Central Altai Research Articles

To the question of the origin of the cultural assortment of Dagestan apricots through assessing the variability of leaf morphological characteristics

Aim. The paper presents the results of assessment of the indigenous nature and degree of similarity of apricot cultivars growing in the collection of the Mountain Botanical Garden, Gunib, Dagestan, Russia based on a comparative analysis of the variability of leaf morphological characteristics. Material and Methods. The material assessed consisted of 33 apricot cultivars of various ecological and geographical origins aggregated in the following groups: (a) Dagestan – traditional cultivars; (b) Moscow ‐ selection from the Tsytsin Main Moscow Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences based on wild forms of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan; (c) European and (d) Asian ‐ from Central Asia, Tajikistan, China and Altai. Results. The closeness of Dagestan and European varieties in comparison with Asian and Moscow varieties was shown. Most Dagestan (16 of 19) and European varieties have round‐shaped leaves (leaf shape index 80‐ 100%), while those from Asia and the Moscow Botanical Garden have leaves which are elongated elliptical and oval (60‐80%). Using the method of principal component analysis (PCA), it was established that most cultivars of Dagestan origin have similar leaf shapes and sizes, of which Tlama kurak (wide‐round), Hekobarsh (elongated) were distinguished by leaf shape and Esdelik by leaf size. Conclusion. Based on a discriminant analysis (Squared Mahalanobis Distances), it was found that the indices of indicators of leaf attributes (width/length of leaf lamina; petiole length/length of lamina; apex angle/corner of leaf base) are more reliable criteria for differentiating apricot varieties into ecological and geographical groups than their morphological characteristics.

THE SPREAD OF SHEEP GADFLY (Oestrus Ovis L.) AND HIS SHEEP INFECTED LARVAE IN THE ALTAI REPUBLIC

A retrospective analysis of the distribution and infection of sheep by gadfly larvae (Oestrus ovis L.) was carried out in 34 farms of the Altai Republic for a population of more than 3.6 thousand animals. The sheep of all the households surveyed were infected with gadfly larvae. Extensivity of the invasion (EI) of sheep in the farms of the Altai Republic ranged from 16.6 to 100%. The intensity of the invasion (II) an average of one infected animal was ranging from 6.9 to 31.8 larvae, the abundance index (AI) from 1.2 to 29.4. The extensiveness of invasion (EI) in the farms of the Altai Republic ranged from 16.6 to 100%. The intensity of invasion (II) on average per infected animal ranged from 6.9 to 31.8 larvae, the abundance index (AI) from 1.2 to 29.4. The sheep of the Ust-Koksinsky district (EI – 87.8%, AI – 16.3) located in the Central Altai, to a lesser extent – Ust-Kansky (EI – 56.4%, AI – 8.4) belonging to the Central Altai, were found to be the most infected. Also low infection of sheep in Shebalinsky (EI – 69.2%, AI – 7.5) and Kosh-Agachsky (EI – 60.6%, AI –- 8.4) areas (Northern and Southeast Altai). In general, the infection of sheep in different areas of the Altai Republic does not differ substantially and is at a relatively low level (EI – 66.7%, II – 13.5 larvae, AI – 9.0). Maximum infection rates in all regions between 1981–1985 was EI 65.5–94.0%, AI 10.2–18.5. Subsequently, they steadily decreased and stabilized at a lower level since 2001 (EI 57.9 – 72.7%, AI 5.8 – 13.9), which is primarily due to the change of generations of drugs used in the treatment of sheep with estrosis.

Contrasting deep crustal compositions between the Altai and East Junggar orogens, SW Central Asian Orogenic Belt: Evidence from zircon Hf isotopic mapping

There are long–standing uncertainties over the deep crustal composition and basement nature of the Chinese Altai and Junggar orogens of the southwestern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). Zircon LuHf isotopic tracer techniques applied to granitoids are helpful in distinguishing old from young deep crustal compositions. This study aims to characterize the basement nature (ancient & juvenile) of the Chinese Altai and East Junggar orogens using Hf isotopic mapping of granitoids (510–200 Ma). Zircon Hf isotopic data (18 new and 79 published samples) indicate that the study area can be divided into six Hf isotopic provinces on the basis of TDMC ages: Province I, >1.4 Ga; II, 1.4–1.2 Ga; III, 1.2–1.0 Ga; IV, 1.0–0.8 Ga; V, 0.8–0.6 Ga; and VI, 0.6–0.4 Ga. Provinces I, II, and III occur mainly in the central (units 2 and 3) and southern (unit 4) Altai orogen, and have slightly positive zircon εHf(t) values of +0.5 to +9.1 with slightly old TDMC ages of 1.53–0.81 Ga. Provinces IV and V are mainly distributed in the northern (unit 1) and southernmost (unit 5) Altai orogen, with zircon εHf(t) values of +7.5 to +11.1 and young TDMC ages of 0.84–0.60 Ga. In contrast, Province VI (East Junggar orogen) has zircon εHf(t) values of +11.6 to +14.9, with much younger TDMC ages of 0.59–0.35 Ga, except for the small Taheir area with a negative εHf(t) value of −2.5 and an older TDMC age of 2.5 Ga. There is a sharp contrast between the deep crustal compositions of the Altai and Junggar orogens, which are ancient in central Altai and relatively juvenile in East Junggar. This confirms that significant Neoproterozoic–Phanerozoic continental crustal growth occurred in the southern Altai and Junggar orogens, with juvenile crust occupying ~78% of the study area, and that the CAOB is a site of significant Phanerozoic continental growth. The distribution of juvenile and ancient crust in the Altai and East Junggar orogens provides new evidence for the tectonic division of the two orogens by the Erqis fault zone, and explains the heterogeneity of crustal growth in the southwestern CAOB.

Тюркские оградки комплексов Большой Курманак-I и II (Центральный Алтай): по материалам раскопок А. С. Васютина

Тюркские оградки комплексов Большой Курманак-I и II (Центральный Алтай): по материалам раскопок А. С. Васютина

5th International Summer School for Students and Young Scientists "Natural and Human Environment of Arctic and Alpine Areas: Relief, Soils, Permafrost, Glaciers, Biota Life Style of Native Ethnic Groups in a Rapidly Changing Climate

The fifth International Conference and Research-Educational Summer School for young scientists “Natural and human environment of Arctic and Alpine areas: relief, soils, permafrost, glaciers, biota and lifestyle of native ethnic groups in a rapidly changing climate”.07-21, July 2018, Tomsk-Aktru (Russia)S N Kirpotin“Bio-Clim-Land” Center of Excellence, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, RussiaThe Fifth International Conference and Research-Educational Summer School “Natural and human environment of Arctic and Alpine areas: relief, soils, permafrost, glaciers, biota and lifestyle of native ethnic groups in a rapidly changing climate”. The Conference and Summer School are dedicated to specially protected natural territories in Russia. It was started with the plenary session in the cosy city of Tomsk on 8 July. This famous cultural centre has been named “the Siberian Cambridge”. After plenary session, there were 3 days for the field excursion to the High Altai (1200 km South from Tomsk). This crossed different landscapes, such as south taiga, sub-taiga, forest-step, step, mountain taiga, mountain meadow, mountain tundra, glacial and periglacial areas. Participants observed different geographical provinces, such as West-Siberian Plain, Piedmont Altai, North Altai, High Central Altai and High SouthEast Altai. All this provided an opportunity to become acquainted with a great variety of landscapes, different types of reliefs and paleogeographical relics, well-expressed geological structures and evidences of earthquakes, amazing biodiversity in wild ecosystems, unique archaeological objects and the dynamic variety of nomadic populations. The main part of the School (6 days) was hold at the Aktru Research Station of the National Research Tomsk State University. The Station was founded by M.V. Tronov, the distinguished scientist and Professor of the Tomsk State University, who is a founder of the Siberian Glaciological Scientific School. There were various field excursions as well as lectures at the Station and in its surroundings. Moreover, students and young researchers had a unique opportunity to participate in the real field research to study the tree-line shift and primary successions on deglaciated areas.

INSKOY DOL: A NEW EARLY BRONZE AGE SITE IN WESTERN ALTAI

We describe Early Bronze Age burial mounds at Inskoy Dol, in the lowland zone of western Altai. The cemetery includes two groups of mounds differing in funerary rite and burial goods. One of them reveals features typical of Afanasievo culture (round cairns made of 2–3 layers of small and medium-sized stones, stone enclosure, supine fl exed position of the buried, heads directed toward the west, ocher coloring, and egg-shaped sharp-bottomed vessels). The other group corresponds to the Kurota type (round cairns made of stones placed fl at in a single layer, supine fl exed position of the bodies, eastern orientation, ocher coloring, no grave goods or jar-shaped vessels). Afanasievo and Kurota cemeteries, then, are separate but close to one another. The radiocarbon date of Afanasievo mounds is 29th to 27th centuries BC. Excavations at Inskoy Dol make it possible to specify the boundaries of the Afanasievo culture, suggesting that it was distributed not only in highland central Altai but in more westerly lowland areas as well.

Deep intraspecific DNA barcode splits and hybridisation in the Udea alpinalis group (Insecta, Lepidoptera, Crambidae) - an integrative revision.

The analysis of mitochondrial COI data for the European-Centroasian montane Udea alpinalis species group finds deep intraspecific splits. Specimens of U. austriacalis and U. rhododendronalis separate into several biogeographical groups. These allopatric groups are not recovered in the analyses of the two nuclear markers wingless and Elongation factor 1-alpha, except for U. austriacalis from the Pyrenees and the French Massif Central. The latter populations are also morphologically distinct and conspecific with Scopula donzelalis Guenée, 1854, which is removed from synonymy and reinstated as Udea donzelalis (Guenée, 1854) stat. rev. Furthermore, Udea altaica (Zerny, 1914), stat. n. from the Mongolian central Altai mountains, U. juldusalis (Zerny, 1914), stat. n. from the Tian Shan mountains of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and NW China, and U. plumbalis (Zerny, 1914), stat. n. from the Sayan Mountains of Northern Mongolia are raised to species level, and lectotypes are designated. Evidence of introgression of U. alpinalis into U. uliginosalis at three localities in the Central Alps is presented. A screening for Wolbachia using the markers wsp, gatB and ftsZ was negative for the U. alpinalis species group, but Wolbachia was found in single specimens of U. fulvalis and U. olivalis (both in the U. numeralis species group). We do not find evidence for the conjecture of several authors of additional subspecies in U. rhododendronalis, and synonymise U. rhododendronalis luquetalis Leraut, 1996, syn. n. and U. r. ventosalis Leraut, 1996, syn. n. with the nominal U. rhododendronalis (Duponchel, 1834).

Petrogenesis of syn-orogenic rare metal pegmatites in the Chinese Altai: Evidences from geology, mineralogy, zircon U-Pb age and Hf isotope

Recently, an increasing number of anatetic pegmatites have been confirmed. In contrast to the granitic pegmatite, the anatetic pegmatite has no relation to granite. It is therefore necessary to reacquaint the origin and classification of pegmatitic rocks. As one of the largest pegmatite provinces, the Chinese Altai provides a natural laboratory for pegmatite study. To date, the type, age, source and tectonic setting of the syn-orogenic pegmatites in the Chinese Altai remain unclear. In this work, the CMS (Chemical composition-Mineral assemblage-Structural geology) classification is primarily applied on the pegmatitic rocks in the Chinese Altai. Five types’ pegmatitic rocks, including metapegmatite, pegmatoid, pegmatite, pseudopegmatite and granite pegmatite, are identified by their CMS features. In addition, the geology, mineralogy, zircon U-Pb ages and Hf isotopes of six pegmatites are presented in this work. The pegmatites, numbered JMHB02, QBL02, TLT01, ALJK01, AMLG01 and TMLT01, are dated at 394.8 ± 4.0 Ma, 402.6 ± 5.5 Ma, 385.9 ± 3.5 Ma, 368.0 ± 4.0 Ma, 358.3 ± 4.6 Ma and 333.0 ± 6.0 Ma, respectively, indicating that they were formed during the syn-orogenic stage of the Altai orogenic process. They are exposed in the Qiongkuer domain in the southern Chinese Altai, juxtaposed with the late- and/or post-orogenic pegmatites in the same pegmatite field. No parental granite can be confirmed for all these pegmatites. Comparatively, the synorogenic pegmatites are scarce, and have lower mineralization grades than the late- and postorogenic pegmatites. Zircon Hf isotopic compositions of the syn-orogenic pegmatites have positive ɛHf(t) values of +2.06–+8.28 and old TDM2 ages of 1,234–860 Ma and are consistent with those of most of the syn-orogenic I- and S-granites, which indicates that the pegmatites and granites have a common immature crustal source from the early Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks. Compared to the post-orogenic pegmatites in the Central Altai domain, the syn-orogenic pegmatites in this work have larger positive ɛHf(t) values and younger TDM2 ages, indicating that more juvenile components were involved in their magma sources. Combining this study with previous works, we suggest that the anatexis of metasediments induced by decompression and injection of heat energy and mantle-derived materials under a forearc extensional setting led to the formation of the syn-orogenic pegmatites in the Chinese Altai.

Changes in the Altitudinal Distribution of Alpine Plants in Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Central Altai) Revealed on the Basis of Multiyear Monitoring Data

In order to reveal climate-related changes in the plant diversity of alpine ecosystems in recent decades, a target region of the GLORIA (Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments) worldwide network consisting of four mountain summits representing an elevation gradient from the subalpine to the upper part of alpine ecotone (2181, 2231, 2358, and 2475 m above sea level) has been established in Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Russia, Central Altai). In the course of the observation period (2005–2015), species in the target region have shifted towards higher altitudes by 5.3 m on average. The plant species richness has increased on the three higher summits and decreased on the lowest summit.

Change of the Altitudinal Distribution of Alpine Plants According to the Results of Multiyear Monitoring in the Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Central Altai)

Change of the Altitudinal Distribution of Alpine Plants According to the Results of Multiyear Monitoring in the Katunskiy Biosphere Reserve (Central Altai)

КОНСПЕКТ ВИДОВ РОДА РOA L. (СЕМ. POACEAE BARNHАRT) KАЗАХСТАНСКОГО AЛТАЯ, CАУРО-МАНРАКА И ЗАЙСАНСКОЙ КОТЛОВИНЫ

The abstract of the genusPoa L. was compiled by the authors on the basis of field expedition work in 1970-2010 years, and also on the collections of other collectors stored in the herbarium of the republican state enterprise on the right of economic management ‘Altai Botanical Garden’ (c. Ridder) and of the republican state enterprise on the right of economic management‘Institute of Botany’and fitointroduction (c. Almaty). Aim: Specification of the species composition and distribution of species of the Poa genus (fam. Poacaeae Barnhat) in the territory of the Kazakhstan Altai, ridges that suround Altai and the Zaisan hollov. Was established 33 species from 2 subgenera, 7 sections, of which 7 species are new to the flora of Kazakhstan on the investigated territory. The saturation of the genus Poa L. of the total number of species in the Central Altai is 45.5% (15 species), the Southern Altai - 57.6% (19 species), the Kalbinsky Altai - 33.3% (11 species), Saur-Manrak - 33.3% (11 species), Zaisan valley - 15.2% (5 species). The Poa subgenus is represented systematically by 30 species (90.9%); subgenus Arctopoa (Griseb.) Probat.includes 3 types. The nature of life forms is dominated by the dense sod - 14 (42.4%), loose sod - 14 (42.4%) species. In the ecological plan, the greatest number of species is represented by mesophytes (48.5%). According to the results of research, the species composition of the genus Poa L. of Kazakhstan is supplemented with 7 species: Poaalpigena (Fries) Lindman, Poa sergievskajae Probat., Poa veresczaginii Tzvel., Poa glauca Vahl, Poa krylovii Reverd., Poa argunensis Roshev., Poa pseudoaltaica (Olonova) Olonova).

Археологические разведочные работы в Центральном и Юго-Восточном Алтае

Археологические разведочные работы в Центральном и Юго-Восточном Алтае

Инской Дол – памятник эпохи ранней бронзы в Западном Алтае

We describe Early Bronze Age burial mounds at Inskoy Dol, in the lowland zone of western Altai. The cemetery includes two groups of mounds differing in funerary rite and burial goods. One of them reveals features typical of Afanasievo culture (round cairns made of 2–3 layers of small and medium-sized stones, stone enclosure, supine fl exed position of the buried, heads directed toward the west, ocher coloring, and egg-shaped sharp-bottomed vessels). The other group corresponds to the Kurota type (round cairns made of stones placed fl at in a single layer, supine fl exed position of the bodies, eastern orientation, ocher coloring, no grave goods or jar-shaped vessels). Afanasievo and Kurota cemeteries, then, are separate but close to one another. The radiocarbon date of Afanasievo mounds is 29th to 27th centuries BC. Excavations at Inskoy Dol make it possible to specify the boundaries of the Afanasievo culture, suggesting that it was distributed not only in highland central Altai but in more westerly lowland areas as well.

Изменения температуры воздуха и осадков в межгорных котловинах Юго-Восточного и Центрального Алтая

The study of the regional manifestations of climate change in mountain areas is of special significance, because it can refine the planetary picture of climate changes. Multiyear meteorological data (60 year period) on high-mountain and mid-mountain intermountain hollows – the Chuya hollow (Southeastern Altai physical and geographical province), Kanskaya, Uimonskaya and Ursulskaya troughs (Central Altai physical and geographical province) are analyzed. It is shown that the most significant changes in air temperature and precipitation occur in the Chuya hollow. Based on linear trends, it is found that the average annual air temperature increased 3°C over 1955–2016. In the Kanskaya, Uimonskaya and Ursulskaya troughs, this value is 1.8, 1.9 and 2.3°C, respectively. However, at the same time there is a tendency to a slight cold snap of the last decade. Substantial changes in precipitation patterns in all studied areas are not revealed, but some differences are found when considering seasonal patterns based on linear trends. So, everywhere increase in summer precipitation is recorded: on 33 mm at the meteorological station Ust-Koksa, 23 mm at the meteorological station Ust-Kan and 12 mm at the meteorological station Kosh-Agach. The amount of winter precipitation is reduced by values from 2 to 10 mm. These values are not statistically significant and are provided to illustrate emerging trends. Despite the increase in summer precipitation, these changes indicate a significant trend of increasing aridity of the territory, since the observed increase in air temperatures is not accompanied by a corresponding increase in precipitation.

Результаты радиоуглеродного датирования курганов жужанского времени памятника Яломан-II (Центральный Алтай)

Результаты радиоуглеродного датирования курганов жужанского времени памятника Яломан-II (Центральный Алтай)

Biodiversity of the vascular plants in the young fluvioglacial landscapes in the Severo-Chuiskiy centre of present-day glaciation (the Central Altai)

This article reports the species richness of vascular plants in the young fluvioglacial landscapes in the Severo-Chuiskiy centre of present-day glaciation using the example of the fluvioglacial deposits of the mountain-glacial basin Aktru. These landscapes are four well distinguished classes of habitats: open pebble fields with minimal vegetation, young larch forests on elevated parts of the relief, shrub thickets on the banks of the Aktru river, and sites with ground-frazil near the valley slopes. There are 132 species of vascular plants in the young fluvioglacial landscapes. These include 36 families and 77 genera. There are 3 species of pteridophytes (only Equisetum), 4 species of gymnosperms, and 125 species of angiosperms. The highest species diversity was recorded for Asteraceae, Poaceae and Salicaceae families, and for Salix, Poa, and Carex genera. The highest species richness – 100 species – were recorded for open pebble fields. There were 76 species in the young larch forests, and 58 species occurred in shrub thickets. The lowest richness is characterised for the sites with ground frazil, where 31 species were recorded.

Бронзовый сосуд-ковш для сакральных напитков из долины Кадрина (Центральный Алтай)

Бронзовый сосуд-ковш для сакральных напитков из долины Кадрина (Центральный Алтай)

Mean annual precipitation at the Belukha mountain knot (Central Altai).

Mean annual precipitation at the Belukha mountain knot (Central Altai).

Extreme Climatic Events in the Central Altai of the Last 1500 Years According to Tree-Ring Chronology Jelo

Based on the occurrence distortion analysis of the anomalous tree rings structure (frost ring, light ring, fluctuation in a tree ring) and missing rings, the chronology of extreme climatic events over the last 1500 years on the Central Altai was constructed. The results allowed us to determine the most significant events in 536-537, 591, 627, 803, 874, 905-906, 935, 1243-1245, 1370-1371, 1399, 1645-1647, 1662, 1699-1700, 1751, 1783-1784, 1812-1814, 1874-1875, 1900. The verification of the dates of extreme events in the period from 1600 to 1850 has revealed that they are consistent with the data of historical evidence (about frosts, poor harvest, lean years and etc.) and the dates of large volcanic eruptions.

Old Turkic Statues from Apshiyakta, Central Altai: On Female Representations in Turkic Monumental Art

Old Turkic statues discovered by the author near Apshiyakta on the Middle Chuya River, Central Altai, have no parallels either in the Altai or in adjacent regions. They show two vertically arranged faces on the same facet of the statue—that of a man and that of a woman below. The woman wears a tricorn headdress. The statues are described with regard to several other Old Turkic female sculptures from Central Asia. Previous attempts at interpretation were unsuccessful because several Kimek and Kipchak specimens had been erroneously included in the database. Probably most Old Turkic sculptures with beardless faces found in Southern Siberia, Eastern and Western Central Asia depict women. The Apshiyakta specimens are similar to female sculptures with tricorn headdresses from Semirechye and represent a variety of the so-called face sculptures. On the basis of parallels and the semantic analysis of this headdress, it is concluded that these female portraits do not depict the goddess Umay or a shamaness; rather, they refer to noble Old Turkic women. The Apshiyakta sculptures, then, manifest the same idea that is embodied in the genre scenes in yurts––coupled images of the husband (warrior, or batyr) and his wife (katun). According to a radiocarbon estimate, these statues, like the Kudyrgetype funerary structures, date to the late 500s–early 600s. The canonical scene of the male and female rulers (the latter wearing a tricorn headgear) sitting in a yurt, is shown in numerous sculptures, petroglyphs, burial items, and coins. It may refer to the marital union between two aristocratic Turkic families (Ashina and Ashide).