Projective Cover Research Articles

Through a collapse to restoration: the non-stationary dynamics of the rodent community in a new cycle of desertification in Kalmykia

The grazing ecosystems of Kalmykia are extremely dynamic, this being associated with the high variability of grazing pressure in the region: a drastic reduction in the number of livestock in the 1990’s led to the restoration of pastures and the transition of their functioning from the “desert” to the “steppe” regime. Since the late 2000’s, new desertification processes have been gaining momentum, these being caused by increased grazing pressure and droughts. The vegetation cover of pastures quite quickly began to respond to the increase in livestock numbers by reducing the projective cover, while the species composition of plants sharply changed to “desert” only a few years later. Against the background of increasing desertification, the rodent community first collapsed and then recovered. Apparently, the collapse is a belated reaction to the steppefication of pastures that preceded desertification, this leading to a reduced number of desert species and an impoverished community, thereby slowing down its revival during a new cycle of desertification. Thus, both vegetation cover and rodent community demonstrated non-stationary dynamics with changing the regimes and a delayed response (inertia) in response to landscape desertification.

Assessment of Plant Biodiversity and the Floristic Composition in the Black Irtysh River Valley (Kazakhstan)

The Black Irtysh River, a major tributary of the Ob River, traverses diverse ecological zones, influencing the distribution and composition of its floodplain vegetation. This study focused on the Black Irtysh River valley, a key segment of the Irtysh basin, to assess the current state of its plant communities. To compile expedition routes and a preliminary floristic list, a critical revision of more than 1000 herbarium sheets was carried out in the herbarium collections of Kazakhstan (Altai Botanical Garden and Institute of Botany and Phytointroduction). During the field season, a study of plant biodiversity was carried out along the entire coastline of the Black Irtysh. As a result, 217 species of higher vascular plants were identified (55% of those previously found in herbarium archives) from 139 genera and 43 families. The habitats of two Red Book species were discovered: Tulipa patens and Tulipa uniflora. It was found that the flora of the Black Irtysh is similar to the flora of the entire Zaisan depression, and families Poaceae, Asteraceae, Amaranthaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Rosaceae, and Fabaceae are predominant. Geobotanical surveys revealed that the species composition of plant communities is poor and similar among survey points. Only the western part of the river delta is characterized by high rates of projective cover and reserves of forage plants. The main factors of anthropogenic influence are fires, livestock grazing, and deforestation.

Плотность всходов сосны обыкновенной в сосновых лесах под влиянием выбросов Карабашского медеплавильного комбината и лесных пожаров

We assessed the features of natural pine regeneration in forests with different ages of ground fires in the Southern Urals depending on the level of heavy metal pollution. Using the materials obtained from 81 sample plots laid in maturing, mature and over-mature pine forests of natural origin in three types of forest growth conditions (TFGC 1 – TFGC 3), the relationship between the density of pine seedlings and the state of forest stands (crown density, stand age, vital status index), with the characteristics of vegetation condition (total number of species, total projective cover of herb-shrub layer, projective cover of bryophytes layer), with external influences (pollution level, distance from emission source, duration of fire disturbance), and with the methodological features of the study (accounting year) was analyzed. The high variability of estimates of the density of pine seedlings did not allow us to identify the relationship between the density of seedlings and the level of pollution and/or fire disturbances. The density of seedlings is nonlinearly related to the protective cover of the herb-shrub layer. With increasing coverage of the herb-shrub layer, the density of seedlings increased in areas with high levels of pollution and decreased in areas with background pollution.

ЛЕСОМЕЛИОРАТИВНЫЙ КАРКАС СЕЛЬСКОХОЗЯЙСТВЕННЫХ ЗЕМЕЛЬ В ИУДИНСКОЙ ПРЕДГОРНОЙ СТЕПИ ХАКАСИИ

The objective of the study is to conduct a forestry-melioration assessment of the field-protective forest strips (FPFS) on an erosion-hazardous group of arable lands and hayfields. The objects of the study were FPFS and herbaceous vegetation in the Iudinskaya foothill steppe of Khakassia. The work used the integral assessment of meliorative indicators of E.S. Pavlovsky and the scale for assessing the sanitary condition of trees. The studies showed that in the southern rows the trees were weakened or healthy, in the central and northern ones – weakened, very weakened or drying out. FPFS had the height and structures necessary for a good melioration function: openwork, openwork-blown; massive protective planting – dense. The preservation of plantings in FPFS was average and amounted to from 55.0 to 70.5 %, in massive protective planting – low (34.7 %). The planting species were optimal in terms of composition: Ulmus pumila L., Betyla pendula Roth, Populus sp. The tree height was noted as maximum in these forest gro¬wing conditions. Fine earth deposits were not found in any of the surveyed forest plantations. Soil sodding was characterized as weak, medium or strong. Grasses dominated in phytocenoses. The total projective cover of the grass stand was 40–90 %. Forestry-melioration assessment of four FPFS was 4 a; one – 5 a. Despite the poor sanitary condition of trees in individual rows, the stands, due to their optimal design, performed their meliorative functions, prevented soil deflation in the fields and created an ecological framework for the agrolandscape on agricultural lands. Ulmus pumila has reached a critical age and reforestation felling must be carried out in its stands.

Resilience and risk management in cybersecurity: A grounded theory study of emotional, psychological, and organizational dynamics

This Grounded Theory examines the in-depth dynamics of cybersecurity professionals working in financial organizations regarding stress management, risk handling, communication challenges, and perceived benefits from work. This study conducted a grounded theory approach with cybersecurity professionals through in-depth interviews to comprehensively understand these dynamics. The findings identify critical themes about emotional and psychological resilience, effective risk management strategies, overcoming communication challenges, and recognizing organizational and personal benefits from robust cybersecurity practices. The current research highlights that for better well-being and performance of cybersecurity teams, extensive support systems, proactive risk management, and communication are very important and should be embedded within organizations. By utilizing the grounded theory, this study offers a nuanced exploration of the complex and entwined factors that impact daily operations and the overall effectiveness of cybersecurity professionals, offering valuable insights for improving organizational policies and creating a supportive work environment. These findings suggest, most importantly, that robust support systems, risk assessments, clear communication protocols, and training opportunities should be developed and operationalized in financial organizations to help professionals reduce stress at work and strengthen resilience factors. Not only does this research project cover significant gaps in the literature, but it also really helps financial organizations further improve their currently existing cybersecurity strategies to better support personnel by using this framework.

Structure of Ground Vegetation and Natural Regeneration of Tree Species in 12- to 15-Year-Old Bilberry Pine Forest-Clear-cut Complex of Middle Taiga Subzone.

Logging in mature stands where part of the forest is harvested in one or several cuts and part is retained (clearcutting and alternate strip cutting) results in the formation of an ecotone complex (EC), which includes a forest (F) zone, a forest edge (FE) as a transition from the forest to the clear-cut under the canopy, a clear-cut edge (CE) as a transition from the forest to the clear-cut outside of the canopy, and the clear-cut proper (C). The composition and structure of ground vegetation and natural regeneration of woody species (Pinus sylvestris L., Picea abies (L.) H. Karst., Betula sp., Populus tremula L., Sorbus aucuparia L., and Juniperus communis L.) were studied in a bilberry pine forest-clear-cut ecotone complex 12-15 years after stand removal. Specific structural features of ground vegetation and undergrowth (including tree regeneration) were observed in each of the four zones of the ecotone complex formed after logging of the mature forest. Atypical forest habitat (zone F) showed a minimum number of young regeneration of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula sp., Populus tremula, and Sorbus aucuparia and the highest abundance of the lingonberry V. vitis-idaea L. and bilberry Vaccinium myrtillus L. with a maximum height and a maximum yield of bilberry plants. The amount of tree regeneration in the FE zone was much the same as in the F zone. The projective cover, maximum shoot height, and yield of bilberry and the maximum shoot height of lingonberry in the FE zone were significantly lower than in the F zone. The transitional zone on the clear-cut side (CE) and the clear-cut proper (C) strikingly differed from the forest (F and FE) zones of the ecotone complex by a greater number of deciduous and pine regeneration and a low abundance of dwarf shrubs. The clear-cut proper (C) differed from the CE zone by a higher abundance of grasses and forbs and an established tree regeneration layer composed of pine, birch, and aspen.

One Resolution of the Conjecture between the Projective Dimension of a Simple Module S of an Artinian Ring on Zero Radical’s Cube and the First Bifunctor Extension on S

Through concepts from non-commutative algebra and homology, this paper resolves the conjecture that lets the first bifunctor extension to be zero when the projective dimension is finite, for a simple module S of an Artinian ring whose cube of its Jacobson radical is zero and under the condition that any simple module over this ring of finite projective dimension has aradical square zero of the cover projective of its first syzygy. For that, we use a property of the simple module which realizes the minimum of the finite projective dimensions of simple modules. Our main result is presented in the form of a corollary in the case of an Artinian ring with radical cubed zero such that the projective cover of its radical is of Loewy length two and its supremumbeing finite. In the part of discussions, we succeed to show the no loop conjecture through two examples. The first one is about its weak version by taking a quiver algebra A verifying J3 = 0 and without considering that rad2 (P(Ω(S))) = 0 for every simple module, while the second one shows that if the extension quiver has a loop in a simple module then its projective dimension is infinite for every nilpotence index of the Jacobson radical. More importantly, we finally provide a practical third example for our special case.

The nature of vegetation cover and small mammal community structure (on the example of Nizhny Novgorod)

The spatial distribution of Apodemus species (yellow-necked, field, and small forest mice) was studied on the example of the protected area «Oak forest of National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod Botanical Garden». Twelve plant associations with non-moral character and representing derivatives of the indigenous type of vegetation were studied. Environmental conditions assessed by the Ellenberg phytoindication method affect the distribution of small mammals in space indirectly. The nature of vegetation cover is more significant. When projective cover increases, the abundance of both small woodland and field mice increases. The strategy of Apodemus agrarius appears to be similar to that of Apodemus uralensis, a species that shows stenobiontic traits in the studied PA. At the same time, insignificant anthropogenic load, a marker of which is the presence of Urtica dioica ruderal species, leads to an increase in the mosaic of vegetation cover, which has a positive effect on the abundance of these small mammal species. A moderate increase in the Berger-Parker dominance index for vegetation cover is positively associated with the confinement of micromammals. In addition, in the conditions of the recreational zone of the upland part of N. Novgorod, Apodemus agrarius prefers areas of old-growth broadleaved forest, not showing the features of anthropophily.

VACCINIUM OVALIFOLIUM SMITH. IN NATURAL CENOPOPULATIONS OF SAKHALIN

Background. Identification and study of selected forms of oval-leaved blueberry in natural coenopopulations of Sakhalin Island will create a favorable basis for modern breeding work. Purpose. The goal was to isolate and study selected forms of Vaccinium ovalifolium Smith. in natural coenopopulations of Sakhalin Island. Material and methods. The object of research was natural populations of Vaccinium ovalifolium growing on Sakhalin Island. The study of blueberries in natural habitats was carried out during expeditionary trips to the central and southern regions of Sakhalin in the period 2020-2022. Plants from 2 cenopopulations were studied for the distribution of blueberries in hard-to-reach places. Geobotanical descriptions of the vegetation of phytocenoses were carried out according to the generally accepted method of A.A. Poniatovskaya “Taking into account the abundance and nature of the distribution of plants in communities” (1964). The species composition of plant communities was determined within the detection area. The total projective cover (TPC) of the grass stand and the projective cover of the dominant species were determined by eye method, in %. We studied the endogenous variability of the following traits: the number of berries, the weight and size of one berry, the length and width of the leaf blade, the height and age of the bushes. A correlation analysis was carried out between morphological characteristics and yield characteristics in the trial plots. Height, age, maximum and minimum crown diameter, degree of fruiting, and number of berries were analyzed. Mathematical and statistical processing of research results was carried out according to generally accepted methods using Excel software. Results. The article is devoted to a new promising shrub for Russia, Vaccinium ovalifolium - a species of deciduous shrub from the genus Vaccinium of the Ericaceae family, a shrub up to 1.5-2 m tall. It blooms in May–June, the flowers are pink, up to 6 mm in size, the fruits are dark blue, often black with a waxy coating, ripen in August–September, the juice in the berries is clear, the taste is sweet and sour. The leaves are oblong - round or ovate, entire-marginal or with small ciliated teeth 2-5 cm long and 1-2.5 cm wide, matte, light green. Polymorphism of natural cenopopulations of V. ovalifolium during expeditionary surveys made it possible to identify several promising forms with economically valuable traits. In the process of phylogenesis of V. ovalifolium, ecologically resistant populations to the unfavorable environmental factors of Sakhalin Island were formed. Selected samples of V. ovalifolium with valuable pomological traits are currently propagated and grown on the territory of the Botanical Garden of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk at the site of primary variety testing, to compare the resource value of local natural eco-genetic lines with the introduced, most common modern varieties of V. corymbosum. Experience has been laid in assessing selected forms of oval-leaved blueberries for agrotechnical techniques and agricultural conditions, with the subsequent development of technological recommendations for cultivation in an industrial garden in the conditions of Sakhalin Island. Conclusion. The polymorphism of natural cenopopulations of V. ovalifolium on Sakhalin Island was studied with the selection of promising forms that can be used for breeding purposes.

Features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the spruce forests of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve

The aim of the study was to identify the features of the structure of the herbaceous cover and natural regeneration in the southern taiga spruce forests of the Kostroma region using the example of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve. To achieve this goal, twelve temporary square sample plots (SP) with an area of 0.0625 ha were established. Forest type, canopy density, soil and topography were determined. To characterize the forest stands, a taxonomic survey of the sample plots was carried out. To describe the vegetation cover, a combined method was used, including the Braun-Blanke and Drude-Uranov methods, which assumes the distribution of typical plant complexes over a large number of plant species growing together. Geobotanical descriptions were processed according to the method of D.N. Tsyganov, which consisted in using two tables: ecological amplitudes of species and scales of factors. Correlation analysis was used for data processing. The obtained statistical data set was presented in histograms and graphs for the sake of clarity. The frequency of occurrence, errors, participation rate, and average projective cover of the species were calculated according to generally accepted methods. In the course of the work, all sample plots were characterized by a tree-by-tree census. As the sample plots were located in very different parts of the reserve, the taxonomic indicators varied. In most cases, however, the dominant species was spruce. Its viable regrowth was 95%, indicating a high renewal potential. In the studied forest areas, the dominant species of the living ground cover were Northern linseed (Linnaea borealis) and blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), oak fern (Gymnocarpium dryopteris) and wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella). The practical significance of the conducted research lies in the expansion of the ideas about the structure of the herbaceous cover formed under the canopy of spruce forests in the conditions of the Kologrivsky Forest Nature Reserve, as well as about the peculiarities of the process of natural regeneration in different conditions of the growth site.

Lawn covers of Dnipropetrovsk region as a global phenomenon of urban green space in conditions of hostilities

In order to facilitate the creation of lawns and maintain the regime of caring for lawn covers in difficult wartime, in which Ukraine and Dnipropetrovsk region is located, suffering from shelling and man-made disturbances of habitats, it is important to conduct observations and studies of the behavior of lawn plants in comparison with natural conditions in order to be able to preserve existing and restore damaged herbaceous groups with the least cost. We hypothesize that these solutions can be found in suburban natural ecosystems and various plant communities that are rich in species, able to withstand harsh climatic and microclimatic living conditions, severe trampling and droughts. Realizing that stable artificial plant groupings can exist only when using the laws of their existence in natural conditions, trial areas of urban agglomerations and out-of-town influence were investigated. 75 lawn covers and grass stands of the lawn type of the Dnipropetrovsk region with a size of 100 m2 in Dnipro, Kamenskoye, Andreevka village were described using the method of route trial areas. The dominant families are defined in the creation of lawn grass stands by their occurrence, projective coating, phytocenotic activity, number of species. It is established that, among other families, the Fabaceae family was in third place with participation in the projective cover among phytocenoses of Dnipro and Andreevka, in fifth ‒ in Kamianske. Phytocenotic activity, used as a criterion for the effect of plants on herbal grouping, was high in Fabaceae plant family (up to k = 19,5), Asteraceae (up to k = 18,7), Plantaginaceae (up to k = 15,4) on lawn grass stands in Andreevka village, which indicates the future trend of their displacement of cereals. Among the grasses plant family Plantaginaceae has significant phytocenotic activity (k = 10.1), which competes even with the main sod-forming plants of the Poaceae plant family (k = 10.7) in Dnipro. This trend is also observed in Kamenskoye (here in Plantaginaceae k = 10.0). This city has a high rating of industrial influence among other territories of the region and those that we have studied so far. In all studied phytocenoses, mutual influence between plants families Poaceae and Fabaceae is established. So, with a larger percentage of projective coverage of the Poaceae plant family, the percentage of the Fabaceae plant family is reduced, and vice versa. In dynamics, these fluctuations can vary in favor of each other, taking into account the further saturation of the upper horizon of the soil with nitrogen by the Fabaceae plant family, or the use of this trace element by representatives of the Poaceae plant family and the displacement of legumes. Such fluctuations will be constant. At the same time, lawn covers will not lose their aesthetics as a green carpet, because the projective coating will be occupied by plants and will not have gaps of free soil. This interdependence of lawn covers should be taken into account when creating high-quality long-term green lawns of cities where the soils are depleted, and constant fertilization is not always possible. Due to environmental conditions, the botanical diversity of the studied herbivores is expanded by adventive plant species from plants families Brassicaceae (up to 5 species in Dnipro), Lamiaceae (up to 7 species in v. Andreevka), Rosaceae (up to 6 species in Dnipro), Scrophulariaceae (up to 4 species in v. Andreevka), which, under favorable conditions, will occupy free ecological niches with grass. The spectrum of the first largest percentage of the occurrence of families reproduces the composition of the regional flora, which corresponds to cereal-grass groups of the structure of meadow lawns and ordinary urban grass stands with the expansion of ruderal representatives. 29% of the trial areas in the Dnieper city indicate the presence in the species composition of seedlings of woody and shrub life forms, the seeds of which are stored in the soil of adjacent territories, and their entry into lawn groups is a consequence of anemochoria and ornithochoria. Currently, given the current state of the country, lawn care is reduced to a minimum or it is absent at all. As a result, seedlings freely begin to take possession of the territory of lawn grass stands along with ruderal representatives of the local flora. This trend is also evidenced by the ratio of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants as a criterion for decorativeness and phytocenotic constancy of lawns. It was ‒ 1:4 in Kamenskoye; 1:6 ‒ in Dnipro and Andreevka village. These are the conclusions that for the existing military period can be used to maintain the stability and aesthetic condition of lawn covers and grass beds of the lawn type of the Dnipropetrovsk region.

FEATURES OF SOIL-VEGETATION COVER OF REVEGETATED OIL-POLLUTANTED AREAS OF OLIGOTROPHIC BOGS IN THE MIDDLE OF REGION RECLAIMED BY THE CUTTING METHOD

The article provides data on a comparative analysis of the features of vegetation restoration in areas of oligotrophic bogs with a high degree of oil product pollution, located on the territory of an oil field in the Middle Ob region, reclaimed according to standard schemes, widely used in the 2000s, and by cutting off oil-contaminated soil. The total projective vegetation cover (TPVC) of all reclaimed areas mostly reaches standard values (above 30%). The TPVC in areas without cutting is slightly higher than in areas with cutting due to the difference in recovery time in favor of the former. At the same time, the average number of all recorded species in areas with cutting is slightly higher, and they include some oligotrophic vascular plants (heather shrubs, Drosera rotundifolia, Eriophorum vaginatum), which spread much less frequently in areas without cutting. The projective cover of the herb-shrub layer is higher in areas without cutting. The content of oil products in the surface layer of 0-20 cm in areas with cutting is generally lower compared to areas reclaimed by traditional methods. However, even high concentrations (more than 250 g∙kg-1) do not have a significant negative effect on the total projective cover of the grass/herb-shrub layer, while its minimum values are primarily associated with a lack of moisture on high microrelief elements. Similarly, high concentrations of hydrocarbons do not serve as an obstacle to the development of moss cover dominated by sphagnum mosses in areas of cut-off hollows. At the same time, polytrichous and brown mosses were much more sensitive to oil pollution in the form of bitumen crust, and thus avoided areas without cutting.

Developing plant functional groups to identify changes in functional composition and diversity in a dryland river experiencing artificially sustained flows

Land use and climate changes are driving significant shifts in the magnitude and persistence of dryland stream surface flows. The impact of these shifts on ecological functioning is largely unknown, particularly where streams have become wetter rather than drier. This study investigated relationships between hydrologic regime (including surface water persistence, differences in groundwater depth and altered flooding dynamics) with plant traits and riverine vegetation functional composition. Our study system was a previously ephemeral creek in semi-arid northwest Australia that has received groundwater discharge from nearby mining operations for >15 years; surface flows are now persistent for ∼27 km downstream of the discharge point. We aimed to (i) identify plant functional groups (FGs) associated with the creek and adjacent floodplain; and (ii) assess their distribution across hydrological gradients to predict shifts in ecological functioning in response to changing flow regimes. Seven FGs were identified using hierarchical clustering of 40 woody perennial plant species based on morphometric, phenological and physiologic traits. We then investigated how FG abundance (projective foliar cover), functional composition, and functional and taxonomic richness varied along a 14 km gradient from persistent to ephemeral flows, varying groundwater depths, and distances from the stream channel. Dominant FGs were (i) drought avoidant mesic trees that are fluvial stress tolerant, or (ii) drought tolerant xeric tall shrubs that are fluvial stress intolerant. The drought avoidant mesic tree FG was associated with shallow groundwater but exhibited lower cover in riparian areas closer to the discharge (persistent surface flows). However, there were more FGs and higher species richness closer to the discharge point, particularly on the floodplain. Our findings demonstrate that quantifying FG distribution and diversity is a significant step in both assessing the impacts of mine water discharge on riverine ecosystems and for planning for post-mining restoration.

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ПРИЛИВНЫХ ОСУШЕК В МЕЗОПРИЛИВНЫХ ЭСТУАРИЯХ РЕК БЕЛОГО МОРЯ НА ПРИМЕРЕ УСТЬЯ РЕКИ ПИЛЬЕМА В ОНЕЖСКОМ ЗАЛИВЕ

The biogeochemical characteristics of tidal drying in the estuary of the small Pilema River in the Onega Bay of the White Sea are considered based on observations made in October 2023. Here, mesotidal conditions are observed with a mean tidal range of 2.4 m at the entrance to the river mouth. Along the eastern shore of the estuary, anomalously high suspended sediment loads (356–692 mg/L) were observed due to stormy weather, but the estuarine section of the river, which is closed to developed wind disturbance, had relatively low suspended sediment loads (6–21 mg/L). The upper tidal drying zone was characterized by low values of benthic abundance, biomass and biodiversity, low projective cover of the bottom by algae, and insignificant concentrations of heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. This situation is mainly due to active lithodynamic processes observed in this zone.

Fire as a Factor in the Dynamics of Meadow Vegetation: A Model Experiment in Western Siberia

The state of meadow vegetation in areas with different ages of experimental spring burnout (from 1 to 12 years ago) was studied in the Tomsk region for 3 years. On experimental plots of 1 m2 and 100 m2 (small- and middle-scale levels, respectively), the dynamics of species richness, total projective cover of vegetation, and aboveground phytomass reserves were characterized, and the structure of communities was analyzed. It was revealed that a single fire in the spring significantly reduces species richness for small-scale plots and increases the total projective cover for middle-scale plots. Structural differences from control plots can be traced from 1 to 4 years for different characteristics. The effects of fire are more prominent for small-scale plots. To suppress tree growth and maintain the existence of meadows, grass fires seem to be a less effective practice than mowing. At the same time, the results obtained potentially allow us to consider prescribed burning as a tool for maintaining the stability of meadow plant communities in the south of Western Siberia, preventing them from becoming overgrown with tree undergrowth, in cases with a controlled frequency of burning and the use of appropriate fire safety measures.

Unravelling the impact of climate change on honey bees: An ensemble modelling approach to predict shifts in habitat suitability in Queensland, Australia.

Honey bees play a vital role in providing essential ecosystem services and contributing to global agriculture. However, the potential effect of climate change on honey bee distribution is still not well understood. This study aims to identify the most influential bioclimatic and environmental variables, assess their impact on honey bee distribution, and predict future distribution. An ensemble modelling approach using the biomod2 package in R was employed to develop three models: a climate-only model, an environment-only model, and a combined climate and environment model. By utilising bioclimatic data (radiation of the wettest and driest quarters and temperature seasonality) from 1990 to 2009, combined with observed honey bee presence and pseudo absence data, this model predicted suitable locations for honey bee apiaries for two future time spans: 2020-2039 and 2060-2079. The climate-only model exhibited a true skill statistic (TSS) value of 0.85, underscoring the pivotal role of radiation and temperature seasonality in shaping honey bee distribution. The environment-only model, incorporating proximity to floral resources, foliage projective cover, and elevation, demonstrated strong predictive performance, with a TSS of 0.88, emphasising the significance of environmental variables in determining habitat suitability for honey bees. The combined model had a higher TSS of 0.96, indicating that the combination of climate and environmental variables enhances the model's performance. By the 2020-2039 period, approximately 88% of highly suitable habitats for honey bees are projected to transition from their current state to become moderate (14.84%) to marginally suitable (13.46%) areas. Predictions for the 2060-2079 period reveal a concerning trend: 100% of highly suitable land transitions into moderately (0.54%), marginally (17.56%), or not suitable areas (81.9%) for honey bees. These results emphasise the critical need for targeted conservation efforts and the implementation of policies aimed at safeguarding honey bees and the vital apiary industry.

Влияние рекреации на радиальный прирост сосны обыкновенной

The article deals with the stages of recreational digression of different biogeocenoses in the Shirokovsky district forestry of the National Park “Buzuluksky Bor” and the peculiarities of radial growth of the common pine as a dominant stand. The aim of the work was to analyze the comparative response of the common pine trees in the zone of active recreation and in undisturbed areas. The presence or absence of undergrowth, understorey, projective cover and dominance of indicator plants were noted. Sub-tree enumeration with averaged data was carried out on temporary sample plots. Using a Flir i7 thermal imager, the presence or absence and localization of stem and root rots of pine from sponges were determined. A decrease in the total projective cover of the living ground cover and the number of forest species was observed, with an increase in the number of cereal species as recreational digression increased. As recreation intensifies, undergrowth and understorey disappears. It was noted that with increasing stages of digression the monotony of undergrowth species composition appears, the density and height of forest litter decreases, the number of trees infected with rots and infested with stem pests (black pine moustache, pine bark beetles, six-toothed bark beetle, apex bark beetle) increases. Changes in all components of biogeocenosis lead to loss of stability of forest phytocenosis as a whole. Even a simple stay of a large number of people in the forest leads to degradation of plant communities.

Influence of Fires on Desert Plant Communities at the Chernye Zemli (SW Russia)

Understanding the rate and direction of pyrogenic succession in arid ecosystems, which depends on many factors, including the intensity of grazing and the frequency of pyrogenic expo-sure, will allow for more accurate predictions of the consequences of fire onplant communities, and will assist with better fire management. We studied the vegetation on 55 sites in and near the “Chernye Zemli” Natural Biosphere Reserve that burned at different times or were not affected by fires over the past 35 years and characterized the changes in vegetation cover associated with the impact of wildfire and grazing. The descriptions were grouped into chronological stages according to the time elapsed since the last fire, or into groups according to the frequency of fires. In pairwise comparison of the projective cover of plant species between chronological stages, it correlated most strongly between successive initial stages (for stages 1 and 2, p = 0.003, r = 0.73; for stages 2 and 3, p < 0.001, r = 0.78). Species with an initially higher projective cover were more likely to grow on plots in the first year after the fire: p < 0.03. Plots with rare and frequent fires had similar projective cover of individual species (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). We conclude that in the course of pyrogenic succession, communities are gradually replaced over at least ten years. At the same time, the composition of a plant community at the initial point of succession depends on the prevalence of species in the community before the fire. No fundamental effect of the frequency of fires on the composition of plant communities has been revealed.

Adaptation strategies of Heracleum sosnowskyi in Ukrainian Polissia

Heracleum sosnowskyi is an invasive transformer species dangerous for biodiversity and human health. The materials for this study were the standard geobotanical descriptions made on the territory of Ukrainian Polissia in the period from 2004 to 2022. The relevés were classified using the Braun-Blanquet methods and used for synphytoindication evaluation of the environmental factors, rating ecofactors, estimated based on the ecological scales of the species that form a phytocoenosis. Heracleum sosnowskyi was observed to occur in plant communities belonging to 13 classes, 16 orders, 21 alliances, and 29 associations. According to the synphytoindication, it most often grew in mesophyte, hemihydrocontrasthophobic (moderately moistened habitats that are sporadically moistened), subacidophilic, semieutrophic, acarbonataphilic, nitrophilic, hemiaerophobic (moderately aerated habitats), submicrothermal (habitats that receives 20–30 kc/sm2), subombrophytic, hemioceanic, subcryophytic (habitats with the average temperature of the coldest month of the year is approximately –8), semi-illuminated, euhemerobic (habitats that have been altered or created by humans and are under anthropogenic influence) habitats. The competitive advantages of Sosnowsky's hogweed over the native species are the combination of the ability to change r and K strategies, depending on the environmental conditions, with the production of a large number of seeds that are dispersed from a tall peduncle, maintaining a significant germination rate for several years, and allelopathy and efficient assimilation of nitrogen compounds, which helps it to increase the size of the shoot. Ruderal and natural grass ecosystems are the most vulnerable to the penetration of H. sosnowskyi in the early stages of autogenic succession (value of natural dynamic was 3.0–4.0 points). The highest projective cover and the density of its population were observed in the nitrified forest edges of associations Elytrigio repentis-Aegopodietum podagrariae var. Heracleum sosnowskyi (value of natural dynamic was 4.0–7.0 points). Forest ecosystems with multi-tiered vegetation (value of natural dynamic was above 9.5 points) and meadows with thorough sod (value of natural dynamic was above 4.8 points) were less vulnerable to invasions. At the same time, disruptions of the completeness of the tree stand or the integrity of sod created additional opportunities for the species to invade the territory. Once penetrating into natural or ruderal ecosystems, H. sosnowskyi most often transforms their autotrophic blocks into a variant of association Agropyretum repentis var. Heracleum sosnowskyi of class Artemisietea vulgaris, which is a more favorable phytocenosis for its intensive reproduction and spread. The results of the study can be used to prevent the spread of H. sosnowskyi.

Nitrophilic aspect of epiphytic lichenobiota of white willow (Salix alba L.) in the Astrakhan Reserve

Among the epiphytic lichens of the Astrakhan Reserve, nitrophilic, toxic tolerant species dominate. At the same time, the reserve is located far from industrial areas. According to the results of quantitative studies, nitrophilic species dominate in terms of species diversity, occurrence, and projective cover. It is suggested that the abundance of nitrophilous species among lichens is associated with the ornithological factor: numerous nests of great cormorants, gray herons and crows on white willow. Crown rainwater containing bird excretions has elevated concentrations of nitrogen compounds. To assess nitrophilicity and toxicophobia, an index of average toxicophobia is proposed, calculated on the basis of a 5-point scale of lichen sensitivity and the number of species. It is based on an assessment of the most widespread lichen species, which determine the general background of lichenological toxicophobia in the surveyed area. The higher the indicator (maximum TFav = 5), the cleaner the area. The Average Toxicophobicity Index of the Astrakhan Reserve, calculated on the basis of the list of species minus the “null” trees for the established test sites in the Damchiksky, Trekhizbinsky and Obzhorovsky areas and considered as a single data set, is TFav = 2,18, which is lower than the median value of TF = 2,5 for a 5 point scale. A more accurate calculation of the Average Toxiphobicity Index (TFav), calculated on the basis of individual trees as a single array, taking into account “null” trees, is 1,66 ± 0,08. For the Damchiksky section, TFav = 1,46±0,12; for the Obzhorovsky section TFav = 1.93±0,12. For the Trekhizbinsky section, TFav = 1,48±0,16. This indicates a significant nitrophilic component of the epiphytic lichen biota Salix alba L. in the Astrakhan Reserve and the influence of the ornithological factor on the formation of the lichen flora.