Karakum Research Articles

Morphological and Germination Characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar. Seeds Distributed in the Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan

The Karakum Desert is the largest desert in Turkmenistan and covers a significant part of Central Asia. This desert is home to plant species that can adapt to hot, dry, and barren conditions. During the summer months, the Karakum Desert can get extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 50 °C, while in winter, it can drop to -20 °C. Therefore, the desert conditions significant seasonal temperature differences. In winter, rainfall is very low, snow rarely falls, and quickly melts. Afghan winds have an impact on the desert vegetation. The desert vegetation mainly consists of short grasses and woody shrubs. Despite the scarcity of rainfall and high temperatures during the summer months, steppe plants have generally been able to adapt to the harsh conditions of the desert. There are also species that have adapted to the desert climate, such as Alhagi maurorum Boiss., Haloxylon persicum Bunge, Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin), Solanum nigrum L., and Salsola richteri Kar. These plants are highly valuable in terms of nutrition for animals and are used as winter animal feed in rural areas. In this study, the seed and germination characteristics of Alhagi maurorum Boiss. and Salsola richteri Kar, which are tree and shrub-like plants that can adapt to Karakum Desert conditions, were examined. In laboratory study, the morphological characteristics of the seeds were determined, and vitality and germination tests were conducted. Information was obtained about the germination adaptation of these plants in desert ecosystems. As a result of the study, it was determined that S. richteri had a very low rate of viable seeds and no germination, while the germination process of Alhagi maurorum could take a considerably long time.

Windbreak and sand fixation service flow simulation in the terminal lake basin of inland rivers in arid regions: A case study of the Aral Sea basin

Research on windbreak and sand fixation (WSF) services aids in soil conservation, and ecological protection. Over the past 50 years, the Aral Sea's shrinkage has intensified wind erosion, leading to significant sand and dust emissions in Central Asia (CA). This study uses the Revised wind erosion equation (RWEQ) model and the hybrid single particle Lagrangian integrated trajectory model (HYSPLIT) model to simulate the spatiotemporal variation pattern of WSF services in the Aral Sea basin (ASB). From the perspective of sand and dust transmission paths, the flow trajectory and benefit areas of WSF services are identified, the spatiotemporal correlation between the WSF service supply areas and benefit areas is established, and the potential impact of WSF services on beneficiary areas is quantitatively assessed. The results show the amount of wind erosion and the amount of WSF in the ASB from 2000 to 2019 showed a fluctuating trend of “first increasing and then decreasing”. In terms of spatial distribution, areas with large amounts of WSF are mainly distributed in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya River and the sand dunes in the northwest of the Kizilkum Desert. WSF services mainly flow through the Kizilkum Desert, Karakum Desert, Moyinkum Desert, Kazakh Hills, and the Junggar Basin and Tarim Basin in China. Generally, it flows to the northeast and southwest. In the past 20 years, the largest areas benefiting from the flow of WSF services are mainly distributed in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The trajectory distribution frequency shows a decreasing trend from the center to the periphery. The grassland areas constituted the largest beneficiary areas in the ASB of CA, with both the beneficiary population and real GDP exhibiting an upward trend. This study holds significant importance for enhancing the management of ecosystem services in sandy regions and for establishing ecological compensation mechanisms.

Processing of gypsum-bearing materials in the bronze age Gonur Depe archeological site (Southeast Karakum Desert)

The technology of preparation of an ancient binder mixture used in construction work at the Gonur Depe archeological site (Southeast Karakum desert) is interpreted on the basis of study of its mineral composition and textural-structural features. The material is composed of thin prismatic-angular and fbrous aggregates of reduced gypsum (60–70 %) and β-bassanite (3 %) enclosed in clay-siliceous matrix (20–30 %). The mixture also contains grains of quartz (5–10 %), feldspar (up to 1%), mica (up to 1 %) and other minerals. The mixture was produced from a crushed natural gypsum stone, which was calcinated in air. In this case, gypsum is converted to β-bassanite and partly to anhydride. The morphology and sizes of mineral particle confrm the presence of the calcination stage up to 200 °C. The further addition of water to a dry mixture caused rapid thickening and cementation of the material, which could be used for whitewashing and plastering of the walls.

Polyphasic characterization and genomic insights into Nocardioides turkmenicus sp. nov. isolated from a desert soil.

Strain KC13T, a novel desert-adapted, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan and characterised by a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences revealed that strain KC13T was a member of the genus Nocardioides, and formed a distinct cluster with Nocardioides luteus DSM 43366T (99.3% sequence identity), Nocardioides albus DSM 43109T (98.9%), Nocardioides panzhihuensis DSM 26487T (98.3%) and Nocardioides albertanoniae DSM 25218T (97.9%). The orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were in the range of 85.8-91.0% and 30.2-35.9%, respectively, with the type strains of closely related species. The genome size of strain KC13T was 5.3Mb with a DNA G + C content of 69.7%. Comprehensive genome analyses showed that strain KC13T, unlike its close relatives, had many genes associated with environmental adaptation. Strain KC13T was found to have chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics of members of the genus Nocardioides and some differences from phylogenetic neighbours. Based on the chemotaxonomic, genomic, phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain KC13T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides turkmenicus sp. nov. is proposed, and the type strain is KC13T (= JCM 33525T = CGMCC 4.7619T).

Feasibility Study for the Use of an Autonomous Solar Photovoltaic Water-Lifting Installation in the Karakum Desert

Feasibility Study for the Use of an Autonomous Solar Photovoltaic Water-Lifting Installation in the Karakum Desert

Technical and Economic Assessment of the Use of an Autonomous Photoelectric Water Lift Installation in the Karakum Desert

Abstract: One of the urgent problems of Turkmenistan is the development of desert territories, which occupies 80%. The task of scientific research is to analyze the problems of energy supply and water supply for the development of the desert and the desertification of this territory. One of the priority energy supply is the use of renewable energy sources, water supply, the use of groundwater. The article considers the eco-energy resources and potentials of solar energy for lifting water from the depths, using technical and economic methods to evaluate capital investments, investment costs and energy efficiency of solar photovoltaic water lifting stations in the Karakum Desert. The given methodology for technical and economic calculations, capital investments, investment costs and evaluation of the effectiveness of operational parameters for use in transhumance will be useful in the preparation of a feasibility study (feasibility study). On the basis of solar - energy resources, calculate, draw up an energy map of the rise of water from the depth of occurrence and evaluate the technical and economic indicators for the development of the Karakum desert and the development of transhumance.

The Silk roads: phylogeography of Central Asian dice snakes (Serpentes: Natricidae) shaped by rivers in deserts and mountain valleys.

Influenced by rapid changes in climate and landscape features since the Miocene, widely distributed species provide suitable models to study the environmental impact on their evolution and current genetic diversity. The dice snake Natrix tessellata, widely distributed in the Western Palearctic is one such species. We aimed to resolve a detailed phylogeography of N. tessellata with a focus on the Central Asian clade with 4 and the Anatolia clade with 3 mitochondrial lineages, trace their origin, and correlate the environmental changes that affected their distribution through time. The expected time of divergence of both clades began at 3.7 Mya in the Pliocene, reaching lineage differentiation approximately 1 million years later. The genetic diversity in both clades is rich, suggesting different ancestral areas, glacial refugia, demographic changes, and colonization routes. The Caspian lineage is the most widespread lineage in Central Asia, distributed around the Caspian Sea and reaching the foothills of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan, and Eastern European lowlands in the west. Its distribution is limited by deserts, mountains, and cold steppe environments. Similarly, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan lineages followed the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya water systems in Central Asia, with ranges delimited by the large Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. On the western side, there are several lineages within the Anatolia clade that converged in the central part of the peninsula with 2 being endemic to Western Asia. The distribution of both main clades was affected by expansion from their Pleistocene glacial refugia around the Caspian Sea and in the valleys of Central Asia as well as by environmental changes, mostly through aridification.

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of Dust Storms and Aeolian Processes in the Southern Balkash Deserts in Kazakhstan, Central Asia

Sand and dust storms are hazardous to the environment and have a significant role in desertification. Under the influence of climate change and human activities, dust storms and aeolian processes have been common phenomena in the Southern Balkash deserts in Kazakhstan, Central Asia. However, knowledge gaps on spatial and temporal characteristics of dust storms and aeolian process in the Southern Balkash deserts still exist. Therefore, in present study, meteorological observations and numerous cartographic materials were used to identify the powerful sources with the highest frequency of dust storms and aeolian processes in the Southern Balkash deserts. The result showed that the Southern Balkash deserts were covered mainly by transverse parabolic sands (48%), dome dunes (24%), and transverse dome dunes (23%), where the aeolian processes occurred to a significant degree. Significant and strong degrees of aeolian processes occurred in most of the Southern Balkash deserts. The eastern part of the Taukum and the northern part of the Zhamankum and Karakum deserts were prone to aeolian processes to a substantial degree. The Moiynkum, Bestas, Saryesikatyrau, and Taukum deserts had the most frequent storms, occuring, on average, 17 to 43 days/per year. The occurrence of dust storms has been of a stable decreasing trend since the 1990s, except for 2008–2009. Aeolian dust in the Southern Balkash deserts flowed mainly from the western and southwestern to the eastern and northeastern. The results of the present study shed light on the temporal and spatial characteristics of dust storms and aeolian processes in the Southern Balkash deserts. This is of great importance in helping to monitor and predict dust storms and motion patterns of aeolian dust in this region.

Raw Materials Sources and Technical and Typological Characteristics of the Zhalgyz-agym Site in the Northern Aral Sea Region

Purpose. In 2020, an expedition of the Korkyt Ata Kyzylorda University under the leadership of A. A. Tazhekeev and Y. S. Kurmaniyazov has examined the surface of the Zhalgyz-agym parking lot and collected archaeological material. Also in the local history and Local lore museum of the Aral Siti, Y. S. Kurmaniyazov has processed a previously unexplored collection of stone artifacts, storing in the funds, from the Zhalgyz-agym site.Results. The Zhalgyz-agym Site is located on the border of the territory of the Aral Karakum Desert and the Aral Sea in the vicinity of Saryshyganak Bay. Like most of the early sites of the Celteminar culture located in the vicinity of Aralsk Siti and st. Saksaulskaya, the Site are confined to the surface of somewhat compacted and humified soil, the layer of which is now exposed by terraces on the slopes of sandy mounds. On the surface of this layer, one can find vertically standing core, piles of flakes, ash residues and osteological materials.The collection of the Zhalgyz-agym Site, both collected and provided by the museum fund, is represented by 547 stone artifacts.The technology of primary knapping contains a number of features that allow these atrifacts to be attributed to the Mesolithic tradition. This is evidenced by both the shapes of the core – end, wedge-shaped, pencil-shaped – and the technology of their production and knapping.Conclusion. The Zhalgyz-agym site can be attributed to the Celteminar culture, but since the collection of archaeological material took place from the surface of the site, its chronological and cultural characteristics were determined only by applying a technical and typological analysis of stone artifacts.

Assessment of spatiotemporal features and potential sources of atmospheric aerosols over the Tianshan Mountains in arid central Asia

Arid central Asia is characterized by a dry climate with little precipitation and frequent dust storms. At the same time, the Tianshan Mountains, a vitally important water resource supply zone and ecological barrier, are located in the heart of arid central Asia. Frequent dust storms in this region endanger snow and ice melting as well as ecological security within the Tianshan Mountains. In the present study, the CALIPSO data and HYSPLIT model were combined to assess the spatiotemporal features and potential sources of aerosols over the North Tianshan (NT), East Tianshan (ET), Central Tianshan in the East (CTE), Central Tianshan in the West (CTW), West Tianshan (WT), and South West Tianshan (SW). Results showed that the atmospheric aerosol subtypes had an apparent spatial variability. Dust and polluted dust were the two most dominant aerosol subtypes with the two accounting for over 76% of detected aerosols. The occurrence frequency of the dust within NT, ET, CTE, and CTW showed seasonal variation with two peaks in spring and autumn, while that of WT and SW peaked only in summer. The occurrence frequency of polluted dust in the ET region differed from that found in NT, CTE, CTW, WT, and SW. During all seasons, polluted dust was the dominant aerosol subtype recorded at heights from 2 km to 5 km in NT and WT. Vertically, dust and polluted dust were the most common subtypes observed between 1 and 8 km in SW. The top altitude of the dust and polluted dust layer over most of the Tianshan Mountains was greater than 5 km. The thickest dust layer over the Tianshan Mountains appeared in summer with a value larger than 2.0 km, and the thickness of the polluted dust layer was approximately between 1.0 and 1.5 km in spring. In comparison, the southwesterly transport pathways are the primary route for atmospheric aerosols to the Tianshan Mountains, which have the greater potential to carry natural and anthropogenic aerosols. Therefore, the Karakum Desert, Kyzylkun Desert, Moyunkum Desert, and Gurbantunggut Desert are the primary potential sources of dust and polluted dust aerosols over the Tianshan Mountains in arid central Asia.

Tracing the Spatial Circulation of Yersinia pestis of Medieval Biovar in the Eastern Caspian Sea Region in the 20th Century Based on Genome-Wide SNP Analysis

A comprehensive analysis of the accumulated epidemiological and epizootiological data in combination with results from phylogenetic analysis of Yersinia pestis strains creates the basis for establishing patterns of spatialtemporal distribution of the plague pathogen and opens up the prospect of long-term forecasting of natural plague foci activation. Previously, we traced the distribution pathways of Y. pestis, medieval biovar, in the plague foci of the Northern and Northwestern Caspian Sea regions in the 20th and early 21st centuries.The purpose of this work was to identify the regularities of circulation of Y. pestis, medieval biovar, in four natural plague foci located in the Eastern Caspian Sea region.Materials and methods. A complex study of the phenotypic and genetic properties of 16 Y. pestis strains isolated in the Ustyurt, Mangyshlak, Karakum and Kopetdag autonomous desert plague foci in 1926–1985 was carried out. They were compared with strains from other natural plague foci in Eastern Europe and Central Asia obtained in 1917–2003. Whole-genome sequencing of 12 of those strains was performed. Phylogenetic analysis included the genomes of other 19 Y. pestis strains that we had sequenced earlier. Based on the 1717 polymorphic nucleotides (SNPs) identified in the core genome, a dendrogram of the relations of the studied strains was constructed.Results and discussion. All 16 Y. pestis strains from the Ustyurt, Mangyshlak, Kopetdag, and Karakum desert foci belong to the 2.MED1 branch of the medieval biovar. All investigated strains from the first three foci and most of the strains from the Karakum focus are in the Caspian 2.MED1 branch, and three strains from the Karakum desert focus are included in the Central Asian one. We have revealed several waves of dissemination of the strains under the 2.MED1 phylogenetic branch of Y. pestis of the medieval biovar in the Eastern Caspian Sea region in the 20th century.

Особенности проведения фитомелиоративных работ для защиты инженерных объектов от дефляционных процессов в пустыне Каракум

Effective methods of protection of various engineering facilities located in the conditions of the Karakum desert by the methods of phytomeliorative works have been determined. Long-term studies conducted by the National Institute of Deserts, Flora and Fauna of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan prove that the use of phytomeliorative methods has the greatest effect on the stabilization of moving and technogenic sands. In addition, the restoration of native vegetation leads to an increase in the resilience of desert ecosystems and an increase in arid biodiversity. These methods of phytomelioration are used only in combination to stabilize moving sands, regardless of the regional characteristics of the Karakum Desert.

Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) in Gonur-Depe and the issues of the species distribution in the Ancient East

Animal husbandry, along with agriculture, was the main branch of the producing economy of the ancient population in Southern Turkmenistan. To date, sufficient data have been gathered to consider the exterior of large and small cattle, the time of their appearance in the region, and the nature of their exploitation. Still, very little information is available on a number of species, including Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus). This is due to the fact that camel bones are extremely rare in complexes which are older than the Late Bronze Age. However, the remains of this species are widely represented in the Bronze Age site of Gonur-depe. Gonur-Depe is a supposed administrative and cult center of Ancient Margiana, located in the South-Eastern Karakum Desert 85 km north from the city of Bayramali (Mary wilayah of Turkmenistan), which functioned during 2500–1500 BC. The site in-cludes two main objects: the North Gonur — administrative and religious center, and the South Gonur (“Temenos” — a small temple complex). The zooarchaeological material discussed in the article has been derived from the ar-chaeological excavations of the North Gonur. Animal remains split into two large groups by their localization: bones from waste deposits, and those associated with local objects (buildings, burials, altars, etc.). Isolated camel bones or their fragments are found in all excavation areas of the North Gonur. Only 67 camel bones were ex-tracted from the waste deposits, which constitutes just over 3 % of all domestic faunal remains found in the site. In addition, 18 isolated camel bones were unearthed from the filling of the grave pits. Given the small number of camel remains in household waste, we can suggest that, apparently, camels were rarely slaughtered for meat. Yet, a total of 16 camel skeletons of different preservation and completeness were recovered from nine burial structures. In burials 3200, 3225, 3240, 3900, and 3915, remains of carts with wooden wheels with bronze rims — tires — were found along with the camel skeletons. Despite the relatively large number of camel skeletons, it was possible to obtain only few measurements due to the poor preservation of the bones. Measurements of two skele-tons from burial 3900 suggest that stature of the animals at withers was at least 165 cm. Apart from skeletal re-mains at Gonur-Depe, numerous images of double-humped camels are known, accomplished in different shapes and from various materials, which also help to elaborate the appearance of the animals. Camels, kept by the an-cient population of Gonur, have passed a long way of breeding, and at present there are no data indicating the autochthonous domestication of this species. In general, zooarchaeological and archaeological materials demon-strate that camel played an important role in life of the ancient population of Gonur-Depe, which stretched beyond its simple utilitarian use.

Analysis of Effects of Recent Changes in Hydrothermal Conditions on Vegetation in Central Asia

Understanding the relationship of hydrothermal conditions to vegetation changes is conducive to revealing the feedback mechanism connecting climate variations and vegetation. Based on the methods of Theil–Sen median analysis, and the Mann–Kendall trend test, this research investigated the spatiotemporal vegetation dynamics in Central Asia using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and grid climate data from 1982 to 2015. Further, the contributions of hydrothermal conditions to vegetation changes were quantified using a boosted regression tree model (BRT). The results demonstrated that the spatiotemporal characteristics of vegetation dynamics exhibited significant differences in different seasons, and most pixels showed increasing trends in the growing season and spring. Boosted regression tree analysis indicated that the contributions of hydrothermal conditions to vegetation dynamics exhibited temporal and spatial heterogeneity. During the annual, growing season, and summer examination periods, the contribution value of the increase in warming conditions (temperature or potential evapotranspiration) to vegetation degradation in the region due to the hydrothermal tradeoff effect (water) was 49.92%, 44.10%, and 44.95%, respectively. Moreover, the increase in warming conditions promoted vegetation growth, with a contribution value of 59.73% in spring. The contribution value of the increase in wetting conditions (precipitation or soil moisture) to vegetation growth was 48.46% in northern Central Asia, but the contribution value of the increase in warming conditions to vegetation degradation was 59.49% in Ustyurt Upland and the Aral Sea basin in autumn. However, the increase in warming conditions facilitated irrigation vegetation growth, with a contribution value of 59.86% in winter. The increasing potential evapotranspiration was the main factor affecting vegetation degradation in the Kyzylkum Desert and Karakum Desert during the annual, growing season, and autumn examination periods. Precipitation and soil moisture played decisive roles in vegetation dynamics in northern Central Asia during the growing season, summer, and autumn. This research provides reference information for ecological restoration in Central Asia.

Dynamic Dust Source Regions and the Associated Natural and Anthropogenic Dust Emissions at the Global Scale

Dust emission is a key factor for reproducing dust’s physical process and its climate impact in dust modeling. However, previous studies always employed static land cover types to classify potential dust sources, ignoring dynamic variations in the surface bareness, which may lead to large uncertainties in the simulated dust emission fluxes, especially in regard to anthropogenic dust (AD) emission induced by wind erosion of human-disturbed land surfaces. Combined with anthropogenic land use and land cover change, dynamic dust source regions and the associated natural dust (ND) and AD emissions at the global scale from 2001 to 2018 are estimated in this study. The results show that the AD emissions exhibit a significant seasonal variability and dispersion at the global scale in contrast to the generally concentrated spatial distributions of ND emissions. The high-value ND areas are primarily located in the Sahara Desert, Arabian Peninsula, Karakum Desert, East Asia, Australian Desert, and other large desert areas, and the ND emission flux reaches a maximum of 50 μg m−2 s−1 or higher. High values of the annual average AD emission fluxes are located in southern Russia (124.6 ± 26.6 μg m−2 s−1), northern China (103.2 ± 21.9 μg m−2 s-1), the central and northern United States (56.0 ± 17.4 μg m−2 s−1), and the southern side of the Sahara Desert (74.1 ± 14.2 μg m−2 s−1). Especially in southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan, the AD emission flux accounts for the largest contribution to the total dust emission flux, at 98.2%. The ND emission flux demonstrates an upward trend in the central Sahara Desert, southern Arabian Desert, and Iranian regions and a significant downward trend in northwestern China. The AD emissions exhibit a decreasing trend in northern China, western India, the southern side of the Sahara Desert, and the central United States from 2001 to 2018 due to the implementation of environmental protection policies and a decrease in the wind speed, with the highest rate of decline reaching −74.9 μg m−2 s−1/decade. This study provided confidence for the further investigation of dust mass balance and the climatic impacts of natural and anthropogenic dust.

Classification of synoptic weather clusters associated with dust accumulation over southeastern areas of the Caspian Sea (Northeast Iran and Karakum desert)

• Determination of weather clusters associated with high dust-AODs over northeast Iran/Karakum desert. • Six identified weather clusters from PCA with highest frequency in spring. • The dust hotpot areas are attributed to convergence of northerly and southwesterly winds over NE Iran. • The Siberian High and Qibla wind in central Iran modulate the dust accumulation. • Changes in position, intensity and expansion of the upper-level subtropical jet modulate the dust distribution. In this study, daily-mean total and dust aerosol optical depth (TAOD, DAOD, respectively) obtained from the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) and meteorological fields from ERA-Interim reanalysis are used to identify spatial patterns of dust accumulation over northeast Iran and Karakum Desert during 2003–2012. The most dust-affected area is defined using highest variances of DAOD by S-mode and weather clusters by T-mode principal component analysis (PCA). Six weather clusters are classified via the statistical analysis, associated with high DAOD values, with larger frequency in spring, while PC1 (41 cases) dominates in summer. The results show that changes in the intensity and expansion of the Siberian/European high-pressures in spring modulate strong northeasterlies or northwesterlies over Central Asia, which are associated with frontal dust storms over the desert areas (Aralkum, Karakum). In addition, dynamic conditions associated with the sub-tropical jet stream and the Iranian trough, and combined with convective conditions at areas of thermal lows in east Iran, create a strong southwesterly wind – called Qibla – over the Iranian Plateau. These two contrasting wind regimes converge over northeast Iran/Karakum Desert, facilitating dust accumulation over the area. In summer, northerly winds dominate over Central Asia, but the absence of Qibla flow allows them to traverse till the north coast of the Arabian Sea, where they converge with the southwest monsoon flow. The accumulation of dust over northeast Iran/Karakum is lesser than that over Pakistan and Thar desert. Furthermore, the upper-level sub-tropical jet stream moves northward in summer, with core over Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan.

Geoinformation Systems in the Development of Solar Energy in Turkmenistan

The article considers the scientifically substantiated, systematized solar energy resource potentials of Turkmenistan. Geoinformation technological maps based on solar energy resource potentials for use in Turkmenistan have been developed, compiled. The obtained technical, economic potentials and environmental indicators from the use of power plants based on them have been developed. Solar geoinformation technological maps for the placement of water-lifting plants and solar thermal cells make it possible to increase energy efficiency and environmental safety. The expected environmental and economic effect of the use of solar-energy technological installations in the conditions of the Karakum desert zone is from: reduction of various harmful substances into the environment when selling at a price of 6 US dollars to CO2 carbon fund - 425437.3 tons per year, financial profit will be $ 2.5 million; fossil fuel savings 82.160 thousand tons of fuel equivalent per year or electricity generation of 663.4 GWh per year.

Redescription of Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958 (Araneae: Gnaphosidae) with<br>first description of the male

Minosiella Dalmas, 1921 is a small genus of Gnaphosinae spiders comprising only six species known from western Palaearctic, ranging from Algeria to Afghanistan (Platnick, 2009). Males of this genus can be easily recognized thanks to strong cymbial spines (Figs 1–3, 9–11). Four species of Minosiella are known from both sexes, and two from females only. One of the latter, Minosiella intermedia Denis, 1958 was reported from Turkmenistan and from the Aral Sea (Ovtsharenko & Fet, 1980; Krivokhatski & Fet, 1982; Mikhailov, 1997). Although this species was reported several times from the former Soviet Union and not less than 450 specimens of M. intermedia have been collected in Karakum Desert (Krivokhatski & Fet, 1982), the male of this species was not described yet.

Saccharopolyspora karakumensis sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora elongata sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora aridisoli sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora terrae sp. nov. and their biotechnological potential revealed by genome analysis

Exploration of unexplored habitats for novel actinobacteria with high bioactivity potential holds great promise in the search for novel entities. During the course of isolation of actinobacteria from desert soils, four actinobacteria, designated as 5K548T, 7K502T, 16K309T and 16K404T, were isolated from the Karakum Desert and their bioactivity potential as well as taxonomic provenances were revealed by comprehensive genome analyses. Pairwise sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA genes indicated that the four strains are representatives of putatively novel taxa within the prolific actinobacterial genus Saccharopolyspora. The strains have typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Saccharopolyspora by having meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diaminoacid, arabinose, galactose and ribose as whole-cell sugars. Consistent with this assignment, all of the isolates contained phosphatidylcholine in their polar lipid profiles and MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The sizes of the genomes of the isolates ranged from 6.0 to 10.2 Mb and the associated G + C contents from 69.6 to 69.7 %. Polyphasic characterizations including determination of overall genome relatedness indices revealed that the strains are representatives of four novel species in the genus Saccharopolyspora. Consequently, isolates 5K548T, 7K502T, 16K404T and 16K309T are proposed as novel Saccharopolyspora species for which the names of Saccharopolyspora karakumensis sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora elongata sp. nov., Saccharopolyspora aridisoli sp. nov. and Saccharopolyspora terrae sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. Comprehensive genome analysis for biosynthetic gene clusters showed that the strains have high potential for novel secondary metabolites. Moreover, the strains harbour many antimicrobial resistance genes providing more evidence for their potentiality for bioactive metabolites.

Comprehensive genome analysis of a novel actinobacterium with high potential for biotechnological applications, Nonomuraea aridisoli sp. nov., isolated from desert soil.

During a study to isolate such actinobacteria with unique metabolic potential, a novel actinobacterium, designated KC333T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Karakum Desert, Turkmenistan. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain was most closely related to Nonomuraea terrae CH32T (99.0% sequence similarity), Nonomuraea maritima FXJ7.203T (98.9%), Nonomuraea candida HMC10T (98.7%) and Nonomuraea gerenzanensis ATCC 39727T (98.6%), and is therefore considered to represent a member of the genus Nonomuraea. However, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization based on whole-genome sequences between strain KC333T and close relatives demonstrated that it represents a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea. The major cellular fatty acids of strain KC333T were iso-C16: 0, C17:0 10-methyl and iso-C16: 0 2OH. Strain KC333T contained meso-diaminopimelic, mannose, madurose and ribose in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). The genome size of strain KC333T is approximately 9.86Mb, and the genomic DNA G + C content of the strain is 71.3%. In addition to the polyphasic characterisation, comprehensive genome analysis for gene clusters encoding carbohydrate-active enzymes and bioactive secondary metabolites as well as CRISPR-associated sequences revealed the high biotechnological potential of the strain. Based on evidence collected from the genotypic, phenotypic, and phylogenetic analyses, a novel species, Nonomuraea aridisoli sp. nov. is proposed with KC333T (= DSM 107062T = JCM 32584T = KCTC 49111T) as the type strain.