High Winter Research Articles

Новый сорт клевера ползучего Ритм

The article presents a description of a new variety of creeping clover 'Ritm'. The variety is recommended for lawn and pasture use. A creeping bush. The foliage is 80%. The yield of green mass is 34.7 t/ha. The yield of dry matter is 8 t/ha. The crude protein content is 24%. The seed yield is 1.6 centner/ha. A distinctive feature of the variety is its abundant flowering (up to 860 pcs/m2 heads) and early maturity. The period from the beginning of spring vegetation to full ripeness of seeds is 110–115 days, from the first mowing to full ripeness of seeds from — 50 to 65 days. The variety has a high winter hardiness. When evaluated in the field of infectious backgrounds, the 'Ritm' variety showed complex resistance to cancer and Fusarium.

Field and laboratory investigations of clonal rootstocks in South Cisbaikal

The study of the possibility of using low-growing clonal rootstocks in the conditions of the South Сisbaikal, the territory most suitable for horticulture in the Irkutsk region, was the goal of this work. The studies were carried out in 2017-2022 on experimental plots, which are located in the Irkutsk district of the Irkutsk region and on the territory of SIPPB SB RAS (Irkutsk). Assembled collection was included: six varieties of clonal rootstocks bred by MichGAU (62-396, 54-118, 70-20-20, 70-6-8, 64-143, 62-223), stock bred by A.P. Apoyan (Armenian RIVWFG) (Arm18), rootstock of Estonian selection (E56), eight rootstocks of Orenburg ESHV selection (Ural, Ural2, Ural5, 18-7, B-3-4, 4-12, 8-2, OB), rootstock Crimean OSH (K-2). The conducted field observations allow us to state that clonal rootstocks can be used in horticulture in the South Сisbaikal. We found out that of all the studied clonal rootstocks, the rootstocks of the Ural selection Ural and Ural 2 and the rootstock of the Estonian selection E-56 showed high winter hardiness. We attributed clonal rootstocks 70-6-8, Arm18, K-2 to low winter-hardiness. The rest of the rootstocks over the years of research showed an average winter hardiness. The results of laboratory studies confirmed the high winter hardiness of E-56. The study of cultivar-rootstock combinations showed good compatibility of clonal rootstocks with semi-cultivated apple trees: strong fusion of the rootstock with the scion, active growth, well-developed leaf apparatus, the absence of any signs of starvation and discoloration. It has been statistically proven that the variety and type of rootstock affect the degree of temperature damage to the fruit tree. Highly winter-hardy clonal rootstocks and medium-hardy clonal rootstocks with high regenerative capacity were selected as promising for breeding.

New apple variety – Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok

The domestic apple tree (Malus domestica Borkh.) occupies a leading place among fruit crops, both in terms of area planted and in terms of gross fruit harvest. Currently, apple tree varieties are subject to strict requirements for highly adaptability, winter hardiness, early fruiting, high yield and quality of fruits. The new apple tree variety Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok (breeding number 1-18), meets many of the listed requirements, is the result of breeding work of the Orenburg branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture, aimed at improving the assortment and meeting the demand of producers and consumers of agricultural products in the Ural region. A variety of autumn ripening, universal use, obtained from open pollination of Antonovki Obyknovennoj and combines in its genotype such valuable qualities as high winter hardiness, productivity, and resistance to scab. The tree is medium in size, with a rounded crown of medium density. Fruits with an average weight of 152 g, conical, regular in shape. The surface of the fruit is smooth, slightly ribbed, the main color at the time of harvest and consumer ripeness is greenish-yellow. The outer color is present on a smaller part of the fruit and is orange. Subcutaneous dots are small, white, barely noticeable. The fruit pulp is creamy, dense, juicy, fine-grained, with a medium aroma. The taste is sweet and sour, pleasant, tasting score 4.4 points, average aroma. The shelf life of fruits is 20-30 days. Chemical composition of the fruit: sugar content 10.8 %, ascorbic acid 19.1 mg/100 g, dry matter 13.4 %; acidity 0.8 %. The Hrustal’nyj Bashmachok variety has average drought and heat resistance, is slightly affected by scab, and begins to bear fruit in the third year after planting. Over a long period of study, the variety showed a high level of economically valuable traits, including yield from 14.8 to 18.8 t/year and stable annual fruiting. The Crystal Shoe variety has been included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements approved for use in the Ural region since 2022 and is recommended for updating the industrial assortment of the region and cultivation in farms of various categories.

Persisting in extreme environments: What are the drivers of body conditions of introduced fish in high mountain lakes?

Abstract Salmonids are introduced in various ecosystems, including mountain lakes characterised by extreme environmental constraints. Although these constraints can affect salmonid body condition through direct and indirect pathways, they remain seldom explored despite their importance for understanding salmonid fitness and long‐term establishment. In order to fill this gap, we firstly fitted species‐specific weight–length relationships for three salmonid species in nine mountain lakes, and compared their allometric coefficients with those of 362 salmonid populations worldwide to identify potential differences in growth trajectory of salmonids in the studied lakes. We then investigated how thermal characteristics and lake morphometry could influence salmonid body conditions, both directly and indirectly through salmonid density, the presence of forage fish and resource densities. We calculated salmonid relative body condition Kn and used a structural equation model (SEM) to disentangle these direct and indirect effects. The values of allometric coefficients for the three species did not differ from those of most salmonids worldwide although ontogenetic changes in Salvelinus alpinus weight gain was observed. Kn differed significantly among the populations studied. The strongest effects were related to direct and indirect effects of lake morphometry, while thermal characteristics had mostly indirect effects on Kn. The strength and the sign of the indirect effects of morphometry and temperature were mediated by the direct effects of resource and salmonid densities on Kn. Kn estimates were greater in lakes with shallow basin slopes than those with steep slopes. Shallow basin slopes probably provide habitats that support high prey availability and require lower energy expenditure by salmonids compared to lakes with steep slopes dominated by pelagic habitats. Complementarily, higher winter and summer temperatures favour Kn by supporting higher prey densities and longer periods of feeding activity. Our results may help managers to select lakes that optimise sustainability of salmonid populations based on the joint effects of basin morphometry and the expected thermal modifications induced by global change.

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF WINTER RAPE HYBRIDS

The publication analyzes the portfolio of winter rape hybrids from BASF and conducts a comparative evaluation of them. It was found that these hybrids differed in phenological characteristics and resistance to diseases and unfavorable conditions. The main aspects of each hybrid that accompany it during the growing season are described in detail. Recommendations on the use of hybrids for different sowing dates are also given, which will ensure optimal wintering of winter rape. The hybrids were also evaluated in terms of moisture and its use during the growing season. Information on the timing of harvesting hybrids is important for farmers, as knowing this information allows them to plan harvesting dates, as overripening of winter rapeseed pods often leads to their cracking. That is why our portfolio of winter rapeseed hybrids can be divided into 3 maturity groups: medium early, medium ripe and medium late. An important quality indicator in winter rapeseed is the oil content in the seeds. It depends on the soil and climatic conditions of cultivation, fertilization, moisture supply and the degree of protection against diseases and pests. We analyzed the oil content in seeds for these hybrids. The analysis of BASF's winter rapeseed portfolio shows that the seeds of all the presented hybrids can be used for food purposes under proper growing conditions. Another characteristic of any winter rapeseed hybrid is its resistance to adverse environmental conditions and disease resistance. After analyzing the portfolio of winter rapeseed hybrids, it was found that all hybrids had high winter hardiness and drought resistance (7-8 points out of 9), which generally contributes to the formation of high seed yields with appropriate provision of mineral nutrients and timely chemical treatments against diseases and pests. Thus, from all of the above, it should be noted that it is important to select a winter rape hybrid with high sowing qualities and certain parameters specific to individual soil and climatic zones.

Палеоэкологические условия финала сарматской эпохи и их влияния на общества скотоводов и земледельцев Восточной Европы и Западной Сибири

The paper make an attempt to consider the cultural and historical events marking the final stage of the Sarmatian epoch from the point of view of climate dynamics in Eastern Europe. It has been confirmed that the Late Sarmatian period in the Lower Volga region coincided with increasing climate humidity and was characterized by high precipitation during the cold season. This occurred in conditions of the Siberian High weakening, resulted to penetration of the Atlantic and Mediterranean cyclones into the inland regions of Eastern Europe and the western areas of Western Siberia. This led to high snow cover formation and provoked a series of other unfavorable factors that triggered migrations and population decline in nomadic or semi-nomadic societies whose economic basis was cattle herding. We suppose that this climate change scenario was not limited to the Lower Volga region. In the article we analyze paleoclimatic, cultural and historical events of the 3rd – 4th centuries AD which occured in the adjacent regions. We found that during this period the Sargat culture, whose economy was based on semi-nomadic cattle breeding, was declining in most of the forest-steppe east of the Urals. The population in the Southern Urals almost completely disappeared by the last decades 3rd century AD. The area of the Late Sarmatian culture from the Lower Volga region is reduced to the Astrakhan Right Bank of the Volga. Only the Lower Don and the Sal-Manych steppes remained inhabited, which is probably due to the regional resource base specifics. Therefore, in most part of Eastern Europe and the western regions of Western Siberia, the population was declining or disappearing long before the Huns invasion, and increase in climate humidity was among the contributing factors. At the same time, the humid climate of the 3rd – 4th centuries AD had a beneficial impact on the crop production. A high winter precipitation provided the flourish of agricultural societies.

Оценка гибридных сеянцев яблони по основным хозяйственно-биологическим признакам в Оренбургской области

Abstract. The aim is to evaluate hybrid apple seedlings according to the main economic and biological characteristics in the conditions of the Orenburg region. Methods. The studies were carried out from 2002 to 2022 in the Orenburg branch of the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture. The objects of research were 10 hybrid families of apple trees selected by the Federal State Budget Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture. The main observations and records on the main economic and biological characteristics were carried out according to the methodology “Program and methodology for the selection of fruit, berry and nut crops”, “Program and methodology for the study of variety of fruit, berry and nut crops”, statistical processing of experimental data was carried out by the method of two-factor analysis of variance, where A is the variety, B is the year. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that as a result of the conducted research, promising hybrid forms with a complex of economically valuable traits, with a high potential for productivity and large-fruiting in the conditions of the Orenburg region have been identified. Results. The genetic collection of the Orenburg branch of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution of the Federal Scientific Center for Horticulture serves as a fundamental basis for breeding work, which makes it possible to intensify the creation of adaptive, highly productive apple varieties. It has been established that the majority of hybrid apple seedlings have high winter hardiness. Weak freezing (0.2–0.5 points) characterizes hybrids of crossbreeding combinations, such as BratChud × Simvol, Kovrovoe × Anis Sverdlovskiy. Phytosanitary monitoring carried out on the site of hybrid apple seedlings showed that over the years of the study, weather conditions did not allow the development of diseases in the apple tree. On average, fruits in the offspring were 1-1, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 1-8, 1-9, 1-10 (140.0 ... 150.0 g). The greatest productivity was formed by hybrids of combinations of crossing BratChud × Simvol (24.6 kg/tree), Orskoe × Prizemlennoe (24.0 kg/tree) and Arkaim × Podarok Orenburzh’yu (24.2 kg/tree).

Ability of the GRAPES Ensemble Forecast Product to Forecast Extreme Temperatures over the Tibetan Plateau

Due to climate change, extreme temperature events are receiving increased attention. Based on the climate state deviation and threat score (TS), the ability of the Global/Regional Assimilation and Prediction System (GRAPES) ensemble model to forecast extreme temperature events was examined. The “optimal” Extreme Forecast Index (EFI) was derived for plateau forecasting, and its predictability was examined based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve method. Meanwhile, the applicability of the Shift of Tails (SOT) index to extreme temperature forecasting was analyzed using extreme temperature cases. Results showed that the GRAPES model has a warm bias for both summer extreme high temperature and winter extreme low temperature, and the warm bias decreases slightly with an increase in the forecasting lead time. The ensemble mean and median forecasts are less effective, and the maximum value is more predictable. However, for the ensemble forecast model, the extreme information in its forecast is more unstable, and the limitation of the extreme temperature forecast in the plateau region is higher. With different forecast lead times, the TS tends to increase and then decrease with an increase in the EFI threshold, which means that there is an optimal EFI. The optimal EFI thresholds for summer extreme high-temperature forecasts are all less than −0.5, while for winter extreme low-temperature forecasts, they are almost all less than 0. From the ROC curves, the EFI has a certain level of predictability for summer extreme high temperatures but poorer forecasting effects. Furthermore, the EFI has some predictability for extreme summer high temperatures, but the prediction effect is poor. For the extremely low temperatures in winter, which are poorly predicted by the model itself, post-processing of the extreme information predicted by the model with the EFI can improve the forecasting effect of the model. Through analysis of individual cases, it was found that the extreme intensity reflected by the SOT_+ (0.9) index of the model was closer to reality for the prediction of extremely high temperatures, whereas for the prediction of extremely low temperatures, the extreme intensity indicated by the SOT_− (0.1) index of the model was weaker. Therefore, the SOT index can play an important auxiliary role in the prediction of the intensity of extreme events based on the EFI.

Benefits and thermal limits of CO2-driven signaled windows opening in schools: an in-depth data-driven analysis

In the post-pandemic era, Signaled Manual Airing (SMA, i.e. windows opening driven by alarms and real-time IAQ measurements) is still expected to play a role in schools, either independently or in support of mechanical ventilation (MV) systems, as a cost-effective solution to meet more stringent regulatory requirements for indoor CO2 levels. The present study in-depth evaluates the impact of SMA on improved levels of CO2 but also its thermal downside in winter via a dedicated IoT-IAQ monitoring platform equipped with fully tuneable multi-threshold alarm schemes. An aged middle-school building, representative of a large amount of old existing school buildings in Italy (and Europe) and a Northern Italy location, were selected to investigate cold and high humidity winter conditions as the most critical for SMA. The mean indoor CO2 difference with reference classrooms without alarms ranged from 20% to an impressive nearly 70% reduction. We demonstrate a clear dependence on signalling mode and level of system usage learning. The best results were in fact attained with acoustically enhanced signalling (acu-SMA). As a downside effect, operating SMA at even moderately cold latitudes caused also thermal discomfort during the coldest days, with worsened response to the alarms. The observed mean CO2 levels maintained by classroom groups appear to be correlated with the average indoor temperature and its inverse product [CO2*Tindoor]-1 to a cumulative fatigue function with memory effect, referred as “thermal behavioural fatigue“. Bounds of generalization, further developments towards hybrid ventilation solutions and most suitable Italian regions for operating SMA in schools are finally discussed.

Near-field variability of evaposublimation in a montane conifer forest

Methods that combine in-situ measurements, statistical methods, and model simulations with remotely sensed data provide a pathway for improving the robustness of surface flux products. For this research, we acquired eddy-covariance fluxes along a five-tower transect in a snowy montane forest over three consecutive winters to characterize near-field variability of the subcanopy environment. The novel experiment design enabled discriminating near-field evaposublimation sources. Boosted regression trees reveal that the predictive capacity of state variables change with season and storm cycle frequency. High rates of post-storm evaposublimation of canopy-intercepted snow at this site were constrained by short residence time of snow in the canopy due to throughfall and melt. The snow melt-out date for open vs. closed canopy conditions depended on total snowfall accumulation. Compared with low accumulation years, the snow melt-out date under the dense canopy during the high accumulation winter was later than for the open area, as shading became more important later in the season. The field experiments informed an environmental response function that was used to integrate ERA5-Land latent heat flux data at 20-km nominal resolution with USFS Tree Canopy Fraction data at 30-m resolution and showed near-field flux variability that was not resolved in model simulations. Previous evaposublimation results from experiments in alpine and subalpine environments do not directly translate to a montane forest due to differences in process rates.

Dispersal of juvenile Barrow’s goldeneyes (Bucephala islandica) mirrors that of breeding adults

Barrow’s goldeneyes across western North America have been shown to have a high degree of subpopulation independence using several data types. However, evidence for structured populations based on mitochondrial DNA, band recoveries, and tracking of adults is discordant with evidence from autosomal DNA. We used satellite tracking data from both juveniles and adults marked on natal and breeding grounds, respectively, in British Columbia, Canada to evaluate the hypothesis that male-biased juvenile dispersal maintains genetic panmixia of Pacific Barrow’s goldeneyes otherwise structured by migratory movements and high winter and breeding site fidelity of adults. We found that juvenile males traveled to overwintering sites located within the range of the overwintering sites of juvenile females, adult males, and adult females. Juvenile males migrated at the same time, travelled the same distance when moving between natal and overwintering sites, and had the same winter dispersion as juvenile females. Although juveniles did not travel with attendant females, all juveniles overwintered within the wintering range of adults. We tracked some juveniles into the following spring/summer and even second winter. Prospecting juveniles of both sexes travelled from their wintering grounds to potential breeding sites in the proximity of Riske Creek and within the bounds of the breeding locations used by adults. Juveniles tracked for more than a year also showed relatively high winter site fidelity. Because Barrow’s goldeneyes pair on wintering grounds, our tracking data are not consistent with the hypothesis that male-biased juvenile dispersal explains the genetic structure in the mitochondrial DNA and panmixia in the autosomal DNA of Barrow’s goldeneye. We suggest that uncommon or episodic dispersal of males might be enough to homogenize autosomal DNA but is unlikely to influence demographic population structure relevant to contemporary population management.

Introduced resistant grape variety Frontenac Blanc

Th e paper presents a variety trial and technological evaluation of the wine material from Frontenac Blanc grape, isolated as a color mutation in Canada plantations of the Frontenac Gris variety in 2006. Th e study was carried out in 2020–2022 in compliance with vitiviniculture recognized methodology in soil and climatic conditions of Potapenko All-Russian Research Institute of Viticulture and Winemaking, a branch of Federal Rostov Agrarian Scientifi c Centre, Novocherkassk, Rostov Oblast, Russia. Vineyards are open-earth, rainfed, graft ed, with Kober 5BB rootstock, 3.0×1.5 m planting scheme, shaping: double-shouldered low (40 cm) horizontal cordon, short pruning on knots. Agricultural technology is standard, generally recognized. Frontenac Blanc is found to obtain high winter hardiness, promising for open-earth cultivation. Th e variety has good resistance to infections: to mildew (2.0 score), oidium (2.5 score); grey rot has not been observed. Th erefore, frequent use of pesticides is not required and vineyard maintenance is simplifi ed. Th e high level of sugars (248 g/dm3) and t itratable acids (10.4 g/dm3) in t h e juice ensures a harmonious wine with well-balanced acidity. Due to such characteristics, the variety is considered to be promising for the production of diff erent wine styles, including dry still, semi-dry, as well as sparkling and liqueur wines. Th e wine material from Frontenac Blanc presents a distinguishing character, bright fruit aromas, rich structured fl avor, and lingering fi nish. Th e average tasting score of the wine material comprises 8.6 points (on a 1–10 scale). Th e variety has a high yield (16 tonnes/ha), which does not adversely aff ect the quality of products. Frontenac Blanc is resistant to cold and early ripening period (120 days) and can be eff ectively grown in regions with previously limited production due to extreme climatic conditions. Considering that, an innovative development of the wine industry in areas with cool and uncertain climate possesses a high potential.

Identification of cold tolerance and some agronomic traits of advanced safflower genotypes developed by hybridization

AbstractThe development of winter‐tolerant safflower genotypes is crucial for the improvement of global safflower agriculture. The aim of the present study was to determine the cold tolerance abilities and some agricultural characteristics of advanced safflower genotypes. For this purpose, 10 advanced safflower genotypes were used in four different locations. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Winter survival and agricultural characteristics were significantly affected by growing season, location and genotype. Winter survival varies between 86.43% and 93.91% among the genotypes which is promising for winter sowing. As the average of 2 years, the highest oil content (36.25%) was observed in genotype EC21 and it was followed by genotypes EC11 (35.51%) and EC20 (35.49%). As with the seed yield, the high winter survival of genotypes with high oil content is highly promising in terms of winter sowing. Safflower should be grown in winter with mild temperature regions for high seed yield and sustainable safflower production. Therefore, this study focused on winter‐tolerant genotypes that are superior one in terms of seed yield and oil content.

Wintering and migration strategies of Slavonian Grebes Podiceps auritus breeding in Iceland

ABSTRACT Capsule Slavonian Grebes Podiceps auritus breeding in Iceland moult on freshwater, before migrating to the seas around the British Isles for the winter. Aims The aims were to describe the migration strategies and identify wintering areas of Slavonian Grebes breeding in Iceland. Methods Geolocators were fitted to 37 Slavonian Grebes breeding on two lakes in north-east Iceland from 2009 to 2012. Of these, 19 were recovered and provided useful data on wintering areas and migration timing. Results The results indicated that the grebes moulted on freshwater lakes before gradually moving to the sea and later migrating to the wintering areas. Most of the birds wintered on the sea around the British Isles. However, there was surprisingly high variation in wintering strategies and little overlap of wintering areas. Grebes tracked for consecutive years showed high wintering philopatry. Conclusion Individual Slavonian Grebes may be vulnerable to local environmental conditions, but the high variability in wintering strategies and relatively large non-breeding distribution is expected to make the population generally less sensitive to local environmental conditions in the wintering areas over the long term.

Carotenoid content in <i>Prunus armeniaca</i> L. apricot fruits depending on the extraction method

In the middle of the 20th century, specialists of the Tsitsin Main Moscow Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences collected a valuable apricot gene pool characterized by high diversity and winter hardiness. From this gene pool, L.A. Kramarenko carried out selection work to develop winter-hardy apricot varieties, such as Aisberg, Vodoley, Guiani, Lel’, Tsarsky and others, which were included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation. The use of these varieties in further selective breeding requires information on their carotenoid content. In this work, we determine carotenoids in apricot (Prunus armeniaca L., Rosaceae) fruits of Moscow breeding varieties Aisberg, Vodoley, Guiani, Lel’, Tsarsky and Zachat’ievsky. We employed different extraction methods of plant raw materials, contributing to the optimal extraction of carotenoids from apricot fruits. Extraction was performed with hexane, 96% ethanol at room temperature, and EtOH heated to 60°C (water bath) for 40 min. The highest carotenoid content was observed in Lel’ (31.73 mg%) and Vodoley (31.77 mg%) varieties, while the lowest content was observed in the Zachat’ievsky sample (11.93 mg%). The application of multiple solvents increases the reliability of determining carotenoids in plants for computational and experimental studies. The discovered range of their content can be used for description of promising forms during breeding works. In this way, new and beneficial for health varieties may emerge.

Seasonality and risk factor analysis of respiratory syncytial virus infection in children in Taiwan-A retrospective study from 1995 to 2005.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the important pathogens leading to acute respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. We aimed to investigate the seasonality of RSV infection in different parts of Taiwan and to delineate the risk factors for severe RSV infections. We collected RSV-infected patients' data by retrospective chart review. A total of 1740 RSV-infected children aged under 18 years were enrolled. The infection was acquired during hospitalization in 103 (7.1%) children, while none of them required ventilator support or needed intensive care before RSV infection. The need for intensive care or ventilator support was significantly associated with congenital heart disease (CHD), chronic lung disease, and neuromuscular diseases. Age <1 year and nosocomially acquired infection are also significant predictors for the need of intensive care. Only the presence of CHD, especially acyanotic CHD, was significantly associated with a fatal outcome. RSV infection occurs all year round. Monthly distribution of RSV infections in Northern Taiwan showed a bimodal pattern, with one peak from March to May, and another from August to October. The distribution in Southern Taiwan showed a single peak from April to July. The occurrence of RSV correlates positively with temperature and rain. The bimodal seasonal distribution pattern in Northern Taiwan may be a transitional pattern shifting from a single high winter peak in temperate areas to a wider summer peak in tropical areas. Continuous surveillance is needed to explore the possible effect of global warming on the seasonality of RSV infection.

Peculiarities of the modern global warming

The peculiarities of modern climate warming and the influence of global atmospheric circulation on it are considered from the position of solar-terrestrial relations. The role of the main atmospheric currents between the equator and both poles of the Earth is so great that for four decades it has caused unprecedentedly strong forest fires and other natural disasters which affected not only Siberia and Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece and others) but also the USA, Canada and Australia. Another phenomenon of the modern climate is a paradoxically high winter warming in the zone of the Siberian anticyclone. Due to intensification of meridian circulation since the last quarter of the 20th century, the increase in mean annual temperature at the cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere in Yakutia has twice exceeded indicators of other regions and dictates the course of warming of all Northern Asia and North America. The warming wave from the center of the Yakutian core has even reached the southern periphery of the anticyclone in the Northern Tien Shan. The practical side of the study concerns the actively developing oil and gas complex of Yakutia. In nearest future Yakutia will not leave the zone of dangerous forest fires. Along with the costs of extinguishing fires, additional expenses will be required here to deal with post-fire cryogenic transformations of the highly porous base soils. Atmospheric meridian circulation is too large-scale phenomenon to avoid it at the regional level. It amplifies the dynamics of all natural processes in both hemispheres of the Earth and is modulated only by the Sun’s activity in the course of its 11-year and hundred-year cycles.

Breeders’ age, nest-site characteristics and climatic conditions but not density-dependent effects determine Bonelli’s Eagle breeding performance: A long-term study (2002–2021)

Abstract The conservation of endangered species is a crucial topic in conservation biology due to the important ecological roles these species play in their respective ecosystems. Top predators are particularly vulnerable to the variation in environmental conditions. The Bonelli’s Eagle (Aquila fasciata) is a long-lived bird of prey that fulfills its role as a top predator in Mediterranean ecosystems, but its overall population has declined in the Iberian Peninsula in recent decades. As with other long-lived species, the Bonelli’s Eagle reaches its maximum fitness at maturity, highlighting the importance of assessing how intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect population dynamics over time. In this study, we conducted annual surveys of a Bonelli’s Eagle subpopulation in the eastern Iberian Peninsula from 2002 to 2021. Our results indicate that the large decline observed in the number of occupied territories, fledged chicks, and successful pairs is not due to negative density-dependent effects but rather influenced by various environmental and demographic factors. These factors include breeders’ age, nest-site characteristics, climatic conditions, and previous breeding costs. We found that productivity was higher in territories with high winter precipitation and temperatures, as well as in coastal areas, leading to earlier laying dates. Additionally, the presence of subadult individuals in the breeding pair decreased breeding performance. Interestingly, the variability in the number of fledglings in each territory was driven by previous breeding costs. Prioritizing efforts to mitigate adult mortality and conserve suitable habitats becomes imperative to halt the ongoing decline of this population and also to enhance productivity, ultimately facilitating the restoration of the species to previous population levels.

Ecological and biological bases of creating source material of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) on adaptability and productivity for further breeding

The research relevance is determined by the constant striving to improve and enhance sea buckthorn genotypes by using different genetic resources and breeding methods to achieve better adaptability, higher productivity, and fruit quality. The research aims to expand the genetic diversity of sea buckthorn, which combines high productivity and quality for further breeding. Phenology, morphological studies, and evaluation of breeding material for economically valuable traits were carried out according to the methodology for the examination of plant varieties, and molecular genetic studies – according to the polymerase chain reaction method, which is based on multiple copies of a specific DNA region. The formative process in sea buckthorn breeding for adaptability, productivity and quality was expanded by using the gene pool of related forms, which is one of the ways to solve the problems of creating source material for further breeding and is the basis of the research, which established a wide range of formative process by morphological traits and biological properties as a result of the hybridisation of biotypes, which allowed to select valuable hybrids for a set of breeding and, in particular, new forms of Soborna and Adaptyvna Improved were identified, characterised by high winter and drought resistance, productivity and fruit quality, absence of thorns and dry fruit separation, and submitted to the State Variety Testing. The obtained genotypes of sea buckthorn plants combine resistance to high and low environmental temperatures with a complex of other economic traits: disease resistance, low or no thorniness, fruit quality and their suitability for processing and production of products for healthy nutrition. The practical value of the study is based on the fact that the results of the research expand the information on the use of sea buckthorn adaptability, productivity, and quality in breeding, selected and studied in the natural and fallow ecosystems of Polissia and Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. As a result of the study, the best samples were selected and included in the Genetic Bank of Plants of Ukraine as material with valuable horticultural traits and involved in breeding work at the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine

Morpho-physiological characteristics of plants and biochemical parameters of rowan berries, common rowan, and domestic rowan grown in the conditions of the Northern Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

The relevance of this subject lies in the comparative evaluation of different species of rowan to increase their significance and use in the system of ornamental and fruit horticulture, in the technologies of processing plant raw materials, and in the production of products for healthy nutrition. The purpose of the study is to examine the morpho-physiological characteristics of plants and the biochemical parameters of the fruits of different species (varieties, forms) of the genus Sorbus. Based on the results of practical research, original data on the morphology and economic characteristics of representatives (varieties and forms) of Sorbus intermedia Pers., Sorbus aucuparia L., Sorbus domestica L. are presented. Biological properties of the plants and biochemical parameters of the fruits are highlighted. It is established that all studied representatives of the genus Sorbus have high winter hardiness (1.5 points according to S.Ya. Sokolova), in addition, Scandinavian rowan plants have high drought resistance (4.5 points according to S.S. Pyatnitsky) compared to common rowan plants. Phenological observations of plants of different rowan species allowed for the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine to determine the time of onset of ontogenesis phases: development of vegetative buds, appearance of leaves, shoot growth, budding, and flowering, formation and development of ovaries, ripening and fruiting, changes in leaf colour, and leaf fall. Subphases that more accurately characterise the time of onset, peak, and end of a certain phase of development have also been identified, which is a scientific achievement for strategies in the system of ornamental and fruit horticulture. The growth intensity of varieties and forms of representatives of the Sorbus genus in height was studied, and the general condition of plants for viability is evaluated. Preparatory work on the preparation of rootstocks, the selection of scions, and grafting allowed the formation of model plants in the collection nursery and additional assessment of their growth strength, the onset and passage of individual phases of development, assessment of drought and winter hardiness, age of fruiting, and more. Biometrics and descriptions of stem, branches, vegetative and generative buds, leaves, inflorescences, and fruits are also conducted. The taste characteristics of the fruits are described in the materials of the paper. Biochemical analysis of the fruits allowed establishing their suitability for processing and the production of products for healthy nutrition