholes in carbonate and sulfate rocks (Arkhangelsk region). The maximum temporal depth of archives was estimated as 10261±40 cal yr BP for the key site in Arkhangelsk region, with up to 12 major pyrogenic events recorded at the local scale. Soil formation at the inter-pyrogenic stages maintained a uniform direction for at least 10 thousand years and profiles of Podzols were regularly replicated at all the key sites. We employ here a combination of soil morphological hierarchical analysis, study of geomorphological processes leading to the burial of pyrogenic carbon, 14C dating of charcoal and TOC derived from the soil organic matter, carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio mass spectrometry and anthracomass concentrations analysis to extract a set of paleoenvironmental information from these soil archives. The study of complementary pyrogenic archives in the three-component system of the karst landscape (including bottom and slopes of the funnels, as well as the flat elevated areas between them) helped to mitigate overestimation or underestimation of the anthracomass concentration and allowed to acquire a detailed dataset on paleopyrogenic events at the local scale. This study is supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Project No. 19-29-05238.</p>

The Russian policy towards the Arctic has changed in the last decade, the state and large firms are investing heavily in infrastructure, in the creation of new enterprises and the modernization of existing ones. But the northern nature is vulnerable, and the active development of extractive industries can lead to a crisis in the ecological situation. The development of the northern territories of the Russian Federation must meet the conditions of sustainable development, combine the growth of the economy, and the growth of incomes of the population, and the implementation of environmental restrictions. The purpose of this article is to develop methods for constructing windows of weak sustainability based on the construction of socio-ecological and economic models of the regions of the European North, and to study the possibilities of their sustainable development. The studies were carried out in four regions of the European North, which are fully or partially included in the Arctic zone of Russia - the republics of Karelia and Komi, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. Models have been built linking economic, environmental and social indicators. The methodology for calculating windows of weak sustainability for the regional economy is presented. The possibility of its use on the data of the Republic of Karelia has been demonstrated. The results obtained can be used as an information and methodological basis for assessing and developing a policy for sustainable development of the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation.

The problem of the peptic ulcer disease is one of the most urgent problems in gastroenterology. In spite of modern achievements, this disease is very hard to nurse. The article has highlighted the results of the ulcer disease epidemiological research in the regions of the European North оf Russia in the period 2009-2013. The analysis of the data has shown that in five regions of the European North, the total and primary peptic ulcer incidence was above the average for the Russian Federation. In the Republic of Karelia (RK), the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk Region, the indicators of both the general and primary peptic ulcer incidence were the highest in the period 2009-2013. Karelia was the most disadvantaged region, where both the general and primary ulcer disease incidence was 1.4-1.6-fold higher than the average for the Russian Federation over the past five years. In the structure of the population mortality, diseases of the digestive tract consistently ranked fifth with the proportion 4.6-7.0% without a tendency to decrease.

The problem of the peptic ulcer disease is one of the most urgent problems in gastroenterology. In spite of modern achievements, this disease is very hard to nurse. The article has highlighted the results of the ulcer disease epidemiological research in the regions of the European North оf Russia in the period 2009-2013. The analysis of the data has shown that in five regions of the European North, the total and primary peptic ulcer incidence was above the average for the Russian Federation. In the Republic of Karelia (RK), the Komi Republic and the Arkhangelsk Region, the indicators of both the general and primary peptic ulcer incidence were the highest in the period 2009-2013. Karelia was the most disadvantaged region, where both the general and primary ulcer disease incidence was 1.4-1.6-fold higher than the average for the Russian Federation over the past five years. In the structure of the population mortality, diseases of the digestive tract consistently ranked fifth with the proportion 4.6-7.0% without a tendency to decrease.

Literature analysis shows existence of data about weather influence on man's diseases. Selection of diseases in Arkhangelsk region from multifunctional information system was made. Analysis of people prevalence in several human settlements of Arkhangelsk region by means of statistic methods was conducted. The analysis demonstrated dependence of people prevalence on weather conditions as follows: a number of diseases grow with temperature decreasing; the same goes for increasing of humidity especially for the group gr11sub3 (“Other diseases of digestive organs”); the more cloudiness the more prevalence. A difference between South and North regions is also of interest. In comparison with Yarensk region, Holmogory region has increasing of factor A (“Index of magnetic field storminess”) influence for subgroup gr6sub3 (“Other nervous system disorders”) and group10 (“Respiratory organs diseases”) (correlation coefficient is negative).

The paper concerns the issues of development of single-industry towns located in the Northern part of Russia. The authors make focus on two territories of Russian Far North, namely Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions where 14 single-industry towns are located at moment. The study distinguishes two types of single industry towns accordingly to industry of city-forming enterprises, mining and manufacturing correspondingly. The paper is based on analysis of federal and regional statistics and investigation of indicators characterizing the social, economic and industrial development of single-industry towns in the period of the last 10-15 years. The study disclosed the fact of faster growth of production in single-industry towns belonging to mining industry despite of the accelerated depopulation in comparison with single-industry towns of manufacturing industries. This contradiction can be explained by higher level of modernization of enterprises from mining industry. The recommendation for the policy makers in priority setting in support of city-forming enterprises is formulated. The direction of the future research are indicated.

For the North and Arctic regions of Russia the task of the small power generation development is important because there are large areas of expensive decentralized electricity supply (DES) and difficult living conditions. In studying the processes of the small energy development, it is important to detail regional features and economic conditions that determine competitiveness of promising types of energy sources. The article presents the analysis results of the DES of the Russia northern territories on the example of three regions: the Republic of Komi, the Arkhangelsk region, the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The analysis aim is to determine the existing prerequisites and barriers to active development of the small power generation in the North. On the basis of the detailed energy-economic indicators and the received generalizations, options for improving the efficiency of autonomous energy supply based on conventional and new small-sized power generation technologies are being considered. The analysis showed that the development of DES zones does not have the institutional incentives and sufficient resource base for qualitative technological modernization. Most of the investment and operating costs of DES in the northern regions are compensated through cross-and budget subsidizations. Traditional diesel generation remains high-cost and low-efficiency, its modernization is carried out at slow rate, the potential of electric and heat energy cogeneration is not used. Renewable energy technologies are not ready for large implementation in local energy systems of the North and Arctic 14of Russia. The renewables projects, implemented over the past five years, are mainly experimental and demonstration. The analysis of the indicators of the "northern" renewable energy projects does not confirm their economic efficiency. The reasons are not only in the high unit investment costs, but also in relatively low utilization rates of the installed capacity (capacity factors) of solar and wind power plants. There is no targeted state support for the development of the efficient small-sized power generation in northern regions.

The article studies historical and modern aspects of design and building of small architectural forms (fences, gates, wicket doors, retaining walls and partially – bridge fences) in many regions of the Russian North and other regions of Russia. This work is based on the author’s investigations of the great number of monuments of wooden architecture during the visit to several regions of Russia in connection with preparation of the Collection of Monuments and the building of open-air museums in the Vologda and Arkhangelsk regions (“Malye Korely”). The author suggests her own systematization of the above-mentioned constructions, most of which have eventually become monuments of folk architecture. The majority of the discovered and measured small architectural forms are reconstructed in the museums. They can be also easily built in the real environment of rural settlements, small towns, country estates and dacha communities of the mentioned regions.

The article provides information on the occurrence of chigger mites (Acariformes, Trombiculidae), obtained as a result of long-term studies of the ectoparasite fauna of small mammals from 1992 to 2018 in Karelia, Murmansk Region (2015), Arkhangelsk Region (2007) and Finland (1999, 2007). A total of 6154 specimens of small mammals of the orders Rodentia (Myodes glareolus, M. rutilus, M. rufocanus, Microtus agrestis, M. oeconomus, Arvicola terrestris, Sicista betulina, Micromys minutus, Apodemus agrarius, A. flavicollis) and Eulipotyphla (Sorex araneus, S. caecutiens, S. isodon, S. minutus, Neomys fodiens) were examined and 878 chiggers were collected. Hirsutiella zachvatkini (Schluger 1948) and Neotrombicula (Digenualea) uliginosa Kudryashova 1998 were found. Their prevalences were 0.84 % and 0.16 %, respectively. H. zachvatkini (parasite associated with the bank vole) was found only in southern Karelia and south-western Arkhangelsk Region. The northernmost record of this species in Karelia comes from the Kizhi Archipelago (Medvezhjegorsky District), where after long-term monitoring and with a large number of host individuals examined, chiggers were found only on Malyi Lelikovsky Island (N61.989°; E35.15°). A high relative abundance of H. zachvatkini was observed in the south-west of Karelia, in the Lahdenpohsky District. The second species, N. uliginosa, was noted only in the north-west of Karelia (Voknavolok, N65.046857°; E30.603793°) on Microtus agrestis, Myodes glareolus and Neomys fodiens. Its prevalence and abundance were 12.3 % and 0.86 spm., respectively. This paper is the first report on the fauna of chiggers on small mammals in Karelia. Further focused studies of this group of arthropods may expand the list of species.

The article is based on the materials of three regions of the European North, which were part of the Northern Territory in 1929–1936 (Arkhangelsk, Vologda and Komi Autonomous Regions) the article considers the reproduction of the population in special settlements through the analysis of the birth rate and mortality of forced migrants - «former kulaks» (labor settlers) in the 1930s. The level of mortality and birth rate, as well as the ratio of these indicators, is considered. A multiple excess of mortality over birth rate and increased natural decline in violent migrants in the first half of the 1930s were revealed. The stabilization of the situation in the mid-1930s and the excess of fertility over mortality in the second half of the 1930s suggests that the crisis of reproduction, adaptation and improvement of natural movement indicators in violent migrants has been overcome.

Interregional cooperation is not only one of the key factors of economic growth, but it also ensures the preservation of the single economic space of the country. The purpose of the study is to analyze interregional interaction between the subjects of the European North of Russia. The article presents a theoretical overview of the works of domestic and foreign authors on this topic. The strategies of socio-economic development of the regions of the European North of Russia are considered in order to reflect the issues of interregional interaction in them. The existing cooperation agreements between the regions are analyzed. Content analysis of action plans for the implementation of these agreements is carried out on the example of the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions. A brief overview of interregional projects implemented in the considered constituent entities of the Russian Federation is presented. Conclusions are drawn that the state authorities of the regions recognize the importance and necessity of developing interregional cooperation, but the main form of interaction is still the exchange of experience, as well as the holding of joint cultural and sports events. Not all regional socio-economic development strategies fully reflect the issues of interregional cooperation and possible prospects for its development. The obtained results contribute to the study of issues of interregional cooperation, can be used in the framework of the implementation of the state policy on the development of interregional ties, cooperation of regions to solve common problems in the economic and social spheres. As part of further research on this topic, it is planned to study interregional economic and cooperative ties, including in the implementation of joint investment projects.

The article shows research results that addressed issues on ecological and economic development of Russian regions in the European North, which include Karelia and Komi, Arkhangelsk, Vologda and Murmansk regions, introducing the North-Western Federal District territory. The study is based on methods used in statistics analysis and on the principles applied in designing ecological-economic models. The analysis describing the dynamics in the main economic indicators and its graphical models are presented. A comparative analysis has been carried out and some features of the Northern regions development have been highlighted. The attractiveness to make investment to the Northern territories is related to natural resources availability, including hydrocarbons. The influence coming from external shocks associated with the Federal economic policy is shown. The analysis of the dynamics observed in main ecological indicators shows a gradual decrease in the negative impact on the environment. Differences of Northern regions and peculiarities of ecological and economic processes happening there are revealed. Compiling a model depicting multiplicative functions of pollution, we identified the influence of economic development on the economic situation in territories of regions and the European North as a whole. Based on calculations to have been carried out, the effect of economic recession and growth, structural changes and modernization in the economy is shown. Prospects for the ecological and economic development of Russian regions of European North are determined. They are mostly related to the diversification of the economy, technological expansion towards natural resources processing and using the best available technologies in production.

Over the past decades, the population of the North of Russia has decreased by more than a quarter. The leading cause is migration outflow, with natural population movement also contributing to the overall population decline. Comparing the data of the last two censuses will make it possible to understand the full depth of the transformational processes. The purpose of the study is to analyze the demographic trends and changes in population distribution in the North of Russia based on the results of the 2021 All-Russian Population Census. The originality of the article lies in the fact that the analysis was carried out at all levels: the macro level, regions, municipalities, and urban settlements. The article shows that with a general population decline, there is further urbanization of the northern regions and a reduction in the number and proportion of rural residents. Particularly high population decline is demonstrated by such regions of the European North as the republics of Komi and Karelia as well as the Arkhangelsk and Murmansk regions. The authors have identified trends in population distribution, such as an increase in the proportion of the population of large cities and a decrease in the average population of towns and urban-type settlements. Population distribution in the North of Russia is influenced by factors such as the size of the settlement, economic specialization, ethnic composition, and geographical location of the settlement. With the help of spatial analysis, the study identified the clusters of municipalities and settlements with the best and worst trends since 2010. Using Lorenz curves and the Gini coefficient, the authors studied the unevenness of population distribution and economic activity. The study also revealed that in the vast majority of municipalities in the North, the proportion of men has decreased, which may adversely affect local labor markets. The results of the study may find application in public administration and the development of strategies and programs for the socioeconomic development of the northern territories. Further research should consider such characteristics of the population as age, ethnic composition, place of birth, length of residence, number of children, and housing conditions.

The author reconstructs the complex of folk ideas connected with meat in the Russian North (Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions, north of the Kostroma region). The analysis involves Russian dialect vocabulary, folklore texts and folk beliefs. The new data collected by the Toponymic Expedition of the Ural University are introduced into scientific use. The methods of motivational analysis, semantic reconstruction, as well as semantic-motivational parallels between linguistic facts and data of non-linguistic forms of culture are applied. The study characterizes the attitude of the peasants towards the meat of different animals, slaughter ritu-als, methods of storing meat, features, important for meat products (raw – boiled, fresh – har-vested for future use, clean – unclean, etc.), and food preferences of local social groups. The author concludes that meat served not only as food but also as a cultural and linguistic sym-bol. Analysis of the vocabulary, rituals, and folk legends associated with the slaughter of live-stock allows reconstructing the tradition of the sacrifice festivals ( ). The vocabulary associated with meat food reveals a difference in the meat ration of Russians and aborigines of the Russian North, who consumed raw meat, as well as not familiar to Russian reindeer meat, seal meat, and walrus. The paper clarifies the motivation of some lexemes, for example, the designations with component tsarskiy and tserkovnyy. Nicknames, the folk motivation of which is associated with the use of meat, are analyzed (volog. telyatniki, volog. veksheedy, arch. morzheedy, arch. kostogryzy, volog. Samoed, etc.).