Northern Siberia Research Articles

An underwater research drone for the Yenisei

The study of the rivers and lakes of Eastern Siberia has its own peculiarities. Fast currents, small depths, silt, algae, and the abundance of small non-ferrous artifacts on the riverbed are all factors, which make such investigations complicated. In this report, the authors discuss a software and hardware complex for a proposed remotely operated underwater vehicle, which is specially developed for operating in the rivers of northern Siberia.

Impact of late spring Siberian snow on summer rainfall in South-Central China

Located in the Yangtze River Valley and surrounded by mountains, South-Central China (SCC) frequently suffered from natural disasters such as torrential precipitation, landslide and debris flow. Here we provide corroborative evidence for a link between the late spring (May) snow water equivalent (SWE) over Siberia and the summer (July–August, abbr. JA) rainfall in SCC. We show that, in May, anomalously low SWE over Siberia is robustly related to a large warming from the surface to the mid-troposphere, and to a stationary Rossby wave train from Siberia eastward toward the North Atlantic. On the one hand, over the North Atlantic there exhibits a tripole pattern response of sea surface temperature anomalies in May. It persists to some extent in JA and in turn triggers a wave train propagating downstream across Eurasia and along the Asian jet, as the so-called Silk Road pattern (SRP). On the other hand, over northern Siberia the drier soil occurs in JA, accompanied by an overlying anomalous anticyclone through the positive feedback. This anomalous anticyclone favors the tropospheric cooling over southern Siberia, and the meridional (northward) displacement of the Asian jet (JMD) due to the change in the meridional temperature gradient. The combination of the SRP and the JMD facilitates less water vapor transport from the tropical oceans and anomalous descending motion over SCC, and thus suppresses the precipitation. These findings indicate that May Siberian SWE can be exploited for seasonal predictability of SCC precipitation.

Protura in Arctic Regions, with Description of Mastodonentomon n. gen. (Acerentomidae, Nipponentominae) and a Key to Known Arctic Taxa.

Protura are widespread, but their presence in the Arctic was first noted only ca. 70 years ago and is still little acknowledged. This work compiles taxonomic information on proturans in the Arctic regions and adds unpublished data from Northern Siberia. Currently, this fauna is represented by 23 species in two orders and 14 genera. The large cosmopolitan genus Eosentomon is represented by only four species, whereas Acerentomidae is much more diverse, with 19 species in 13 genera (eight Nipponentominae, five Acerentominae). Most of the Arctic species possess a larger number of setae than species living in temperate regions. Based on several unique characters, a new genus, Mastodonentomon, is erected for Nipponentomon macleani, and the species is re-described with the original description supplemented with new characters, including head chaetotaxy, seta length, and porotaxy. Proturan occurrence in the Arctic is limited to Beringia, but the majority of species have restricted distributions and none have been found in both the American Arctic and Siberia. This implies relict origins and high levels of proturan endemism in the Arctic. This emerging view on biogeographical history is, however, hampered by the limited extent of available data, which highlights the need for considerably greater survey efforts. A key to Arctic proturans is provided to facilitate further studies.

Multisensory satellite observations of the expansion of the Batagaika crater and succession of vegetation in its interior from 1991 to 2018

On-site monitoring in large areas located in inaccessible regions can be difficult and costly. Thus remote sensing is an essential tool for mapping and monitoring changes in such regions. Therefore, this paper describes long-term multisensory satellite observations of the expansion of the Batagaika crater in Northern Siberia and natural succession of vegetation in its interior from 1991 to 2018. Landsat 5 TM, Landsat 7 + ETM, Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS imageries were mainly used as a data source for analyses, although Sentinel-2A imagery and DEM image from ASTER satellite were also employed for calculating a vegetation index and expansion in the crater area. The observations were conducted in years 1991–2018 and were made in a summer season. The results reveal that the crater area increased by almost three times during these 27 years and that the fastest expansion took place between 2010 and 2014 with 22.7% increment. The analysis of elevation of the crater revealed that in 2018 its maximum depth was ca 70 m and that depth was decreasing towards its north-east tail. Additionally, the satellite imagery of land surface temperature which is a driving force of crater expansion was visualized for chosen hot days within the time frame 2010–2018. The study of temporal and spatial changes in NDVI spatial distributions inside the crater revealed also a high rate of the succession of vegetation, which may reduce melting of permafrost inside the Batagaika crater and its further expansion.

From natural to cultural mires during the last 15 ka years: An integrated approach comparing 14C ages on basal peat layers with geomorphological, palaeoecological and archaeological data (Eastern Massif Central, France)

This paper studies mire initiation modalities from the Late-Glacial to the Holocene by comparing radiocarbon ages on basal peat layers (112 sites from the Eastern French Massif Central – EFMC) with long-term land cover changes. We developed a semi-quantitative method based on the degree of openness and on Anthropogenic Impact Factors (AIF scores) from palaeoecological data (mire and lake records). Archaeological information was also considered to evaluate human impact. We compared regional mire development trends with datasets from Northern Europe, Siberia, Alaska and Canada, and with global CH4 emission. Heterogenous cases of mire initiation were highlighted during the last 15 ka years in the EMFC. From 15 to 11.7 ka cal. BP, some mires and histic horizons occurred, although further research is needed to better understand these peat accumulation phases. Related to the Early Holocene warming, a mire generation established by terrestrialization, in the southern EFMC where geomorphology favoured fens. Bogs also formed by paludification in the whole area between 10 and 7 ka cal. BP. Then, various cases of mire initiation were found from 4.4 to 2.4 ka cal. BP. The high number of mires established since 2.4 ka cal. BP could be related to major anthropogenic changes, indirectly favouring fens (in former ponds for instance) or small bogs (at the back of roads, walls or in abandoned drainage systems). This last generation was typical of Western European mountains and implied that moderate human impact may also produce socio-ecosystems with high ecological value.

Habitats of Pleistocene megaherbivores reconstructed from the frozen fauna remains

The Late Pleistocene landscape in northern Eurasia and North America was inhabited by a specific megafaunal complex, which largely disappeared during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. Vegetation changes are considered as one of the factors responsible for these extinctions, but the structure and composition of the Pleistocene vegetation are still poorly known. Here we complement previous studies by comparing the taxonomic composition of the plant remains found in the gastrointestinal tracts of the frozen carcasses of Pleistocene megaherbivores with the species composition of the current Siberian vegetation. We compiled a dataset of palaeobotanical records from frozen individuals of Pleistocene megaherbivores found in northern Siberia and Beringia and dated to the period from more than 50 kyr BP to 9 kyr BP. We also compiled a dataset of vegetation plots from several regions in Siberia. We analysed the similarity in taxonomic composition of plants between these two datasets using a novel method that accounts for variable taxonomic resolution in palaeobotanical data. For most megaherbivore individuals, plant remains in their gastrointestinal tracts corresponded to tundra, forest and mire vegetation, while they showed low similarity to steppe. This pattern was relatively constant over time, showing no remarkable differences between the Last Glacial Maximum and the periods before and afterwards. This suggests that during the Upper Pleistocene, a mosaic of mesic and wet vegetation types such as tundra with patches of forests and mires was common in northern Siberia and Beringia. In contrast, the steppe was rare to absent in the landscape or underused by the megaherbivores as a pasture since they found enough food in the widespread mesic and wet habitats with more productive vegetation.

Rosselia Trace Fossil in Lower Jurassic Sediments from Cape Airkat (Northern Siberia)

Abstract —We study the morphology and sedimentary facies of trace fossils formerly identified as Arctichnus found at the base of the Jurassic section near Cape Airkat (northern Siberia). They are most often found in shoreface silty sand and are similar to Rosselia socialis ichnospecies in morphology, taphonomy, and depositional environments. On the basis of this similarity, the Airkat trace fossils should be identified as Rosselia socialis Dahmer, 1937. Analysis of the type collection of Arctichnus arcticus has revealed new morphological features of the taxon.

Retrospective review and current knowledge on the occurrence of West Nile virus in mosquito vectors, reservoirs and hosts in Slovakia (Central Europe).

West Nile virus (WNV) is amosquito-borne flavivirus (the genus Flavivirus) representing amedical and veterinary public health concern. Birds are the most important reservoirs. Culicine mosquitoes transmit WNV to vertebrate hosts (including horses and humans) and migratory birds play role in its long-distance transport. Slovakia is geographically localised at the crossroad of migration routes connecting South Europe and Africa with breeding localities in the Western, Northern, Central and Eastern Europe and Siberia. This review summarizes historical and present knowledge on WNV in Slovakia during a period of more than fifty years. Five European mosquito species capable to transmit WNV are native in Slovakia. Based on recent research results, the major role in the WNV transmission is attributed to Culex mosquitoes, which are also the most abundant species. Virus isolates from birds that succumbed to WNV infection are genetically close to Central European strains. Historical and recent results point out, that WNV circulates in the population of vectors, reservoirs and hosts for decades. Although West Nile fever epidemics in Slovakia were not reported yet, virus isolation, molecular detection and serological findings in reservoirs and hosts confirm that sporadic cases occur. Furthermore, the first autochthonous human case may indicate favourable conditions for WNV transmission to humans. The climate change and precipitation anomalies may favour to increase vector abundance, hence increase the chance of WNV epidemics. This review highlights an urgent need of a countrywide surveillance program aimed on the WNV occurrence in vectors and reservoirs in Slovakia. Keywords: West Nile virus; flavivirus; vector-borne pathogen; arbovirus.

Common Swifts (Apus apus) nesting in mature pine forests in Corsica

Tree breeding in holes has been recorded for the Common Swift (Apus apus) mainly in Northern Europe and Siberia. This behaviour, considered as ancestral, has also been noted in Corsican forests. Although marginal in terms of numbers, it is a perennial phenomenon. We present here a synthesis on the distribution and the characteristics of nesting sites, and we compare these breeding sites to the occurrences in continental Europe and Northern Africa. Our data add to the body of arguments in favour of the preservation of mature forests of the Corsican Pine on the island.

Negation in Taimyr Dolgan

In this study, the central negation strategies of Taimyr Dolgan, a Turkic minority language of Central Northern Siberia are reported. Although the morphological basics of negation have been covered in two major grammaticographic accounts (Ubrjatova 1985; Artem’ev 2001), a reasonably comprehensive survey of negation, which would cover morphology, syntax and semantics, has not been compiled up till now. This study, which follows the questionnaire underlying Miestamo, Tamm and Wagner-Nagy (2015), approaches Dolgan from a functional-typological perspective and does not use (standard) Yakut as tertium comparationis.

Contribution to the knowledge of the bumblebee fauna in the Southern Taymyr

The bumblebee fauna of the Southern Taymyr region, northern Siberia, is represented by 10 species, i.e., Bombus consobrinus, B. flavidus, B. lapponicus, B. hypnorum, B. jonellus, B. cingulatus, B. balteatus, B. pyrrhopygus, B. hyperboreus, and B. cryptarum. During the field research for this study, 7 species of bumblebee on the Putorana Plateau (or the Putorana Mountains, on the northwestern edge of the Central Siberian Plateau) and 6 species near Dudinka Town were observed and B. consobrinus was found for the first time on the Putorana Plateau. To date, B. consobrinus was known only in the southern and central parts of the Krasnoyarsk Krai. Regarding the regional fauna, Transpalaearctic and Holarctic species are presented. According to the latitudinal aspect, in this region there are arcto-boreal, arcto-temperate, boreal and temperate species. An analysis of the community was carried out regarding bumblebees that live on the Putorana Plateau. It was found that species of the subgenus Pyrobombus and Alpinobombus, that are typical for the tundra and forest-tundra zones in the Northern Palaearctic, are dominant within the bumblebee community.

지역언어학적 관점으로 보는 현대중국어 방언과 소수 민족 언어의 언어 지리 유형과 언어접촉 - 연구개 비음을 중심으로

The aim of this study is to provide an areal typology of Chinese (including minority languages) by producing the world atlas of language structures and to explore language contact and language geography types. This study also discusses the sprachbund in China based on describing the areal distribution of a velar nasal features of different Chinese dialects and minority languages. In this study, there are three objectives: (1) To organize velar nasal features and to produce the world atlas of language structures of Chinese languages. (2) To analyze areal typology of Chinese (including minority languages) based on the geographical distribution of /ŋ/; (3) To discuss about the language contact and sprachbund of Chinese languages in view of areal typology focused on consonant features. Finally, this study shows that the feature of velar nasal /ŋ/ is distributed along the belt connected to Northern and Eastern Siberia, the East Coast of China and Southeast Asia. Also we refer to a view of the origin of the languages of the Pacific Northeast Asian and language family by Katsumi Matsumoto(2006).

FORMATION OF ETHNO-PEDAGOGICAL COMPETENCE IN GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS DURING ADVANCED TRAINING: NORTHERN SIBERIA EXPERIENCE

The article addresses the problem of formation of ethno-pedagogical competence in the conditions of advanced teacher training. The study aimed to analyze the ethno-pedagogical competence of a teacher as a pedagogical concept, to highlight its components, and to theoretically substantiate pedagogical conditions that contribute to the formation of ethno-pedagogical competence of a teacher during advanced teacher training. The study targeted teachers of general education institution in Northern Siberia, Russia, and relied on such methods as theoretical analysis, empirical methods (survey, questionnaire), and mental simulation of pedagogical conditions. The survey revealed the teachers have aneed for expanding their ethno-pedagogical knowledge and the insufficient manifestation of the components of ethno-pedagogical competence. This induced the search for learning conditions that could form the ethno-pedagogical competence in secondary education teachers in the conditions of advanced teacher training. The learning conditions include, first, the selection of training modules with informative content on disciplines that provide a motivationally valuable, cognitive, activity-related orientation and make up the core of ethno-pedagogical competence; second, the involvement of teachers in solving problems and discussing cases that reflect the regional-ethnic trends; and, third, the involvement of teachers into design and research activities. When implemented, these learning conditions will contribute to the training of a teachercompetentin ethno-pedagogical issues.

Late Quaternary depositional and glacial history of the Arliss Plateau off the East Siberian margin in the western Arctic Ocean

Sedimentary stratigraphy and facies analysis along with seismostratigraphic and multibeam bathymetry data are used to reconstruct the last glacial impact on the Arliss Plateau (AP) and attendant sedimentation in the adjacent Chukchi Basin (CB) in the western Arctic Ocean off the East Siberian margin. Sediment core ARA02B/16B-GC from the AP lower slope captures glacier-related depositional history during the last estimated ca. 100 ka (Marine Isotope Stage, MIS 1 to 5c) based on regional lithostratigraphic correlation. The sedimentary record shows distinguishable interglacial (interstadial) and glacial (stadial) patterns. The identified sedimentary facies reflect several modes of glaciogenic deposition by drifting icebergs, suspension settling from turbid meltwater plumes and/or detached underflows, and turbidity currents. Based on strong seismic reflectors related to lithological boundaries, a downslope subbottom profile from AP to CB is divided into seismostratigraphic units (SSU) 1 and 2 corresponding in the core record to MIS 1–3 and MIS 3-5c, respectively. An acoustically transparent lens within SSU 2 correlates on the upper slope to debris lobes downslope from the AP top covered by megascale glacial lineations. This geomorphic/sedimentary pattern indicates a glacial erosional impact on the AP and proglacial deposition of eroded sediments on the slope and in the basin. Based on the developed sediment stratigraphy and facies analysis, the last debris lobe horizon was deposited in glacial/deglacial environments during late MIS 4 to early MIS 3. The absence of similar glaciogenic debris lobes within SSU 1 indicates no direct glacial impact on the AP during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). These results suggest that the last glacial erosion of the AP occurred during or immediately after MIS 4, possibly related to major glaciation in northern Siberia at ∼50–70 ka.

The Anisian (Middle Triassic) brachiopod fauna from Qingyan, Guizhou, south-western China

Like most of the benthos, brachiopods suffered huge losses in biodiversity during the end-Permian extinction and did not fully recover until the Anisian (Middle Triassic). Anisian brachiopod faunas are thus a key clade characterizing the recovered marine ecosystems in the early Mesozoic. Of these, the brachiopod fauna from Qingyan Town in Guizhou Province, south-western China has long been one of the best-known Anisian faunas in the world. The taxonomy of the Qingyan fauna, however, was last studied half a century ago, and thus requires revision. Here we describe 34 species (and subspecies) (including seven undetermined species) assigned to 29 brachiopod genera from the Qingyan Formation from the Leidapo and Wachangpo localities in the Qingyan section. Of these, 11 species are described for the first time from this area. Two new genera: Parabrekia and Caucasorhynchella (= Crurirhynchella Xu & Liu, 1983, a nomen nudum) and seven new species (Angustothyris dagysi, Angustothyris qingyanensis, Koeveskallina bifurcata, Neocyrtina xui, Nudirostralina minuta, Parabrekia yangi and Rutorhynchia? trigonalis) are also erected. The Qingyan brachiopod fauna is characterized by abundant endemic genera (33.3%) and exhibits a weak similarity with several coeval faunas reported from the western Tethys. In addition, faunal affinity analyses of 13 Anisian brachiopod faunas indicate that at least five biogeographical provinces (western Tethys, eastern Tethys, northern Siberia, Himalayas and New Zealand) were present during the Anisian, and the eastern Tethys province included three subprovinces: Yangtze, southern Qilian–western Qinling and central Qinghai. However, most faunas mutually share rather low Jaccard similarity coefficients (<0.4), except for those in the western Tethys, implying a continuity of the multi-provincial pattern established for Early Triassic brachiopod distributions.http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:AAD98089-C804-4AF4-BC73-CDA5823C66A7

New belemnite records from the Mitarai Formation, Tetori Group, Japan: Delimitation of the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary in the Japanese Islands

Traditional faunal elements for zoning the uppermost Jurassic‒lowermost Cretaceous stratigraphic interval in Tethyan regions, i.e., ammonites and calpionellids, are either lacking in the boreal regions at that time, or are of generally low diversity and endemic compositions. Consequently, recognition of Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary interval sections has been hindered in many areas of the boreal regions, as well as some lower latitude intermediate areas, such as the Japanese Islands.Strata of the Mitarai Formation of the Tetori Group of central Japan have previously provided ammonites suggesting a broadly Tithonian–Berriasian age for the formation, but the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, nor the boundary interval, have never been precisely identified in it, due to the poorly preserved nature of the faunas and their endemic nature. We have recognized a fauna of belemnites from a locality of the Mitarai Formation, including Cylindroteuthis knoxvillensis Anderson, C. knoxvillensis?, C.? sp., Arctoteuthis tehamaensis (Stanton), A. cf. tehamaensis, A. cf. repentina Saks & Nal'nyaeva, and Acroteuthis? sp. Collectively, this belemnite assemblage of the Mitarai Fm indicates the interval of the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary, as recognized at northern Siberia (Russia) and northern California (USA), and is thus the first certain identification of this boundary in the Japanese Islands. The Mitarai Fm belemnite assemblage can be used to establish the presence of the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary interval in other areas of the Japanese Islands.

Anomalous winter moisture transport associated with the recent surface warming over the Barents–Kara seas region since the mid‐2000s

AbstractObservational evidences have shown that the increased water vapour and accompanying enhancement of downward infrared radiation (IR) can explain the abrupt warming of surface air temperature (SAT) over the Barents–Kara Seas during boreal winter. This study investigates anomalous moisture transport associated with the abrupt change of SAT since the mid‐2000s over the Barents–Kara Seas, since moisture transport contributes to the anomalous water vapour and downward IR. Results show that anomalous stationary moisture flux induces anomalous moisture convergence over the Barents–Kara Seas region, whereas the anomalous transient flux opposes the anomalous moisture convergence there. Hence, the anomalous stationary moisture transport is suggested to be responsible to the increased water vapour over the Barents–Kara Seas region. Further decomposition of the stationary moisture flux indicates that the anomalous moisture convergence associated with the change in atmospheric mean flow plays an important role in the increased water vapour on both interannual and decadal time scales. In addition, decrease in the synoptic‐scale eddy activity observed over northern Siberia may contribute to generation of the anomalous atmospheric mean flow via eddy feedback processes.

Historical faunal exchange between the Pontocaspian Basin and North America.

Ecrobia is a genus of small brackish‐water mud snails with an amphi‐Atlantic distribution. Interestingly, the species occurring in the northwestern Atlantic, Ecrobia truncata, is more closely related to the Pontocaspian taxa, Ecrobia grimmi and Ecrobia maritima, than to the species occurring in the northeastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea. At least three colonization scenarios may account for this peculiar biogeographical pattern: (1) a recent human‐mediated dispersal, (2) a historical transatlantic interchange, and (3) a historical transpolar interchange. To test these three scenarios, we used five operational criteria—time of species divergence, first appearance in the fossil record, dispersal limitation as well as environmental filtering and biotic interactions along the potential migration routes. Specifically, we inferred a time‐calibrated molecular phylogeny for Ecrobia and reconstructed a paleogeographical map of the Arctic Ocean at 2.5 million years ago (Mya). Based on the five operational criteria, scenarios 1 and 2 can likely be rejected. In contrast, all criteria support scenario 3 (historical transpolar interchange). It is therefore suggested that a bird‐mediated and/or ocean current‐mediated faunal interchange via the Arctic Ocean occurred during the Late Pliocene or Early Pleistocene. This dispersal was likely facilitated by reduced distances between the Eurasian and North American/Greenland landmasses, marine introgressions, and/or a stepping‐stone system of brackish‐water habitats in northern Siberia, as well as a lack of competition along the migration route. As for the direction of dispersal, the scientific data presented are not conclusive. However, there is clearly more support for the scenario of dispersal from the Pontocaspian Basin to North America than vice versa. This is the first study providing evidence for a natural faunal exchange between the Pontocaspian Basin and North America via the Arctic Ocean.

Ethnicity and voters’ evaluations of political leadership: “lab-in-the-field” experiments in Russian regions

ABSTRACTThis paper presents an experimental test of ethnic-based bias in citizens’ evaluation of a political leader’s decision-making across three multi-ethnic regions of the Russian Federation (Sakha, Buryatia, and Tatarstan) and one mono-ethnic region (Arkhangel’sk Oblast). With variations in the intensity of ethnic loyalties, degree of titular ethnic group assimilation, and differences in an ethnic division of labor, Russian regions present an interesting site for the investigation of these conjectures. The experiment participants read a vignette describing a decision by a local mayor and assess the decision. We randomly vary the mayor’s ethnicity and policy choice. Our findings suggest that policy substance is the primary influence and dominates ethnicity when citizens evaluate public officials in three of the four regions. In the fourth region, Sakha in Northern Siberia, we provide analyses to explain the greater salience of ethnicity.

Evaluating closed chamber evapotranspiration estimates against eddy covariance measurements in an arctic wetland

Evapotranspiration (ET) is an important hydrological flux with a strong influence on greenhouse gas emissions from thawing permafrost. This study examines the suitability of the closed chamber method in characterising the spatial heterogeneity of ET fluxes in a typical polygonal tundra landscape in the Lena River Delta, northern Siberia. Actual evapotranspiration is compared across scales using: (1) ground-based chamber measurements to observe ET at the microsite scale; and (2) tower-based eddy covariance (EC) measurements which provide spatially averaged ET observations at the ecosystem level. Adopting an upscaling approach using EC estimates as a benchmark, the authors assess the suitability of the closed chamber method in an arctic wetland environment. A short closure time (40 s) and a linear model to describe the change in chamber headspace water vapour concentration were employed to estimate ET rates from the chamber measurements. Using a correction factor chamber fluxes were successfully scaled to the EC data. Yet, findings suggest that the performance of the closed chamber method is highly sensitive to the prevailing hydrometeorological conditions, and it is likely that the sorption and desorption of water molecules to the inside of the chamber and tubing has a strong impact on results. A number of methodological issues are presented in this paper which question the use of closed chamber measurements as a stand-alone tool for measuring ET in arctic wetland environments. However, when paired alongside a trusted benchmark, chambers can provide valuable information on ET at the microsite scale.