Nenets Autonomous District Research Articles

Bombus (Pyrobombus) jonellus (Kirby, 1802) in the north-western Russian Plain: its distribution and ecology

The fauna and ecology of bumblebees in the European North are quite well-studied. However, there is a scarcity of information about the distribution and ecology of certain species of bumblebees, especially for the territory of Northern Russia. In this study, we summarised materials concerning Bombus (Pyrobombus) jonellus (Kirby, 1802), which is typical bumblebee species for the north-western portion of the Russian Plain and surrounding areas. The studied territory includes the Arkhangelsk Region and the western part of the Nenets Autonomous District, i.e. a wide strip from taiga to tundra ecosystems. Due to the studies of materials that were collected over a period 17 years, we established thatB. jonellusis widely distributed and the northern border of its range within the studied region reaches the northern part of the Kanin Peninsula. In the north-western Russian Plain,B. jonellushas been found in various types of habitats, the most common being coniferous and birch forests, secondary meadows and ruderal patches. In the Solovetsky Islands, White Sea, Russia,B. jonellusis typical on coastal heathlands. In the northern part of the studied region,B. jonellushas a tendency to forage in open habitats and visits a wide range of entomophilous plants, mostly of the family Ericaceae. Our findings highlight that the territory of the north-western Russian Plain and surrounding areas is whereB. jonellusis widely distributed and abundant, being recorded in different types of habitats.

The Reproduction of the Mineral Resource Base as the Basis for the Sustainable Development of the Resource-Producing Regions of the North and the Arctic

The article shows that the raw material development of the northern and Arctic regions, as shown by world and Russian practice, is extremely unstable. The reason for this is the depletion of the raw material base, fragile market conditions. In Russia, since the 1990s, there has been a decline in the reproduction of the mineral resource base. On the example of the Nenets Autonomous District, the problems of regional development and the reproduction of the mineral resource base are considered. The analysis showed that in the region there is an increase in the mono-branch nature of the economy, which is mainly focused on the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources. At the same time, the explored and put on the balance of oil reserves in the district are decreasing, since the main deposits were discovered and put on the balance in the Soviet time and today are close to exhaustion. The article shows that in order to avoid the dependence of the region on raw materials, the complex development of the resource area is necessary mainly through the diversification of primary industries and the restructuring of the regional economy. Maintaining oil production is possible only with the intensive preparation of new reserves, which requires large-scale exploration and significant financial costs, including governmental.

Archaea in the microbial community of the reindeer rumen in the Russian Arctic

Archaea is the least studied group of the reindeer rumen microbiocenosis. Although the functional load performed by this group of microorganisms in the rumen is large. Methane-forming archaea play a key role in the process of anaerobic decomposition of organic substances, the formation of methane. This study for the first time analyzed the composition of the archaeal part of the microbial community of the reindeer rumen using the T-RFLP method from various regions of the Russian Arctic. As a result, it was found that according to the estimates of the number of archaea by quantitative PCR in the reindeer rumen in the winter-spring period, on average, 108 genomes/g of archaea were observed in individuals of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, and 109 genomes/in animals from the Nenets Autonomous District Archean. Thus, in the winter-spring period, a lower number of archaea in the rumen was observed in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. According to the results of the T-RFLP method, 44 to 134 phylotypes were detected in the archaeal community of the reindeer rumen, the Shannon index was 2.02–3.80. The lowest content (up to 11.10 %) of methanogenic archaea of the Methanomicrobia class (including the families Methanosarcinaceae and Methanocorpusculaceae) was revealed in the Nenets Autonomous District, while their presence in individuals of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District reached 36.33 %. Interestingly, in adults of the Yamalo-Nenets and Nenets Autonomous Districts, a significant decrease in the representation of methanogenic archaea of the Methanomicrobia class was noted by 1.38 (P <0.05) and 2.70 times (P <0.01), respectively, compared with young individuals (up to 2 years).

ПРИБРЕЖНЫЕ ПОСЕЛЕНИЯ НЕНЕЦКОГО АВТОНОМНОГО ОКРУГА: ПРОБЛЕМЫ И ПЕРСПЕКТИВЫ

Assessment of the current state and problems of development of coastal settlements was carried out, based on the data analysis of coastal settlements in the Nenets Autonomous district socio-economic development. The substantiation of the choice of such settlements on the territory of the district is given in accordance with the criteria for their assignment to the coastal zone. The features and problems of the development and conduct of economic activity in the settlements of the Nenets Autonomous district, as the population living here, are revealed in connection with the influence of factors of resource endowment, territorial remoteness and isolation.

Phenogenetic features of the Nenets breed Ural ecotype of the reindeer

For the first time, comprehensive studies of the phenogenetic features of the Ural ecotype of domestic reindeer of the Nenets breed were performed. It was found out that the Ural reindeer relative to other ecotypes of the Nenets breed have smaller linear dimensions and live body weight. The studied group of reindeer was characterized by the minimum values of the majority of population genetic indicators, including the effective number of alleles (Ne = 4.422 ± 0.614), the Shannon information index (I = 1.663 ± 0.102), and the level of both the observed and expected heterozygosity (Ho = 0.561 ± 0.064 and He = 0.740 ± 0.035, respectively). It exceeded two other samples from neighboring breeding regions (Nenets Autonomous district and the Komi Republic) in the average number of alleles per locus: (Na = 9.667 ± 0.577 versus Na = 9.555 ± 0.669 and Na = 9.557 ± 0.709, respectively). Animals of the Ural population (YAM) have a closer genetic structure with reindeer individuals of the neighboring Nenets Autonomous district (NAO). The studied sample of the Nenets breed was characterized by a shift in genetic diversity towards a lack of heterozygotes, as evidenced by the positive Fis values. The introduction of genetic methods in the reindeer herding will allow improving the breeding work in the industry, revealing intraspecific genetic variation in inbreeding herds and identifying intrabreed groups of animals.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ РАЗВИТИЯ ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСТВА В РОССИЙСКОЙ АРКТИКЕ

The article deals with the development of Arctic entrepreneurship in the Russian Federation. The development of the Arctic territories at the present stage is of increased interest to almost all world powers, since the Arctic region is becoming of strategic importance for strengthening the national security of states, so this issue is paying attention to both russian and foreign researchers. The main indicators of small business development in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation are analyzed. It is concluded that small business is developing unevenly across the Arctic regions of the Russian Federation. According to the level of small business development, there are two groups of territories. The first category includes the Nenets autonomous district, Yamalo-Nenets and Chukotka autonomous districts, where the development of the business sector is significantly lower than in other regions. The second group includes the Krasnoyarsk territory, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, where Arctic entrepreneurship is well developed. This division explains the features of small business development, taking into account the natural-climatic, geographical and socio-economic features of the Arctic territories. Proposals aimed at the development of Arctic entrepreneurship and Arctic territories are formulated. Entrepreneurship in the Arctic zone is a necessary condition for the development of these territories. It is necessary to create small mobile points for the delivery of essential goods and services, provide services in the field of cultural and educational activities, provide additional educational services, and develop social and transport infrastructure. An important direction for the development of Arctic entrepreneurship can be an innovative sphere aimed at the production of goods and services that increase energy conservation. Additional measures are required to support entrepreneurship in this area, including programs for the development of business of indigenous minorities.

OCCUPATIONAL PATHOLOGY AT THE ENTERPRISES OF THE NENETS AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT: RISK FACTORS, STRUCTURE, PREVALENCE

Background. Human labor in the Arctic area is carried out in extreme climatic conditions creating an increased risk of developing health problems, including occupational diseases (OD). The purpose of the study was to investigate the working conditions, the structure and prevalence of OD in the population of the Nenets Autonomous District (NAD), the basis of the which economy is oil and gas production. Material and methods. The data of social and hygienic monitoring in the section “Working conditions and occupational morbidity” of the population of the NAD in 2008-2017 was studied. Results. The most significant harmful production factors at NAD enterprises have been established to be non-ionizing electromagnetic fields and radiations, unfavorable microclimate of workplaces, noise, intensity, and the hardness of the labor process. More than half of all district employees are involved in enterprises with satisfactory working conditions. In the NAD working population, occupational pathology is diagnosed mainly in the flight personnel of civil aviation (88% of cases) in the form of sensorineural hearing loss (96% of cases). The risk of OD development among air transport workers was higher than that of the entire population of the district (RR = 4.42; CI 2.95-6.62) and those employed in oil and gas producing enterprises (RR = 23.2; CI 8.32 - 64.4). Additional occupational health risks associated with the extraction of hydrocarbons in Arctic have not been established. Conclusion. The priority direction in the prevention of occupational pathology (mainly sensorineural hearing loss) should be the reduction of the level of industrial noise among air transport workers.

Analysis of parasitological situation in nenets autonomous district

In the article there is presented an analysis of the own parasitological studies, as well as indices of the prevalence of parasitic diseases according to the official statistical reports of medical institutions, Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare in the Nenets Autonomous District (NAD) over the periodfrom 2002 to 2013. The survey on parasitoses was performed in the indigenous population - the Nenets reindeer herders and their families, as well as in the alien population residing in the territory of the NAD settlements: Varnek, Krasnoe, Karatayka, Nes, Haruta, Norey-Ver, Iskateley, village Oma, and city of Naryan-Mar. During this period, by means of the method of the native smear there were surveyed 5891 cases, method of Kato - 217,417 persons, by perianal scraping - 3054 persons, by ELISA for the presence of specific antibodies to the antigens of various parasites - 11556 cases. The statistical analysis was performed with the use of Statistical Software Package - Excel 2010. There were revealed both downward trends in the prevalence of the county's population for giardiasis, enterobiasis, diphyllobothriasis and the gain in indices of prevalence of ascariasis in the population of the District, also there were detected and found new types ofparasitoses for county - opisthorchiasis, toxocariasis in all age groups of the population of NAD.

First data on molybdenite and its primary orebody in Pay-Khoy (Nenets autonomous district): mineralogy, geochemistry, raman spectroscopy

The first data on five primary molybdenite sources within the gabbro-dolerite complex of Pay-Khoy (Pay-Khoy Ridge, Yugra Peninsula, Russia) are presented. The mineral is extended areally in Devonian ore-bearing gabbro-dolerites, contact rocks, and quartz veins. This paper considers the mineralogical-geochemical features of molybdenite, its occurrence, the composition of host rocks, and spectroscopic studies.

First Data on Molybdenite and Its Primary Sources in Pay-Khoy (Nenets Autonomous District): Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Raman Spectroscopy

First Data on Molybdenite and Its Primary Sources in Pay-Khoy (Nenets Autonomous District): Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Raman Spectroscopy

Oncological Morbidity of Children in the Arkhangelsk Region and the Nenets Autonomous District: An Ecological Study

Background. The study of oncological morbidity in children, as well as the characteristics of its structure and the analysis of temporal trends within the subject of the Russian Federation is aimed at improving the organization of medical care: increasing early diagnosis, reliability of static data, and optimizing patient routing. Objective. Our aim was to analyze the incidence and its structure in children (0–17 years old) who lived in the Arkhangelsk Region and the Nenets Autonomous District in 2007–2016. Methods. The analysis of the incidence of malignant neoplasms of the child population in the Arkhangelsk region and the Nenets Autonomous District was carried out. Results. During the study period, the diagnosis of cancer was first established in 329 (including 6 patients from other subjects of the Russian Federation children (boys — 177, girls — 146) at the age of 0–17 years, of which 260 children at the age of 0–14 years and 63 — at the age of 15–17 years. The average annual incidence of children over 10 years was 14.3: for the age group 0–14 years old — 13.8, for the age group 15–17 years old — 16.6. During the analyzed period, there were significant fluctuations in annual incidence rates (minimum — 9.8 in 2010; maximum — 16.8 in 2009). The average annual incidence in the age group 15–17 years (16.6) was 18% higher than in the age group 0–14 years (14). The morbidity structure was characterized by some predominance of solid tumors (51.7%) over hemoblastosis (48.3%), and in the group of 0–14 years this ratio was 54.6/45.4%, in the group of 15–17 years — 50, 9/49.1%. Conclusion. In the analyzed subjects in recent years there has been practically no increase in the incidence in children. The incidence in the age group 15–17 years is slightly higher than in the age group 0–14 years. Changes in the morbidity structure are noted, mainly due to a decrease in the proportion of lymphomas.

Potential conflicts of nature management in the Nenets Autonomous District

A map presenting areas of potential nature management conflicts risks at the territory of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (region) (NAO) was compiled. Nowadays this region experiences fast economic development foreseen by the Arctic Doctrine of the Russian Federation which includes economic development in different spheres. The 8 basic development zones were mentioned in the Doctrine, one- at the territory of NAO. Development strategy plans include careful nature management and complex approach to economic development tasks realization. This is of vital importance regarding the following: low ecosystems resilience to anthropogenic disturbances, presence of traditional nature management lands of indigenous peoples, pulls of regulating and supporting ecosystem services of microregional dimensions. These facts demonstrate importance of nature management potential risks spatial analysis for territories of pioneer development in NAO. Several big investments projects are planned for NAO for the nearest future. The larger part of investments into NAO economy (97 %) are connected with hydrocarbons extraction development. Priorities concern industrial nature management development (mainly mineral resources extraction), transport nature management (Indiga and Amderma sea ports, railways connecting with neighbor regions, pipe-lines arrangement). Original method of nature management conflicts analysis and mapping was used. It was based on revealing of potential competing exploitation of ecosystem services regulating, production, cultural. System analysis and mapping methods were used as well. The revealed areas of potential nature management conflicts must be taken into consideration during territorial management plans development.

Contribution of the atmospheric channel to lead contamination of soils in the Arctic territories

Although the Arctic territories have long been considered “the gold standard of purity”, global climate change and environmental pollution are having a significant impact on the state of Arctic ecosystems. In particular, industrial complexes combined with transboundary transport are having a negative impact. The aim of this work is to determine the contribution of atmospheric Pb to the contamination of soils of the Arctic territories using the trajectory statistics method which combines correlation and factor statistical processing approaches while taking the actual lead content in the upper soil horizon into account. In order to assess the transfer of pollutants, an analysis of multiannual air mass tracts and impurity transfer trajectories to certain points was carried out. The objects of study are the soil of the Khorey-Ver settlement, the basin of the Shapkin and Sula rivers, northeastern and southern Svalbard and the islands of the Southern Archipelago of Novaya Zemlya. It was established that the primary contribution to airborne pollution of the Nenets Autonomous District (NAO) during the summer period comes from sources located within a radius of about 400 km. Aerogenic influence of the mainland on the territory of Svalbard is practically absent, with the main atmospheric transport of substances coming from nearby marine areas. The transfer of impurities from the mainland to the Novaya Zemlya District is also insignificant. During the summer months, there is practically no airborne lead contamination of the island territories. Some influences on the territory of Novaya Zemlya and the NEO can be traced to sources on the Kola Peninsula, the coasts of the Barents and Kara seas, as well as long-distance transport from the southern regions. On the territory of the NAO, the number of heavy metal (HM) precipitations increases from west to east, possibly indicating a stronger impact of emissions from the Norilsk industrial hub than from the enterprises of the Kola Peninsula on this territory. In terms of seasonal dynamics, the island points are characterised by an increase in HM fluxes during the winter period; conversely, for the NAO territory, such an increase takes place during the summer. This discrepancy is primarily due to the changing nature of the atmospheric circulation.

Influence of innovative activities on economic development of the Russian Arctic

The study conducted the impact of innovative activity on the economic development of the Russian Arctic. The methodology of the study envisaged the ranking of four regions that are fully included in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation by indicator «Innovative products production as a percentage of the total volume of products shipped ». The analysis of innovative activities level of the Russian Arctic in comparison with the average indicators of the country was carried out. It is shown that the Murmansk region is characterized by the highest volume of innovative products produced respectively, the Nenets Autonomous District - by the lowest. The direct impact of the production and sale of innovative products on economic indicators primarily due to an increase in gross regional product (GRP), fixed assets and the number of employed people is shown. In this case the Murmansk region having a high level of innovative activities showed an excess of the values of the Nenets Autonomous District by twelve of the nineteen indicators. In addition by GRP, fixed capital investments, fixed assets wear level and average monetary incomes per capita the Murmansk region showed an excess of average Russian values. It should be noted that the Nenets Autonomous District which produces the smallest amount of innovative products is ahead of the Murmansk region by GRP and investments in fixed assets mainly due to the exploitation of oil and gas resources. Performed correlation analysis confirmed the influence of innovative activities on the economic development of the Arctic. High correlation of the innovative products volume with significant economic indicators is shown.The study confirmed the hypothesis of the influence of innovative activities on the economic indicators of the Arctic regions.

MATERIALS ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF A RARE GROUND BEETLE CARABUS NITENS L. (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) IN THE MURMANSK REGION

А non-flying large ground beetle Carabus (Hemicarabus) nitens L., 1758 has been reported from the Murmansk Region, where this species is extremely rare. The characteristics of two Khibiny mountain-tundra habitats are given, in which а total of 18 adult beetles were caught in different years, using the method of pitfall traps. The conclusion was made that this ecologically dual species (xerophilic according to some authors and hygrophilous according to other data) prefers near-water mountain-tundra sites with a well-developed plant cover made up of true mosses in combination with lichens and ericoid shrubs. Data from the literature on the peculiarities of the distribution and biology of C. nitens in the Northern periphery of its range were summarized. Data on the species occurrence in the neighboring regions (Fennoscandia, Arkhangelsk Region, Nenets Autonomous District, Republic of Karelia) and its protective status in the area are presented. It is concluded that at the Murmansk Region latitudes the beetles are active on the soil surface in June and can be collected during this period by pitfall traps or manually. Based on our findings, C. nitens was included in the second edition of the Red Data Book of the Murmansk Region (2014) with the status of a rare vulnerable species 3 (R).

COMPLEX EVALUATION OF THE FUNCTIONAL STATUS OF OIL AND GAS WORKERS DURING SHIFT PERIOD IN THE ARCTIC CONDITIONS

The article is devoted to the study of functional status dynamics (working capacity, stress) of oil and gas workers of various professional groups during the shift period in Arctic conditions. The survey involved 70 specialists from oil and gas producing companies working on a shift basis in the Nenets Autonomous District of five professional groups: operators for oil and gas production, operators of the boiler and treatment facilities, drivers, engineers and maintenance technicians. The research methods are studying documentation, monitoring the work process, questioning, psycho-physiological and psychological testing, statistical methods of data analysis. The study of the functional status was carried out with the help of biochemical (analysis of saliva on cortisol), psychophysiological (complex visual-motor response) and psychological (questionnaire: “Feeling. Activity. Mood.” by V.A. Doskin and co-authors; the test of color preferences of M. Lusher in adaptation L.N. Sobchik) methods. As a result of the study, By the end of the shift period the statistically significant increase was revealed in the stressful status of the operators of the boiler and treatment facilities, maintenance workers and drivers. According to the dynamics of the functional status, one can observe a decrease in the working capacity of all specialists by the end of the shift period. The specialists, working in the open air (drivers and engineers), had more negative dynamics of functional status in comparison with other professional groups. These workers can be referred to the risk group.

Минералого-спектроскопические особенности минерала вавржинит из медно-никелевых руд хребта Пай-Хой (Ненецкий автономный округ, Россия)

Минералого-спектроскопические особенности минерала вавржинит из медно-никелевых руд хребта Пай-Хой (Ненецкий автономный округ, Россия)

Комплексная экономическая оценка месторождений Ненецкого автономного округа

Комплексная экономическая оценка месторождений Ненецкого автономного округа

Distribution, number and protection of the Falconiformes in Nenets Autonomous district

Distribution, number and protection of the Falconiformes in Nenets Autonomous district

Стратегические приоритеты и вызовы развития нефтегазового сектора Арктической зоны РФ (на примере Ненецкого автономного округа)

The article discusses the prospects for the development of the oil and gas sector in the Nenets Autonomous District by analyzing the federal and regional strategies as regards their tasks, possible challenges and risks in the implementation of strategies, and solutions offered. We compare the approaches to the Arctic shelf development taken by the Nenets Autonomous Okrug and Norway. In 2016, the future of the oil and gas sector in the NAO was actively associated with the development of the Arctic shelf. The draft Strategy 2018 openly recognizes that the fall in oil prices at the end of 2014 made the development of many projects in the oil sector simply unprofitable, leading to their ‘freezing’ for an indefinite period – and first of all, it affected projects in the Russian Arctic. However, it seems that this particular period of ‘freezing’ should be used to gradually increase Russian potential in working with Arctic hydrocarbon deposits. Two fundamentally significant elements of such potential are still absent at the level of problem statement in strategic documents. These, in our opinion, include the development of Russian own technologies suitable for efficient hydrocarbon production and related operations in extreme Arctic conditions (including maximum automation and robotization of the most complex and dangerous operations, the development of technologies for reducing environmental risks, etc.), as well as the preparation of a sufficient number of qualified trained personnel able to use these technologies effectively