Novgorod Oblast Research Articles

Работы Марийской археологической экспедиции в Нижегородском Поветлужье в в 1957-2009 гг.

Работы Марийской археологической экспедиции в Нижегородском Поветлужье в в 1957-2009 гг.

Оценка племенной ценности молочного скота в различных хозяйственных условиях

Представлена оценка племенной ценности айрширского скота в племенных хозяйствах Новгородской и Ленинградской областей. Оценка быков-производителей проведена методом сравнения продуктивности дочерей и их сверстниц.

Методические аспекты оценки историко-культурного потенциала как ресурса туристского комплекса территории (на примере территории Нижегородской области)

The article proposes a methodology according to which the assessment of tourist recreational historical-cultural potential of administrative regions of Nizhny Novgorod oblast was conducted which was based on the sequential analysis of types of monuments, their quantity, status, density on the one hand, and the diversity of interests of experienced tourists on the other. As the result of the research, an estimation model was proposed which allowed to conduct the resource tourist recreational zoning of administrative regions of Nizhny Novgorod Oblast.
 The practical application of the proposed estimation systems and corresponding tourist zoning in the planning and designing of the territories allows to structure the resources of the territory, to predict the potential tourist specialization of regions, the possibilities to create the thematic tourist complex and to optimize the usage of their resources and their conservation, respectively.

Factors of spatiotemporal variability of CO2 fluxes from soils of southern taiga spruce forests of Valdai

Factors determining the spatiotemporal variability of carbon dioxide emission from soil on various scales (from hours and days to seasons of the year and multiple years, and from microbiotopes to mesobiotopes) were identified using the results of a five-year study in the southern taiga spruce forest at Valdai highlands (Novgorod oblast). The air temperature close to the soil and that of the top layer of the soil, the humidity of the top layer of the soil, the precipitation during the preceding period, the litter thickness, the minimal distance to the trunks of dead standing and fallen spruce trees, and the coefficient of enhancement of microbial respiration were among the most significant factors. The soil temperature at a depth of 1 cm was the only variable of significance for both spatial and temporal distribution. The necessity of taking both spatial and temporal factors into account upon the prediction of the estimated value of CO2 emission by the soil has been demonstrated.

Forecast of sinkhole development caused by changes in hydrodynamic regime: Case study of Dzerzhinsk Karst Area

Data collected in the influence zone of a water intake near Dzerzhinsk City in Nizhni Novgorod oblast are used to demonstrate a close relationship between the frequency, intensity, on the one hand, and dimensions of karst sinkholes and three human-induced cycles of hydrodynamic regime 15, 13, and 12 years long, on the other hand. The approaches to and methods for local evaluation of territory stability at the local level are proposed, and the course of process development under the current geotechnical conditions is predicted. The results derived from some assumptions and the conclusions formulated in the article are supported by the volumetric rate of gypsum leaching in the area being relatively high.

Russia between the two capitals: Specifics of territorial changes

The paper analyzes an important feature of Russia, i.e., hystorical presence of two capitals, as well as intercapital space. The ratio of the population and functions of capitals varied for more than two centuries. The special role of the intercapital area, which is significantly affected by both cities, is considered. Paradoxes of contraction of the Russian socioeconomic space are evident there, i.e., major centers have become closer to each other, while the area between centers becomes distanced from them. At the same time, suburbs of capitals and the inner periphery have different developmental paths that, by the end of the 20th century, led to depopulation, depression, and demo-economic desertification almost everywhere in Tver and Novgorod oblasts (excluding suburbs of Tver and Novgorod). Here, typical trends in the non-Chernozem area are reinforced by the specificity of natural landscapes and strong social polarization associated with the development of capitals, migration of the population to capitals, and its war losses. In the middle of the intercapital area, a network of small towns developed, rather than a large city, resulting in a rich recreational space, the socioeconomic life here is also supported by Moscow and St. Petersburg dachniks. The specifics of this area are considered. The main feature of the area is the focal economic modernization and the creation of a new anthropogenic landscape. Against the background of abandoned agricultural lands and ruins of old enterprises powerful local development centers emerge based on foreign capital and investment.

THE SEASONAL INCREASE OF ENTEROVIRAL INFECTION INCIDENCE IN THE NOVGOROD OBLAST

Abstract. The analysis of epidemic process and definition of the etiology of the seasonal increase of serosal meningitis incidence in the Novgorod oblast in September-November, 2008 has been carried out. It was shown that in the specified period 73 persons had enteroviral meningitis. The proportion of children under 17 years old in the group of patients was 89.9%. The etiological agents of disease (enteroviruses ECHO 6 и ECHO 30) were detected by the virological and molecular-biological methods. It was established that two genetic variants of ECHO 6 and one variant of ECHO 30 co-circulated in the Novgorod oblast. The last virus variant was closely related to the strain isolated from enteroviral meningitis patients in Nizhniy Novgorod in 2007. The obtained data support the idea about necessity of systematic epidemiological and virological surveillance on enteroviral infection to get new information about circulation of non-poliomyelitis enteroviruses in the population and to define peculiarities of epidemic process development.

The morphological characteristics and feeding of Nine-spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius Linnaeus, 1758) in the basin of the Cheboksary reservoir

A total of 21 invasive species are recorded in ichthyofauna of the Cheboksary reservoir and water bodies of its basin. Nine-spined stickleback Pungitius pungitius (L., 1758) is one of naturalized species which is spreading in the territory of the Middle and Upper Volga. In our opinion, nine-spined stickleback is an undesirable invader. That is why the morphological characteristics and intraspecific phenotypic variability of the species P. pungitius in the basin of the Cheboksary Reservoir are of interest from the point of view of population ecology. P. pungitius naturalized successfully in the Ushakovka River, Nizhny Novgorod oblast. In 2011–2012, nine-spined stickleback was recorded in the Sundyr and Malaya Yunga rivers in the Republic of Mari El. When studying the morphometry of stickleback, measurements of 33 characters were made in mature and immature speciments. The feeding patterns of stickleback were also studied. A comparative analysis was conducted of the complex of morphological characters (30) of P. punginius from the local populations in the basin of the Cheboksary reservoir and the “native” population (Lakes Sarannoye and Gavanskoye of Bering Island (Commander Islands)).

Criteria of rehabilitation of biotic communities in oil-polluted small rivers (by example of the Shava River, Nizhnii Novgorod oblast)

An assessment of the ecological state of the small Shava River (Kstovskii raion, Nizhnii Novgorod oblast) subjected to oil pollution as a result of a pipeline accident in 2007 is presented. On the basis of physical and chemical characteristics of water quality and the results of a study of hydrobiont communities, the degree of the river pollution has been determined and a conclusion about the rehabilitation of communities as a result of the complex effect of recultivation measures and self-purification processes has been made. Criteria for recultivation activity completion have been defined according to hydrobiological indicators (phytoplankton, zooplankton, and zoobenthos).

Влияние финансового состояния сельскохозяйственных организаций на воспроизводство машинно-тракторного парка Нижегородской области

В работе проанализировано финансовое состояние сельскохозяйственных организаций Нижегородской области, определены факторы, влияющие на уровень финансовой независимости предприятий. Сделан вывод о влиянии финансового состояния на степень кредитования банка заемщиков, а следовательно, на воспроизводство машинно-тракторного парка.

Long-term transformation of diatom assemblages in Lakes Boroe and Glubokoe

A method of graphical analysis of the diatom assemblages’ taxonomic structure allows revealing two main scenarios of their transformations. The first scenario is determined by the external abiotic influence during which the internal ecosystem parameters remain stable. The second scenario is determined by the change in the internal ecosystem parameters and corresponds to the transitional periods in the ecosystem development. The diatom assemblages of the bottom sediments from Lake Boroe (Novgorod oblast) and Lake Glubokoe (Moscow oblast) have been studied. Throughout the entire studied period (the last 500–550 years), only the first scenario was typical of the Lake Boroe ecosystem. As for Lake Glubokoe, we have revealed two periods during which the second scenario occurred and two transitional periods when the second scenario dominated. Thus, the ecosystem of Lake Boroe remained stable during the last 500 years, whereas the ecosystem of Lake Glubokoe underwent serious modifications.

Dynamics of food resources for beavers in settlements colonized and abandoned several times

The state of food resources for Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758) after several cycles of habitat colonization and abandonment has been analyzed in three beaver settlements on small rivers of Novgorod oblast. It has been shown that tree stands surrounding the settlements differ in composition and degree of damage but are similar in that they contain no forage for beavers: aspen is absent, and birch trees are large and require great efforts to cut them down and utilize. The undergrowth and understory also contain no aspen, while abundant willows and birch are represented by young, thin-stemmed plants unevenly distributed over the area. Tree species prevailing in abandoned settlements are not favored by beavers, implying that the animals must have expended extra energy for foraging. Supposedly, populations of beavers on small rivers in the southern taiga subzone, in habitats modified by their activities, will maintain their abundance far below the maximum possible level, depending on the rate of forage plant regrowth against the background of deteriorating habitat quality.

Morphophenetic analysis of American mink (Neovison vison) populations from the Caspian-Baltic watershed

The morphological variability of 367 skulls of the American mink from Tver, Pskov, and Novgorod oblasts (Caspian-Baltic watershed) are investigated using quantitative and qualitative traits. Out of the six investigated samplings, five represent feral populations and one represents ranch minks. It is shown that significant morphological differences between feral mink populations exist within a relatively small area (about 250 × 350 km). Differences in the phenotype are determined by different history of the populations and by the degree of affection of escaped ranch animals. The possible consequences of interactions between the feral and ranch mink populations, which may influence the phenotype, are discussed. The morphological differences observed between the feral mink populations are lower than those theoretically expected when taking into account the considerable influence of domesticated animals. Among the possible reasons of morphological stability of skulls of feral populations of the American mink, we specify naturalization of sizes of ranch escapees under pressure of environmental conditions, as well as possible elimination of the first-generation hybrids between feral and domesticated minks owing to outbreeding depression.

The Russian Economy in October 2012: Preliminary Data and Major Trends

In October, for the first time after an eight-year ‘break’, gubernatorial elections were held in Russia. The revival of gubernatorial elections by no means implies a revival of competition at the regional level – existing legislation ensures that this should not be allowed. At the same time, the new electoral pattern, while still granting to the Kremlin broad opportunities for interfering with the process of elections, also provides the regional elites with some significant means for their consolidation. At the first election that took place of 15 October, all the incumbent governors running for reelection (of Belgorod, Briansk, Ryazan, Amur and Novgorod oblasts) were soundly reelected, and this process was under the Kremlin’s control. However, later on this pattern will bring about a significant change in the balance of forces between the federal center and the regions, especially if the current downward trend in the level of the population’s support for the federal authority continues.

Dynamics of carbon balance components in fallow arable lands on the Valdai Upland

The dynamics of carbon pools in the live phytomass, necromass, and soil reservoirs have been analyzed in fallow arable lands of Novgorod oblast. The results show that the amounts of above- and belowground necromass increase with the age of fallows, while the dynamics of live phytomass have no distinct trend. Comparisons with archival data show that the stocks of soil organic carbon in the studied ecosystems have decreased by 1.39 t C/ha since 1983, which is equivalent to an annual loss of 0.03 t C/ha. The main factors accounting for changes in the carbon stocks of fallow soils are the initial organic carbon contents in topsoil, the intensity of agromeliorative measures taken during the period of agricultural land use, and carbon contents in soils of meadow communities typical for a given region (zone).

Detection of virulence plasmids in Rhodococcus equi strains isolated from pigs and cattle

Rhodococcosis caused by Rhodococcus equi has been found in pigs and cattle at three farms in the Nizhni Novgorod oblast. Strains from piglets and calves that died from rhodococcosis as well as from sows that reacted positively to turberculin had large, 60 MDa, plasmids, which allows considering them virulent. The plasmid profile of R. equi strains can serve as a marker for revealing sources and pathways of infection of agricultural animals.

Perceptual Salience in Dialect Contact: The Okan'e/Akan'e Dialects of East Slavic

In East Slavic, akan'e (neutralization of /o/ and /a/ after non-palatalized consonants) has spread or is spreading to dialects which maintain the mid- and low-vowel contrast ( okan'e ). Under the assumption that vowel neutralization is favored in durationally deprived syllables, it is expected that akan'e would first spread in weak positions, and in some transitional dialects this is exactly what happens: akan'e is found in non-immediately pretonic and post-tonic syllables. But in other dialects the patterns of akan'e spread are unexpected: it first appears in the immediately pretonic position and before stressed high vowels and often before stressed /a/ before it occurs elsewhere. I focus on these unexpected patterns and suggest that they may emerge as a consequence of perceptual salience through contact with neighboring strong akan'e dialects in Pskov and Novgorod oblasts of Russia and in Homel' and Minsk oblasts of Belarus. Similar patterns are found in other East Slavic dialect contact situations under similar conditions, as is to be expected.

10.1007/s11177-008-2010-6

Population structure of Russian population from the European part of Russia was investigated by analyzing the distribution of 23 SNP makers of Y chromosome in Russian populations from Kaluga, Yaroslavl’, Vladimir, Nizhni Novgorod, Pskov, Tula, Belgorod, and Novgorod oblasts. In the populations studied a total of 14 Y-chromosome haplogroups (E, F*, I, J, K*, N3a, N2, P*, R1*, R1a1, C3, G, H, and A) were discovered, of which haplogroups R1a1, I, and N3a were the prevailing. Analysis of Φ statistics in the populations grouped in accordance to the dialect subdivision of the Russian language, showed the absence of statistically significant differences between Russian population groups. Analysis of the Y-chromosome markers distribution patterns among Russian population (10 population groups) in comparison with the population of Germany (11 population groups) and Poland (8 population groups) revealed statistically significant differences between the gene pools of Slavs (Russians and Poles) and Teutons (Germans).

The species composition and distribution of diatom algae in sphagnum bogs in European Russia: The Polistovo-Lovatskii land tract

The species composition of diatom algae in the Polistovo-Lovatskii sphagnum tract (Rdeiskoye bog, Novgorod oblast) \are studied. The systematic and ecological-geographical analyses of the flora are performed. A total of 256 species and intraspecific taxa differing in ecological specificities and frequencies of occurrence in samples are revealed. A considerable number of centric diatoms is found. It is shown that primary and secondary diatom communities are formed in large sphagnum tracts. The horizontal heterogeneity of diatom communities in sphagnum bog is revealed. The species diversities of diatom algae in different bogs are compared.

Polymorphism of pigmentation genes (OCA2 and ASIP) in some populations of Russia

In Russian populations, polymorphism of two pigmentation system genes, OCA2 (loci 305, 355, and 419, tested in Russians, Buryats, Chukchi, Koryaks, and Evens) and ASIP (locus 8818, tested in Russians and Buryats) was examined. Pairwise comparisons of the F(ST) distances between the populations showed that only the populations from Northeast Asia (Chukchi, Koryaks, and Evens) were statistically significantly different from all other populations, at least relative to one of the OCA2 locus. In Russians from Pskov oblast and Novgorod oblast, increased frequency (up to 6%) of the OCA2 allele 419A was revealed. In earlier studies, as association of this allele with green eye color was demonstrated. The data obtained in terms of their application for ethnic population genetics.