Half Of May Research Articles

Kilka uwag na temat stosunków króla Jana Olbrachta z hospodarem mołdawskim Stefanem do 1495 roku

The article provides information based on the unpublished royal accounts of John Albert preserved in the Central Archives of Historical Records in Warsaw and concerning the diplomatic relations between the Polish ruler and Stephen, the Voivode (hospodar) of Moldavia, until 1495. After John Albert ascended the throne in 1492, the Polish court was visited by envoys from Moldavia. We know on the basis of the accounts that, for example, an envoy sent by the Voivode visited the king during a session of the Sejm in Piotrków in 1493. Next, from May to November 1493, a brother (frater) of the Voivode of Moldavia was a guest at the royal court during his stay in Poznań. The entries in the accounts also confirm the presence of two envoys from Moldavia during the King’s stay in Cracow at the beginning of 1494. Another envoy from the Voivode of Moldavia arrived in Cracow after the King’s return from the congress in Levoča in the second half of May 1494. At that time, John Albert sent one of his servants on a mission to Voivode Stephen. Towards the end of 1494, an envoy from Moldavia arrived at the royal court during John Albert’s visit to Elbląg. It is also known that the Voivode sent gifts – the King’s brother, i.e. Sigismund Jagiellonian, received “bridles made in Turkey” from him. The royal accounts do not provide any information about diplomatic relations between John Albert and Voivode Stephen after 1495. Therefore, we do not know what these were like in the period preceding the invasion of Moldavia in 1497. These sources were not used in the existing studies analysing King John Albert’s policy towards Moldavia, including those prepared in recent years.

Modelling of the above-ground biomass and ecological composition of semi-natural grasslands on the strenght of remote sensing data and machine learning algorithms

Semi-natural grasslands represent a vital source of forage and fodder for livestock farming, fulfilling an essential ecological function.This study upholded the efficacy of Sentinel-2 time series data in conjunction with ground data on aboveground biomass (AGB), ecological composition, and floristic composition for the development of a prediction model to determine AGB yield and species distribution in a semi-natural grassland. Two machine learning (ML) approaches, namely K-means clustering, and Random Forest (RF) classification were employed in a semi-natural grassland in Southern Europe. The study was subjected to a qualitative ground survey that identified two main groups. The first group (Cluster 1) was composed of nitrophilous species or nitrophilous species combined with xerophilous species and some hygrophilous species.The second group, on the other hand, consisted of only hygrophilous species or hygrophilous species associated with Ranunculus acris, Bromus hordeaceus, Brassica nigra, Lolium perenne and Trifolium sp. (Cluster 2).Using the above-mentioned algorithms, the study identified thetwo distinctive areas based on AGB estimates in the period beginning in March (vegetative growth) and extending to the first half of May. The R2 value for K-means classification was 0.59, with a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 1 t ha−1.The R2 value for the RF classification was 0.69, with an RMSE value of 0.59 t ha−1. The integration of ground-based data and ML classification techniques enables the generation of accurate, dynamic information on grassland, core attributes that play an integral role in sustainable ecosystem management and conservation.

Sowing Date as a Factor Affecting Soybean Yield—A Case Study in Poland

Soybean is the crop of the future, especially for countries with a high demand for food and feed protein. Therefore, soybean cultivation is moving north to countries at higher latitudes, where temperatures, photoperiodism, and rainfall distribution are not always able to meet soybean requirements. The aim of this study was to evaluate three sowing dates as a factor influencing soybean cultivars yield and seed chemical composition in agroclimatic conditions of south-western Poland. In the years 2016–2019, a field experiment was conducted in Lower Silesia region, near Wroclaw, with three sowing dates: early (mid-April), 10-day delayed (at the turn of April and May), and 20-day delayed (first half of May), and two soybean cultivars: Merlin and Lissabon. In this location, soybean sowing is recommended in mid-April, possibly at the turn of April and May. The cultivars tested differed in yield and yield component values in the years of research, but generally, the Lissabon was better suited to local conditions. Results were discussed with findings of other domestic research, to investigate the problem of the soybean sowing date in Poland. The recommended sowing date for soybean was found to vary from region to region. These differences are due to the length of the growing season in each location and the varied adaptation of cultivars to the local climatic conditions.

Additional data to the historical breeding of the Eurasian Woodcock in the Carpathian Basin

Abstract The Eurasian Woodcock is a regular breeder in the wooded areas of the Carpathian Basin. In the past, several literature reviews on the distribution and breeding biology of the species in the Carpathian Basin have been published, but these have ignored the annual reports on spring returns collected between 1894 and 1926 under the coordination of the Hungarian Ornithological Centre. These included 379 nesting records from the present area of Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. The majority of the data came from the Carpathians, with a smaller number from forested areas in the lower mountains and hills. It was particularly rare in lowland areas, with most of the records coming from floodplain forests. The spatial distribution of the data is somewhat at odds with that described in recent summary works. From the Northern Carpathians and the Eastern Alps, however, these sources report fewer nestings, and most of the data come from Transylvania. The temporal distribution of the data is consistent with previously published results. In some cases nestings were found in late February and early March. The peak of nesting was in April, with only a small number of nestings reported in the second half of May. Breeding occurred significantly later in areas at higher altitudes. Nevertheless, it can be concluded that knowledge of the species’ nesting in the Carpathian Basin is still incomplete.

Population size and nesting peculiarities of the black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus (Linnaeus, 1766) on the territory of water treatment facilities

Background. Today, the black-headed gull inhabits man-made areas of wastewater treatment facilities (WTF) to comensate for the the reduction of natural aquatic and wetland habitats. Over the last decade, a nearly tenfold increase in its population has been recorded, despite a low reproduction rate. This fact indicates the lack of stability in the bird population, necessitating thorough research. Materials and Methods. The analysis of the population size and biological charac­teristics of black-headed gulls involved censuses and observations at the WTF of the city of Kharkiv using conventional methods during the spring-summer periods of 2020–2021 and 2023. Results. The population of the black-headed gull reached its peak in the third decade of May 2020 (2637 individuals) and 2023 (2124 individuals), as well as in the second decade of May 2021 (3949 individuals). The maximum nesting density was observed on sludge sites (SS) of wastewater treatment facilities that are most similar to natural habitats, where dried mud alternates with water patches and vegetation at the bottom and around the perimeter (Type V): 236.7±26.7 pairs/ha in 2020 and 242.9±28.5 pairs/ha in 2021. The majority of nests were found in the first decade of May 2021 and the third decade of May 2020. The black-headed gull forms mixed-species, occasionally monospecific subcolonies. Nesting in association with it were: Sterna hirundo, Anas platyrhynchos, Spatula clypeata, Vanellus vanellus, Charadrius dubius, Himantopus himantopus, Fulica atra, Gallinula chloropus, and Aythya ferina. The size of the complete black-headed gull clutch was 3.1±0.4 eggs (n = 190). The egg dimensions were 50.9±2.1 ´ 36.2±1.1, with a mass of 34.6±2.8 g. Regarding shell coloration, five types of background colors were identified. Mass egg laying occurred from the third decade of April to the first decade of May, constituting 40.3 % (n = 993) in 2020 and 62.3 % (n = 1757) in 2021. The egg-laying period extended from April to July, with the latest non-incubated clutches recorded in the first decade of July (3.07.2020). The first chicks were found in nests in the first decade of May, while mass hatching occurred in the second half of May. The latest registration dates of the birds on nesting territories were in the second decade of July for 2020 and 2023, and the first decade of August for 2022. The nesting season duration varied from 125 to 140 days in different years. Autumn migration commenced with summer relocations and concluded from late October to early November. The reproductive success – the percentage of nestlings that fledged and successfully achieved flight – constituted 29.2 % (n = 2404 of laid eggs) in 2020, and 15.5 % (n = 6138) in 2021. The majority of offspring perished due to changes in water levels (prolonged rainfall or industrial wastewater discharge), predation, disturbance factors, etc. Conclusion. The colonial nesting of the black-headed gull creates favorable conditions for the habitation and reproduction of various bird species, including rare ones, which is essential for their conservation.

Possible role of anthropogenic climate change in the record-breaking 2020 Lake Victoria levels and floods

Abstract. Heavy rainfall in eastern Africa between late 2019 and mid 2020 caused devastating floods and landslides throughout the region. These rains drove the levels of Lake Victoria to a record-breaking maximum in the second half of May 2020. The combination of high lake levels, consequent shoreline flooding, and flooding of tributary rivers caused hundreds of casualties and damage to housing, agriculture, and infrastructure in the riparian countries of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Media and government reports linked the heavy precipitation and floods to anthropogenic climate change, but a formal scientific attribution study has not been carried out so far. In this study, we characterize the spatial extent and impacts of the floods in the Lake Victoria basin and then investigate to what extent human-induced climate change influenced the probability and magnitude of the record-breaking lake levels and associated flooding by applying a multi-model extreme event attribution methodology. Using remote-sensing-based flood mapping tools, we find that more than 29 000 people living within a 50 km radius of the lake shorelines were affected by floods between April and July 2020. Precipitation in the basin was the highest recorded in at least 3 decades, causing lake levels to rise by 1.21 m between late 2019 and mid 2020. The flood, defined as a 6-month rise in lake levels as extreme as that observed in the lead-up to May 2020, is estimated to be a 63-year event in the current climate. Based on observations and climate model simulations, the best estimate is that the event has become more likely by a factor of 1.8 in the current climate compared to a pre-industrial climate and that in the absence of anthropogenic climate change an event with the same return period would have led lake levels to rise by 7 cm less than observed. Nonetheless, uncertainties in the attribution statement are relatively large due to large natural variability and include the possibility of no observed attributable change in the probability of the event (probability ratio, 95 % confidence interval 0.8–15.8) or in the magnitude of lake level rise during an event with the same return period (magnitude change, 95 % confidence interval 0–14 cm). In addition to anthropogenic climate change, other possible drivers of the floods and their impacts include human land and water management, the exposure and vulnerability of settlements and economic activities located in flood-prone areas, and modes of climate variability that modulate seasonal precipitation. The attribution statement could be strengthened by using a larger number of climate model simulations, as well as by quantitatively accounting for non-meteorological drivers of the flood and potential unforced modes of climate variability. By disentangling the role of anthropogenic climate change and natural variability in the high-impact 2020 floods in the Lake Victoria basin, this paper contributes to a better understanding of changing hydrometeorological extremes in eastern Africa and the African Great Lakes region.

Mountain is calling – decrypting the vocal phenology of an alpine bird species using passive acoustic monitoring

Monitoring vulnerable species inhabiting mountain environments is crucial to track population trends and prioritize conservation efforts. However, the challenging nature of these remote areas poses difficulties in implementing effective and consistent monitoring programmes. To address these challenges, we examined the potential of passive acoustic monitoring of a cryptic high mountain bird species, the Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta. For 5 months in each of two consecutive years, we deployed 38 autonomous recording units in 10 areas of the Swiss Alps where the species is monitored by a national count monitoring programme. Once the recordings were collected, we built a machine‐learning algorithm to automate call recognition. We focused on studying the species' daily and seasonal calling phenology and relating these to meteorological and climatic data. Rock Ptarmigans were vocally active from March to July, with a peak of activity occurring between mid‐March and late April, 1 or 2 months earlier than the second half of May when the counts of the monitoring programme take place. The calling rate peaked at dawn before dropping rapidly until sunrise. Daily vocal activity demonstrated a consistent association with weather conditions and moon phase, whereas the timing of seasonal vocal activity varied with temperature and snow conditions. We found that the peak of vocal activity occurred when the snowpack was still thick and snow cover was close to 100% but with a local peak of high temperatures. Between our two study years, the peak of vocal activity occurred 30 days later in the colder year, suggesting phenological plasticity in relation to environmental conditions. Passive acoustic monitoring has the potential to complement conventional acoustic counts of cryptic birds by highlighting periods of higher detectability of individuals, and to survey small populations that often remain undetected during single visits. Moreover, our study supports the idea that passive acoustic monitoring can provide valuable data over large spatial and temporal scales, allowing decryption of hidden ecological patterns and assisting in conservation efforts.

Evaluation of behavioral response of Blitopertha lineolata (Fischer von Waldheim, 1824) (Coleoptera: Rutelidae) to visual and chemical cues

During field trapping of Tropinota hirta (Cetoniidae) by blue traps baited with the respective floral lure regular catches Blitopertha lineolata were recorded in an experimental field in Sofia plain, Bulgaria. In order to investigate the relative importance of chemical and visual cues on the attraction response of this species, several field tests were performed using CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps in Sofia during 2007-2009. In 2007, we evaluated the behavioral response of the adults to four variants of traps - transparent and blue unbaited traps, and transparent and blue traps baited with the lure for T. hirta. The most numerous catches of B. lineolata were recorded in blue traps independently of the presence or absence of the floral bait. In a subsequent test we compared the attractiveness of baited traps developed for cetoiid beetle species: T. hirta, Oxythyrea funesta, Cetonia aurata and Protaetia cuprea (Cetoniidae). The most numerous catches were recorded in traps for C. aurata/P. cuprea but there was no significant difference between mean catches in these traps and traps for T. hirta. The color preference of B. lineolata was evaluated comparing the colors, white, blue, yellow, fluorescent yellow or transparent of VARb3 traps without chemical lures. Results of these tests revealed that highest mean numbers of adults were recorded in the blue traps followed by the fluorescent yellow traps in 2008, and white and yellow traps in 2009. During this study, the seasonal flight of B. lineolata in the Sofia region started at the second half of May and lasted till the beginning of July in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Blue CSALOMON® VARb3k funnel traps can be considered as an efficient tool for detection and monitoring the seasonal flight of this species. Further research is needed to find a semiochemical attractant to B. lineolata. New distributional data for this species in Bulgaria are provided as well.

The Effect of Sowing Date on the Growth and Yield of Soybeans Cultivated in North-Eastern Poland

Soybean yields are influenced by numerous factors, including environmental conditions, location, and agricultural practices. Sowing date affects plant growth, development, and yields, and it plays a particularly important role in soybean cultivation. The optimal sowing date should be selected based on soil temperature, precipitation, and rainfall distribution in a given region. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of various sowing dates (I—early, II—optimal, III—late) on the time from sowing to emergence of soybean seedlings, length of the growing season, morphological traits of soybean plants, yield components, and seed yields of soybeans grown in north-eastern Poland. Sowing date considerably affected the time from sowing to the emergence of soybean seedlings and seed yields. In north-eastern Poland, soybeans should be sown in the first half of May to minimize the risk of ground frost damage, which can occur even in late May. Sowing date also influenced soybean yields. In north-eastern Poland (Region of Warmia and Mazury), yields were maximized when soybeans were sown late (in mid-May), which was decisively influenced by climatic conditions, mainly temperature. The linear regression analysis revealed that the length of the growing season was correlated with the seed yields of soybeans sown on different dates.

Indicators of efficiency in operational crosses of Eucalyptus dunnii and hybrids in Montes del Plata: Current progress and challenges

One of the main goals of a tree breeding program is to increase forest productivity, adaptation and profitability of forest plantations. Eucalyptus dunnii is a main species used for pulp production in Uruguay. Montes del Plata (MdP) is one of the largest forest companies in Uruguay and has been focused on the development, testing and deployment of E. dunnii clones to establish commercial plantations in Uruguay. This poster refers to the generation of control-pollinated families, as the starting point of MdP clonal strategy. Control pollination (CP) is a tool in genetic breeding programs that enables to recombine selected genotypes with desired traits to maximize gain in the medium to long term. The selection trait for pulpwood objective is tons of cellulose per tree (ADt); consequently, growth, frost tolerance, health, and wood properties are relevant for parent selection. Ongoing work shows a fruitfully performance of E. dunnii. In the south-east region of Uruguay the species have one flowering period per year, with an average flowering time occurring between the last fortnight of February and the first half of May. Developed protocols for pollen harvesting and methods for crossing are used. The survival of pollinated flowers resulting in fruits has shown to vary with parental species. Average survival rates are 20 to 35%. The main loss of crop happens during the first 4 months after pollinating, weighting —in average— a loss of 40% of the pollinated flowers. The species fruit crop occurs one year after CP. The number of seed per fruit varies with the parental species. E. dunnii × E. dunnii crosses yield in average 6.4 seeds per fruit. However, we have seen a reduction in seeds per fruit in hybrid crosses, where E. dunnii is pollinated with another species, mostly E. globulus, E. grandis and E. dorrigoensis. Seed crops are sawn in the nursery and start an individual clonal selection based on rooting protocols. Clones that fulfill the rooting constraints go to field trials. This is presented in another poster proposal. Main challenges for the future are to maintain a wide genetic diversity in the breeding population, early flowering, and continuous improvement on CP techniques.

Calendar of flowering of woody plants in the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute named after N. A. Avrorin

The information about the timing and duration of flowering of woody plants makes it possible to plan the landscaping so that the plantings are the most decorative. Trees and shrubs are the most decorative during their blooming. The article presents key data on the flowering of woody plants in the Polar Alpine Botanical Garden-Institute (PABGI). The objects of the study were trees and shrubs in the PABGI collection fund. The material of the work was the data of phenological observations for the period from 2001 to 2020. We studied the beginning and duration of the growing season, the duration of the prefloral period, the timing, duration and abundance of the flowering. Trees and shrubs in the PABGI collection are characterized by an early beginning and a short duration of the growing season, a short and medium duration of the prefloral period. Early flowering in the second half of May is typical for wind-pollinated and flowering before leaf-out plants. The mass flowering of trees and shrubs is observed in the second decade of June and the first decade of July. Woody plants with a long prefloral period and long-blooming plants flower in August and September. Most trees and shrubs bloom within 6-10 or 11-15 days. The abundance of flowering is rated from moderate to excellent.

THE COUP D’ETAT IN FRANCE AND PETAIN’S RISE TO POWER

The defeat of France in 1940 led to the fall of the Third Republic and the creation of the Petain (or Vichy) regime. It is generally believed that the coup took place on July 10, but in fact it happened on June 16, when Petain replaced Reynaud as head of the French government. Moreover, the first steps towards the coup were taken a month earlier, in the second half of May, after the appointment of Petain as deputy head of government, and several of his supporters to other key posts. This article is written in order to prove this on the basis of factual material. The content of the article also shows that, in addition to the generally recognized reasons (the country's unreadiness for a «new type of war», the strong positions of defeatists of different political orientations, etc.), the position of Britain and the United States towards France also played a role in the coup: the former, after Dunkirk, actually left France to its fate, the public opinion of the latter has not yet matured before joining the war. At the same time, the results of the work allow us to reconsider some of the existing points of view on the Vichy government: despite a number of analogies with the Nazi coup of 1933. In Germany, the Petain regime was not completely totalitarian, although it was a kind of «conservative revolution».

Determination of suitable ecological flow regimes for spawning of four major Chinese carps: A case study of the Hongshui River, China

Due to the construction and operation of cascade reservoirs in Hongshui River (HSR), most natural fish spawning grounds have been destroyed, thus causing ecological-economic impacts on local riverine ecosystems and fisheries. An effective way to restore spawning habitats and fulfill their spawning requirements is to generate an appropriate ecological flow regime. With a focus on the existing spawning ground of Dingzi Beach (DZB) for four major Chinese carps (FMCC) in HSR, this study built a one- and two-dimensional (1D and 2D)-coupled and fuzzy logic-based fish habitat model to estimate a suitable ecological flow to ensure the existence of continuous and connected habitats. In addition, critical indicators and timing to trigger spawning behaviors were quantified given the requirements for water temperature and high-flow pulses. Thus, suitable ecological flow regimes during the spawning period of FMCC in HSR were established based on the notion of thresholds of flow discharge. The ecological flow between 2,500 and 11,000 m3/s from April to July at DZB was found to be maintained. Three high-flow pulses characterized with different thresholds of flow indicators were recommended to be generated to meet the requirements of the FMCC spawning either in the second half of May, June, or July. Results of this study can provide the basis for sustainably managing cascade reservoirs as well as establishing a suitable ecological flow regime to protect the reproduction of FMCC in HSR.

The diet of the White-Tailed Sea Eagle in South Moravia, Czech Republic

White-Tailed Sea Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) re-settled the area of South Moravia (the south-eastern region of Czech Republic) in 1984. It became a regular breeding species in 2004 and since then, the population rose up to present ca 30 breeding pairs. Its diet was studied by identification of food remains on nests, mainly during ringing of nestlings (i.e. usually late April / first half of May). 605 food items were identified during 97 nest checks within the period of 1999–2023. Fish composed 47%, birds 28% and mammals 25% of the identified items. The most numerous taxa were European Hare (Lepus europaeus) – 151 inds, Carp (Cyprinus carpio) – 87, Silver Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus) – 61, Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) – 54, Northern Pike (Esox lucius) – 50, and Eurasian Coot (Fulica atra) – 33. The number of food items per nest varied between 1 and 28. The interesting findings included e.g. Common Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna), Stock Dove (Columba oenas), Tawny Owl (Strix aluco), or Long-Eared Owl (Asio otus).

Биология окуня бассейна верхнего течения реки Лены

Lena River is the largest watercourse in Eastern Siberia. The upper reaches of the river, 1600 km long, starts from the source to the mouth of the Vitim River. We collected data on perch biology in different seasons: in the Lena River in the section from the mouth of the Tutura River (right tributary 3,812 km from the mouth) to the mouth of the Ichora River (left tributary 2,973 km from the mouth) in different seasons from 2007 to 2022; in the Kuta 10-km section from 10 to 20 km from the river mouth in August 2011; Kirenga River from the mouth of the Marekta Brook (400 km from the mouth) to the mouth of the Garynya Brook (379 km) in April 2016, June 2013-2014, September 2014 and October 2015, at 217 km, the mouth of the Cherepanikha River (144 km) and Ichikta River (82 km), June 2022; the Piljuda (left tributary 3050 km from the mouth), April 2010, May 2017 and June 2019; Vitim River. In rhe Vitim river main channel (582 km from the river mouth) to a nameless creek (551 km from the river mouth), June, September 2010 and June, August 2012; in four lakes in Okunayka River – Kirenga River basin: Lake Blizhnee, July 2012; Lake Dal'nee, July-August 2012, July and September 2015; Lake Durgan, July and September 2012, August 2012, July, 2017 and September 2015; Lake Podkova, September 2015; Lake Golubtsovskoe (Vitim River along the right bank 5.5 km upstream Labazny Brook (561 km from the mouth)), June and September 2010, August 2012. The perch in the investigated sites is one of the most numerous in the composition of fish fauna, occupying from 8.29 % to 61.43 % in catches. In the sections of the Lena and Kirenga rivers where the least anthropogenic load is observed, in the Dalneye and Durgan lakes a complex age structure is characteristic, consisting of more than 10 age groups, with the predominance of fish of 4-5+ age in catches. The lowest age range is observed in the reservoirs where active fishing is observed; in the Kuta River and the Piljuda River the age range in catches is represented by 4 and 6 age groups, with predominance in catches of fish of 1+ age. The highest rates of linear weight growth among riverine populations are characteristic of fish from the main channel of the Lena River and the Kirenga River, slightly lower from the Vitim River. The lowest rates were recorded for perch from the Kuta and Peluda rivers. Among lacustrinal populations, the greatest growth is characteristic to perch from Dal’nee Lake and nearby Podkova Lake, the smallest being demonstrated by fish from the small floodplain lake Golubtsovskoye. Sex ratio of perch population in the main channel of Upper Lena is characterized by the change in the ratio of males and females with age from 1:0,69 in younger age groups to 1:1,9 in older age groups. In the Vitim River it is 1:1.55. In the Kirenga River it is 1:1.2 with an almost threefold superiority of females at age four. In the Dal’nee Lake, the proportion varies from 1:0.75 to 1:2.5 with age. In lakes Durgan, Blizhnee and Golubtsovskoe an essential prevalence of females over males in all age groups is observed; on the average it is 1:3.6, 1:1.4 and 1:1.7, respectively. Maturity in the Lena’s main channel occurs sporadically in males at the second year of life, in females one year later; in the Kirenga River at the age of three years; in the Vitim River, in males at the third year of life, in females at the fourth. Spawning takes place in the second half of May to early June. The absolute individual fecundity of perch from the Lena River averaged 27,200 eggs, 12,053 in the Peluda River, 32,400 in the Kirenga River, 30,780 eggs in Lake Dal’nee, 23,329 eggs in Lake Durgan, and 27,923 eggs in Lake Podkova. Perch is a predator by nature of feeding, the gudgeon and river minnow are the main food items in the Lena River, river minnow and Amur minnow in the Kirenga River, ruff, river minnow and young of their own species in the Vitim River, benthic organisms in the majority of lake reservoirs.

Evoluția fenofazelor de dezvoltare a unor specii de arbuști fructiferi în Republica Moldova

The paper presents the results of the study carried out regarding the development of the phenological phases of plant development of some species of fruit bushes in the Central area of the Republic of Moldova (the period of bud break, flowering and fruit ripening). It was established that the phenological phases of the studied species: raspberry (Rubus idaeus), black currant (Ribes nigrum), red currant (Ribes rubrum) and white currant (Ribes niveum), gooseberry (Ribes grossularia L.), Josta (Ribes x nidigrolaria), blackberry (Rubus caesius L.), sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.), honeysuckle (Lonicera kamtschatica), blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), dogwood (Viburnum opulus L.), chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa Elliott), rose hip (Rosa rugosa Thunb), most of them having an early start in vegetation, which coincides with March, flowering takes place in April, and ripening – in June–July. Exceptions are: honeysuckle, with the earliest vegetation (03–09.03), flowering between 30.03 and 26.04 and ripening fruits in the second half of May (19–25.05); raspberries enter vegetation later (09–21.04), bloom on throughout May, and ripening takes place staggered in June, remontant raspberry varieties begin to bloom in July and ripens staggered in August; blackberry, with the latest onset of vegetation and the latest flowering (18.05–04.06), thus avoiding late spring frosts. Ripening takes place in stages at the beginning of July.

Seasonal cruise Q2 2021

The spring season was the target for the Nansen Legacy cruise organized in late April and first half of May 2021 following the transect defined for this series of cruises to capture the variations of the year sampling physical, biological and chemical conditions in the ice and the sea. The transect went through both open water and ice. Seven process stations were visited (P1 through P7) together with smaller NLEG stations according to the program for the seasonal investigations. The first station (P1) was in open waters, while the remaining six main station had ice coverage of varying degree. Each of the process stations lasted 24 hours or more to allow a full diurnal cycle. Sampling included ice physics, ice samples, phytoplankton, zooplankton, marine chemistry and eco toxicology using acoustic, optical and robotics methods together with lab analyses of physical samples. Remote sensing data were also matched with in situ observations of both sea and ice conditions.

Analysis of Maize Sowing Periods and Cycle Phases Using Sentinel 1&2 Data Synergy

The reliability of crop-growth modelling is related to the accuracy of the information used to describe the agricultural growing phases. A proper knowledge of sowing periods has a significant impact on the effectiveness of any analysis based on modeled crop growth. In this work, an estimation of maize actual sowing periods for year 2019 is presented, combining the optical and radar information from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2. The crop classification was conducted according to the information provided by local public authorities over an area of 30 km × 30 km, and 1154 maize fields were considered within the analysis. The combined use of NDVI and radar time series enabled a high-resolution assessment of sowing periods and the description of maize emergence through the soil, by detecting changes in the ground surface geometry. A radar-based index was introduced to detect the periods when plants emerge through the soil, and the sowing periods were retrieved considering the thermal energy needed by seeds to germinate and the daily temperatures before the emergence. Results show that 52% of maize hectares were sowed in late April, while about 30% were sowed during the second half of May. Sentinel-1 appears more suitable to describe the late growing phase of maize, since the radar backscattering is sensitive to the dry biomass of plants while the NDVI decreases because of the chromatic change of leaves. This study highlights the potential of synergy between remote sensing sources for agricultural management policies and improving the accuracy of crop-related modelling.

Distribution, Morphology and Phenology of Anthrenus Nipponensis Kalik & Ohbayashi (Coleoptera: Dermestidae)

Little is known about the eastern Palaearctic species Anthrenus nipponensis, a member of the Palaearctic A. pimpinellae species complex. In the current study, a morphometric examination of specimens held in the Natural History Museum, London, is carried out. A. nipponensis is larger and narrower than most other species belonging to the complex. The unusual shape of the antennal club is illustrated and discussed. The male genitalia are small but of comparable size to several other Anthrenus species relative to body length. The accuracy of published drawings of A. nipponensis aedeagi is discussed. The literature is searched for records of A. nipponensis to produce a geographical and phenological distribution. The species is distributed across Japan, the Korean peninsula, north-eastern corner of China, and the south-eastern tip of Russia. The adult flight season peaks during the second half of May. Details on the life history are included.

Current state of populations, resources, and biological activity Pulsatilla patens (Ranunculaceae) in Northern Kazakhstan

Abstract. Aidarkhanova GS, Kubentayev SA, Kukhar YV, Urazalina AS. 2022. Current state of populations, resources, and biological activity Pulsatilla patens (Ranunculaceae) in Northern Kazakhstan. Biodiversitas 23: 2311-2320. Pulsatilla (Ranunculaceae Juss.) is one of the complex groups in systematic and nomenclature terms, which has more than 30 taxa. Pulsatilla species are widely used against many pathologies. Anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial, antimalarial, and antitumor properties of these plants are known. The object of our research was Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. (Ranunculaceae) from the allopathic complex P. patens with yellow flower color in the Northern regions of Kazakhstan. The article provides detailed information on environmental and biological features, morphology, geographical distribution, phylogenetic characteristics, and raw materials of P. patens in Northern Kazakhstan. In addition to these studies, the antimicrobial and fungicidal activity of extracts from leaves and roots of the species is shown. It was established that the species grows in 6 administrative regions of Central and Northern Kazakhstan and 7 floristic regions. In the studied region, P. patens are often found along rocky foothill terraces (mainly on the southern slopes), forest edges, along the southern slopes and tops of the hills of steppes, and among shrubs. Data on the study of P. patens biomorphology showed that quantitative parameters are characterized by the greatest intra- and inter-population variability CV (number of individuals per 1 m2 (38-69%); the number of basal leaves (44-61%); the number of generative shoots per bush (32-53%). Metric parameters such as height during flowering (17-27%), height during fruiting (12-18%), flower diameter (14-24%), leaf blade diameter (11-26%) are characterized by low and medium variability, both within the population and at the inter-population level. In the phenological aspect, the species begins to grow in the first half of April. Blooms from mid-April to early May. Bears fruit from the second half of May to early June. The complete end of vegetation falls at the end of September. Analysis of biological activity of stem extracts and leaves of P. patens of Kazakhstan population showed that they have pronounced fungicidal properties in relation to conditionally pathogenic yeast Candida parapsilosis and molds Aspergillus niger. Water decoction P. patens was also active against Escherichia coli, indicating that it has antibacterial properties.