Northeastern European Russia Research Articles

Old Permic Universal Dependencies Treebank

Old Permic, also known as Old Komi, is an extinct variety of Komi that was spoken in the late Middle Ages in the lower Vychegda river basin in Northeastern European Russia, in an area that currently is not Komi-speaking. This language variety is attested in fragmentary records from the 14th to 17th century written both in the Old Permic alphabet and in Cyrillic. These records are of significant importance for research on the history of the Komi language. Here we introduce our attempt towards a new Universal Dependencies treebank that will eventually contain the existing corpus of Old Permic in a structured and CoNLL-U annotated format. This will be the first time this material is being made openly available in digital format, and our contribution describes the current state of the art and remaining challenges.

Metal concentrations in fish tissues from Kara, Bolshoi Patok, and Maly Patok River basins, Northeastern European Russia

Fish and fish tissue are effective bioindicators due to their sensitivity to pollution and are frequently used for assessing aquatic ecosystem health. Establishing baseline metal concentrations in freshwater fish tissues within aquatic ecosystems is important prior to establishing industrial activities to help determine potential future industrial impacts. Historically, North-Eastern European Russia has been an area with relatively low levels of industrial development and is still in pristine condition. In this region, the noise-to-background ratio for industrial contaminants may be disproportionately high. This study measured baseline metal concentrations in freshwater fish tissues collected from three study sites (the Bolshoi Patok, Maly Patok and Kara Rivers) in northeastern European Russia as bioindicators of overall aquatic ecosystem health. Seven fish species, namely, European Grayling, Arctic Char, Whitefish, Perch, Pike, Roach, and Peled, were studied over a three-year period between 2000 and 2003. The copper (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn) concentrations were analysed in fish tissue samples. Metal concentrations measured in fish tissues in this study were comparable to those measured at remote sites in Alaska, the United States and Slovenia. Despite the small variation between the sampling sites, the metal concentrations were relatively low and considered to be in pristine condition. Metal concentrations measured in fish tissues in this study represent baseline conditions, which will be important for comparison against monitoring programmes should the region experience future industrial development.

The Rodent Fauna of the Second Half of the Late Holocene in Northeastern European Russia

The Rodent Fauna of the Second Half of the Late Holocene in Northeastern European Russia

Ecological and habitat ranges of orchids in the northernmost regions of their distribution areas: A case study from Ural Mountains, Russia

The Orchidaceae, which is one of the most interesting families of angiosperms, contains a large number of rare species. Despite their acknowledged importance, little attention has been paid to the study of orchids distributed in northern territories. In this study, we determined the syntaxonomical diversity and ecological parameters of orchid habitats in two of Europe's largest protected areas, the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park (northeastern European Russia), and then compared our findings to those in other parts of orchid distribution ranges. For this purpose, we studied 345 descriptions of plant communities (releves) containing species from Orchidaceae and defined habitat parameters using Ellenberg indicator values with the community weight mean approach, nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS), and relative niche width. We found that orchids were distributed in eight habitat types and 97 plant associations. The largest number of orchid species is found in forest communities. Half of the orchid species under study occur in the mires and rock habitats with open vegetation. Several orchids consistently occur in areas disturbed by human activity. In addition, our study indicates that the main drivers of orchid distribution across the vegetation types are light and soil nitrogen. Our analysis of the ecological parameters of orchid habitats indicates that some orchid species can be classified as habitat specialists that are confined to a relatively narrow ecological niche in the Urals (e.g., Goodyera repens, Cypripedium guttatum and Dactylorhiza maculata). Several other species (e.g. Neottia cordata and Dactylorhiza fuchsia) grow under diverse ecological parameters.

Baseline metal concentrations in fish tissue in the Kara, Bolshoi Patok, and Maly Patok River basins, North-Eastern European Russia

Baseline metal concentrations in fish tissue in the Kara, Bolshoi Patok, and Maly Patok River basins, North-Eastern European Russia

Soil microbiota and microarthropod communities in oil contaminated sites in the European Subarctic

The present comprehensive study aimed to estimate the aftermath of oil contamination and the efficacy of removing the upper level of polluted soil under the conditions of the extreme northern taiga of northeastern European Russia. Soil samples from three sites were studied. Two sites were contaminated with the contents of a nearby sludge collector five years prior to sampling. The highly contaminated upper soil level was removed from one of them. The other was left for self-restoration. A chemical analysis of the soils was conducted, and changes in the composition of the soil zoocoenosis and bacterial and fungal microbiota were investigated. At both contaminated sites, a decrease in the abundance and taxonomic diversity of indicator groups of soil fauna, oribatid mites and collembolans compared to the background site were found. The pioneer eurytopic species Oppiella nova, Proisotoma minima and Xenyllodes armatus formed the basis of the microarthropod populations in the contaminated soil. A complete change in the composition of dominant taxonomic units was observed in the microbiota, both the bacterial and fungal communities. There was an increase in the proportion of representatives of Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria in polluted soils compared to the background community. Hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria—Alcanivorax, Rhodanobacter ginsengisoli, Acidobacterium capsulatum, and Acidocella—and fungi—Amorphotheca resinae abundances greatly increased in oil-contaminated soil. Moreover, among both bacteria and fungi, a sharp increase in the abundance of uncultivated organisms that deserve additional attention as potential oil degraders or organisms with a high resistance to oil contamination were observed. The removal of the upper soil level was partly effective in terms of decreasing the oil product concentration (from approximately 21 to 2.6 g/kg of soil) and preventing a decrease in taxonomic richness but did not prevent alterations in the composition of the microbiota or zoocoenosis.

ОЦЕНКА ВОЗМОЖНОСТИ НАТУРАЛИЗАЦИИ ФОРЕЛИ В ВОДОЕМАХ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОКА РОССИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ПРИТОКОВ РЕКИ ВЫЧЕГДА)

The article highlights the ichthyological studies carried out in the Sysola river basin (a second order tributary of the Severnaya Dvina river), where rainbow trout is reared in cages for commercial purposes in the waters of regulated tributaries. The forecast for trout naturalization seems to be poor due to the fact that trout of different ages enter the river system every year as a result of technological accidents. It has been found that, despite the numerous cases of trout occurring in the natural conditions during 40 years, in the basin of the Sysola river has not formed a self-reproducing population of rainbow trout, and cases of its by-catch are rare. The data on the climatic and ecological conditions of the region are given. It has been inferred that the main factors preventing the naturalization of trout in the water bodies of the region are unfavorable temperature and hydrological regimes during the spawning and early ontogenesis of fish. The short summer feeding period does not allow trout to prepare for successful long wintering, as evidenced by a sharp decrease in the growth rate of fish that have fallen into natural conditions, compared to fish grown in cages. Trout of cage origin obviously do not form stable groups capable of reproducing the species and do not pose a threat to the aboriginal fish population, including Atlantic salmon, whose spawning and a significant part of the life cycle take place on many rivers of the north-eastern European Russia, including the basins of the Severnaya Dvina and Pechora rivers

On Phenotypic Variability, Ecological and Geographic Features of Erebia lena Christoph, 1889 (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in Northeastern European Russia

On Phenotypic Variability, Ecological and Geographic Features of Erebia lena Christoph, 1889 (Lepidoptera, Satyridae) in Northeastern European Russia

Genetic structure, morphological variation, and gametogenic peculiarities in water frogs ( Pelophylax ) from northeastern European Russia

The edible frog, Pelophylax esculentus, is a hybrid form that reproduces via clonal propagation of only one of the parental genomes through generations of hybrids while the genome of other parental species is eliminated during gametogenesis. Such reproductive ability requires hybrids to coexist with one of the parental species or rarely both parental species causing the formation of so-called population systems. Population systems and reproductive biology of water frogs from the east of the range remained partially unexplored. In this study, we investigated the distributions, population systems, genetic structure, types of gametes, and morphological variability of water frogs of the genus Pelophylax from the northeastern parts of their ranges (Mari El Republic and adjacent territories, Russia). We examined 1,337 individuals from 68 localities using morphological traits combined with DNA flow cytometry and a multilocus approach (fragments of a nuclear and two mitochondrial genes). We revealed five types of population systems: “pure” populations of the parental P. ridibundus (R) and P. lessonae (L), mixed populations of parental species (R-L) along and with their hybrids (R-E-L), as well as mixed populations of P. lessonae and P. esculentus (L-E). However, the “pure” hybrid (E) and the mixed P. ridibundus and P. esculentus (R-E) population systems were not found. All hybrids studied by DNA flow cytometry were diploid. Analysis of gametogenesis showed that the majority of hybrid males, as well as hybrid females from the L-E system, produced gametes with the P. ridibundus genome. However, in the R-E-L system, hybrid females were usually sterile. The reproduction of hybrids in such systems is primarily based on crosses of P. esculentus males with P. lessonae females. Molecular analysis showed the presence of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA introgression of the Anatolian marsh frog (P. cf. bedriagae) into both P. ridibundus and P. esculentus. The observations of alleles and haplotypes of P. cf. bedriagae in P. ridibundus and P. esculentus individuals from the same localities suggest de novo formation of local hybrids. However, the presence of the Balkan marsh frog (P. kurtmuelleri) haplotypes in local hybrids supports the hypothesis regarding the migration of old hemiclonal lineages from glacial refugia. Finally, the diagnostic value of various morphological characteristics was discussed.

Methane Emission from Palsa Mires in Northeastern European Russia

Measurement data on methane fluxes in the palsa mire ecosystem at the border of tundra and taiga zones in northeastern European Russia are presented. It was found for the first time that an intense methane flux from the surface of the permafrost mound (palsa) is determined by the spring thawing of the seasonally thawed horizon in the layer of 14–25 cm. During this period, the emission was 4–20 times higher than the summer values. In lichen communities of peat mounds, the CH4 sink prevailed during the summer-autumn period. The total methane flux in different parts of the mire in June–September varied from 0.18 to 16.5 kg CH4/ha. In general, the palsa mire emitted 81 kg CH4/ha per year to the atmosphere. The methane emission from the surface of peat mounds and hollows made up 20% and 80% of the annual flux, respectively.

Flora of Small Reservoirs of Northeastern European Russia

Flora of Small Reservoirs of Northeastern European Russia

New Fish Species in Water Bodies of Northeastern European Russia

Changes in the composition of ichthyofauna of northeastern European Russia under the effect of biological invasions are analyzed. It is shown that alien invader fish species appeared in the water bodies of the region as a result of acclimatization measures (the Far Eastern pink salmon and Pechora peled in the White Sea basin, the Northern Dvina sterlet and Siberian sturgeon in the Pechora River), intentional (the pike perch) or accidental introduction (the Chinese sleeper), and expansion of species from the Caspian Sea (the white-eye bream and asp) or the Baltic Sea (asp). The results of analysis of long-term changes in the freshwater ichthyofauna show that the appearance of alien fish species in the water bodies of northeastern European Russia has led to an increase in the diversity of ichthyofauna, trophic competition with native species, deterioration of the fishery status an increased mortality risk for juvenile Atlantic salmon, and potential aggravation of the epizootic situation in the lower reaches of the Northern Dvina River. At the same time, the successful acclimatization of the Pechora peled in the White Sea basin has made it possible to develop a scheme for organizing full-cycle lake coregonid farms with the formation of peled brood stocks and local whitefish polyculture. Sturgeon species naturalized in the Onega and Pechora rivers may subsequently diversify the list of commercial fish species.

Phylogenetic relationships and status of taxa of Pulsatilla uralensis and P. patens s.str. (Ranunculaceae) in north-eastern European Russia.

We studied the allopatric complex Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill. s.lat. (Ranunculaceae) in north-eastern European Russia and the Urals. In this region, there are two kinds of P. patens with different perianth colours in monochrome and polychrome populations. To clarify their taxonomic boundaries, we used the sequences of chloroplast DNA (rbcL and matK) and nuclear DNA (ITS2), in addition to morphological characteristics. The combination of three markers (rbcL+matK+ITS2) was found to be the most effective for phylogenetic resolution. The samples of two morphologically-different taxa P. uralensis and P. patents s.str. were shown to form a single clade on the phylogenetic tree. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis, we were not able to unequivocally prove the independent existence of P. uralensis.

The dynamics of population size in regional capitals of modern Russia

The object of this research is the cities of Russia, while the subject is the dynamics of regional capitals by population size in post-Soviet period. The goal is to determine the types of dynamics and patterns of their territorial distribution. The typology considers the decline in population size in 1990s – 2010s and its subsequent restoration. In the course of research, the author processed statistical information based on population size of the cities and socioeconomic characteristics of regions of the Russian Federation. The areal approach was applied for determination of large territories with certain types of dynamics of the cities. The author is first to carry out classification of the dynamics of population size in post-Soviet Russia, highlighting the following four parts: extended restoration, incomplete restoration, stable growth, stable decline). The areas with most widespread types are defined. It is concluded that after a decline in 1990s – 2010s, in a relatively large part of regional capitals of Russia (about 42%), the population exceeded the size of 1991 by 2020. The dynamics of population size of regional capitals of national entities looks more favorable than the dynamics of regional capitals of the counties. A large monolith area of incomplete type of restoration covers the majority of Volga Region, Central Non-Black Earth area, part of Central Black Earth area and Northeastern European Russia. The type of extended restoration has two main monolith areas, one of which covers a part of Central Black Earth area and South-West, while another – the majority of Ural and Western Siberia, and a part of Eastern Siberia. Socioeconomic characteristics of the region, which reflect the level of its development and well-being, have correlational ties with dynamics of a regional capital, but do not fully explain the origin of areas of particular type of dynamics.

Carbon Dioxide, Heat, and Water Vapor Fluxes between a Spruce Forest and the Atmosphere in Northeastern European Russia

This article presents the measurement results of CO2 and heat fluxes using the eddy covariance system between an old-age spruce forest and the atmosphere. It further examines daily and seasonal courses of CO2 net exchange, ecosystem respiration, and gross photosynthesis. A close relationship has been established between the average daily CO2 net exchange and net radiation over the course of a year. The efficiency of water use relative to organic matter production in the spruce forest has been calculated.

Environmental aspects of molecular composition of humic substances from soils of northeastern European Russia

Environmental aspects of molecular composition of humic substances from soils of northeastern European Russia

Diversity of diatoms in soils of the northeast of the European part of Russia

This paper summarized the literature and original data about the species diversity of diatoms in the soils of the Northeastern European Russia. The list of species includes 142 species, from 2 classes, 13 orders, 25 families and 44 genera. Eunotia fallax, Nitzschia palea, Pinnularia borealis, P. subcapitata had a highest frequency of occurrence. The largest number of species found in the coastal ecotones of lakes in the valley of the river Vangyr and in mountain-tundra soils in the Subpolar Urals.

Major and Trace Element Compositions of Hummocky Frozen Peatlands in the Forest–Tundra of Northeastern European Russia

The major and trace element compositions of stratified frozen peatlands in the forest–tundra of Northeastern European Russia were determined for the first time. The upper level of trace element accumulation was confined to the active (seasonally thawed) layer owing to airborne contamination over a long time span and related to the bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu, and other heavy metals (HMs) by plants and humus materials. The character of element accumulation and migration in the active layer is controlled by the stability of HM humates. Under high-acidity conditions, HMs are highly mobile and migrate to the lower boundary of the active layer, which is indicated by an increase in the fraction of water-soluble forms of a number of elements. Analysis with a scanning electron microscope revealed the presence of spherical and semispherical particles up to 1 μm in size containing Pb, Zn, Cr, and Ni in the upper peat levels, which indicates an anthropogenic source of their input owing to long-distance and local transport of air masses. The central level of element accumulation was confined to peat layers in the permafrost zone (60–120 cm), where enrichment in As and Cd relative to the mean contents in the Earth’s crust (and approximate permissible concentrations, APC, for soils) and accumulation of Fe, Al, S, and siderophile elements were observed. The source rocks of the peatlands are loams enriched in Cd, Zn, and As. The statistical analysis of relations of the contents of major and trace elements in the stratified peat horizons with the composition of peat-forming materials showed a significant contribution of the biogenic accumulation of elements.

New karyotypes of the common shrew Sorex araneus (Lipotyphla, Mammalia) at the northern periphery of the species range in European Russia

The karyotypic diversity of the common shrew was examined in a poorly studied area of northeastern European Russia between the estuary of the Pechora River and the North Ural Mountains. The karyotypes that belonged to the Serov chromosomal race were found at 500 km to the north from the previously known race range limit. In addition, three new homozygous karyotypic variants were detected in the vicinities of the towns of Inta and Naryan-Mar (near and above the Arctic Circle, respectively). An individual with the diagnostic metacentrics go, hn, im, kq, and pr—termed the “Inta” variant—could have originated from a single whole-arm reciprocal translocation (WART) from the karyotype of the Sok race. This variant corresponds to the predicted karyotype that links the Petchora and Sok races. The second variant had the metacentrics go, hn, im, kr, and pq (Naryan-Mar) and could have arisen from the “Inta” variant by a single WART. An unusual karyotype that was found on the left bank of the Pechora River was determined to be a recombinant that resulted from natural hybridization between the Petchora race and new “Naryan-Mar” variant. Thus, we have determined the origin of new karyotypic variants in a small local hybrid population.

Content of Acid-Soluble Copper and Zinc in Background Soils of Komi Republic

Geochemical features of copper and zinc in soils of background landscapes of northeastern European Russia have been revealed. Soils of accumulative landscapes are enriched with copper and zinc compounds compared to those of eluvial landscapes. Humus horizons serve as a geochemical barrier for elements. Analysis of the sorption parameters of humic acids (HAs) shows that the actual content of the studied heavy metals (HMs) in soils is far from the maximum sorption capacity. The contribution of HAs to the total sorption of metals makes up 4% for copper and 21% for zinc. The distribution of HMs among the genetic horizons is more contrast in loamy automorphic soils than in sandy semihydromorphic and hydromorphic soils. Paired correlations have been revealed between the contents of copper and zinc in sandy and loamy soils, which points to the similarity of their biogeochemical migration in landscapes. An actual database has been created, which is foundational to schematic maps of the spatial distribution of elements in background soils. The geochemical assessment of the environmental status of soils has allowed establishing norms for the regional background contents of copper and zinc in taiga and tundra soils.