Belaya River Research Articles

Akberdino-3 – the Great Migration Period Manor in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Southern Pre-Urals

The present study is based on materials obtained during archaeological excavations at the Akberdino-3 site in 2009. The site is located on the right bank of the Belaya River in the forest-steppe zone of Southern Pre-Urals (modern Iglinsky District of the Republic of Bashkortostan, 15 km southeast from the Ufa-city). It is shown that a single thin cultural layer of this small settlement site contains Imendyashevo, Turbasly ceramics, and ceramics with a mixture of both these traditions, and can be dated to the 4th century AD (most likely from the middle to the end of this period), but this manor existed for a very short time. The studied osteological sample was compared with data on 18 zooarchaeological samples from Southern Ural and bordering territories. Multivariate analysis of this dataset has shown that at the beginning of the 1st millennium AD there was a significant transformation in the composition of herd, held by local population.

SITES OF THE GAMAYUN CULTURE OF THE MOUNTAIN STEPPES OF THE SOUTHERN TRANS-URALS (SITES TELYASHEVO-4 AND ELIMBETOVO-7)

The regional peculiarities of archaeological research in the second half of the 20th century led to the fact that the boundaries of the Gamayun culture of the forest and mountain-forest Trans-Urals (X-IV centuries BC) allocated at that time did not extend to the territory of the Southern Urals within modern Bashkortostan. New studies in the mountain-forest (upper course of the Belaya River) and mountain-steppe (eastern foothills of the Irendyk-Krykty mountain range) zones show that both sites of the Gamayun and related Iset cultures of the Early Iron Age are present in these territories. The materials of the Telyashevo-4 and Elimbetovo-7 sites, identified and studied in 2020-2022 in the Bashkir Trans-Urals (modern Abzelilovsky district of the Republic Bashkortostan) show the presence in the mountain-steppe zone not only heterogeneous Isetian, but also pure Gamayun ceramic complexes with traditional cross-stamped ornamentation. According to available data, the time of penetration from the north into the mountainous steppes of the Trans-Urals and the existence of the Gamayun population in this territory may be limited to the end of the first half - the middle of the I millennium BC. The published materials also make it possible to draw the southern border of the Gamayun area in the Trans-Urals at the latitude of Magnitogorsk, i.e. 200 km south of the previously established border.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE PSHEKHA-ADLER FAULT ZONE OF THE GREATER CAUCASUS ACCORDING TO STRUCTURAL STUDIES

The study of minor faults carried out in the valley of the Belaya River made it possible to establish the tectodynamic conditions for the formation of the Pshekha-Adler fault zone of the Greater Caucasus. In this zone, the presence of strike-slip displacements of different scales and the predominance of the situation of horizontal displacement are shown. Using the method of cataclastic analysis, differences in the parameters of the stress-and-strain state in different tectonic complexes and structures of the region have been established. The revealed structural pattern of meridional and northeastern compression determine the regional dextral strike-slip fault and extensional fault nature of the meridional Pshekha-Adler fault zone with the development of sinistral strike-slip faults and extensional faults of the northeastern strike inside the deformation zone.

Investigation of the influence of bridge support configurations on local bottom erosion when changing the flow direction on the approach to the bridge crossing structures

The analysis of the impact of bridge crossings is based on calculated studies of local erosion on the Belaya River section in the alignment of Vorovsky Street in Ufa in 2021, where a new bridge crossing is currently planned to be commissioned. Due to the complexity of the process of interaction of the turbulent flow with the geometric design of the supports. The main criteria of the analysis are the shape and width of the bridge supports, as well as the direction of flow relative to the bridge support. The results showed possible changes in the depth of local erosion at the approaches to the bridge. In order to simplify the calculation and to find the greatest criteria affecting the effective indicator of local erosion, a factor analysis of the obtained values was performed in the work.

Changes in the hydrological regime and Climatic variability assessment within the Belaya River catchment, Russia

The trends of changes in the indicators of the hydrological regime and climatic variability in the catchment area of the Belaya River were assessed. Mann-Kendall test and Sen's slope estimator at 8 out of 10 (80%) in the considered posts showed the presence of a positive trend in changes in the average monthly values of streamflow. At the same time, meteorological data sets at 19 of 34 (56%) observation stations have a positive trend of changes in the average monthly precipitation and temperature.

ГЕНЕЗИС ОЗЕРА ТУГАР-САЛГАН В ЗАПАДНЫХ ПРЕДГОРЬЯХ ЮЖНОГО УРАЛА

Lake Tugar-Salgan is located on the territory of the Ishimbay Municipal District of the Republic of Bashkortostan,10 km southeast of the city of Sterlitamak, at the foot of Shikhan Toratau (Turataw). Despite the morphometric parameters of the lakeestablished a long time ago, its origin is not fully clear. The genesis of the lake is considered to be karstic, but the formation mechanismand even its belonging to the type of karst based on the composition of the karst rocks have not been established. The purpose of theresearch is to determine the conditions and factors of the formation of Lake Tugar-Salgan, which is a complex natural monument ofrepublican importance. Data from a state hydrogeologic survey, a survey of exogenous geologic processes, and the author's 2022 fieldsurvey served as source data for this article. Research methods employed in the study include morphological and morphometric surveysof the lake bed and of the nearest landforms in its vicinity. It has been established that the lake formation was connected with thedevelopment of karst process in the gypsum of the Kungurian Stage of the Early Permian and the lake is located in the rear part of the third supra-flood terrace of the Belaya River valley. The distribution of surface manifestations of sulfate karst in the lake area is directlydependent on the age of relief elements on which they have been formed and inversely dependent on the thickness of non-karst sediments covering karst gypsum. Along with these, the main factor of the lake formation is the course of relief formation in the NeogeneQuaternary time. The karst basin with the lake is located at the mouth of the modern semi-blind erosion-karst ravine, and in the EarlyPliocene its mouth opened 89 km to the west in the paleovalley of the Belaya River. After the paleovalley had been filled with Plioceneand then Pleistocene sediments, the middle and mouth parts of the ravine and the karst landforms were buried under Quaternary alluvium. It was in the rear part of the third supra-floodplain terrace of the Belaya River valley, in the karst basin only partially filled withclayey Middle Pleistocene sediments, where Lake Tugar-Salgan was formed.

Экспедиционные работы в центральной части восточного вулканического пояса и в долине р. Камчатка в 2023 г.

This article provides a brief description of the expedition work conducted by the staff of the Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, FEBRAS, in the central part of the Eastern Volcanic belt of Kamchatka, and in the Kamchatka River valley in the Summer-Autumn of 2023. In order to study the conditions for the formation and discharge of thermal waters of large volcanic centers, to estimate the hydrothermal discharge of magmatic volatiles (primarily CO2), hydrochemical and gas testing was carried out on the thermal fields of the Kikhpinych and Bolshoi Semyachik volcanic massifs, and in the Uzon caldera. In parallel with geochemical sampling, aerial and infrared photography of thermal sites was carried out. To determine the degree of influence of volcanic and hydrothermal activity on the ion runoff into the Pacific Ocean, hydrochemical and hydrological works were carried out in the Kamchatka Riverv alley. A comprehensive study of unique alkaline cold springs was carried out in the Belaya River valley (Kamchatsky Peninsula). A large number of water and gas samples, sediments and mineral salts were collected for further analytical studies during the expedition works.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ТЕХНОЛОГИИ ИЗГОТОВЛЕНИЯ КЕРАМИКИ НАВЕСА МЕШОКО

The article describes the findings of a petrographic research of the Meshoko shelter’s ceramics. A total of 32 fragments were studied, 22 fragments – from the 5th (Chalcolithic) layer, 10 fragments – from the upper part of the 6th layer (layer 6a). Based on the analysis, 4 groups of ceramics were identified. Group 1 consists of fragments with admixture of limestone, group 2 – with admixture of limestone and intrusive rocks, group 3 – with admixture of limestone and metamorphic rocks, group 4 – with admixture of intrusive rocks. The types of clays were also determined, among which lean clays of smectite and smectite-chlorite composition predominate. Based on the types of clays, firing options and admixture within the groups, subgroups were identified. Ceramics of all the selected groups are found in both the 5th and 6th layers, but their subgroups completely distinguish. This ceramics also differ in the duration of firing and the nature of surface treatment. The results of the ceramics study of the Meshoko shelter’s 5th and 6th strata were also compared with the results of the Meshoko settlement’s ceramics analysis. The ceramics of its lower layer turned out to differ completely from the ceramics of the shelter. But the upper part of the settle-ment deposits with a shelter is united by the presence of ceramics with an admixture of limestone. However, there are also differences in the temperature and duration of firing, the nature of surface treatment. The data obtained indicate a significant diversity of ceramic traditions in the Chalco-lithic of the Belaya River basin, which may also indicate a complex composition of the popula-tion.

Pragian conodont biostratigraphy of the western slope of the Southern Urals (Mindigulovo section)

Research subject. Pragian conodonts from the Mindigulovo section on the western slope of the South Urals. Aim. Conodont-based biostratigraphy of the Pragian deposits. Materials and methods. This study is based on the biostratigraphic method: identification of conodonts using conventional techniques, recognition of Pragian conodont associations, zonal scale proposal and correlation. Results. The Pragian beds in the Mindigulovo Section in the latitudinal flow of the Belaya River are characterized using conodonts for the first time. The following conodont-based subdivisions at the rank of beds with fauna are recognized (from bottom to top): Beds with Gondwania irregularis, Latericriodus steinachensis, Beds with Pelekysgnathus serratus, Beds with Gondwania profunda, Pseudogondwania kindlei and Beds with Polygnathus cf. pireneae. Conclusions. The recognized conodont-based units can be directly correlated with the standard zonal scale of the Pragian. The conodont assemblage studied contains taxa characterizing the Gondwania irregularis–Gondwania profunda, Pseudogondwania kindlei–Eognathodus zeravshanicus, Polygnathus pireneae lineage, also known in the Pragian successions of Australia and the South Tien Shan. The co-occurrence of the deep-water family Eognathodidae and the shallow-water Icriodontidae in the Mindigulovo Section enables the correlation of different facies sections.

Tectonic structure and stages of geological development of the Sterlitamak shikhans

The article considers the features of the tectonic structure and geological development of the Lower Permian single mountains – shikhans on the left bank of the Belaya River near the city of Sterlitamak (Republic of Bashkortostan). The analysis of published and archival materials, field research, the study of core material, lithological and structural observations allowed us to get an idea of the tectonics of single mountains (shikhans). The Shikhans are part of a single chain of carbonate massifs composed of reef facies and located submeridionally (from south to north) in the western side of the Pre-Uralian Foredeep. In the area of Sterlitamak four massivеs are brought to the surface of the Earth as part of a single Shikhan block. The tectonic structure of the territory is determined by paleotectonic (the period from 3600 to 23 million years) and neotectonic (23 – 5 million years).years and up to the present) events that are combined into periods and are divided into stages. The formation of reef complexes composing the shikhans was controlled by paleotectonic events of the collision stage of development, which led to the formation of the continental shelf margin with conditions favorable for the formation of reef communities on the border of the Pre-Uralian Foredeep during the Asselian and Sakmarian epochs (for 15 million years). Subsequent geological events – in the Artinskian and Kungur time, in the Late Permian-Early Mesozoic stage and in the Middle Jurassic-Miocene platform stage caused the destruction and leveling of the Early Permian relief, erosion of sediments and their overlap with younger sediments. The tectonic impact of the last Pliocene-Quaternary neo-orogenic stage (5 – 0 million years) is most intensively manifested in the rocks of Shikhans. It is expressed in intense fracturing and fragmentation of rocks, their recrystallization with loss of primary structural and textural features. The neotectonic movements of the blocks of the Earth's crust contributed to the removal to the surface of individual sections of the reef complexes distribution zone. The isolation of reef shikhans was a result of presence of an evaporites оver them, which were easily eroded. The tectonic effect on the carbonate rocks of reef nature contributed to the formation of zones of increased fracturing observed in the rocks of the Sterlitamak shikhans and penetration of oil-containing solutions and fluids, which formed areas of rocks with increased reservoir properties. Leaching and karst zones with residual bitumen are observed on almost all shikhans.

Application of Neural Network Modeling in Problems of Predicting the Level of River Floods

The purpose of this article is to consider the theoretical and practical issues of developing neural network models for river flood forecasting (in case of the Belaya River near Ufa), as well as to implement the corresponding neural network in Python. To build a training sample, archival data from meteorological services and meteorological observation sites for the flood periods of the Belaya (Agidel) River in 2018–2022 were used. The following indicators were collected and analyzed: water level, water temperature, day and night air temperature, precipitation, snow depth, including information about the pre-flood condition of the snow cover. The software implementation of the neural network was performed using the PyTorch deep learning library; in addition, modules from the Matplotlib and Pandas libraries were used. The stability of the operation of this neural network was studied when the following parameters were changed: the optimizers used (Adam, Adamax and Rprop); learning rate coefficient; the number of neurons in the hidden layer; number of learning epochs. It is concluded that the developed neural network can be used to model the flood level when creating short-term forecasts. In order to move to longer-term forecasts in the future, it is planned to further expand the size of the factors in the training sample.

Bryophyte vegetation of Bashkiria, Ssouth Urals. IV. On the bryophyte communities in Belaya River valley, Bashkortostan

Bryophyte vegetation of Bashkiria, Ssouth Urals. IV. On the bryophyte communities in Belaya River valley, Bashkortostan

ЛИТОФАЦИАЛЬНЫЕ ОСОБЕННОСТИ ИЗВЕСТНЯКОВ НИЖНЕЙ ПЕРМИ СТЕРЛИТАМАКСКИХ ШИХАНОВ
 (LITHOFACIAL FEATURES OF THE LOWER PERMIAN LIMESTONES OF THE STERLITAMAK SHIKHANS)

The article deals with the lithofacial features of the Asselian and Sakmarian limestone of the Cisuralian Series of the Permian System, composing the particular mountains Yuraktau, Kushtau and Tratau on the right bank of the Belaya River near the city of Sterlitamak in the Bashkir PreUrals. Biohermic and bioclastic (detrital) lithofacies are distinguished in the limestone composition. Biohermic types are represented by bryozoans and coral framestones and rudstones, tubiphytes packstones, palaeoaplisyna boundstones and rudstones. Granular or bioclastic lithofacies are represented by fusulinid, crinoid-fusulinid grainstones, bryozoans and bryozoans-tubiphytes packstones, crinoid and polybioclastic packstones and wackstones. Polybioclastic packstones and crinoid-fusulinid grainstones predominate in the section of the Lower Permian limestones. In the Asselian part of the section, at the base of the shikhans, there are bryozoans and bryozoans-tubiphytes lithofacies. These limestones make up the shihan Toratau. Coral lithofacies are common in the section of shikhan Yuraktau in the upper part. On the Mount Kushtau, according to drilling data, coral types are confined to the upper part of section, to the Sakmaian stage. The top of Mount Kushtau is composed of palaeoaplisyna limestones composing stratified bioherms with a thickness of up to 40 m. The distribution of limestone lithotypes by section shows the change of the bryozoans-tubiphytes association in Asselian time by coral- palaeoaplisyna bioherms in the Sakmarian time.

Напряженно-деформированное состояние плотины Юмагузинского гидроузла

Introduction. The stone-and-earth dam of the Yumaguzinskiy hydroelectric complex on the Belaya river is constructed in complicated geological conditions on heterogeneous foundation. The results of computational research of stress-strain state (SSS) of the dam, carried out for the variant of an earth dam with the central core are presented. When calculating the deflected mode of dams, the real structure of ground characterized by its relation of elastic and plastic bonds should be taken into account. The change of this structure takes place along with the change in stresses and is reflected in the values of coefficient of relative strength and coefficients of reliability. The values of the safety coefficients can be used to judge the strength state of the dam. Materials and methods. The stress-strain state of the dam was determined on the basis of the energy model of the developed by L.N. Rasskazov. The area of the selected fragment of the dam has been divided into single-type elements; a triangular grid of the finite element method has been adopted, by means of which the structure of the soil dam and the foundation have been described. Results. Numerical calculations have shown that when water level in the reservoir rises to the level of the forced retaining level the character of stress distribution σxx changes. At the base of uppermost buttress prism at the boundary with the core there appears an area with small positive values, the largest of which is obtained in the transition zone. The entire hydrostatic load is transferred to the pressure face of the core and, consequently, the entire work of external forces is transferred to the internal deformation energy of this element, causing a stress concentration in it. The transition zone material is forced to follow the deformations of the core, resulting in the development of tensile stresses in the core. Therefore, increasing the stiffness of the core results in less deformation of the core and correspondingly less tensile stress in the transition zone. The nature of stress distribution σyy is symmetrical. Conclusions. Increasing the rigidity of the core entails elimination of the arch effect, which is particularly noticeable at lower reservoir levels. For this reason the use of skeleton material in the core of the dam is desirable.

Биологическая активность буроземов в молодых «окнах» полога леса Кавказского биосферного заповедника

The ecological features and biological activity of Cambisols of acidic low mountains in the upper reaches of the Belaya River in the Western Caucasus have been carried out. The studies were carried out on the territory of the Caucasian State Natural Biosphere Reserve in the primary beech -fir forests and “windows” of fallouts formed at the site of the death of old trees. The investigated “windows” aged 2-6 years are characterized by increased insolation and a special microclimate, they quickly overgrow with undergrowth and grassy vegetation. This leads to a change in the physical, chemical and biological properties of Cambisols. The moisture content of soils, the degree of saturation of soils with bases increase significantly, the content of humus and active carbon increases. A change in edaphic properties leads to an increase in the number of microorganisms and microbial biomass. The enzyme activity of Cambisols from different area s varies considerably and does not have an unambiguous behavior. Despite the differences in the values of individual indicators of biological activity, the integral assessment showed practically equal values for the Cambisols of primary forests and young “windows” of fallouts.

Возможности неразрушающего анализа каменных артефактов на примере материалов позднепалеолитических комплексов Южного Приангарья и Верхней Лены

The results of non-destructive analysis of stone artifacts from siliceous rocks from the Late Upper Paleolithic (LUP) sites of the Belaya and Upper Lena Rivers are presented. X-ray fluorescence analysis carried out using a portable device (pXRF) and geometric-morphometric analysis of 3D models were selected as the main methods. The purpose of pXRF was to highlight criteria for differentiating rocks from different sites, issues of searching for sources of raw materials, including the problem of identifying local and non-local components in archaeological complexes, as well as the possibilities of this method in expanding the source base and geography of research. To do this, we selectively analyzed materials from two archaeological sites: 1) Maltinka 1 on the Belaya River (36 samples), and 2) Makarovo 2 on the Upper Lena (12 samples), as well as rock pieces collected near the archaeological site Sosnovyi Bor on the Belaya River. The method of studying 3D models of artifacts we used on a limited collection of the Maltinka 1 site (11 samples) to test how promising it is to use geometric-morphometric analysis in relation to specific LUP materials of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia. Based on the pXRF results, it was established that the siliceous rocks of the Belaya River and Upper Lena collection have significant differences and various origins. Most of the artifacts and rock pieces from Belaya River demonstrate certain similarities in chemical composition. It is concluded that these are local siliceous rocks originating from the deposits of the Lower Cambrian Angara Formation, the outcrops of which are found in many areas of the Belaya River valley. Samples from the Makarovo 2 site show greater variability in chemical composition. It has been suggested that the source for them could be the pebble horizons of the ancient Manzurka Alluvium. One sample from the Upper Lena corresponds in chemical composition to the Belaya collection, which allows us to put forward a version about its imported nature. However, this hypothesis requires testing by expanding collections of artifacts and raw material sources. As a result of the 3D analysis of cores and core preforms, it was established that the samples are quite similar in morphological characteristics, which indicates a high degree of standardization in the production of bifacial blanks. This method has been demonstrated to be effective but is most useful only when the sample and methodologies are expanded.

Мальтинка 1 - малоизвестное местонахождение верхнего палеолита в окрестностях Мальты (юг Байкало-Енисейской Сибири)

The article describes the study results of the little-known Upper Paleolithic site Maltinka 1, located on the Belaya River (left tributary of the Angara River) in the vicinity of the world-famous Malta Paleolithic site. It was discovered in 1929 by Mikhail Gerasimov and studied in 1977, 1983 by Irina Lezhnenko. In the deposits of MIS 2 and MIS 1, 4 cultural layers (c.l.) were identified. Their estimated age is as follows: c.l. 1 - 7-1 ka cal BP; c.l. 2 - ~14.7-12.8 ka cal BP; c.l. 3 - ~18.6-17.6 ka cal BP; c.l. 4 - ~27-25 ka cal BP. Layers 1 and 4 are not very informative. The finds of layer 2 are represented by 6 fragments of bones and 1651 stone items: blades and bladelets, wedge-shaped cores; flat and volumetric prismatic cores; retouched flakes and blades, scrapers, knifes (including the “ulu-knife”), leaf-shaped point, tool with spikes, hammerstone, and abrader. A bone fragment and 844 stone items were found in layer 3: blades and bladelets, wedge-shaped and volumetric prismatic cores, retouched flakes and blades, scrapers, burins, notched tools, and splintered piece on flake. Attribute analysis of flakes and blades from layers 2 and 3 showed that their parameters and characteristics are close in value. The totality of features indicates the use of both hard and soft hammer during knapping. Conclusion: the materials from the Maltinka 1 site complement and expand the understanding of cultural processes in the Upper Paleolithic in the territory of Baikal-Yenisei Siberia.

Сорвихинское городище на р. Белая

The article is devoted to the materials of the Sorvikha hillfort which was discovered by N.A.Mazhitov in 1959. He attributed the hillfort to the Pyanobor and Bakhmutin cultures according to the ceramics. The large-scale excavations were conducted at the Sorvikha settlement by the archaeological expedition of the Udmurt Republic’s Museum of Local History (now Kuzebay Gerd National Museum of the Udmurt Republic). The expedition was led by T.I. Ostanina in 1990. The archaeological research resulted in the following conclusions. The ancient settlement was a well-fortified (up to 42 m high, three ramparts, ditches along the ramparts and slopes, a scarp at the edge of the cape built later). Unlike other settlements of the Belaya River basin, the Sorvikha settlement has a large area (132 thousand square meters) which allowed a significant number of people to live there. The Sorvikha ancient settlement occupies a central place, but together with the nearby settlements of Bogorodskoye (Sergeevskoye), Novo-Petrovskoye, located 4.7 and 20 km away from Sorvikha respectively, it constitutes the defensive line of open settlements in the upper reaches of the Bir, Big Izyak and Small Izyak rivers. There are few dating finds (a faience bead of the 3rd–4th centuries, a knife with a groove of the Kharinо time). They make it possible to attribute the monument of the 3rd–4th centuries corresponding to the chronology of the Mazuninо/Bakhmutinо culture. The population was engaged in small-scale animal husbandry producing meat and dairy. Hunting and fishing played a secondary role. There was also non-ferrous casting, although there is still not enough evidence to confirm this idea (a piece of non-ferrous metal slag was found). The excavations discovered a significant number of fragments of hand-made ware. Their general characteristics are as follows: pot-shaped medium-sized vessels made of clay dough composed with sand or sand with small pebbles, very rarely it was composed with crushed seashell. In most cases, the upper part (neck, shoulders, body – less often) of the vessels are ornamented. The patterns are represented by horizontal rows of dimple impressions (imprintы) of different shapes. The neck and the shoulders have a herringbone pattern. The settlement belongs to the Bashkir variant of the Mazunino culture.

МОРФОДИНАМИКА РЕЧНЫХ ДОЛИН ЛЕВОБЕРЕЖЬЯ АНГАРЫ

The article presents the results of the first stage of a comprehensive (hydrological, paleogeographic, and landscape-geomorphological) study of the development of river valleys on the left bank of the Angara. An analysis of fluctuations in the maximum runoff performed with the use of difference integral runoff curves, identified six periods of change in water content of the rivers under study according to the maximum annual discharges for the period from the beginning of observations to 2019. Basing on the analysis of the structure and composition of the floodplain alluvium in the foothill and plain areas, the features of the Holocene sedimentation in the valley of the Belaya River were revealed. The existing ideas about the chronology of the formation of the floodplain massifs are presented in detail. Differences in the facies structure of the floodplain deposits in the piedmont and plain parts of the basin reflect the morphodynamics of the floodplain-channel complexes. For the sections of the foothill part of the basin, there is noted a lack of facies of the near-channel shoal. At the same time, the age of the sands of the floodplain facies here is much younger (800–900 years) than in the lower part of the basin (2.5–3.4 thousand years), which indicates the dynamics of the channels in the foothill part. A number of pronounced changes in sedimentation within the studied floodplains (8.8 thousand cal. BP, 3.4 thousand cal. BP) chronologically correlate with regional climatic changes, which may indicate a significant role that climate andclimate-driven changes in fluvial activity played in the formation of floodplains in the study area. The use of evolutionary series of plant communities in floodplain complexes is possible when typing the morphological elements of the valley during the transition from channel to floodplain states. In the future, this approach could serve as a criterion for the identification of overgrowing invariants when comparing valleys of different basins, but under similar morphodynamic conditions.

Sarmatian Gastropods of the Belaya River Basin (Western Ciscaucasia)

Sarmatian Gastropods of the Belaya River Basin (Western Ciscaucasia)