Northwest Russia Research Articles

Inter‐Model Differences in Future Summer Onset Over the Northern High Latitudes

AbstractClimate models consistently project a significant advance of summer onset over the Northern high latitude lands in the late 21st century. However, large inter‐model differences exist, in particular, over Northwest Russia, Bering Sea region and Northeastern Canada. This study quantifies the influences of background global warming rate and regional snow‐albedo feedback on the inter‐model spreads in summer onset projections. Linear regression analysis reveals that models' transient climate response (TCR) values explain around 39%–50% of regional inter‐model variances, indicating the dominant contribution of models' global warming rate. When removing TCR influences, the summer onset and snow cover exhibit significant inter‐model correlations over Bering Sea region and Northeastern Canada, explaining 25%–30% of the inter‐model variances. These results suggest that global climate sensitivity as well as regional snow‐albedo feedback need to be considered for reliable projection of future summer season timing at regional scales.

Genetic admixture and language shift in the medieval Volga-Oka interfluve

The Volga-Oka interfluve in northwestern Russia has an intriguing history of population influx and language shift during the Common Era. Today, most inhabitants of the region speak Russian, but until medieval times, northwestern Russia was inhabited by Uralic-speaking peoples.1,2,3 A gradual shift to Slavic languages started in the second half of the first millennium with the expansion of Slavic tribes, which led to the foundation of the Kievan Rus' state in the late 9th century CE. The medieval Rus' was multicultural and multilingual-historical records suggest that its northern regions comprised Slavic and Uralic peoples ruled by Scandinavian settlers.4,5,6 In the 10th-11th centuries, the introduction of Christianity and Cyrillic literature raised the prestige status of Slavic, driving a language shift from Uralic to Slavic.3 This eventually led to the disappearance of the Uralic languages from northwestern Russia. Here, we study a 1,500-year time transect of 30 ancient genomes and stable isotope values from the Suzdal region in the Volga-Oka interfluve. We describe a previously unsampled local Iron Age population and a gradual genetic turnover in the following centuries. Our time transect captures the population shift associated with the spread of Slavic languages and illustrates the ethnically mixed state of medieval Suzdal principality, eventually leading to the formation of the admixed but fully Slavic-speaking population that inhabits the area today. We also observe genetic outliers that highlight the importance of the Suzdal region in medieval times as a hub of long-reaching contacts via trade and warfare.

Эколого-ценотическая активность видов среднетаежной флоры

The control of the main weeds of forestry objects has always played an important role in forestry. The development of evidence-based measures, primarily in the areas of forest nurseries, relies on identifying the features of formation, functioning and activity of segetal plant species. The research aims at developing and adapting evidence-based approaches to the weed control in forest nurseries of the middle taiga zone of the European North by analyzing the ecological status of species in a particular agrophytocenosis and by differentiating species according to the nature of ecological and cenotic relationships. Data on plants was obtained in forest nurseries of Northwestern Russia. The diversity of plant communities was studied by route method throughout the forest agrocenoses, carrying out geobotanical descriptions of the ground cover. The projective cover of vascular plants was observed when describing the vegetation. The results revealed the following regularities: segetal flora is dominated by a group of predominantly weed species, consisting of eurytopic and active weed species (42 %); stenotopic and hemistenotopic plant species, the so-called typical or faithful complex species, represent 34 %; facultative plant species complete the series (24 %). The systematization of a large amount of scientific data became the basis for the theoretical substantiation and implementation in practice of monitoring the most active plant species in agrophytocenoses of forest nurseries. A comprehensive analysis of plant communities of forest nurseries allowed the authors to propose their floristic classification of vegetation. The presented classification considers all the floristic and ecological differences between the studied communities and can be used in the weed control in the northern part of the Russian plain. For citation: Konovalova I.S., Konovalov D.Yu. Ecological and Cenotic Activity of Species of the Middle Taiga Flora. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2022, no. 6, pp. 94–106. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2022-6-94-106

Plant-Programmed Cell Death-Associated Genes Participation in Pinus sylvestris L. Trunk Tissue Formation.

Molecular genetic markers of various PCD (programmed cell death) variants during xylo- and phloemogenesis have been identified for the first time in Scots pine under lingonberry pine forest conditions in Northwest Russia (middle taiga subzone). PCD is a genetically determined process. Gene profiles of serine and cysteine proteases (endopeptidases), endonucleases, and metacaspases families are often considered markers of the final xylogenesis stage. In the present study, we examined the gene expression profiles of the BFN (bifunctional endonuclease) family-BFN, BFN1, BFN2, BFN3, and peptidase (cysteine endopeptidase, CEP and metacaspase, MC5) in the radial row, in addition to the vascular phloem and cambium (F1), differentiating xylem (F2), sapwood (SW), and transition zone during the active cambial growth period of uneven-aged pine trees (25-, 63- and 164-cambial age (c.a.) years old). We have shown that the expression patterns of the PCD-related genes did not depend on the cambial age but were largely determined by plant tissue type. In the radial row F1-F2-SW, we studied the activities of enzymes, including sucrose in metabolism (sucrose synthase, three forms of invertase); antioxidant system (AOS) enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase); and peroxidase andpolyphenol oxidase, which belonged to AOS enzymes and were involved in the synthesis of phenolic components of cell walls. The activity of the enzymes indicated that the trunk tissues of pine trees had varying metabolic status. Molecular genetic PCD regulation mechanisms during xylem vascular and mechanical element formation and parenchyma cells' PCD during the formation of Scots pine heartwood were discussed.

Victoria DONOVAN, Chronicles in Stone. Preservation, Patriotism, and Identity in Northwest Russia

Victoria DONOVAN, Chronicles in Stone. Preservation, Patriotism, and Identity in Northwest Russia

Biodiversity of Fungi Inhabiting European Blueberry in North-Western Russia and in Finland

European blueberry is a common plant in coniferous and mixed forests that grows in Russia, Northern Europe, Asia, United States, and Canada. Among the fungi that cause blueberry diseases, the most harmful are Diaporthe vaccinii and Colletotrichum acutatum. These fungi are included in the consolidated list of quarantine objects of the Eurasian Economic Union and their occurrence and spread in the territory of countries of this Union is subject to strict control. Most taxa of micromycetes, particularly, Diaporthe and Colletotrichum species, can be correctly identified to the species level based on solely molecular phylogenetic features. The aim of the present work was to assess the biodiversity of fungi associated with blueberry growing in North-Western Russia and in Finland using morphological and molecular genetic features. Altogether, the study included 17 specimens of wild blueberry exhibiting necrotic spots on leaves and stem lesions that were collected in 2017 in St. Petersburg and in five districts of Leningrad region, as well as in the Republic of Karelia and in Finland. Analysis of the morphological and molecular genetic features of the fungal strains isolated from these blueberry specimens led to identification of 11 species: Boeremia exigua, Colletotrichum salicis, Diaporthe eres, Fusarium avenaceum, F. incarnatum, F. sporotrichioides, Heterophoma sylvatica, Kalmusia longispora, Microsphaeropsis olivacea, Neocucurbitaria cava, and Sporocadus rosigena. There were also fungi representing two sections of the genus Alternaria: Alternaria and Infectoriae, and micromycetes of the genera Chaetomium, Cladosporium, Coniothyrium, Curvularia, Epicoccum, Penicillium, Pestalotiopsis, Sordaria, and Trichoderma. The species Colletotrichum salicis, Heterophoma sylvatica, Kalmusia longispora, Microsphaeropsis olivacea, and Neocucurbitaria cava were for the first time found in Russia. The species Sporocadus rosigena was for the first time detected in Finland. Fusarium avenaceum, F. incarnatum, and F. sporotrichioides were for the first time observed in association with blueberry plants. The species Diaporthe vaccinii and Colletotrichum acutatum included in the consolidated list of quarantine objects of the Eurasian Economic Union were not detected in this study.

Петроградский институт внешкольного образования как центр музееведческого образования: предыстория

The article is devoted to the early stage of development of the practice of training museum personal at the Institute of out-of-school education in Petrograd. The Institute was founded in 1918. From the very beginning, a field related to museum and exhibition work was included in its program. The draft of its curriculum was developed by M. V. Novorussky, who had rich experience related to museums of visual aids (educational museums). This program was never realized. At the beginning of 1919, I. P. Mordvinov, who made a significant contribution to educational work in the North-West of Russia in the prerevolutionary period, was employee of the Institute. He became the first lecturer of the “museum group”. However, his activity was of a more general nature, and was associated not so much with museum work as with the search for materials for educational activities per se (bibliography, etc.). In the summer of 1919, Mordvinov left the Institute, and a new period began in the history of museum education. Period 1918–1919 can be considered the prehistory of the Institute’s formation as a center of museum education.

Changes in the Distribution and Status of the Great Snipe (Gallinago media, Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae) in Northwestern Russia over the past 150 Years

Changes in the Distribution and Status of the Great Snipe (Gallinago media, Charadriiformes, Scolopacidae) in Northwestern Russia over the past 150 Years

Observations of Geomagnetic Induced Currents in Northwestern Russia: Case Studies

Observations of Geomagnetic Induced Currents in Northwestern Russia: Case Studies

Plant Pigments and Organic Matter in the Bottom Sediments of Large Shallow Lakes in Northwestern Russia

Plant Pigments and Organic Matter in the Bottom Sediments of Large Shallow Lakes in Northwestern Russia

Population dynamics of herbivorous insects in polluted landscapes.

Environmental pollution is one cause of insect decline in the Anthropocene, but the underlying mechanisms remain obscure due to a paucity of pollution-impact studies on insects that address density-dependent processes. Long data series (19-26 years) are available only for a few species monitored around two industrial polluters in north-western Russia. A particularly exciting current finding is that industrial pollution determines the relative strength of rapid (stabilising) and delayed (destabilising) density dependence operating on a herbivore population. Most studies address acute effects of traditional pollutants (e.g. sulphur dioxide and trace elements) and nitrogen deposition on agricultural pests, whereas the effects of realistic concentrations of ozone, particulate matter and emerging pollutants on insects feeding on noncultivated plants are unknown. The accumulated evidence remains insufficient to predict the effects of pollutants of global concern on the population dynamics of herbivorous insects.

First faunistic investigation of semiterrestrial tardigrade fauna of North-West Russia using the method of DNA barcoding

First faunistic investigation of semiterrestrial tardigrade fauna of North-West Russia using the method of DNA barcoding

Evaluating Germplasm of Cultivated Oat Species from the VIR Collection under the Russian Northwest Conditions.

Oat is one of the most widespread and important cereal crops in the global agricultural production. Searching for new high-yielding and nutritious forms continues to be relevant, especially under the global trend of climate change, when most local oat cultivars may become economically inefficient. Spring oat accessions from VIR collection served as the material for this study; their origin is diverse, as they came from 11 countries. The basic nutritional value (the content of protein, oil, starch, and β-glucans) and characters important for breeding (plant height, panicle length, number of spikelets, number of grains per panicle, 1000 grain weight, and grain yield) were analyzed in 49 accessions of the cultivated covered oat species: Avena sativa L., A. strigosa Schreb., A. abyssinica Hochst., and A. byzantina Coch., grown under the conditions of the Russian Northwest (Leningrad Province) for two years. Variability parameters, interspecific and intervarietal differences, and the effect of weather conditions were assessed. Sources of useful agronomic traits were identified; they can be used to expand the range of the source material for the development of new high-yielding and highly nutritious oat cultivars adapted to local cultivation conditions. It is demonstrated that the VIR collection has a great potential for contemporary food and feed production and for the breeding of new oat cultivars for various purposes. Thus, the contribution of Nikolai Vavilov to the plant genetic resources investigation for the benefit of humanity is invaluable.

Metabolomic prof iles of Ribes nigrum L. and Lonicera caerulea L. from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov Institute in the setting of Northwest Russia.

Recently, the trend of using fruit and berry crops as ingredients for functional and dietary nutrition, the development and implementation of f lavors, pigments, new medicines and dietary supplements has been actualized. Because the direction of use depends on the biochemical properties of fruits, which are determined not only by species and varietal characteristics, but also by reproduction conditions, the study of the biochemical composition of fruits grown in various regions of the world continues to be relevant. In this regard, the collection of N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR), which has a wide diversity of fruit and berry crops, is of great interest for study. Ribes nigrum fruits have a balanced set of sugars, organic acids, essential oils, microelements, a high content of vitamins, anthocyanins, pectins. Lonicera caerulea fruits are characterized by high values of phenolic substances: biof lavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, f lavonols, polyphenols, anthocyanins, as well as vitamins, carotenoids, iridoid glycosides and other natural antioxidants. The investigation of L. caerulea and R. nigrum fruit's accessions from the VIR collection using gas-liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry allows us to obtain new information about the biochemical characteristics of fruits, to identify L. caerulea and R. nigrum varieties with optimal economically valuable characteristics, to determine the specif icity of L. caerulea and R. nigrum metabolomic spectra in the setting of Northwest Russia. As a result of the analysis, typical compounds of the metabolomic prof ile of each culture were identif ied. Organic acids, phenol-containing compounds and polyols prevailed in L. caerulea, while mono- and oligosaccharides, in R. nigrum. The qualitative composition of the black currant varieties 'Malen'kii Printz', 'Dobriyi Dzhinn', 'Tisel', 'Orlovskii Val's', and blue honeysuckle 'S 322-4', 'Malvina', 'Leningradsky Velikan' was optimal for food consumption; the varieties of blue honeysuckle 'Bazhovskaya' and black currant 'Aleander' had a good representation of biologically active compounds, which makes samples attractive as raw materials for the production of biologically active additives, including with the use of microorganisms' cultures.

Diet and Blood Concentrations of Essential and Non-Essential Elements among Rural Residents in Arctic Russia

Nutrition is an essential factor for human health. Earlier research has suggested that Arctic residents are vulnerable to environmental toxic exposures through traditional foods. Although Russia is the largest Arctic country, the evidence on the topic from the Russian part of the Arctic is scarce. We studied associations between blood concentrations of essential and non-essential elements and traditional food consumption in 297 adults from seven rural settlements in the Nenets Autonomous Area, Northwest Russia. Blood arsenic concentration was positively associated with consumption of rainbow smelt, pink salmon, Arctic char and navaga fish. Frequent consumption of northern pike was associated with increased concentration of blood mercury. Blood mercury and arsenic concentrations were significantly associated with blood selenium. We also observed positive associations between blood lead levels and the frequency of goose consumption. Moreover, subjects who reported to be hunters had higher blood levels of lead, suggesting contamination of goose meat with fragments of shotgun shells. Blood cobalt and manganese concentrations were inversely associated with serum ferritin levels. Positive associations between blood levels of manganese and lead were observed. Moreover, blood lead concentrations were significantly associated with cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc. Our results corroborate earlier findings on the traditional foods as source of non-essential elements for the Arctic residents. Observed correlations between the levels of lead and other elements warrant further research and may have potential implications for the studies on the associations between essential elements and health outcomes.

Анализ геоиндуктированных токов во время сильных магнитных бурь с применением вейвлет-преобразования

The main problem of electric utilities around the world is to ensure continuous power supply to consumers. One of the causes of power outages and blackouts can be geomagnetic storms during periods of the increased solar activity. They arouse geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) flowing in the long-distance high-voltage power grids on Earth’s surface. The history of this phenomenon investigation shows that GICs during strong geomagnetic storms had led to blackouts in certain regions of Canada, Sweden and the USA. To study these phenomena and assess the risks of such accidents for the regional system, a GICs registration system in 330 kV autotransformers neutrals of the Kola-Karelian power transit was developed in northwestern Russia. During 11 years of monitoring numerous cases of the flow of high values of quasi-dc currents with different time durations, induced by variations of the geomagnetic field, have been registered. In order to analyze the currents a wavelet transform was chosen, since this method allows to define not only the frequency composition but also changes in spectral characteristics over time, which is significant in the study of GIC. The paper presents a discussion of GIC scalograms obtained for four events of Solar Cycle 24: 13-14 November 2012, 17-18 March 2015, 7-8 September 2015 and 7-8 September 2017. The analysis showed that the characteristic duration of the peak of the considered GICs is from 4.6 to 11.1 min.

HLA Genotypes in Patients with Infection Caused by Different Strains of SARS-CoV-2.

The aggressive infectious nature of SARS-CoV-2, its rapid spread, and the emergence of mutations necessitate investigation of factors contributing to differences in SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility and severity. The role of genetic variations in the human HLA continues to be studied in various populations in terms of both its effect on morbidity and clinical manifestation of illness. The study included 484 COVID-19 convalescents (northwest Russia residents of St. Petersburg). Cases in which the responsible strain was determined were divided in two subgroups: group 1 (n = 231) had illness caused by genovariants unrelated to variant of concern (VOC) strains; and group 2 (n = 80) had illness caused by the delta (B.1.617.2) VOC; and a control group (n = 1456). DNA typing (HLA-A, B, DRB1) was performed at the basic resolution level. HLA-A*02 was associated with protection against infection caused by non-VOC SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants only but not against infection caused by delta strains. HLA-A*03 was associated with protection against infection caused by delta strains; and allele groups associated with infection by delta strains were HLA-A*30, B*49, and B*57. Thus, in northwest Russia, HLA-A*02 was associated with protection against infection caused by non-VOC SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants but not against delta viral strains. HLA-A*03 was associated with a reduced risk of infection by delta SARS-CoV-2 strains. HLA-A*30, HLA-B*49, and HLA-B*57 allele groups were predisposing factors for infection by delta (B.1.617.2) strains.

Distribution and population systems of Water Frogs (the <i>Pelophylax esculentus</i> complex) in Northwestern Russia

Peculiarities of distribution and population systems of water frogs of the Pelophylax esculentus complex in the northwest of Russia were studied using cytogenetic (genome size) and external morphological characters (439 specimens from 101 localities). We registered three species: P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, and P. esculentus of a hybrid origin. All frogs, including hybrids, were diploid. The first species was prevailing (82% localities); the second species was revealed in 18% localities and hybrid frogs in 13% localities. All species reach the northernmost limits of their distribution. Pelophylax lessonae is widely spread through Pskovskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast’s, as well as in southern Leningradskaya oblast’, preferring forest habitats. Pelophylax esculentus is found in Pskovskaya oblast’ (forest and agricultural biotopes) in co-existence with P. lessonae only. Pelophylax ridibundus, which was introduced since the 18th century, is distributed in St. Petersburg City and Leningradskaya oblast’ along southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and Narva River on the Estonian border. All populations of the species were usually observed in open water bodies and rivers that flow down on cultivated, urban or barren lands and were allopatric in relation to P. lessonae and P. esculentus. Water frogs of northwestern Russia form three types of population systems only: so called pure single-species (L or R) systems and a mixed (L – E) system; no type with unisexual hybrids was revealed. Thus, their diversity is lower than in other regions of central and eastern Europe.

THE CURRENT ICHTHYOTOXICOLOGICAL STATE OF THE NARVA RESERVOIR

Reservoirs are a special category of inland water bodies with specific features of water exchange, flow and level fluctuations. The quality of water in reservoirs is formed under the influence of three factors: natural and economic conditions for the formation of runoff in the catchment area, the quantity and quality of wastewater, atmospheric emissions of pollutants, and processes occurring in the reservoir itself. The quality of water in individual water areas of reservoirs is also heterogeneous. The article deals with the issue of the current ichthyotoxicological state of the Narva reservoir, a reservoir of fishery importance, two decades ago one of the most polluted in the North-West of Russia, which manifested itself in the total defeat of fish by toxicosis and cases of their death. This was due to a powerful anthropogenic load and the entry of pollutants in various ways, and especially by the aerogenic route. The present study is associated with a decrease in anthropogenic load as a result of a decrease in the operation of the Narva and Baltic thermal power plants (TPP). As a result of analytical studies in a number of water areas of the reservoir, it was shown that the reduction of anthropogenic load primarily affected the condition of fish as generally accepted indicators of water quality and habitat – the percentage of toxicosis damage and the severity of the pathological process decreased. The reduction of anthropogenic load was shown by the results of biotesting and materials of chemical-analytical research.

The Lost Heritage of Koryoin: Citizen or Outcast?

The icy winds of the Baltic bite deep into the bones of barely-clothed prisoners of an unnamed war camp. The cold is unbearable in the frigid Prussian hinterlands, the chatter minimal, and everyone is huddling to survive. Amidst the stale air of death and starvation, small clouds of melodic choir powerfully pierce through the hushed chill: “Ari-rang, ar-ri-rang, ara-ri-yo...”1 From the bellies of a group of Koryo Saram, the Korean folk anthem wistfully winds its way through the barbed wires, straining to reach back home. In a curious, seeming oddity, ethnic Koreans, Koryoin, found themselves conscripted from the Far Eastern regions to fight for the Russian Empire thousands of miles away on the Eastern Front of World War I. During a particularly brutal beatdown at the Battle of Tannenberg, a lethal saber thrust into the heart of Russian Northwest forces, 4,000 ethnic Koreans2 were among the 90,000 Russian soldiers taken as prisoners of war. A small minority of these Koryo Saram, or Koryoin, would soon be afforded some warmth at Humboldt University, where German linguist Dr. Wilhelm Albert Döggen studied their language and music.