Altai-Sayan Mountain Research Articles

Large non-karst caves of the Altai-Sayan mountain region: morphology and genesis

In the Altai-Sayan mountain region, located in southern Siberia, there are a number of caves developed in rocks in which karst processes are impossible to occur. In East Sayan, these are the Big Oreshnaya and Dudinskaya caves, the total length of which is more than 50 km and 35 km, respectively. Within the Altai Mountains, these are the Altaiskaya and Kek-Tash caves with a total length of 4.7 and 3.2 km, respectively. Mapping of the listed caves revealed that the morphology of their passages and the general structure differ significantly from those of caves in carbonate rocks. The passages have a flattened shape in cross section. Their width is usually meters and tens of meters, vertical extension is tens and hundreds of meters, and lateral extension is hundreds of meters. In general, the pattern of the passages is arranged in a box-like structure, where the pasages fit into a system of disjoint extended subvertical planes with rare short subvertical planes connecting them. The structure of the passages of the studied caves resembles the structure of karst caves, rotated vertically by 90°. The main directions of the passages there are not aligned in subhorizontal planes, but in subvertical ones. The revealed structure corresponds to the geometry of the structural pattern of Late Cenozoic fault systems formed as a result of subhorizontal compression. Signs of abundant argillization (alteration of the initial substance by hydrothermal processes and its replacement by newly formed clay minerals) were found in the studied caves. The formation mechanism of the studied caves is offered: removal of the substrate argillized by hydrothermal processes along the fault zones, by groundwater without significant participation of karst processes.

Elite of «Loufan» tribe lived on the Ordos plateau and its connections with Zhao and Qin states

In the late 20 century, archaeologists discovered some burial sites of the barbarian elite in the Ordos Plateau dated to 3rd century BC (late Warring States period). Among them Aluchaideng, Sigoupan M2 and Nalingaotu tombs contained burial goods made of precious metals in the style of Pazyryk and Sagly cultures in Altai-Sayan mountain region. There were finials with figures of an upstanding eagle and a hoofed eagle-headed deer-horned phantastic animal with bird heads at the tips of its horns (“hoofed griffin”), a torc with lying animals facing each other. Other items with ‘hoofed griffin’ images and images of a griffin with deer horns and feline body were collected here. There were also ornaments with images of a ram with the twisted body wrapped around its head, ‘swirling’ griffinheads, rooster heads, waterfowls, full-face ‘smiling’ cat heads, flame-shaped figures with ‘commas’ inside. All of the above mentioned artifacts and images have exclusive analogies in Pazyryk culture. As far back as in 1999, the author suggested that the elite of Ordos nomads of 3rd century BC constituted common religious and, possibly, ethnic unity with the Pazyryk people. New discoveries of Pazyryk culture kurgans in the south of Mongolian Altai support a idea that the Ordos part of the Pazyryk people might have connected with Mountain Altai directly via Alashan and Transaltai Gobi stony deserts bypassing foreign peoples of Mongolian Plateau and the Hexi Corridor. According to Shiji, people (or its elite) occupying the Ordos Plateau since 4th–3rd up to late 2nd centuries BC were known by the name “Loufan”, and in early 3rd century BC the Loufan people were controlled by the state of Zhao. As the written sources and archaeological evidence suggest, in the 3rd century BC, the north-east part of the Ordos Plateau (where the burials in question are located) was the area claimed by Zhao and Qin states; therefore, the barbarian tribes of the north-east of the Ordos Plateau should have been closely intertwined with these states. These relations are proven by Pazyryk-Ordos style artifacts manufactured in Qin and Zhao and found in barbarian tombs, as well as similar objects discovered in the Qin, Zhao and Yan territories. In Sigoupan M2 tomb were found such items bearing Chinese inscriptions of Zhao and Qin states. A large number of similar inscribed artifacts manufactured in Zhao found in Xinzhuantou M30 noble tomb in the Lower Capital of Yan state. It supports the theory that the Ordos barbarians were called Loufan, since as per written sources, Loufan people were included in both Zhao’s and Yan’s administrative systems. Some items identical to the M30 artifacts were found in tombs of Zhao dynasty members in Handan. In tomb of bronze caster of late Warring States period in Xi’an were found ceramic models made for casting bronze or gold decorative plaques in Pazyryk-Ordos style. However, some pictures in this style were represented on artifacts found in the tomb of Qin State Queen Dowager Xia (died in 240 BC). Artifacts with images of “hoofed griffin” are found among Qin state artifacts in Shuihude M47 and Shangwangqun M1 tombs dated to late Warring States period. Moreover, in Xi’an were also found two roof tile-ends with images of a sacred Pazyryk ‘hoofed griffin’ with twisted body. These tiles obviously belonged to luxurious mansion of Warring States period. These artifacts suggest that the Ordos Loufans did not only maintained cultural communication with the Qin state, but also became part of its people.

Application of expert systems for identification of vegetation classes in South Siberia

Due to the increase in the volume of primary factual data geobotanists have faced the problem of processing huge selection of geobotanical material. With the development of information methods, specialists have more tools to optimize their activities, one of which are expert systems that can successfully solve the problem of classification. An expert system was developed in 2020 by European researchers to identify habitat types in the EUNIS system. The aim of our work is to create our own expert system, based on the functionality proposed by European specialists, which allows to determine whether geobotanical descriptions belong to vegetation classes of the floristic classification. Classification of about 10000 descriptions of high-mountainous vegetation of the Altai-Sayan mountain region, vegetation of Novosibirsk region and Altai region as well as steppe and psammophytic vegetation of Transbaikalia by the Braun-Blanquet method using the expert system has been performed. The script written by us has shown its efficiency, allowing us to determine correctly the syntaxonomic affiliation of about 90 % of the descriptions. About 10 % of the data are either classified incorrectly or are not assigned by the system to any of the higher units under consideration, which is due to the uncertainty of diagnostic species within poorly studied classes, as well as to the non-obviousness of assignment to one or another class of transitional communities. To demonstrate the work of the expert system, a number of classes were mapped, showing their geographic distribution and latitudinal-zonal confinement, as well as the relationship between plant community types and ecological factors.

DEEP PROCESS-DATA MINING FOR BUILDING OF ANALYTICAL MODELS: 2. INFLUENCE OF WINTER-SPRING TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION ON SPRING FLOOD EXTREMES FOR MOUNTAIN RIVERS

Using the standard methodology for deep process-data mining called system- analytical modeling, we have built a high-performance process-driven (analytical) model for description of winter-spring temperatures and precipitation influence on spring flood extremes for mountain rivers. In April, flood discharge peaks (with ice motion) cause emergency inun- dations and pose a constant threat to local population. The effect of the landscape structure of river basins, winter-spring temperatures and precipitation on spring flood discharge peaks and troughs (SFDP and SFDT) for April 1951–2020 was analyzed by the example of 34 medium and small rivers of the Altai-Sayan mountain country. We identified nontrivial SFDP/SFDT dependences on meteorological conditions, proposed their physical-hydrological substantia- tions and determined SFDP/SFDT sensitivities to meteorological factor variations as con- tributions to the observed SFDP/SFDT variances. The contributions of winter and spring precipitation, winter air temperatures and spring ones for SFDP/SFDT variances made up 34.7, 21.9, 7.8, 6.1% and 13.6, 18.8, 6.6, 1.5%, respectively.

The Khubsugul Earthquake of January 12, 2021, <i>M<sub>L </sub></i>= 6.9, in the Seismicity Structure of the Tuva-Mongolian Block

Abstract—The paper presents the studies of the Khuvsgul earthquake on January 11, 2021 at 21:32 UTC (January 12, 2021 at 05:32 local time), MW = 6.7, ML = 6.9, and the seismicity structure in the aftershock period for the Altai-Sayan mountain region and the Baikal rift zone, where the epicenter of this earthquake was located. Two faults are seismically activated, diverging from the southern end of the aftershock area at an acute angle: one in the northeast and one in the northwest direction, as well as transverse faults between them. According to the epicenter position and studies of the source area by other authors, the main event corresponds to the northeastern fault, and large aftershocks occurred at the junction of the northwestern fault with transverse faults feathering from the east. The main event was immediately followed by a series of large aftershocks, the strongest of which occurred on March 31, 2021 with ML = 6.2 and on May 3, 2021 with ML = 6.4. Spatial changes in the seismic regime of the aftershock region led to the predominant activity of its southern end. The junction area of the collisional structures of the Altai-Sayan folded zone and the rift structures of the Baikal depressions system is distinguished in seismicity as a block structure with increased seismicity near the block boundaries. First of all, these are the Tuva-Mongolian block and the eastern part of the Sayano-Tuva block. After the Khuvsgul earthquake of 2021, a block structure with the activation of the epicentral zones of the 1991 Busingol earthquake, the 2011–2012 Tuva earthquakes, and other structures seismically active until 2021 has increased seismic activity. It is proved that the 2014 Khubsgul earthquake occurred under the basin of the same name and is associated with other faults than the 2021 earthquake and is not a direct precursor of the 2021–2022 activation.

DEEP PROCESS-DATA MINING FOR BUILDING OF ANALYTICAL MODELS: 1. MEDIUM-TERM FORECAST OF SPRING FLOOD EXTREMES FOR MOUNTAIN RIVERS

A standard methodology of deep process-data mining for building high-performance process-driven (analytical) models of complex natural systems was proposed. The method- ology (called as system-analytical modeling) is based on a system-hierarchical approach and deep mining of large datasets providing both extraction of the information hidden in such datasets and quantitative characterization of real processes occurring in natural systems. With its help, deep process-data mining of data (1951–2020) on spring flood discharge peaks and troughs (with ice motion) on 34 mountain rivers of the Altai-Sayan mountain country was performed. An analytical hydrological model of high performance (Nash-Sutcliffe criterion NSE = 0.78) was developed for the annual medium-term forecasting of discharge peaks and troughs in April using the data on meteorological conditions of the recent autumn and current winter periods. Flood peaks depend on autumn-winter precipitation (which determines 29% of the peak variance), landscape structure of river basins (14%), and winter air temperatures (0.8%). Spring floods on mountain rivers often threaten the life of local population that makes the developed model topical.

MORPHOLOGY OF THE RELIEF OF THE INTRAGLACIAL PALEOVOLCANO DERBY-TAIGA AND THE ADJACENT PART OF THE AZASS PLATEAU (TODZHA BASIN, NORTH-EASTERN TUVA)<a href="#FN1"><sup>1</sup></a>

The Azass Plateau in the Altai-Sayan mountain region is the only known territory in the continental Eurasia know for distribution of intraglacial volcanoes formed by the interaction of erupting lava with ice and melt waters. The orographic factor in the Todzha Basin caused the development of thick shield glaciers covering the area of approximately 13 000 km2 during cold epochs.The variety of geomorphological units reflecting the history of neotectonic evolution, volcanism and Quarternary glaciations creates a unique opportunity to perform paleogeographic reconstructions. The geomorphological map is constructed based on the selection of genetically homogeneous surfaces. Morphometrical indicators, paragenesis and time series were obtained for the later. A special attention was paid to the relief of intraglacial volcanoes and traces of glaciations of different ages.The lower level of intraglacial volcanoes formed in the second half of the Late Pleistocene was subdivided into three levels. These volcanoes formed under a few hundreds of meters of ice. The glacial-exaration genesis of microrelief under the influence of the inland ice was established as appose to the previously accepted water-glacial (catafluvial) genesis. The age of the upper slopes of volcanoes (except the Derbi-Taiga volcano) is the Late Pleistocene. Consequently, glacial valleys and kars complicating them are rejuvenated .The study of the rockfall bodies triggered by an earthquake and rockfalls rupture surfaces in glacial valleys of the Derbi-Taiga mountain massif and their comparison with the traces of the Chuya earthquake (2003) allowed to estimate the Ms = 7.5 magnitude of the Holocene earthquake that caused them.Presented results of the geomorphological investigation contradict the paleogeographic reconstructions performed earlier on the basis of absolute dating.

High-Performance Forecasting of Spring Flood in Mountain River Basins with Complex Landscape Structure

We propose the methodology of building the process-driven models for medium-term forecasting of spring floods (including catastrophic ones) in the mountainous areas, the hydrological analysis of which is usually much more complicated in contrast to plains. Our methodology is based on system analytical modeling of complex hydrological processes in 34 river basins of the Altai-Sayan mountain country. Consideration of 13 types of landscapes as autonomous hydrological subsystems influencing rivers’ runoff (1951–2020) allowed us to develop the universal predictive model for the most dangerous April monthly runoff (with ice motion), which is applicable to any river basin. The input factors of the model are the average monthly air temperature and monthly precipitation for the current autumn–winter period, as well as the data on the basin landscape structure and relief calculated by GIS tools. The established universal dependences of hydrological runoffs on meteorological factors are quite complex and formed under influence of solar radiation and physical–hydrological patterns of melting snow cover, moistening, freezing, and thawing of soils. The model shows the greatest sensitivity of April floods to the landscape composition of river basins (49% of common flood variance), then to autumn precipitation (9%), winter precipitation (3%), and finally, to winter air temperature (0.7%). When it is applied to individual river basins, the forecast quality is very good, with the Nesh–Sutcliffe coefficient NSE = 0.77. In terms of the accuracy of process-driven predictive hydrological models for the mountainous areas, the designed model demonstrates high-class performance.

Сейсмотектонические деформации Алтае-Саянской горной области. Часть 1

Seismotectonic deformations (STD) of the Earth’s crust in the Altai-Sayan mountain region were studied. The STD calculation was performed on the basis of the approaches proposed in the works of Yu.V. Riznichenko and S.L. Yunga. Estimation of seismicity distribution and calculation of the average annual STD velocity (STD intensity) IƩ were made on the basis of the catalog of earthquakes that occurred in 1997–2020 (15 669 seismic events). Areas of manifestation of intense seismotectonic deformations and seismic activity are identified. A high level of seismicity and the average annual STD velocity (10–7 year–1) is noted in the areas where strong seismic events occurred (Chuya earthquake on September 27, 2003, Tuva earthquakes on December 27, 2011 and February 26, 2012). The study of STD directionality is based on data on the focal mechanisms of earthquake sources (591 events) that occurred from 1963 to 2021. The classification of STD modes was used to construct the STD map. According to the STD maps, the direction of the shortening axes was determined, which changes from west to east from northwest to northeast. The study area is characterized by a variety of deformation conditions: compression, transpression, strike-slip, transtension, tension, etc. Based on the averaged strain tensors, the distributions of the Lode–Nadai coefficient, angle of generalized plane strain, and vertical component are calculated and plotted. The zones where various modes of deformation, such as simple compression, the predominance of simple compression, shear, the predominance of simple tension and simple tension are manifested, are distinguished in the study area. Both uplift and subsidence of the Earth’s crust are noted in the study area depending on the deformation mode.

First record of Aquilegia grubovii (Ranunculaceae) for Russia and key to all currently known species in the country

We report the first record of Aquilegia grubovii (Ranunculaceae) for Russia, a rare species previously known from five localities in Mongolia. The species belongs to A. sect. Aquilegia subsect. Aquilegia and is characterized by curved or hooked spurs slightly longer than the limb of petals, 2–2.8 mm long, straight only at the top diverging fruits with stylodia 2 times shorter than follicles, smooth or tuberculate seed surface and stems covered with simple and glandular hairs. The new records of Aquilegia grubovii are located in the Azas Nature Reserve, which is situated in the central part of the Todzha basin, Tuva Republic (a large intermountain trough within the Altai-Sayan mountain region) of south-central Asia about 500 km west of Lake Baikal. We provide an assessment of the conservation status, geographical distribution and habitat of Aquilegia grubovii, along with an identification key to all species from Russia.

»Their dogs are of an alert and intelligent breed«

This study presents a brief inquiry into the human-canine relationship among the Tyvan pastoralists in the Altai-Sayan Mountainous region of Inner Asia. Their co-evolution is intimately bound together, and the inter-species relationship includes several aspects and roles. The authors investigate especially the dogs’ responsibilities in taiga and steppe habitats and how the language reveals these responsibilities by focusing on distinctions between hunting dogs (aŋčï ït) and camp guarding dogs (kodančï ït). Both names point at the main tasks—hunting and guarding the seasonal campsite territory. The third category is named xava dogs; the name traces its origin to Chinese languages. Similarly, the story of a small-sized xava dog sheds a light on the Altai-Sayan Mountain region’s historical and religious connections with China.

Response of model-based cambium phenology and climatic factors to tree growth in the Altai Mountains, Central Asia

• The principal growth limiting factor shifts from temperature to soil moisture from RU to FY. • Cambial dynamic was bimodal pattern in AL, right-skewed unimodal in FY and unimodal in RU. • The length of growing seasons had a significant positive trends in two sites from Northwest China – Chinese Altai Mountains for the last six decades. • The intra-seasonal growth rate regulated tree growth rather than length of growing season. It is important to study the relationships between tree growth and phenology and climate factors in Central Asia for the sustainable development of forest ecology and the exploration of carbon sink potential in the region in a context of global change. Herein, the process-based Vaganov-Shashkin model was used to simulate tree-ring growth rates, to assess a cambial phenology (start and end of growing season) of larch trees ( Larix sibirica ) based on three sites located on three different latitudes in the Altai-Sayan Mountains in Central Asia over 1960–2018. It was shown that the principal factor limiting growth rates was temperature in RU (located in southern central Siberia), cambial dynamic was unimodal. In RU site, although the length of growing season did not change significantly over the past 59 years, it was correlated with tree radial growth. Moisture was the principal factor limiting the growth rates of AL and FY (located in Chinese Altai Mountains), and cambium dynamics were bimodal and unimodal, respectively. Temperature and precipitation before the start of the growing season lengthen the growing season, but this did not promote the tree radial growth. In conclusion, we determined that the climate-influenced intra-seasonal growth rate regulated tree growth rather than length of growing season in this area. In this study, the VS-simulation showed high potential develop a long-term reconstruction of cambial phenology in the Altai Mountains, which was conducive to a more comprehensive understanding of the exogenous-endogenous factors effects on tree-ring growth.

THE INFLUENCE OF WINTER-SPRING TEMPERATURES AND PRECIPITATION ON THE SPRING FLOOD WAVE

The complex influence of meteorological conditions on the first (April) wave of spring-summer flooding of the mountain rivers was studied by the example of 34 mid-size and small rivers of the Altai-Sayan mountain country covering more than 2,000,000 km2 of the Central Asia territory. System-analytical modeling was employed to describe the complex dependence of April river runoff on air temperatures and precipitation for December-April. The impact of factors was quantitatively assessed through solving the inverse mathematical problem and using 1,760 values of river runoff for 1951-2019, meteorological data and carto- graphic information on the relief and landscape structure of river basins calculated in ArcGIS 10.2. Precipitation accumulated in December-March as snow cover had a positive effect on runoff only in case of proximity of winter temperatures to their long-term mean values. At low April temperatures, river runoff increased along with the growth of current precipitation, while at temperature rise it decreased. The established dependencies of the first flood wave on meteorological factors are of great importance for effective preventing adverse effects of spring floods in the mountain regions.

Distribution and Molecular Diversity of Paranoplocephala kalelai (Tenora, Haukisalmi & Henttonen, 1985) Tenora, Murai & Vaucher, 1986 in Voles (Rodentia: Myodes) in Eurasia

Cestodes Paranoplocephala kalelai, which parasitizes in the small intestine of Myodes voles and is distributed in northern Fennoscandia, was found in six habitats in the Asian part of Russia and eastern Kazakhstan, which indicates a wider distribution of P. kalelai on the continent. Analysis of mtDNA showed that P. kalelai is characterized by significant molecular variability in Eurasia. This study complements the data on the distribution of P. kalelai and provides the first molecular data from the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan. The sequence variability of two mitochondrial genes cox1 and nad1 of P. kalelai was studied in two species of voles: gray red-backed Myodes rufocanus and northern red-backed vole Myodes rutilus. Five haplotype groups in the cox1 and nad1 gene networks were identified, and the existence of two mtDNA lines in P. kalelai outside northern Fennoscandia was confirmed. The geographical distribution of the identified haplotypes suggests that the foothills of the Altai-Sayan mountains and southern West Siberia may serve as a refugium for P. kalelai during repeated glaciations.

Modern aridity in the Altai-Sayan mountain range derived from multiple millennial proxies

Temperature and precipitation changes are crucial for larch trees growing at high-elevation sites covered by permafrost in the Altai-Sayan mountain range (ASMR). To contextualize the amplitude of recent climate fluctuations, we have to look into the past by analyzing millennial paleoclimatic archives recording both temperature and precipitation. We developed annually resolved 1500-year tree-ring cellulose chronologies (δ13Ccell, δ18Ocell), and used these new records to reconstruct the variability in local summer precipitation and air temperature. We combined our new local reconstructions with existing paleoclimatic archives available for the Altai. The data show a strong decreasing trend by ca. 49% in regional summer precipitation, along with a regional summer temperature increase towards the twenty-first century, relative to the preceding 1500 years. Modern dry conditions (1966–2016 CE) in the ASMR are the result of simultaneous summer warming and decreased precipitation. Our new reconstructions also demonstrate that climate change in the ASMR is much stronger compared to the global average.

Разнообразие вариантов мтДНК и Y-хромосомы в генофонде носителей староалейской культуры (могильник Фирсово-XIV)

This work continues the series of studies devoted to the analysis of the Scythian groups of the Upper Ob region and adjacent areas of Southern Siberia using paleogenetic methods, in particular, the study of the genetic composition and history of the formation of the gene pool of the carriers of the Old Alei culture. At the new stage of the study, we were able to quickly introduce new paleoanthropological materials from the Old Alei complexes of the Firsovo-XIV burial ground, discovered in 2020, into full-fledged scientific circulation by examining the structure of mtDNA in these samples. An in-depth analysis of the mtDNA series expanded in this way made it possible to confirm the participation in the formation of the mtDNA gene pool of the Old Aley population of two main genetic components - associated, respectively, with the autochthonous for the Early Iron Age genetic substrate of the foreststeppe belt of southern Siberia, and with the influence of carriers of the Scythian-Siberian circle of cultures from the territory of Altai-Sayan mountain system and adjacent regions of Southern Siberia. The first data on the Y-chromosome of the representatives of the male part of the Old Alei culture from the Firsovo-XIV burial ground (three samples belonging to the East Eurasian haplogroup Q, two of them to Q1a) provide only a fragmentary picture of the male gene pool, which requires further detailing. At this stage, we have not found the presence of phylogenetically contrasting variants in the male gene pool of the Old Alei population, as might be expected by analogy with the mtDNA gene pool. Most likely, the Old Alei variants of the Q1a haplogroup are of South Siberian origin, which generally correlates with mtDNA data. A more precise localization of the source of their origin within the south of Siberia at this stage of the study is difficult and will require an in-depth analysis of the structure of the identified variants of the Y chromosome. Preliminarily, it can be concluded that the first data on the Y chromosome, like mtDNA, did not allow us to trace signs of genetic influence on the Old Alei population of nomadic groups from more southern and southwestern regions, including the Scythian-Saka population from the territory of modern Kazakhstan. On the other hand, the data obtained allow us to assume the presence of some peculiarity of the Old Alei male gene pool in comparison with a number of early nomadic populations of Southern Siberia, adjusted for the small number of Y-chromosome samples studied by us.

Differentiation of forest vegetation across bioclimatic sector border (western part of the West Sayan Ridge)

A detailed description of the forests of the northern and southern macroslopes of western part of the West Sayan Ridge has been performed and differences in their forest vegetation have been analyzed.
 Along the West Sayan Ridge watershed, the important botanical and geographical boundary of the Altai-Sayan Mountains occurs. Its northern macroslope belongs to the humid bioclimatic sector; bioclimatic conditions throughout the southern macroslope vary in its different parts: the central and eastern parts are resided in the semihumid sector, while the western one is settled in the «rain shadow», where vegetation is similar to the semiarid sector one. The West Sayan background vegetation type is forest.
 The work is based on 120 complete geobotanical relevés made by the authors in 2019 using standard methods on test plots of 20 × 20 m. These plots had been uniformly distributed on a 300-kilometer transect crossing the northern and southern macroslopes of West Sayan’s western part. After all, 9 basic units of forest communities have been revealed, 6 of them are found to be altitudinal zone forests. These plant community positions in ecological-phytocenotic and floristic classification hierarchy have been ascertained. The altitudinal allocation and areas of altitudinal zone forests have been characterized and analyzed; the scheme of altitudinal zonation has been specified; the pictures in the text illustrate those results.
 In West Sayan’s western part, the northern and southern macroslopes are shown to have different altitudinal zone boundary marks and a different set of forest communities: six types of forests follow each other from north to south throughout 300 km. The significant hierarchical level of syntaxonomic differences of altitudinal zone forests on northern and southern macroslopes supports the presence of a bioclimatic barrier. In ecological-phytocenotic classification hierarchy these differences are reflected by the rank of classes of formations (deciduous, dark coniferous, and light coniferous forests substitute each other); in floristic classification hierarchy – the rank of classes (the forests of Brachypodio–Betuletea, Asaro–Abitetea, Vaccinio–Piceetea, and Rhytidio–Laricetea substitute each other from north to south).

Use of organic biostimulant for growing Siberian spruce seedlings

This study aims to assess the possibility of using a biostimulant Verva-spruce based on spruce’s natural phenolic compounds to reduce the time of growing planting material with improved features. The targets were seeds and 1-4-year-old seedlings of Siberian spruce, untreated and treated with the biostimulant. The effect of the biostimulant on seed germination, seedlings growth, and the pigment’s content in needles were studied. Results shown that soaking seeds in biostimulant at a concentration of 0.00025% increased the germination energy and accelerated hypocotyl growth. Moreover, using the biostimulant significantly increased the growth rate of experimental seedlings and heightened the amount of green pigment chlorophyll a up to 2.5 times. In 2020, in order to study the dynamics of the qualitative characteristics of the plants grown using biostimulant, experimental forest plantations of 4-year-old Siberian spruce seedlings were planted in the Altai-Sayan mountain taiga area. The experimental plantation will be monitored at least until the closure of the canopy.

Moss occurrences in Salair-Kuznetsk Region (Altai-Sayan mountain country).

BackgroundIn the flora of large regions, mosses comprise about a quarter of the total diversity of higher plants. However, now mosses are the least studied group of higher plants. Data on moss species distribution are fragmentary, especially in Russia with its vast expanse and low density of botanists.The author for many years has been studying the bryoflora of various areas of the Salair-Kuznetsk Region. In addition to the herbarium collection, the author's bryological relevés were organised as a Database. It stores all the assembled information for the years about the locations of the species, including when the specimens were not placed in the herbarium.The article describes three datasets that were arranged from the author's databases for three geomorphological units in the northwest of Altai-Sayan mountain country (South Siberia). Together, these three units are combined into the Salair-Kuznetsk Region. The datasets are:1. Moss occurrences in the Kuznetsk upland.The dataset consists of 3940 occurrence records and includes both preserved specimens (1135) and ‘human observations’ of the author (2805). The material was collected mainly from 1992-2011; some samples collected by A. N. Vasiliev in 1970-1971 (165) were also taken into account. A total of 312 moss taxa belonging to 135 genera and 41 families are reported for the region.2. Moss occurrences in Salair Ridge.The dataset consists of 2442 occurrence records and includes both preserved specimens (553) and ‘human observations’ of the author (1889). The material was collected mainly from 1992-1996; a total of 231 moss taxa belonging to 119 genera and 35 families are reported for the region.3. Moss occurrences in Kuznetsk Depression.The dataset consists of 1690 occurrence records and includes both preserved specimens (281) and ‘human observations’ of the author (1409). The material was collected mainly from 2007-2014; a total of 155 moss taxa belonging to 85 genera and 30 families are reported for the region.All the records are geo-linked. The uncertainty of coordinates in metres varies from 500.0-10000.0 m for the earliest records that are geo-linked by topo-map, to 10.0-100.0 m for records after 2003 that are geo-linked by GPS.New informationThe article summarises the results of the author's long-term bryological investigations in the Salair-Kuznetsk Region (northwest of Altai-Sayan mountain country, South Siberia).In total, 8072 occurrence records for 366 moss species from 148 genera and 41 families are published for the territory. The datasets contribute to filling gaps in the moss species distribution and ecology.

South-Siberian mountain mires: Perspectives on a potentially vulnerable remote source of biodiversity.

Changes in climate, land-use and pollution are having disproportionate impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity of arctic and mountain ecosystems. While these impacts are well-documented for many areas of the Arctic and alpine regions, some isolated and inaccessible mountain areas are poorly studied. Furthermore, even in well-studied regions, assessments of biodiversity and species responses to environmental change are biased towards vascular plants and cryptogams, particularly bryophytes are far less represented. This paper aims to document the environments of the remote and inaccessible Altai-Sayan mountain mires and particularly their bryofloras where threatened species exist and species new to the regional flora are still being found. As these mountain mires are relatively inaccessible, changes in drivers of change and their ecosystem and biodiversity impacts have not been monitored. However, the remoteness of the mires has so far protected them and their species. In this study, we describe the mires, their bryophyte species and the expected impacts of environmental stressors to bring attention to the urgency of documenting change and conserving these pristine ecosystems.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13280-021-01596-w.