Altai Mountains Research Articles

НАЧАЛЬНЫЙ ЭТАП ОСВОЕНИЯ СТРЕМЯН НАСЕЛЕНИЕМ ЛЕСОСТЕПНОГО АЛТАЯ

The article analyses a series of 10 stirrups found in two burial grounds of the Odintsovo culture and accidentally found in the forest-steppe regions of Altai. Information about the location of stirrups in burial objects, their design features and parameters, as well as graphic images is provided. As a result of the classification procedure, the stirrups are divided into two groups, two divisions and five types, supplemented by six variants. Typological analysis made it possible to outline a circle of analogies and determine the dating of the subjects studied. The conclusion is made about the appearance of stirrups among the tribes of the Odintsovo culture under the influence of the Turks of the Altai Mountains at the turn of the 5-6th century. The initial stage of the development of stirrups by the local population can be determined within the framework of the 6th - the 1st half of the 8th centuries. It is characterized by the predominance of simple products and the following of the original Turkic tradition of placing one stirrup in the grave. The peculiarity of this stage is the use of organic materials - horns - in the manufacture of some stirrups, which is not observed in the Turkic culture.

Amendments to the description of Chloromonas actinochloris (Chlorophyta) inferred from the study of the South Siberian finding

Chlamydomonas-like green microalgae are unicellular biflagellate organisms from the order Volvocales, which are widely distributed in terrestrial ecosystems. Recent studies have shown that they belong to different phylogenetic lineages. The exact establishment of the taxonomic affiliation of these representatives is based on integrative approach, including multigene phylogeny along with light and electron microscopy, which also allows us to get the most accurate information about their biogeography. In this study, we examined the terrestrial green Chlamydomonas-like microalga, isolated from soil of the South-Eastern Altai Mountains in Russia. Based on molecular data of the nuclear 18S and plastid rbcL gene, we refer this alga to Chloromonas actinochloris within a robust clade of the genus Chloromonas, the phylogroup Chloromonadinia. This species was described from North America (USA). It is the first discovery of C. actinochloris in the mountains of Southern Siberia, as well as the first record of the species in Russia confirmed by molecular phylogeny and microscopy methods. The description of C. actinochloris, information on its biology and geography was supplemented. It is generally accepted that the phylogenetic clade including C. actinochloris should be revised and reassigned to a new genus soon. Our study shows that vegetative cells of Chloromonadinia algae can have ornamented cell wall that was mainly known for resting cells (cysts/zygotes) in a number of chlamydomonads, more rarely for vegetative cells. The structures on the wall of vegetative cells of Chlamydomonaslike microalgae can serve as an additional diagnostic criterion.

ХУДОЖНИК В ПОЛИТИКЕ: ЭВОЛЮЦИЯ ОБРАЗА Г.И. ЧОРОС-ГУРКИНА КАК ОБЩЕСТВЕННО-ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОГО ДЕЯТЕЛЯ

The article considers one of the clearest examples of the "intellectual's going to power" situation on the example of the fate of the famous Altai artist G.I. Choros-Gurkin. The purpose of the study is to identify the characteristic features of the complex evolution of the image of G.I. Choros-Gurkin as a public and political figure. Regulatory and legal documents, materials of archival funds, publications in mass media, etc. are used as sources. The image of G.I. Choros-Gurkin transforms significantly: from a talented artist, a student of I.I. Shishkin, to a leader of the national movement and a chairman of the Altai Mountain Duma (1918), and then into an "enemy of the people" and a "traitor". For a long time, even after his political rehabilitation (1956), his name was omitted. However, since the late 1980s, his image as a politician has been rapidly reviving. Now he is not only the "national hero" and "genius loci", but also the "founder of the Altai statehood". The article shows that by now the image of G.I. Choros-Gurkin is used in the memory politics as a key figure that contributes to the formation of ethnic and territorial identity in the Altai Republic.

Географическая идентичность понятия «Большой Алтай» и перспективные направления трансграничного сотрудничества в регионе

Introduction. The Altai Mountains are a mountain system that is part of the sub latitudinal Altai-Sayan mountainous country. The mountains are the watershed between the basins of the Arctic Ocean and the drainleess region of Central Asia. This is the territory where the sources of the Irtysh and the Ob are located. Materials and research мethods. The article uses a regional approach to the study of a mountainous region. From the standpoint of the historical-geographical approach, the historical aspects of the formation of the transboundary essence of the Great Altai concept are revealed. Research results. The analysis of the origin of the understanding of the transboundary essence of Altai as a territory of cooperation is carried out. Expeditionary groups have been identified that have made a significant contribution to the understanding of the Great Altai. This made it possible to present the modern features of the economic, geographical and geopolitical position of the region. Discussion. A concept for the development of the region within the framework of the main areas of cooperation is proposed. The interests of Russia are indicated to promote the uniqueness of the territory and use its opportunities for tourism. Conclusion. The geographical position and natural resources make the Altai Mountains an important object in the development of cross-border cooperation. Since the 18th century scientists are actively exploring the territory for its effective use. The Great Altai has the prospect of becoming a trade and economic corridor between Russia, Mongolia and China. Resume. Since the beginning of the 2000s, forms of cross-border cooperation between the countries of the Greater Altai have appeared. The developed concept of the economic council within the framework of the ISS «Altai» will help to implement cooperation in various areas.

Two new species of the genus Klimeschiopsis Povolny, 1967 from southern Siberia discovered as a result of study cryptic diversity in K. discontinuella (Rebel, 1899) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

Klimeschiopsis varia Sumpich & Bidzilya, sp. n. and Klimeschiopsis confusella Sumpich & Bidzilya, sp. n. are described as new species for science based on differences from congeners in external appearance, genitalia of both sexes and genetic data. Klimeschiopsis varia is most similar to Klimeschiopsis discontinuella (Rebel, 1899) and Klimeschiopsis maritimaealpina Nel & Varenne, 2011 but can be distinguished by the genitalia characters. Klimeschiopsis confusella resembles Klimeschiopsis kiningerella (Duponchel, [1843]) and Klimeschiopsis terroris (Hartig, 1938) by absence of yellowish suffusion on forewings, but the coloration of new species is not so much contrasting, and the species is unmistakable according to the genitalia. Both new species occur sympatricaly in Russian Altai Mountains, Tuva and Buryatia.

Пазырыкская культура в XXI веке: открытия и гипотезы

The 21st century heralds the qualitatively new level of the Pazyryk culture research. Along with more in-depth insights into the material culture and the reconstruction of the worldview possessed by the Pazyryk people, the core focus now is on the study of a human being, with all physical features, pathologies and diseases; cultural marks (tattoos and mummification); hairstyle; clothing, etc. We explored individual traits of the people buried in the River Ak-Alakha valley on Ukok Plateau in the southwestern Altai Mountains. It has been confirmed that the morphology of those buried people refers to several anthropological types. This is a core fact for the understanding of nature and peculiarity of the Pazyryk culture: this culture was the result of integ­ration among people with different genetic roots, mostly migrants. 
 The obtained insights let consider the Pazyryk culture of the Altai Mountains as a new population formed as a result of close contacts between newcomers (migrants from today’s Central and Western Asia as well as Mongoloid individuals of Eastern Siberia) and the indigenous people. It is proven that migrants from remote lands with different nature and climate contributed much to the Pazyryk culture formation, which was decisive for the pathological status of the Pazyryk people of Ukok as extremely negative. The anthropological reconstruction of four men’s appearance from the River Ak-Alakha valley mounds using M.M. Gerasimov’s method has helped to trace similarities in the types of the modern popu­lation and identify exact regions from where the people later buried in the mounds could have arrived in Altai.

Energy Availability Factors Drive the Geographical Pattern of Tenebrionidae (Coleoptera) in the Arid and Semiarid Areas of China

Species richness is regarded as the core index of biogeography. Estimating the correlation between species richness and modern environmental factors will be of great significance for species conservation. The arid and semiarid areas of China present serious desertification, but there are rich biodiversity resources of high value. In this study, we evaluated species diversity, species richness, and the correlation between species richness and modern environmental factors using the species of Tenebrionidae in arid and semiarid areas of China, which will provide basic data for species conservation. The species richness was measured using 1° × 1° grid cells, and its determinants were explored based on generalized linear models (GLMs) and random forest models. A total of 696 species, belonging to 125 genera of 38 tribes and 7 subfamilies, were recorded in the study area. The non-uniform species richness pattern was presented, with more species in Altai, Tianshan, Nyenchen Thanglha and Helan Mountains. The species richness was affected by a variety of environmental factors. The variables representing energy availability and climate stability had stronger explanatory power, especially the annual mean temperature (BIO1) and the mean temperature of warmest quarter (BIO10). In contrast, water availability and habitat heterogeneity have relatively little correlation with species richness.

Response of xylem formation of Larix sibirica to climate change along the southern Altai Mountains, Central Asia

Under the ongoing warmer and wetter climate in the arid and semi-arid Altai Mountains, the key to understanding and predicting how forest growth responds to the changing climate in this area is to explore the dynamics of xylem formation and its climate drivers. However, such precise and high-time resolution knowledge is currently scarce. Here, we investigated the cambium activity and xylem formation of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in four sites along the southern Altai Mountains during the two consecutive growing seasons of 2018 and 2019. We found that the onset of xylem formation along the southern Altai Mountains started from mid-May to early June and ceased from late August to early September. The linear mixed model results showed that the onset of xylogenesis happened earlier when April was warmer and with lower precipitation. The cessation of xylem differentiation was closely related to the total number of xylem cells, regardless of temperature and precipitation. Therefore, a greater number of xylem cells resulted in delayed completion of cell enlargement and wall thickening. In addition, xylem cell production (total number of xylem cells) was negatively affected by May–July temperature and positively affected by May–July total precipitation. Our findings provide key data at the cellular level and high time resolution (weekly) and new insights into how forest ecosystems in the southern Altai Mountains respond to a warmer and wetter climate in the context of global warming.

SEISMICITY of the ALTAI and SAYAN region in 2016–2017

The characteristic features of the seismicity of the Altai-Sayan region in 2016–2017 are considered. The stationary seismic network within the reporting period consisted of 52 stations. Upgrading the recording equipment and retrofitting the stations with strong motion sensors was continued. In addition to the stationary network, four local time networks functioned in the region. One of them investigated the seismic process and accumulated data for constructing the Moho boundary using the method of receiving functions in the Altai Republic, the other three were focused on the study of technogenic seismicity in the area of coal minings of the Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions. During the reporting period, 11424 earthquakes were registered in the region, 58 % of them occurred in the Chui-Kurai zone of the Altai Mountains, for which a brief description of seismicity is given separately. The total seismic energy released in earthquake foci was 6.141012 J in 2016 and 2.381013 J in 2017. The slope of the linear part of the earthquake recurrence chart for 2016–2017 has not undergone significant changes compared to previous reporting periods. The largest earthquake on the territory of the Altai-Sayan region for the reporting period (ML=6.39) occurred on April 4, 2017 at 15h07m in the Zaisan Depression area of the Kazakhstan Republic.

Excess of REE in plant foods as a cause of geophagy in animals in the Teletskoye Lake basin, Altai Republic, Russia

Geological and hydrobiogeochemical studies carried out in two areas in the Teletskoye Lake basin in the Altai Mountains suggest that geophagy among wild and domestic herbivores in the studied areas develops in mountain‑taiga with steppe landscapes on Proterozoic metamorphic rocks near the Paleozoic granitoids with high concentrations of magmatogenic minerals of rare earth elements (REE). This fact is the reason for high concentrations of REE in loose diluvial deposits and glacial deposits adjacent to granitoids, as well as in derivative soils and vegetation. REE concentrations in the vegetation of the studied territories were almost similar to the geophagy sites previously investigated in the Sikhote‑Alin. The geochemical specificity of landscapes revealed both in the Altai Mountains and in the Sikhote‑Alin may be the cause of REE imbalance in the hormonal system of the body. It forces animals to address the resulting problems with mineral sorbents of the quartz‑feldspar‑illite‑chlorite type which can remove the excess of REE from the body. When selecting these, the animals tend to find sodium‑enriched varieties if possible.

Megacraspedus (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) of the Altai Mountains with description of a new species belonging to the M. majorella group

The paper summarises the records of Megacraspedus Zeller, 1839 (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) species collected during the author’s four trips to the Russian Altai in 2014–2019. A total of four species belonging to this genus were recorded here, of which one was found to be undescribed and two other species, namely Megacraspedus dolosellus (Zeller, 1839) and Megacraspedus podolicus (Toll, 1942), were new species for the area at the time. Megacraspedus bidzilyai sp. nov. is described here as a new species for science and is assigned to the Megacraspedus majorella species group. Its adults and genitalia of both sexes are figured in detail. Megacraspedus latiuncus Huemer & Karsholt, 2018 belonging to the same species group is recorded from Kyrgyzstan for the first time. Barcode data of all Altaic Megacraspedus species and Megacraspedus latiuncus are given.

Pottery vessels from a collective burial in the mound of the Pazyryk Culture (Northern Altai)

In one of the barrows examined in 2007 at the site of Choburak-II (the territory of the Northern Altai), an in-trusive, and not quite ordinary, a collective burial of people was found. Accompanying burials of two horses were also recorded there and a variety of artefacts was found (a fragment of a stone grain grinder, elements of horse harness, miniature knives made of non-ferrous metal, a dagger, a chisel, a quiver hook, fragments of gold foil from clothing decoration and other items). The recovered materials made it possible to attribute the excavated burial site to the Pazyryk Culture and to carry out its dating, including the radiocarbon method. In this publication, a special attention is given to the pottery finds. Two vessels appeared to be severely damaged, and to determine their parameters it was necessary to use the bespoke technique of computer-aided restoration based on photo-grammetry and aimed at obtaining the most probable shape of these ancient containers. In this respect, an algo-rithm, being tested by the authors, of modern demonstration in publications of the category of products in question was implemented. Based on the reconstructions performed in the paper, the restored dimensions of the pottery vessels are given, as well as their closest analogies. The third pot (of a closed jar shape with well-marked han-dles) was found intact. It reflects a different cultural tradition. Such products are very rare in the Altai Mountains. However, they are found in the neighboring and somewhat remote territories. This circumstance influenced the in-terpretation of the recorded situation. Pottery ware is an important archaeological source. Unfortunately, it has not yet become a separate research area in the study of the Pazyryk Culture. It is hoped that the developments of the authors of the paper will contribute to the research. The specific nature of this additional burial of the deceased person is noted. The investigated archaeological site to a certain extent may reflect the processes of interaction of the Pazyryk popula-tion with their northern neighbors. The body of the considered data complements the content and features of the culture of the Altai population of the Scythian-Saka period.

MACRO- AND TRACE ELEMENTS COMPOSITION OF THE BLUE HONEYSUCKLE AND ELM-LEAF SPIREA CE-NOPOPULATIONS IN THE GEOCHEMICALLY ABNORMAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE MOUNTAIN ALTAI

The specificity of macro- and trace elements accumulation in the leaves and stems of Lonicera caerulea and Spiraea chamaedryfolia cenopopulations growing at the sites with serpentinite inclusions in the Mountain Altai (Russia) was studied. The total content of macro- and trace elements in plants and soil was determined by atomic emission spectrometry, and the mobile forms, extracted by the ammonium acetate solution with pH 4.8, were measured by atomic absorption. The study revealed species-specific accumulation of some chemical elements in plant organs. The elm-leaf spirea plants were found to accumulate Mn and Ni more intensively in comparison with the blue honeysuckle plants, and to concentrate such trace elements as Zn, Cu and Mn, whereas the blue honeysuckle plants concentrated Zn and Cu. Species-specific statistically significant correlations between mobile Ni, Cd, Cr, Pb and Mg soil and phytomass content were also revealed. Negative correlation was found between the total P and Cr content in soil and plants, whereas total Fe, Cd and Ni in soil and plants correlated positively. The leaves of Lonicera caerulea and Spiraea chamaedryfolia, growing at the site with ultra-basic rock outcroppings, had Ni concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible level and decreased Ca concentration.

Kudurs (mineral licks) on ultrabasic rocks in the Altai Mountains, Russia

In the present study, the mineral and chemical compositions of kudurits consumed by wild ungulates and the chemical composition of forage vegetation near the water‑divide of the Abakan Range, Mountain Altai, Russia, were studied. It was found that the kudurits are represented by smectite‑vermiculite mineral associations with chlorite‑the products of hydrothermal transformation of metamorphosed ultrabasic rocks (serpentinites) following the intrusion of neighboring gabbroid dikes. Acid extracts (hydrogen chloride, pH 1.0) from kudurits most actively extract Ca, K, Mg, Fe and Na. In the composition of trace elements, Ba, Sr, Ni, Cu, Cr, Co, V, Zn and Li are most mobile. The comparison of the chemical composition of a kudurit and coprolite of red deer indicates that when mineral earth materials pass through the digestive tract out of all trace elements only about 0.4 g/kg of Na is reliably assimilated in the body, while kudurits simultaneously sorb and remove P, K, Mg and Ca. Chemical analyses of vegetation in places from which animals most often come to kudurs revealed high concentrations of rare earth elements. A rare‑earth‑sodium hypothesis of the cause of geophagy is developed, which may explain the majority of cases of regular consumption of earthy substances by animals and humans.

Source Area of the Immigrant Population of Beet Webworm (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) in Northern Xinjiang, China.

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is a destructive pest inhabiting the northern temperate zone. In Xinjiang, China, this species has only occasionally infested certain areas, but has been causing severe damage since 2005. Early studies showed that most of the outbreak populations in northern Xinjiang are immigrant populations. However, the specific source area is still unknown. In this study, we determined the source area of the immigrant population of L. sticticalis in northern Xinjiang from 2010 to 2013 using daily monitoring data of L. sticticalis adults; we explained the causation of why an overwintering area of L. sticticalis could build up in Central Asia. Results showed that the direct source area of L. sticticalis in northern Xinjiang was eastern Kazakhstan, and the initial source area could be traced further to Altai Krai, Russia. Both regions were located at the foothills of the westernmost portion of Altai Mountains. The thermal conditions in these regions could not support L. sticticalis development for two generations before 1990. Hence, a few cocoons could be formed in the autumn. Influenced by global warming, L. sticticalis in these regions could complete two whole generations most years after 2001. The increased generation number, combined with sufficient precipitation, and mountainous terrain in the westernmost portion of Altai Mountains have created an overwintering area for L. sticticalis.

Damage of soil cover due to the impact of tourism in the Altai mountains

This article presents the results of a study on soil cover damage caused by uncontrolled tourism in the Kazakhstan Altai and Mongolian Altai ranges. According to the expedition and laboratory work, it was determined that the soil cover of 182,7 km long territory in the Mongolian Altay range was damaged due to the ruts of vehicles and the trampling of tourists. More than 56,9% of these measured areas were completely destroyed, and 35,4% became rocky or desert. In the Altai ridge of Kazakhstan, the soil cover was damaged due to the formation of branch roads on an area of ​​705,7 ha, which was 55,3 km long. Approximately 84,4% of the total recorded area is moderately damaged and the growth of plants and grasses has decreased. During the determination of soil contamination with heavy metals, a total of 40 samples were taken from 8 coordinates and analyzed. The amount of lead and nickel in the soil has increased by 2-4 times due to the influence of tourism in both the Mongolian Altai Range and the Kazakh Altai Range. Cadmium element was not found at all. The content of other heavy metals such as chromium, copper, and zinc is slightly increased and accumulated at the bottom of the road. In both Kazakhstan and Mongolia, it was determined that the soil is polluted with heavy metals only by tourists' cars, as there is no mining, metallurgical plants, or resorts within 300 km.   Keywords:  Kazakhstan Altai Ridge, Mongolian Altai Ridge, soil cover, soil pollution.

Composition of Couples, Biotopic Preferences, and Relative Life Duration of Birds in a Hybrid Yellowhammer (Еmberiza citrinella) and Pine Bunting (E. leucocephalos) Population (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) in the Altai Mountains

Composition of Couples, Biotopic Preferences, and Relative Life Duration of Birds in a Hybrid Yellowhammer (Еmberiza citrinella) and Pine Bunting (E. leucocephalos) Population (Passeriformes, Emberizidae) in the Altai Mountains

Centennial records of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and black carbon in Altay Mountains peatlands, Xinjiang, China

Black carbon (BC) is an important inert carbon component in the cycling process of surface carbon. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a kind of thick cyclic organic compounds with carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects. The incomplete burning process of biomass and carbolic fuel is the important source of their co-occurrence. This study collected a 60-cm peat core from the Jiadengyu (JDY), Altay Mountain. The core was dated using the 210Pb and 137Cs methods. The results showed BC, total organic carbon, and PAHs of the JDY peat core to be 1.14–72.6 mg g−1, 17.09–47.2%, and 260.58–1,610.77 ng·g−1, respectively. δ13CBC was between −31.5 and − 29.4‰ (mean of −30.56‰). The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated irregular or lumpy peat BC particles, retaining a plant fiber structure. δ13CBC, ratios of PAHs, and the SEM revealed that the BC to be the dominant source of biomass combustion in the peatland. BC showed an increasing trend between 1950 and 1980, after which it decreased. The discrepancy between the change in BC and δ13CBC from the national pattern of BC emission likely reflects the effect of local agricultural exploration, and thus an increase in crop burning.

Neotectonic Stress State of the Chuya–Kurai Depression and Adjacent Structures (Southeastern Altai Mountains)

Neotectonic Stress State of the Chuya–Kurai Depression and Adjacent Structures (Southeastern Altai Mountains)

Spatial Aspects of Macroinvertebrate Distribution in Altai Mountain Streams

Spatial Aspects of Macroinvertebrate Distribution in Altai Mountain Streams