Russian Black Sea Research Articles

Role of alkaline barriers in radionuclide distribution in river valley environments on the Russian Black Sea coast

This paper reports on the radioecological properties of environmental components in the Mzymta and Sochi River valleys on the Russian Black Sea coast. The environmental components covered are river sediments, alluvial soils, mosses, and fluvial water. Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to determine the distribution patterns of Th and U stemming from two geochemical alkaline barriers present in the river valleys. One is a calcium barrier resulting from the metamorphic transition from neutral mudstones to alkaline carbonate rocks. The other is a sodium barrier formed in estuaries under the influence of Na-rich tidal seawater. The sodium barrier was responsible for an increase in Th and U concentrations in river water, a slight decrease in soil and sediments, and strong sorption on mosses. The calcium barrier reduced Th and U concentrations in river water, but increased them in soil and mosses. In the Sochi River valley, the content of calcium in the components of the natural environment is higher compared to the Mzymta River valley and, on average, 4 times higher in the river water. This factor determines the relatively high Th and U content in the natural environment of the Sochi River valley, as these radionuclides are easily extracted from the mineral component of river water by carbonate solutions. On the whole, the radioecological status of the river valleys was recognized as favourable. Gamma radiation exposure dose rate near the surface (20–27 μR/h or less in mountainous areas and 9–17 μR/h in the lowlands) was below the natural level typical for open mountainous areas of central Russia. River sediments in both valleys had low radionuclide concentrations based on the specific activities of naturally occurring radionuclides 226Ra, 228Ra, 224Ra, 232Th, and 40K. In similar river basins that may be targeted for future development, accumulation of Th and U in soil and mosses on calcium barriers and elevated concentrations in river water on sodium barriers should be expected.

Forecasting and controlling the quality of water in a yachting harbour

The paper uses mathematical modelling and experiments to study the quality of water in semi-enclosed areas. The new approaches used focus on estimating the limitations of the low dimension water quality models. The paper presents a method based on the numerical modeling of the processes used to forecast and protect the sea water quality during the design of coastal constructions, i.e. ports, recreation, and shore protection. The enclosed coastal water areas are subject to intensive pollution while their water exchange with the main basin is limited. Maintaining the quality of water in the yachting ports is a very urgent issue because the water quality is both an environmental and a consumer property of the marinas. The authors studied a simulation of an emergency marine spill and its further dynamics for the the “Grand-Marina Sochi” yachting port, which is to be located at seaport Sochi, Russian Black Sea coast.

Components of Oil Pollution in Water and Bottom Sediments of the Northeastern Part of the Russian Black Sea Region

Components of Oil Pollution in Water and Bottom Sediments of the Northeastern Part of the Russian Black Sea Region

Crisis of the eastern vector of foreign policy of Ukraine

The discourse and the essence of the crisis of the eastern foreign policy vector of Ukraine are analysed in the article. It is proved that the issue of the Russian direction of Ukraine’s foreign policy has become relevant since its independence. A sharp surge in scientific and expert discourse occurred in 2014 and 2022, when, respectively, a hybrid war began and Russia’s open aggression against Ukraine. Based on the analysis of political science discourse, it was concluded that the primary crisis of the eastern vector of Ukraine’s foreign policy is primarily an objective factor in Russia’s aggressive imperial policy based on Eurasian revanchism – the desire to revive total influence in the post-Soviet space. It has been confirmed that the deployment of a Russian naval base in Sevastopol on Ukrainian territory, multiplied by the loss of nuclear status, and a sharp economic downturn have deprived Ukraine of prospects for adequate geopolitical status in a post-bipolar world order. After all, Ukraine has in fact agreed to deploy the Russian Black Sea Fleet on its sovereign territory. Such a position, according to scholars, contradicted the Concept of Foreign Policy of Ukraine of 1993, which stated the inadmissibility of the presence of armed forces of other states on its territory. All this led to the occupation of Crimea, Russia’s inspiration for the hybrid conflict in Donbass in 2014 and open armed aggression in 2022. Ukraine has made significant progress in its confrontation with revanchist Russia, against which large-scale sanctions have been imposed. Having received significant military and technical assistance from the West, Ukraine has thwarted Moscow’s strategic plans to strip it of its statehood and restore the Soviet Union to much of the post-Soviet space. In the course of the armed confrontation with Russia, Ukraine acquired geopolitical subjectivity and gained the prospect of joining the EU. It is also proved that Ukraine has significant prospects for obtaining a new Marshall Plan for the post-war reconstruction of the economy and infrastructure. At the same time, Ukraine must support the policy of technological transformation and not abandon the strategy of gaining full membership in NATO.

Reconsidering the Campaign of Dnieper Liman

The naval campaign of the Dnieper Liman, fought from the autumn of 1787 to the end of 1788, was one of the most decisive maritime confrontations in the modern history of the Eastern Mediterranean. Fought in conjunction with two major siege operations, the campaign between the naval forces of the Ottoman and Russian empires decided the fate of the key Turkish fortress of Özi (Ochakov), which controlled the mouth of the Dnieper. The campaign was part of the Russian empress Catherine II’s second war with the Ottomans, a confrontation initiated by the Porte in response to Catherine II’s provocative “Greek Project” and fought with the aim of liberating the Crimean Khanate, annexed by Russia through force of arms in 1783. For the Ottoman side, the decisive operation was the storming and reduction of the Russian fortress of Kinburn, which blocked access to the Crimean interior. Since both Russians and Turks were fighting at the furthest point from their supply lines, gaining naval support and superiority was of paramount importance. Conscious of the role of sea power, Ottomans had prepared the greatest armada they ever put to the seas since the Morean Wars of 1684–1718, greatly outnumbering their adversary, the nascent Russian Black Sea Fleet. The protracted campaign of Liman resulted in the most shattering and costly Ottoman naval defeat of the Russo-Turkish Wars. Russia’s much trumpeted but in reality barren victory at Chesma in 1770 pales in comparison regarding the strategic results of the Liman campaign. The incident also serves as a perfect case study to reassess the Age of Sail in the Mediterranean.

СОВРЕМЕННОЕ РОССИЙСКОЕ ПРИЧЕРНОМОРЬЕ: ПОДХОДЫ К ДЕЛИМИТАЦИИ И СТРУКТУРИРОВАНИЮ

The development of the Russian Federation as a maritime power is largely connected with its positions in the marine waters surrounding the country, with marine economic activity taking into account their natural resource and geopolitical specifics, as well as with the socio-economic situation on the sea coasts under Russian jurisdiction. This initiates the solution of a wide range of research tasks aimed at identifying specific socio-geographical structures and processes in the land–sea contact zone. The article, methodologically based on the generalization of domestic and foreign developments in the study of the phenomena of maritime regionalization, aqua-territorial system formation and socio-economic thalassoattractivity, based on extensive analytics, reveals the geopolitical and politico-geographical determinants of the isolation of the Russian Black Sea region. Based on the consideration of the ecological and economic effects associated with the “sea factor” (and the assessment of remoteness from it) (most clearly manifested in the last decade), the delimitation of the Russian Black Sea region is proposed, its central-peripheral structure is identified. Particular attention is paid to the spatial stratification of marine economic activity in the Russian Black Sea region (marine transport, extraction of biological resources, extraction of natural gas on the shelf, etc.), as well as its structuring with the separation of four aqua-territorial «support bases» (Sevastopol-Crimean, Rostov, Novorossiysk and Sochi-Tuapse). It is shown that the military-political events of 2022 increase the fragmentation of the entire Black Sea region, while significantly increasing the geopolitical and socio-economic significance of its coasts gravitating to the sea for Russia.

Mapping Asia plants: Floristic studies of the Russian Caucasus at the regional level

The Ciscaucasus and the Russian North Caucasus covers an area of approximately 258.3 sq. km (≈ 1.5% of Russia’s total area) with a length from north-east to south-west of — 350 km, and from north-west to south-east of — 1100 km. Systematic floristic studies of this area began in the 19th century, when Lipsky (1899) for the first time compiled a complete “Flora of the Caucasus…”, which numbered 4430 species. A very important source of the first half of the 20th century is “Flora Caucasica Critica” (Kuznetsov et al., 1901—1916, not finished). The most important modern sources of floristic information in this territory are the “Flora of the Caucasus” (Grossheim, 1936—1967, not finished) and “Synopsis of the Flora of the Caucasus” (Takhtadzhyan, 2003—2012, not finished). The most important macro-regional and regional floristic reviews: “Manual-key to Higher Plants of the Northwestern Caucasus and Ciscaucasia” (Kosenko, 1970), “Flora of the North Caucasus” (Galushko, 1978—1980), 3th edition of “Stavropol Flora Checklist” (Ivanov, 2005), “Flora of the Northwest Caucasus” (Zernov, 2006); "Dagestan Flora Checklist" (Murtazaliev, 2009), “Illustrated Flora of the South of the Russian Black Sea Region” (Zernov, 2013), “Vegetation Cover of Kabardino-Balkaria” (Shkhagapsoev, 2015), “Manual-key to Vascular Plants of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic” (Zernov et al., 2015). From 9 regions of the Ciscaucasus and the Russian North Caucasus, 6 have high-quality flora or synopses of flora, 1 region studied at the average level, and 2 — are problematic. In the Kabardino-Balkar Republic, floristic research focuses on invasive plants, and we do not have rich information about the Chechen Republic.

Influence Of Quarantine Measures Against The New Coronavirus Infection Covid-19 On The State Of Black Sea Coastal Waters

The Black Sea is one of the main recreational facilities in Russia subject to a high annual anthropogenic stress. Anthropogenic activity led to high coastal sea waters pollution, eutrophy, and endangered the sea’s self-purification capabilities. The total quarantine introduced on the Black Sea coast of the Krasnodar territory associated with the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 pandemic led to a decrease in anthropogenic pressure on coastal ecosystems and provided a unique opportunity to trace the dynamics of the most important hydrochemical indicators of coastal waters in the Tuapse district. The study aimed to characterize the impact of quarantine measures against the coronavirus on the state of coastal waters in the eastern part of the Russian Black Sea. For this, we identified and characterized the hydrochemical indicators and determined the effect of quarantine measures on their dynamics. The study used the standardized methods. The results obtained showed that a decrease in the recreational stress led to a proportional decrease in the pollutants supply to coastal sea waters; with the recreational stress resumption the concentrations of mobile pollutants tended to increase; a proportional relationship was established between biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 ) and the ammonium nitrogen (NH4+) concentration; the nitrates’ (NO3–) concentration, in the seawater did not depend on the recreational stress degree. In particular, a proportional increase in NH4+ concentration and BOD5 in seawater was detected: in the third quarter of 2019 the concentration of NH4+ and BOD5 amounted to 3.0 mg/dm3 and 8.5 mg/dm3 , and 3.8 mg/dm3 and 7.5 mg/dm3 in the fourth quarter, respectively; in the 2020 samples, a decrease in the NH4+ concentration to 0.8 mg/dm3 in the third and to 1.2 mg/dm3 in the fourth quarter led to a proportional decrease in BOD5 4.5 mg/dm3 and 3.9 mg/dm3 , respectively. Thus, it was shown that the quarantine measures were shown to have a positive effect on the processes of self-purification of coastal sea waters in recreational zones.

Fishing under climate change: Dynamics of composition and structure of catches in the Russian Black Sea in the XXI century

Currently, the Black Sea ecosystem is undergoing significant changes, and that affects the dynamics of the species composition of catches. The main reasons for the change in the Black Sea ichthyofauna are considered to be: fishing, anthropogenic water pollution, invasion of new species, and the effect of large-scale climatic and related oceanological and hydrological processes on the productivity characteristics of commercial Black Sea fish. With no understanding the patterns of the effect of these factors on ichthyofauna, it is impossible to rationally use bioresources and protect nature. The aim of the work was to study the effect of climate warming on the species composition and structure of catches in the Russian Black Sea in the XXI century. The authors had used: the results of own ichthyological observations; data published on the composition of the Black Sea catches; and the information available on the official websites of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Fishery, and its Sea of Azov – Black Sea Territorial Administration. The analysis of the possible effect of global warming on the results of fishing in the Russian Black Sea was carried out. It is shown that in the XXI century, the ratio of thermophilic fish, which spawn in the summer, increased; those species are European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (Linnaeus, 1758), red mullet Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758, and horse mackerel Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868). As established, the dynamics of the ichthyofauna in the area is determined by at least four processes related to water warming: improvement of reproduction conditions and increased survival of eggs and juveniles of thermophilic species; change in the intraspecific structure; invasion and naturalization of Mediterranean species with the subsequent change in the food relationships within the ecosystem; and concentration of psychrophilic species at greater depths. The need for a thorough study of this issue is concluded, aimed at long-term forecasting of the raw material base state of the fishing industry in the Russian Black Sea.

On the Duality of Marine Geoheritage: Evidence from the Abrau Area of the Russian Black Sea Coast

Marine geoheritage is an important but still underdeveloped concept. Field investigations in the Abrau area (Krasnodar Region, southwestern Russia) and subsequent interpretations allow for the characterization of its geoheritage. Two geosites, namely Abrau and Limanchik, are delineated and assessed semi-qualitatively. Their high heritage value, complexity, and appropriate “technical” properties are appraised. The Abrau geosite features Abrau Lake with its enigmatic origin and the outcrops of deformed Upper Cretaceous carbonate flysch deposits. The Limanchik geosite represents an outstanding example of coastal abrasion, Paleocene siliciclastic flysch with trace fossils, and a coastal lagoon separated from the sea by a bar. The heritage aspects of the study areas are related to the development of the Late Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Pliocene seas, as well as to the active dynamics of the Black Sea coastal zone. The duality of marine geoheritage is linked to its relation to both ancient and modern marine environments.

«Послать для своих великого государя дел...»: посольство Д.М. Голицына к Высокой Порте в 1701 году

Introduction. In January 1701, Prince D.M. Golitsyn was sent to Sultan Mustafa II for ratification of the Peace Treaty of Constantinople (July 3, 1700). He became the first Petrine diplomat sent to the Sublime Porte with the rank of grand ambassador. Methods and materials. The comprehensive study of archival sources (Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts), comparison of the data they contain with published materials make it possible to analyze the mission of Golitsyn in the context of the policy of Peter I towards the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century. Analysis. Due to the hostilities by Narva, the dispatch of the embassy was delayed. The ambassador delivered the ratification of the peace treaty five months later than the agreed date. Golitsyn was the first Russian diplomat to wear a French dress during ceremonies at the Ottoman court. Besides, he not only followed the established ambassadorial custom, but also took into account the experience of his Western European colleagues. In addition to the ratification, Golitsyn had other tasks, the main of which was the conclusion of a trade agreement with the Sublime Porte. The conditions on which the ambassador was supposed to sign the agreement were fixed in a special instruction. The analysis of that instruction and reports of the ambassador showed that for Peter I the priority was not the development of mutually beneficial trade with the Ottoman Empire, but the opportunity to withdraw his fleet from the Azov to the Black Sea. Delivery of goods by Turkish ships or by dry route was considered only as an addition to the Russian Black Sea shipping. The conditions set in the instruction did not give to Golitsyn the opportunity to negotiate with the Sublime Porte, which categorically prohibited the entry of European ships into the Black Sea. Results. The sending of a grand ambassador by the tsar to the Ottoman sultan marked the transition of relations between the two states to a new level. Besides, a precedent was created for the reception of high-ranking Peter’s diplomats by the Sublime Porte.

Side effects of traditional pesticides on soil microbial respiration in orchards on the Russian Black Sea coast

Agricultural use of pesticides has greatly increased worldwide over the last several decades, affecting soil microorganisms. Microbial basal respiration and substrate-induced respiration rates are commonly used to assess the detrimental effects of pesticides on soil quality. The goal of the present study was (1) to compare the impact of different pesticides on soil microbial respiration under field conditions, and (2) to characterize the recovery time of soil microbial respiration after pesticide application. The following pesticides were used in the present study: chlorpyrifos, phosalone, dimethoate (organophosphorus insecticides), λ-cyhalothrin (pyrethroid insecticide), and kresoxim-methyl (fungicide). The application of all the pesticides at commercial doses led to a decrease in soil microbial respiration. The inhibition of basal respiration and substrate-induced respiration rate decreased in the following order: chlorpyrifos > phosalone > dimethoate > λ-cyhalothrin ≈ kresoxim-methyl. Among all the pesticides assessed, chlorpyrifos showed the highest toxicity as well as the highest persistence. Several of the observed results differed greatly from previous studies; thus, local assessments are highly advisable. Given that environmental concerns can be a key decision factor for pesticide selection, assessment of different pesticides—such as undertaken in this study—could help farmers to choose the most appropriate pesticide.

MEDICAL SECURITY MASS EVACUATION OF REFUGEES FROM CRIMEA TO BIZERTE IN 1920

In mid-November 1920, 149 ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet left the ports of Crimea in Turkey. They were 145 693 people, including 7000 wounded and sick. After the 1200-mile crossing in December 1920, 34 ships arrived at the final berth at the port of Bizerte (Tunisia). They were about 5000 people. The quality of medical assistance to refugees in the prevailing conditions is considered satisfactory.

Women of the Russian squadron (to the 100th anniversary of the Exodus of the Russian Black Sea squadron to Bizerta)

Women of the Russian squadron (to the 100th anniversary of the Exodus of the Russian Black Sea squadron to Bizerta)

Scanning Electron Microscopy Reveals the Antennal Micromorphology of Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), an Invasive Pest of Ornamental Cupressaceae in Western Palaearctic.

Simple SummaryThe jewel-beetles, Buprestidae, comprise some economically important invasive pest species. The Cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva festiva (Linnaeus, 1767), is a new invasive pest of ornamental Cupressaceae, which has recently expanded its range from the Mediterranean region northwards to central and eastern Europe, and to the Russian Black Sea coast. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy to examine the morphology, numbers, distribution and possible functions of antennal sensilla in both sexes of L. festiva. In total, we identified 15 different (sub)types of sensilla, of which two are present only in females. We discuss possible functions of all examined sensilla and compare them with those in other Buprestidae or other insects. Our study should serve as background information for subsequent chemical ecology research focused mainly on the olfactory sensory system of this rapidly spreading invasive pest.The Cypress jewel beetle, Lamprodila (Palmar) festiva festiva (Linnaeus, 1767), is a serious invasive pest of ornamental Cupressaceae, which has recently expanded its range from the Mediterranean region northwards to central and eastern Europe, and to the Russian Black Sea coast. In this study, we conducted a scanning electron microscopy study of the micromorphology of the male and female antennae of L. festiva to examine the morphology, numbers, distribution, and possible functions of antennal sensilla. Most sensilla are located in the sensory fields within the apical depressions on antennomeres IV–XI. We identified four main types of antennal sensilla in L. festiva: sensilla chaetica (seven subtypes, of which two occur only in females), sensilla basiconica (five subtypes), multiporous grooved pegs (two subtypes), and Böhm sensilla. Females have relatively more sensilla chaetica and multiporous grooved pegs, whereas males have more sensilla basiconica. We discuss possible functions of all examined sensilla and compare them with those in other Buprestidae or other insects. Our study should serve as background information for advanced electrophysiological and behavioral experiments to better understand the functions of different sensilla and mechanisms related to semiochemically based pest control strategies.

Transnational Corporations as a Long-Term Factor of Economic Modernization at the Local Level (The Russian Black Sea Region Experience)

Analysis of economic modernization processes includes a study of the role of MNCs' ties at the local level as a resource and mechanism of modernization/ The MNC and local business integration mechanisms and results in various economy sectors in the Russian Black Sea region (Rostov Region and Krasnodar Region) are analyzed in the article. The forms and tools for including MNC in the processes of restructuring the economy of the Russian Federation regions from the point of view of forming ties at the local level and of management mechanisms providing this result are analyzed for the first time in the Russian research practice.

Видовой состав, структура и пространственное распределение чужеродного компонента флоры Юга Российского Причерноморья

Видовой состав, структура и пространственное распределение чужеродного компонента флоры Юга Российского Причерноморья

Fluctuating asymmetry of the needles of Pinus brutia var. pityusa (STEVEN) SILBA, 1985, growing in industrial and recreational areas in Tuapse

The paper provides information on the index of fluctuating asymmetry of the Pitsunda pine in industrial and recreational areas in the city of Tuapse (the Russian Black Sea coast of the Caucasus). It is shown that pollution is localized in the port area, and in the city center, the fluctuating asymmetry index is comparable to that for resort areas at a considerable distance from the Tuapse port. The necessity of taking into account the climate when using the coefficient of fluctuating asymmetry of the needles of the Mediterranean (Pitsunda) pine in assessing the degree of ecological well-being of various areas is shown.

Russian Politics Toward Ukraine: was there Ever a Strategic Partnership?

The hypothesis of this research was that these states never had a rich level of strategic partner-ship (despite the officially proclaimed status), but always remained a sort of “negative strate- gic dependence” because of the high level of asymmetry in their relations. I. Zhovkva proved that the attribute of strategic partnership is community of strategic interests without its further reflections existing relations are superfluous. G. Perepelytsia marked that scientists must distinguish two definitions of strategic partnership – as a level of the attained cooperation and as an instrument of state foreign policy. In the given article strategic partnership is examined in two measures. The first part is sanctified to the use of the concept of strategic partnership in the foreign policy of the Russian Federation (on the example of Ukraine), and second to accordance of level of their cooperation proclaimed strategic partnership. After 1991, the goal of Moscow was ‘a friendly and neutral Ukraine.’ The relations were built primarily on an economic basis, but even then Russia widely used a ban on the import of some goods as a political instrument. After 2004, problems in Russian-Ukrainian relations related to the Russian military base in Crimea and the basing of the Russian Black Sea Fleet aggravated. Kremlin tried to destruct Ukraine rather than let it go its own way these witnessed against the contemporary concept of strategic partnership, which was the foundation of Russian politics towards Ukraine. Rather, the RF used very old policy of ‘stick and carrot’ (low gas prices and other economic preferences as the carrot, responsibility for ‘compatriots’ as the stick). The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was denounced as well as all Russian-Ukrainian agreements on the Black Sea Fleet, so, the RF itself refuses from using ‘strategic partnership’ as instrument of its policy towards Ukraine.

Fermentative activity in the leaves of garden roses in conditions of humid subtropics of Russia

The increased activity of enzymes that counteract the oxidative degradation of substances is one of the physiological and biochemical adaptations of plants to biotic and abiotic factors. The aim of the research was to study the peculiarities of the antioxidant system of garden roses to elaborate a methodology for a comprehensive evaluation of culture in the wet subtropics of the Russian Black Sea coast. The objects of study were garden rose varieties (Rosa × hybrida hort.), belonging to functional groups – bush and large-flowered, and differing in the degree of resistance to the main fungal diseases of the culture in the region (Diplocarpon rosae FA Wolf, Podosphaera pannosa (Wallr.) De Bary, Botrytis cinerea Pers., Phragmidium mucronatum (Pers.) Schltdl.) The activity of the antioxidant system was evaluated by the activity of the enzymes catalase and peroxidase (guaiacol). Catalase activity (CAT) in physiologically mature rose leaves was determined by the gasometric method according to I. I. Gunar, peroxidase (GPO) by the modified method according to I. P. Ermakov, according to the absorption spectrum (wavelength – 440 nm), recorded on the spectrophotometer PE-5400vi. The studies were carried out in dynamics during the growing season in 2016-2017. The article presents data on changes in the activity of enzymes of the primary antioxidant system – catalase and peroxidase, in the leaves of bush and large-flowered varieties of garden roses, which differ in the degree of resistance to the main phytopathogens of the culture in the region. Variety differences in the activity of enzymes, the dynamics of changes in the activity of antioxidant enzymes during the growing season, the dependence of the enzymatic activity on the hydrothermal conditions of the humid subtropical climate of the Sochi Black Sea Region have been determined. Diagnostic parameters have been established to develop the methodology for a comprehensive evaluation of landscape gardening roses in the region. When developing methods for a comprehensive evaluation of garden roses, the activity of guaiacol peroxidase can be used to analyze the adaptive potential of the culture in the region.