Irtysh River Basin Research Articles

FLOOD RISK MAPPING IN THE IRTYSH RIVER BASIN USING SATELLITE DATA

Floods are among the most frequent and devastating natural disasters, causing significant economic damage and loss of life worldwide. Effective flood risk management relies on accurate modeling techniques that can predict vulnerable areas and assess potential impacts. In this study, flood dynamics are simulated in the Irtysh River Basin near Ust-Kamenogorsk, a city in East Kazakhstan prone to seasonal flooding using high-resolution satellite imagery and digital elevation data. The primary objective is to visually model flood risks based on terrain characteristics. The study utilizes imagery sourced from the Mapbox platform, which combines data from MODIS, Landsat 7, Maxar, and the Google Earth Engine, providing access to Sentinel-2 surface reflectance imagery at 10-meter resolution. Elevation data from the Copernicus global digital elevation model, with a 30-meter resolution, is used to simulate flood progression. The flood simulation involves calculating flood depth relative to the terrain’s elevation, allowing for a pixel-by-pixel determination of submerged areas. Each simulation incrementally increases water levels to generate a sequence of images, showcasing the progression of flooding over time. The study describes hydraulic soil characteristics usage, and focuses on visualizing flood risk based on terrain data and water level changes. The simulation results indicate that flooding initially impacts riverbanks as water flow starts from the northwest of the city with critical infrastructure becoming vulnerable once water levels exceed 2 meters from the lowest elevation point. These findings highlight the potential of high-resolution satellite imagery and terrain data for flood risk assessment and improving urban flood preparedness. The results provide valuable insights into flood progression enabling more informed decision-making for disaster mitigation.

Glomalin-Related Soil Protein Plays Different Roles in Soil Organic Carbon Pool Maintaining among Different Grassland Types

Glomalin-related soil protein (GRSP) is an important component of soil organic carbon (SOC), which can promote long-term SOC sequestration. However, GRSP distribution characteristics and its contribution to the SOC pool among different grassland types remain poorly understood. Therefore, six grassland types (alpine meadow, mountain meadow, temperate meadow steppe, temperate steppe, temperate desert steppe, and temperate desert) were chosen to evaluate the contribution of GRSP to the SOC pool and the factors that influence GRSP accumulation in the Irtysh River Basin in China. The results revealed that GRSP (EE-GRSP, T-GRSP) accumulated more in the 0–10 cm soil layer than in the 10–20 cm soil layer (p < 0.05). GRSP content was higher in alpine grasslands (15.69 mg·g−1) than in desert grasslands (5.45 mg·g−1). However, their contribution to the SOC pool exhibited an opposite trend, whereas GRSP-C/SOC even accounted for 11.88% in the desert grasslands. The redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that SOC was the top important positive regulator for GRSP accumulation both in the two layers (explanatory rate > 80%). Besides the SOC factor, the two soil layers had different factors in regulating GRSP accumulation. Changes in GRSP content in the 0–10 cm soil layer were more strongly associated with mean annual temperature (MAT), sand content, soil water content (SWC), and silt content. In contrast, in the 10–20 cm soil layer, GRSP content was more influenced by SWC, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH (p < 0.05). Additionally, the main factor in the GRSP content variation was the interaction between climate and soil in the two soil layers (explanatory rate > 80%). Our findings underscore the critical role of GRSP in facilitating SOC sequestration within desert grasslands and elucidate the primary factors driving GRSP distribution across varying soil depths.

Implications of Water Quality Index and Multivariate Statistics for Improved Environmental Regulation in the Irtysh River Basin (Kazakhstan)

The selection of sites for permanent environmental monitoring of natural water bodies should rely on corresponding source apportionment studies. Tools like the water quality index (WQI) assessment may support this objective. This study aims to analyze a decade-long dataset of measurements of 26 chemical components at 26 observation points within the Irtysh River Basin, aiming to identify priority zones for stricter environmental regulations. It was achieved through the WQI tool integrated with geoinformation systems (GISs) and multivariate statistical techniques. The findings highlighted that both upstream sections of tributaries (Oba and Bukhtarma rivers) and the mainstream of the basin are generally in good condition, with slight fluctuations observed during flooding periods. Areas in the basin experiencing significant impacts from mining and domestic wastewater treatment activities were identified. The rivers Glubochanka (GL) and Krasnoyarka (KR) consistently experienced marginal water quality throughout the observation period. Various contaminant sources were found to influence water quality. The impact of domestic wastewater treatment facilities was represented by twofold elevated concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, reaching 22.6 and 27.1 mg/L for the KR and GL rivers, respectively. Natural factors were indicated by consistent slight exceedings of recommended calcium levels at the KR and GL rivers. These exceedances were most pronounced during the cold seasons, with an average value equal to 96 mg/L. Mining operations introduced extremal concentrations of trace elements like copper, reaching 0.046–0.051 mg/L, which is higher than the threshold by 12–13 times; zinc, which peaked at 1.57–2.96 mg/L, exceeding the set limit by almost 50–100 times; and cadmium, peaking at levels surpassing 1000 times the safe limit, reaching 0.8 mg/L. The adverse impact of mining activities was evident in the Tikhaya, Ulba, and Breksa rivers, showing similar trends in trace element concentrations. Seasonal effects were also investigated. Ice cover formation during cold seasons led to oxygen depletion and the exclusion of pollutants into the stream when ice melted, worsening water quality. Conversely, flooding events led to contaminant dilution, partially improving the WQI during flood seasons. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that local natural processes, mining activities, and domestic wastewater discharge were the predominant influences on water quality within the study area. These findings can serve as a basis for enhanced environmental regulation in light of updated ecological legislation in Kazakhstan, advocating for the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring network and the reinforcement of requirements governing contaminating activities.

Unique Plant Resources and Distribution Patterns in the Valley Forest of the Irtysh River Basin.

The river valley forests of the Irtysh River Basin are a germplasm bank of Salicaceae species and rare plant resources in China, and the distribution varies with the river and is highly distinctive. However, there is a dearth of systematic research on the characteristics of plant resources. In this study, a comprehensive investigation was conducted in the trunk stream and six tributaries with valley forest distribution in the Irtysh River Basin, and 244 quadrats were set up. The analysis focused on the composition of the flora and resource characteristics. The results reveal the following: (1) The valley forests of the Irtysh River Basin contain 256 species of plants belonging to 57 families and 178 genera, among which 19 species of trees, 23 species of shrubs, and 214 species of herbs were investigated. (2) Among the identified species, 226 (88.67%) were recognized as resource plants, with medicinal plants being the most abundant (176 species, 68.75% of the total). (3) The distribution patterns of trees, shrubs, and herbs of each resource type vary across rivers. Elevation drop, river length, and river distance all significantly affect the number of specie. This study elucidated the current status and distributional characteristics of plant resources in the valley forests of the Irtysh River Basin, which is essential for both biodiversity conservation and sustainable resource utilization.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Thymallus sp. in China based on morphological and molecular markers

Thymallus sp. is a native fish species distributed in the Irtysh River Basin in China. Unfortunately, environmental damage and overfishing have led to a significant decline in Arctic grayling resources, pushing them towards endangerment. However, there is a lack of comprehensive genetic information regarding the wild populations of Thymallus sp., which poses challenges for the development of effective conservation strategies for their genetic resources. In response, this study collected 180 samples from six major tributaries within the Irtysh River Basin. It conducted a thorough investigation of Thymallus sp.'s morphological and genetic variations using morphometric measurements and microsatellite markers. The results showed that the morphological differences among the six populations were relatively minor, and none of the morphological traits reached the subspecies level or higher. Genetic analysis showed that all six populations of Thymallus sp. possessed high genetic diversity, with genetic variations among populations accounting for only 6.30 % of the total variation, suggesting that the current status of the germplasm resources was relatively good. However, due to overfishing, which had led to a decline in the number of effective breeding groups, some inbreeding has occurred within populations. Moreover, the construction of dams has hindered gene exchange, leading to a certain tendency towards genetic differentiation within the populations. This was evidenced by the clustering of Burqin and Haba into one genetic group, while Kuirt, Kayit, Kalaerzis, and Crane were classified into another genetic group. This study offers an important reference for the management and conservation of Thymallus sp. populations in the Irtysh River Basin.

Spatial Distribution Patterns and Influencing Factors of Dominant Species in Plain Valley Forests of the Irtysh River Basin

The Irtysh River, which stretches for 633 km, is the second longest river in Xinjiang. The valley forests within its basin are unique forest resources that exhibit crucial ecological functions and form an integral part of China’s “Three North” Shelterbelt Forest Project. However, previous studies mainly focused on individual tributaries or main streams, lacking comprehensive research on the overall river and valley forest resources and their ecological functions. To address this research gap based on comprehensive investigations, this study analyzed the dominant species composition, spatial distribution patterns, and influencing factors of valley forests across various branches of the Irtysh River basin plain. The results revealed the presence of 10 local tree species in the area, with Populus laurifolia, Populus alba, Salix alba, and Betula pendula as the dominant species. However, seedling regeneration was relatively weak. P. laurifolia, P. alba, and S. alba were widely distributed across tributaries and main streams, whereas B. pendula was primarily found in the tributaries. The four dominant species exhibited distinct clustering patterns. The concentration intensity of these dominant species in the main stream of the Irtysh River basin was significantly higher than those in other tributaries, with P. laurifolia showing a lower concentration intensity across the entire basin than the other dominant species. Negative density dependence was the primary biological factor influencing species aggregation intensity, with significant positive effects on P. alba and S. alba and significant negative effects on B. pendula. Among the abiotic factors, elevation had a significant positive effect on the aggregation intensities of P. alba, S. alba, and B. pendula, indicating that these species tend to aggregate more densely at higher elevations. Conversely, slope had a significant negative impact on the aggregation intensities of P. laurifolia, P. alba, and S. alba, suggesting that increasing slope steepness leads to a decrease in the clustering of these species. Similarly, the distance from the river channel had a significant negative effect on the aggregation intensities of S. alba and B. pendula, implying that as the distance from the river increases, the clustering patterns of these species become less pronounced. This study aimed to detail the current state of valley forest resources and their ecological functions, thereby laying a foundation for their effective protection.

Inter‐ and intraspecific stomatal morphological traits vary in response to topographic habitat changes

AbstractQuestionsStomata can reflect the plant's adaptation to environmental changes. However, the variation patterns of stomatal traits across different habitats and their relationships with environmental drivers are still poorly understood. Here, we assessed the extent of interspecific and intraspecific variation in stomatal traits in two typical riparian forests, and investigated how stomatal traits adapt to habitat change as well as trait–environment relationships.LocationThe Irtysh River Basin in China.MethodsWe measured the stomatal density (SD), stomatal size (SS), and stomatal relative area (SRA) of dominant plant species from two riparian forests: (1) a riparian forest in the valley and (2) a riparian forest in the pediment plain. We analyzed the stomatal trait variation patterns of dominant plant species in different habitats. We then quantified the magnitude of intraspecific and interspecific stomatal trait variability and evaluated the relationships between stomatal traits and environmental factors.ResultsWe found that SD and SRA were significantly higher in pediment plain forests than in valley forests, whereas SS was not significantly different between these habitats. The SD and SRA of trees in pediment plain forests were significantly higher than those in valley forests, whereas there were no significant differences in understory plants between habitats. The interspecific variation in each stomatal trait was significantly higher than the intraspecific variation. Stomatal traits were more related to the soil environment than to climatic factors.ConclusionsResponse strategies of stomatal traits to habitat changes differed between species and functional groups, and trait–environment relationships depended on the habitat type of the riparian forest. Our analysis of stomata trait variation implies adaptive strategies in species of natural riparian forest. Insights into trait–environment relationships could be used to predict carbon and water cycling, and vegetation changes in riparian forests of arid regions, especially in the context of climate change.

Genetic Diversity of Dominant Species Betula pendula in River Valley Forests in the Irtysh River Basin and Sustainable Conservation Measures for the Future

Biodiversity is the basis for the maintenance and functioning of ecosystems. Genetic diversity is at the heart of biodiversity, and therefore an understanding of the current state of plant genetic diversity can contribute to the future provision of sustainable ecological values and services by ecosystems. This study was conducted in the Irtysh River basin (five tributaries) with the dominant species of river valley forests, Betula pendula. Sampling points were set up at approximately 10 km intervals within each tributary using a random sampling method for genetic diversity studies based on chloroplast microsatellite molecular markers. The results indicated that (1) nine alleles were identified in 198 samples. The genetic diversity of Betula pendula was relatively rich in all tributaries (I = 0.216~0.546); genetic diversity was significantly higher in the downstream area of the basin than in the midstream and upstream areas of the basin. Genetic differentiation was at a low level in the tributaries except for the Berezek River, where genetic differentiation was high. (2) Genetic variation was mainly derived from within populations, accounting for 62% of the total genetic variation. The genetic distance was significantly positively correlated with the geographical distance (p < 0.05). The Betula pendula population structure was divided into two major groups. (3) Twelve haplotypes were identified in the basin. The dominant haplotypes in the upper tributaries were H2 and H4, while in the lower tributaries these were H1 and H3. Therefore, this paper suggests the future establishment of a germplasm resource bank for populations of the Berezek River, and the implementation of priority conservation measures for the downstream populations with higher genetic diversity, so as to realize the sustainable ecological value of the valley forests of the Betula pendula.

The finding of Unio pictorum (Linnaeus, 1758) (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the Om’ River, Western Siberia

Juvenile and subadult individuals of the Painter’s mussel Unio pictorum (Linnaeus, 1788) were recorded in dredge samples from the Om’ River in the Omsk City (southwestern part of Western Siberia). Information on the size-weight characteristics of U. pictorum from the site, its abundance and biomass are given. Possible consequences of the introduction of this neobiotic species into aquatic ecosystems of the Irtysh River basin are discussed.

Framework for comprehensive assessment of ecological water conveyance based on long-term evolution forecast of riparian forests in arid floodplains: synergistic consideration of flood inundation and groundwater

Ecological water conveyance (EWC) is a crucial measure to address ecological degradation in arid regions. To scientifically formulate ecological water conveyance pattern (WCP), and provide a basis for ecological flow management of reservoirs, this study proposes a framework to assess the effect of EWC, and applied it to the Irtysh River basin as a case study. Following the framework, we first developed a calculation method to assess the evolution of the reproduction and growth of riparian forests caused by hydrological variations. Additionally, simulations of surface water and groundwater conditions under different scenarios of water resources development were conducted based on hydrodynamic and groundwater models. The study further predicted the long-term evolution of riparian forest reproduction and growth based on the simulation results. The results indicated that when EWC was not carried out (reservoirs operating according to the designed rules), after 30 years, floodplain flood (FF) inundation area decreased by 47%, duration shortened by 73%, and groundwater levels in 80% of the region declined by 1.5–2 m, causing severe and moderate impacts on the reproduction and growth of riparian forests, respectively. Alternatively, adopting EWC (reservoirs operating according to ecological rules) led to a 24% decrease in FF inundation area, a 63% reduction in its duration, and a groundwater level decline of 0.5–1 m in 87% of the region, and these changes caused severe impacts on riparian forest reproduction, while growth remained unaffected. These findings indicate that the current EWC effectively safeguards the growth of riparian forests but fall short of mitigating the impacts of water conservancy project construction and operation on the reproduction of riparian forests. Given the current trajectory, riparian forests are anticipated to undergo a gradual decline. Consequently, a sustainable EWC should ensure that the water volume discharged into the region exceeds 53% of the natural inflow and urgently requires measures to extend the duration of FF inundation. This study can provide new insights for the early evaluation, comparison and optimization of various WCPs before their implementation.

Spatiotemporal Pattern, Evolutionary Trend, and Driving Forces Analysis of Ecological Quality in the Irtysh River Basin (2000–2020)

Considering climate change and increasing human impact, ecological quality and its assessment have also received increasing attention. Taking the Irtysh River Basin as an example, we utilize multi-period MODIS composite imagery to obtain five factors (greenness, humidity, heat, dryness, and salinity) to construct the model for the amended RSEI (ARSEI) based on the Google Earth Engine platform. We used the Otsu algorithm to generate dynamic thresholds to improve the accuracy of ARSEI results, performed spatiotemporal pattern and evolutionary trend analysis on the results, and explored the influencing factors of ecological quality. Results indicate that: (1) The ARSEI demonstrates a correlation exceeding 0.88 with each indicator, offering an efficient approach to characterizing ecological quality. The ecological quality of the Irtysh River Basin exhibits significant spatial heterogeneity, demonstrating a gradual enhancement from south to north. (2) To evaluate the ecological quality of the Irtysh River Basin, the ARSEI was utilized, exposing a stable condition with slight fluctuations. In the current research context, the ecological quality of the Irtysh River Basin watershed area is projected to continuously enhance in the future. This is due to the constant ecological protection and management initiatives carried out by countries within the basin. (3) Precipitation, soil pH, elevation, and human population are the main factors influencing ecological quality. Due to the spatial heterogeneity, the driving factors for different ecological quality classes vary. Overall, the ARSEI is an effective method for ecological quality assessment, and the research findings can provide references for watershed ecological environment protection, management, and sustainable development.

Ecology of Saline Watersheds: An Investigation of the Functional Communities and Drivers of Benthic Fauna in Typical Water Bodies of the Irtysh River Basin.

In this study, we investigated how changes in salinity affect biodiversity and function in 11 typical water bodies in the Altai region. The salinity of the freshwater bodies ranged from 0 to 5, the brackish water salinities ranged from 5 to 20, and the hypersaline environments had salinities > 20. We identified 11 orders, 34 families, and 55 genera in 3061 benthic samples and classified them into 10 traits and 32 categories. Subsequently, we conducted Mantel tests and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) and calculated biodiversity and functional diversity indices for each sampling site. The results indicated that biodiversity and the proportion of functional traits were greater in freshwater environments than in saline environments and decreased gradually with increasing salinity. Noticeable shifts in species distribution were observed in high-salinity environments and were accompanied by specific functional traits such as swimming ability, smaller body sizes, and air-breathing adaptations. The diversity indices revealed that the species were more evenly distributed in high-diversity environments under the influence of salinity. In contrast, in high-salinity environments, only a few species dominated. The results suggested that increasing salinity accelerated the evolution of benthic communities, leading to reduced species diversity and functional homogenization. We recommend enhancing the monitoring of saline water resources and implementing sustainable water resource management to mitigate the impact of salinity stress on aquatic communities in response to climate-induced soil and water salinization.

Application of geographical detector and geographically weighted regression for assessing landscape ecological risk in the Irtysh River Basin, Central Asia

The exponential growth of human activities has resulted in a substantial increase in land use practices that not only modify the characteristics of landscape patterns but also pose significant landscape ecological risk (LER), with the latter being pivotal for ecosystem conservation and sustainable social development. However, research on LER and driving factors of Irtysh River Basin (IRB) are limited. Objectively assessing the LER of the high latitudes within Central Asia (Irtysh River Basin) and quantitatively identifying the environmental factors driving its changes holds significant research value for ensuring the ecological security of human habitation amidst global change. In this study, the spatial autocorrelation analysis method and geographically weighted regression (GWR) and geographical detector (Geo-Detector) models were utilized to reveal the spatiotemporal changes in LER based on land use/land cover (LULC) changes in the IRB from 1992 to 2020. The findings indicate that (1) the temporal scale reveals a slight increasing trend in LER within the IRB. (2) The spatial distribution is characterized by a dominance of lower- and medium-risk regions, with evident positive spatial autocorrelation. (3) The spatial pattern of LER is influenced by various factors, with a significant impact from temperature in the geo-detector model. In addition, the spatial heterogeneity of the effects of major factors was further obtained using the GWR model. The findings presented herein can serve as scientific references for the development of sustainability and ecological safety management in global arid zones and high-latitude cold regions, thus promoting environmental protection in various countries, enhancing consensus on ecological protection and facilitating international cooperation on conservation.

СОЕДИНЕНИЯ АЗОТА И ФОСФОРА В ВОДНЫХ ОБЪЕКТАХ КАЗАХСТАНСКОЙ ЧАСТИ БАССЕЙНА Р. ИРТЫШ

We present materials from our research to study the distribution of various forms of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus in the Irtysh River basin in the summer of 2023. It has been established that the content of mineral forms of nitrogen and their ratios are not the same in the water of rivers and lakes. In the water of the river’s tributaries. The Irtysh River was dominated by nitrate ions (from 0.039 to 1.033 mgN/dm3), with a maximum in the right-bank tributaries. The nitrite and ammonium ions share accounted for 2.7, 32.7 and 15.3, 38.3% of the total nitrogen, respectively. The share of nitrates in the Black Irtysh River averaged 59% of the amount of nitrogen. Downstream, within the Pavlodar region, nitrates were more often absent, and the proportion of ammonium nitrogen increased. Mineral soluble phosphorus (phosphate ions) was found in the water of all surveyed areas of the basin in insignificant concentrations (0.015 – 0.130 mg/dm3) due to the low solubility of its compounds and intensive absorption by hydrobionts. From the upper to the lower sections of the Irtysh there was a slight increase in the concentration of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds, as a result of the influence of the anthropogenic factor.

Evaluation of Remote Sensing Products for Wetland Mapping in the Irtysh River Basin

As a transboundary river with rich and unique wetland types, the Irtysh River faces various challenges and threats from human activities and climate change, which affect area, type, and function of wetland. To accurately obtain information on the spatial and temporal distribution of wetlands in this basin, this study compares and evaluates the consistency and accuracy of a total of eleven remote sensing (RS) based land use/land cover (LULC), and wetland products. The information extraction effect of each RS product was examined through methods such as wetland area and type description, thematic map comparison, and similarity coefficient and Kappa coefficient calculations, which can reflect the wetland distribution characteristics and differences among the RS products in the Irtysh River Basin. The results show that although there is a consensus among the products in the major wetland distribution areas, there are still obvious deviations in detail depiction due to differences in factors such as data sources and methods. The products of Global 30 m Wetland Fine Classification Data (GWL_FCS30) and Global 30 m Land Cover Data (GLC_FCS30-2020) released by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Information Innovation (ISAI) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have a clear advantage in extracting spatial morphology features of wetlands due to the use of multi-source data, while the Esri Global 10 m Land Cover Data (ESRI_Global-LULC_10m) and products such as the global 10 m land cover data (FROM_GLC10_2017) from Tsinghua University have higher classification consistency. Moreover, data resolution, classification scheme design, and validation methods are key factors affecting the quality of wetland information extraction in the Irtysh River Basin. In practical terms, the findings of this study hold significant implications for informed decision-making in wetland conservation and management within the Irtysh River Basin. By advancing wetland monitoring technologies and addressing critical considerations in information extraction, this research effectively bridges the gap between remote sensing technology and practical applications, offering valuable insights for regional wetland protection efforts.

An unknown early 19th c. historical source on the subsistence activities of the population of the Lower Irtysh River basin: analysis of the information potential

This paper reports on a previously unpublished document — a survey of the traditional subsistence activities of the popu-lation of the Lower Irtysh River basin and the adjacent part of the Ob River (Denshchikov Commissariat of the Tobolsk Gover-norate, Russia), prepared in 1805 by a local official, D.S. Kochetovsky. The survey contains detailed information on fishing, hunting, and gathering practices of the Russian and Ugric populations, and it was intended for the preparation of the Governor's report to the Minister of Internal Affairs. The study is aimed at assessing the information potential of the historical source and determination of the socio-political context of its production. In the paper, a historical-ethnographic analysis of the document has been carried out against other sources of the 18th–19th centuries, and its main text with annotations is published. The document attests to a high level of competence of the government official in the subsistence economy of the region accountable to him, although that was not fully detailed knowledge. It is not replete with unique data, but at the same time confirms the deep histori-cal tradition and conservatism of the local subsistence economy in which the ethnically mixed population was occupied. Unlike most of the published sources of the second half of the 18th c., the survey describes the economy of the clearly defined area of Northwestern Siberia, notably, as a whole complex, with the seasonal distribution of activities. Particularly valuable is the infor-mation characterising the flexibility of the economic structure, depending on the annual specifics of the fluctuation of natural resources. The authors of the paper concluded that the document under study constitutes one of the early experiences of com-piling a survey of the economy at a lower managerial level, marking the formation of a new model of interaction between state institutions and local communities. The model was based upon the collecting of statistical and factual data on all Russian regions, which towards the middle of the 19th c. adopted by then a regular and formalised order.

Информационный потенциал разрушенных погребений саргатской культуры: курган Новопокровка 16 в Среднем Прииртышье

The article deals with a complex study of the materials obtained during archaeological excavation of the kurgan Novopokrovka 16 in the middle Irtysh river basin (Omsk region). The site, which is attributed to the Sargat culture (5th century BC – second half of the 3rd century AD), was located farmost on the right bank of the river Irtysh, nearby the group of “Princely kurgans”. Despite almost total disturbance by robbers and agricultural activity, common scholars’ efforts demonstrate high informative capacity of the multidisciplinary approach, while modern level of undertaken research is not just being declared but enables to reconstruct seemingly lost information. The kurgan erection stages and mound structure features have been decoded using the results of a geophysical survey and soil morphology data. The paleoanthropological study of the incomplete skeletal remains does not support multiple or inlet interment inside the central grave, and provides sexing and aging of the buried individuals as well as some paleopathological observations. Apart from species examination, archaeozoological data testify that a warm period from spring to early autumn was the season of animal slaughter. Characteristics of mortuary rituals and direction of intercultural contacts of the ancient forest-steppe groups have been completed by new details based on the results of strontium isotope analyses (dental enamel of humans and animals) and evidence non-local origin of the individual buried under the excavated kurgan, what is different from local origin of horses butchered for funereal feasts. The proposed hypothesis supports previously suggested archaeological, paleoanthropological and paleogenetic facts on the origin of the forest-steppe population, indicating an involvement of various population groups with notable external components. Based on the archaeological materials, the kurgan under study might be dated back to mid-4th – 3rd centuries BC.

Cryosphere changes and their impacts on regional water resources in the Chinese Altai Mountains from 2000 to 2021

The cryosphere has an important impact on regional water resources and ecosystems in the Chinese Altai Mountains and its piedmont zone. Using the latest remote-sensing datasets of cryosphere changes and combining with in-situ observation data from glacier monitoring stations and snow cover surveys, the main cryosphere elements including glaciers, snow cover, and permafrost are investigated with emphasis on their changes since 2000 and the current situation. Their water resource effects are also discussed. The results indicate that although the glaciers in the region have experienced continuous and intensive melting, mass loss has slowed because both glacier area shrinkage and thickness reduction were larger during 2000–2010 than during 2010–2021. Snow-cover water equivalent (w.e.) has increased due to obvious increases in snow depth, although snow-cover area has decreased slightly. Permafrost has been degrading. Overall, cryosphere contributions to the regional water resource are approximately 40.9% since 2000, among which snow-cover melting is the largest, contributing 37.1% to water resources in the Irtysh River Basin and significantly more in the mountainous sub-basins with increased snowfall. Glacier melting contributes 2.9%∼3.4%, lower than earlier estimations of 3.4%∼3.6% for the late 20th century. Permafrost thaw caused by active layer thickening contributes approximately 0.59%. Meteorological data shows a warming and wetting trend, but summer temperature has a much lower increase rate and a slowing increase trend after 2013. Moreover, snowfall frequency has increased. In the future, glacier water resource contribution will continue to decrease, but the water resource effects of snow-cover melting and permafrost degradation would increase.

Assessing the Impact of Anthropic Pressures on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates: A Functional Trait Approach in the Irtysh River Watershed.

Little is known about how changes in the biodiversity and functional traits of macroinvertebrates in rivers respond to the responses of anthropic pressures and their driving factors. Macroinvertebrates were sampled at 17 sites in the Irtysh River Basin and classified macroinvertebrates into 10 traits and 38 categories between May and August 2022. Then, we performed R-mode linked to Q-mode (RLQ) analysis and calculated functional richness, evenness, divergence, and Rao's quadratic entropy (RaoQ) for each site and community-weighted means for each trait category. Our results indicated that there were pronounced alterations in species variability in the urban region. Functional divergence indicated fierce competition among species and considerable niche overlap in the urban region. Functional evenness indicated that species abundance distribution and interspecific functional distance were not uniform in the urban region. Functional richness indicated that the urban region was the strongest region in terms of niche occupation, resource utilization, and buffering capacity for environmental fluctuations. Rao's quadratic entropy showed that the trait difference of macroinvertebrates was the largest in all regions, which was caused by the gradient environmental difference. Research has revealed that urbanization significantly influences the evolutionary trajectory of macroinvertebrate fauna, culminating in an upsurge in pollution-tolerant species and a convergence of functional traits. We recommend strengthening the control of urban and industrial pollution and wise planning and management of land and water resources to mitigate the impact of anthropogenic destruction on habitat fragmentation in the Irtysh River Basin.

A Кipchak burial of the Menovnoe VII burial ground in the Upper Irtysh River Basin

In this paper, the materials of one of the burial mounds of the Early Kipchak cemetery of Menovnoe VII dated to the turn of the 1st–2nd mil. AD are introduced into the scientific discourse. It was the time of transition in the steppes of the Upper Irtysh River Basin of the hegemony from the Kimaks to Kipchaks; it is scantily addressed in the scientific literature, although, according to the written sources, it was specifically in the steppes of Eastern Kazakhstan where the Kipchaks started dominating; the vector of power changed, and the genesis of the Kipchak Khanate took place. There was the beginning of the Kipchak migration into the bordering regions of Kazakhstan, Central Asia, steppes of the Volga region, and Northern Circumpontic region, where they became known in his-tory as Polovtsy, according to the Russian chronicles, or Cumans in the Byzantine sources. Materials from the burial mounds of the Menovnoe VII cemetery are indicative of the earliest period of the emergence of the Kipchak traditions, which further developed already outside the region of their formation.