Scientific Station Research Articles

Новые находки водорослей, грибов, лишайников и мохообразных. 14

The first records for Russia of one species of siphonous yellow-green algae, ascomycete, and lichenicolous fungus, and the first records for regions of Russia: nine species of siphonous yellow-green alga for the Arkhangelsk, Astrakhan, Moscow, Volgograd regions, two diatom species for the Tyumen Region, nine species of basidiomycetes for the Novgorod, Tomsk regions, and the Republic of Tuva, three species of lichenicolous fungi for the Orenburg Region and Krasnoyarsk Territory, 23 species of lichens for the Arkhangelsk, Irkutsk, Murmansk, Sakhalin regions, Altai, Buryatia and Komi republics, Altai and Khabarovsk territories, 15 species of mosses for the Arkhangelsk, Magadan, Orel, Voronezh regions, Kamchatka Territory, Republic of Tuva, and St. Petersburg, one species of liverwort for the Krasnoyarsk Territory are presented. The data on their localities, habitats, distribution are provided. The specimens are kept in the herbaria ALTB, AR, H, IBIW, IRK, KPABG, LE, MAG, NSK, PTZ, PZV, SMR, SYKO, VU, in the diatom collection of the Timiryazev Institute of Plant Physiology RAS, the Tobolsk complex scientific station RAS or Vaucheria collection of the Laboratory for Algology at the Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters RAS. Sequences of ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nrDNA regions of some specimens of fungi and ITS1-2 nrDNA and trnL-F cpDNA of one liverwort have been deposited in the GenBank.

Ocean-atmosphere-ice processes in the Ross Sea: A review

The Ross Sea has been the site of extensive investigations since the earliest days of polar exploration. The International Geophysical Year of 1957-58 enhanced research activities with the establishment of scientific stations and the collection of oceanographic observations in the area. While many features of its oceanography, ecology, physics, glaciology, geology, and biogeochemistry are known, recent advances provide new insights into its structure and function, as well as into its relationship to global climate. We present a comprehensive review of the advances of understanding the main processes occurring in the area, such as the formation of dense shelf water and the production of Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), as well as the main drivers (at both large and local scales) of local dynamics and water mass variability. We also summarize the main modeling applications, which are still limited and need to be improved using high-resolution models and, locally, limited-area models to explain processes driven mainly by thermodynamics and water-mass transformations. The Ross Sea forms the most saline AABW due to the activity of two polynyas in the western sector. A salinity gradient occurs on the shelf, with fresh Low Salinity Shelf Waters concentrated in the eastern Ross Sea, which is influenced by the inflow of fresh water from the Amundsen and Bellingshausen Seas. This freshwater inflow was thought to be the cause of a multi-decadal freshening of the High Salinity Shelf Water, precursor to the AABW, although a rebound in salinity in the Ross Sea has been observed since 2014. The increase in salinity has also affected the production of AABW, with the respective rebound occurring almost simultaneously.

Dynamics of air temperature changes in the atmospheric boundary layer during the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

The data of measurements of air temperature profiles in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) during the total solar eclipse on March 29, 2006 in Kislovodsk and at the Kislovodsk High-Mountain Scientific Station (KVNS) on the central shadow line are presented. The solar eclipse lasted from 14:08 to 16:27 local time, the total phase of the eclipse began at 15:15 and lasted 2:32. In development of the results obtained by us in our previous work, we compared the data on air temperature profiles at two points, Kislovodsk and KVNS. The influence of local conditions has been studied. It was shown that local conditions significantly affect both the amplitude of atmospheric pressure pulsations caused by a solar eclipse and their phase, as well as the nature of the change in the spectral density of air temperature with height in the range of periods corresponding to the duration of the solar eclipse. Based on the measurements of temperature profiles, the fluctuations of the atmospheric pressure difference at the level of the earth’s surface and at a certain height, up to which the temperature profiles were measured equal to 600 m, were reconstructed, caused by a solar eclipse, in coordinates: height – time has different trajectories in the case of Kislovodsk and KVNS. The difference in the trajectories of air temperature minima in Kislovodsk and at the KVNS determines both different delays in pressure minima relative to the beginning of the eclipse and time delays between surface pressure fluctuations at observation points as a whole. Also, a new method is proposed for determining the speed of ascending air currents using data on the altitude dependence of the time of reaching a minimum in temporal temperature variations caused by a solar eclipse. The changes in the spectral density of air are compared with height, the amplitude of the reconstructed atmospheric pressure pulsations in Kislovodsk and at the KVNS, and the speed of ascending air currents.

Summer daily dynamics of the vertical structure of atmospheric aerosol over Baikal coastal area from ground-based lidar measurements

ABSTRACT The spatial structure of atmospheric aerosol over Baikal in summer is studied on a regular basis with the use of ground-based LOSA-M2 lidar measurements at the Boyarsky scientific station of the Institute of Physical Material Science, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (51.83°N, 106.06°E, 456 m a.s.l.), Republic of Buryatia, Russia. The lake is located in a basin surrounded by mountain ranges on all side; its water volume is large. The lidar data are analysed along with the regional meteorological situation and meteorological parameters of the atmosphere. The daily dynamics of aerosol distribution over the atmospheric is examined for the period from 2015 to 2023 accounting the effect of different air masses in the region. Three main typical air circulation types are identified for the coastal zone of southern Baikal in summer, which determine the atmospheric aerosol generation and transport. The first and most common type relates to breeze circulation, where the main changes in the spatial structure of aerosol occur in the 2–3-km layer and are determined by changes in the transport direction within a breeze cell during the day. The main feature of this type is a decrease in the altitude of an air layer which contains most of aerosol in the lower atmosphere up to 1 km. The second type refers to southwestern transport under the presence of an anticyclone over the region. The maximal altitude of the aerosol layers attains 7 km in this case. The most complex and dynamic changes in the daily spatial structure of atmospheric aerosol occurred under transport of cyclones and associated atmospheric fronts over Lake Baikal. Under this third type, the altitude of the aerosol layers decreases throughout the day within the altitude range from the surface to 3–4 km.

Gastrophylosis Patogens in ungulates kept in the steppe research field station “Orenburg Tarpania”

The fauna of gastrophylids was studied based on the collection of eggs and larvae of the 1st-3rd stages of development of bot fly of the family Gasterophilidae from kiang and horses of the Przhevalsk steppe scientific station “Orenburg Tarpania” and domestic horses of the village of Sazan. The Orenburg Province is inhabited by G. haemorrhoidalis (Linnaeus, 1758), G. inermis (Braurer, 1858), G. intestinalis (De Geer, 1776), G. nasalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and G. pecorum (Fabricius, 1794). We found G. intestinalis and G. nasalis. G. intestinalis is the most common species parasitizing solidungulate host animals. The infestation intensity for Przewalski horses and kiangs was low, the prevalence was 100%. Morphological features of the preimaginal forms in parasitic flies G. intestinalis and G. nasalis were caused by extreme conditions in the mammalian digestive tract.

Sources and distribution of trace elements in surface snow from coastal Zhongshan Station to Dome A (East Antarctica)

The spatial distribution and possible sources of Al, As, Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, Sb, Ti, V, and Zn were investigated in 120 samples of surface snow collected along a ∼1260 km long traverse from coastal Zhongshan Station to the Antarctic ice sheet summit (Dome A or Dome Argus, at 4093 m a.s.l.). The chemical composition of snow samples was analyzed using microwave-assisted acid treatment with HNO3/HF to determine element concentrations, reflecting their abundance in the Earth's crust. The observed relative concentration pattern of elements in snow suggests a predominant contribution from soil and rock dust particles. The spatial distribution of total element concentrations along the traverse revealed higher values in inland areas compared to coastal areas. The annual deposition flux of elements in each sampling site indicates a significant decreasing trend in Al, Ti, Zn, Fe, Cd, As, and Pb from the coast to inland areas. Significant variations in element concentrations and fluxes observed along the Antarctic traverse suggest a notable influence of distance from the coast on snow deposition patterns. Soil dust from coastal ice-free areas and human activities in scientific stations are the primary sources of analyzed elements in coastal snow, with marine biogenic emissions playing a marginal role, likely contributing to As and Cd. The contribution of sea salt spray to surface snow element concentrations in the East Antarctic traverse is negligible. An analysis of backward trajectories confirmed that long-distance transport from the South American continent and local Antarctic research stations potentially contributes to Antarctic snow elements.

History of female Polish pioneers and expeditioners in polar regions

In the paper, we present a gradual transition from domination of men to equal treatment for men and women during the several decades of Polish expeditions to scientific stations in the Arctic and the Antarctic. This research has been based on the data available in the archives and at the database created within the project Female polar explorers (Polarniczki in Polish), which contains information about the number of female participants of expeditions to Polish research stations. Women participated in the seasonal expeditions almost from the very beginning when Polish research stations were established in 1970s and 1980s, but a significant increase of female participants is visible especially at year-round stations in the second decade of the 21st century. In 1984, the first Polish female scientist overwintered in the Antarctic and in 1996 in the Arctic. In 1986, the first woman became a leader of a summer scientific expedition to Spitsbergen, and in 1991 a first woman became the leader of a year-long expedition to Arctowski Station. In the presented database, there are 825 records, that correspond to 417 surnames of female participants in Polish polar expeditions, 145 participated in more than one expedition. Women who were working at Polish polar research stations represented a variety of occupations, but most of them were scientists or combined science and station service. The collected data clearly show that the days when the presence of women at polar stations was unwelcome are a thing of the past.

Chemical composition and trajectories of atmospheric particles at the Machu Picchu Peruvian Antarctic scientific station (62.09º S, 58.47º W)

Antarctica is a remote and relatively pristine region, but the regional transport of aerosols may be a source of pollution, especially in the Antarctic Peninsula. Few studies have characterized atmospheric aerosols and evaluated the contribution of their emission sources. The Peruvian Antarctic research station Machu Pichu (ECAMP, by its Spanish acronym) is located on King George Island in the Antarctic Peninsula. During February 2020, atmospheric particulate mass (PM10 and PM2.5) was sampled and analyzed to characterize its elemental composition and was supplemented by measurements of equivalent black carbon and aerosol size distributions. Chemical elements were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), multivariate techniques, and enrichment factors. The most abundant elements in PM10 and PM2.5 were Na, Fe, Mg, and Si, with the most important local sources being marine (Na, Mg, Mn, Ca) and crustal (Fe, Al, P). Sources of weathering (Ba and Si) from glacial thawing and sources of combustion linked to the use of oil (V) and emission of black carbon were recorded. Air mass back-trajectory analysis using the HYSPLIT model helped identify external sources of particulate matter in the air masses reaching the ECAMP site. Overall, this study supports the growing evidence of the anthropogenic impact of distant and local sources on the white continent.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in Wastewater Associated with Scientific Stations in Antarctica and Possible Risk for Wildlife.

Before December 2020, Antarctica had remained free of COVID-19 cases. The main concern during the pandemic was the limited health facilities available at Antarctic stations to deal with the disease as well as the potential impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Antarctic wildlife through reverse zoonosis. In December 2020, 60 cases emerged in Chilean Antarctic stations, disrupting the summer campaign with ongoing isolation needs. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in the wastewater of several scientific stations. In Antarctica, treated wastewater is discharged directly into the seawater. No studies currently address the recovery of infectious virus particles from treated wastewater, but their presence raises the risk of infecting wildlife and initiating new replication cycles. This study highlights the initial virus detection in wastewater from Antarctic stations, identifying viral RNA via RT-qPCR targeting various genomic regions. The virus's RNA was found in effluent from two wastewater plants at Maxwell Bay and O'Higgins Station on King George Island and the Antarctic Peninsula, respectively. This study explores the potential for the reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans to Antarctic wildlife due to the direct release of viral particles into seawater. The implications of such transmission underscore the need for continued vigilance and research.

Detection of plastic, cellulosic micro-fragments and microfibers in Laternula elliptica from King George Island (Maritime Antarctica)

It is generally acknowledged that microplastic pollutants are prevalent in ocean waters and sediments across a range of tropical, temperate, subpolar, and polar regions. The waters surrounding King George Island are significantly impacted by human activities, particularly those related to scientific stations, fishing, and tourism. Organisms, such as Laternula elliptica, can be used as environmental monitors due to the likelihood that they will bioaccumulate pollutants. The goal of this study was to quantify and identify plastic and cellulosic micro-fragments and microfibers present in the soft body of clams (n = 21), collected from Fildes Bay near sewage and wastewater discharges. Plastic and cellulose microfragments and microfibers were counted, and their compositions were determined using FT-IR. All 21 individuals sampled contained fragments and fibers, with a total of 900 items detected (42.86 ± 25.36 mean ± SD items per individual), or 1.82 items g.wet mass−1. 58 % of items were cellulose and 22 % plastic. Considering the plastic polymer compositions, 28.57 % were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 21.43 % acrylic, 14.29 % high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 14.29 % Polypropylene (PP), 7.14 % ultra-high drawn polyethylene filament (UHMWPE), 7.14 % polyester and 7.14 % Polyethylene. The quantities and prevalence of MP in L. elliptica were higher than those found in other Antarctic marine species, and even in bivalves from populated regions of the world. Our work assessed the pollution status of L. elliptica near an effluent of wastewater plants and found that 95 % of individuals displayed MP and 100 % microfibers that could impact their population.

Long-term temperature trend in the mesopause region according to observations of hydroxyl airglow in Zvenigorod

An analysis of the long-term change of the average annual OH* temperature, the values of which were obtained from nighttime spectral observations of the hydroxyl emission bands at the Zvenigorod scientific station (56° N, 37° E) from 1957 to 2022, is presented. This series of OH* temperatures, reflecting the thermal state of the mesopause region, is the longest among all known observations. On its basis, estimates of the linear trend and response of temperature to changes in solar activity was made both in general over the entire set of data and for different time intervals. In the first case, the trend was −0.23 ± 0.04 K/yr. In the second case, the analysis showed strong cooling (−0.53 ± 0.34 K/yr) until the 1970s and its slowdown to −0.14 ± 0.03 K/yr thereafter. A comparison of the results of the analysis with other measurements and model calculations shows that the latter have lower trend values. It is assumed that the reasons for the temperature trend, in addition to the growth of greenhouse gases, the main of which is CO2, may be long-term changes in the dynamics of the upper atmosphere.

Late Pleistocene glaciations on the sub-Antarctic Kerguelen Archipelago: new evidence from 36Cl CRE dating and comparison with other southern mid-latitude glacier records

Previous paleo-glacial studies on Kerguelen showed a singular pattern of Holocene glacier evolution on this archipelago in comparison with other southern mid-latitude glacier records. In this study, we aim to test this singularity on a longer timescale, based on 26 new in situ-produced 36Cl ages from pre-Holocene glacio-geomorphic features. Samples from moraine boulders and glacially polished bedrock were extracted at six different sites, located near the Port-aux-Français scientific station (PAF site), on Longue Island, Australia Island, on the Port-Jeanne d’Arc Peninsula (PJDA site), on the Gallieni Peninsula at Baie Larose (BLR site) and the McMurdo Island. The moraine ages indicate that glacier culminations occurred during Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3) at 42.2 ± 4.9 ka on the PAF site, and during the global Last Glacial Maximum (gLGM) at 21.5 ± 3.2 ka on the PJDA site and at 21.4 ± 3.7 ka and 19.4 ± 2.6 on Baie Larose site. This is the first time that Late Pleistocene glacier culminations are evidenced on Kerguelen by direct moraine dating, thus allowing comparison with other moraine records from the southern mid-latitudes. While it remains speculative whether or not the MIS 3 glacial maximum at ⁓42.2 ka is in phase with other glaciers at this latitude (due to high age uncertainties), the gLGM glacial maximum is synchronous with that in other southern mid-latitude regions. 36Cl CRE ages of glacially polished bedrock surfaces sampled in different locations of the archipelago vary from ⁓39 ka to ⁓19 ka. We interpret these results as reflecting periods of deglaciation that occurred in between the two glacier culminations and right after the gLGM on Kerguelen. These ages also suggest that some places of the archipelago were free of ice at least since ⁓ 39 ka. The presence of a MIS 3 moraine at PAF site that has not been obliterated by a gLGM advance suggests that the ⁓ 42.2 ka glacier extent was at least as large as gLGM glacial maxima on the archipelago. The glacier culmination during MIS 3 being larger than that during the gLGM on the Kerguelen Archipelago matches observations in other southern mid-latitude regions. Late Pleistocene glacier culminations on Kerguelen may have been in phase with cold temperatures recorded in SST records, which suggest a cooling around Kerguelen. However, climate drivers responsible for the larger MIS 3 glacier culmination on Kerguelen still remain unclear even if we hypothesize that changes in precipitation may have superimposed on temperature changes.

An outsider on the Antarctic Peninsula: A new record of the non-native moth Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

We report the first record of the microlepidopteran Plodia interpunctella beyond the South Shetland Islands at the Chilean Yelcho scientific station (64°52'33.1428″ S; 63°35'1.9572″ W), Doumer Island, close to the west coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is notable that P. interpunctella, a globally distributed stored product pest species, exhibits a remarkable capacity for prolonged viability within food storage facilities. The dual challenges of food transportation and storage in the context of Antarctica's challenging operational conditions may have facilitated P. interpunctella's initial arrival to the Antarctic region. Non-perishable food items, such as grains, flour and rice, provide practical options for the bulk food transportation and storage required in the long-term operation of Antarctic research stations. The presence of P. interpunctella in Antarctica, even if restricted to synanthropic environments within buildings, is a clear threat to Antarctic biodiversity, not only through being an invasive species itself but also as a potential vector for other non-native species (bacteria, acari, between others.), which could carry diseases to the native species.

Sea Ice Examination for Ice Class Ships visiting Horseshoe Island, Antarctica, Using MODIS in 2000-2022

Sea ice has a significant impact on numerous areas, ranging from the reflection of the sun rays back on the albedo scale, to spurring intense phytoplankton blooms that help maintain the marine ecosystem and making the navigation of some maritime routes challenging. The formation of sea ice in the Southern Ocean affects maritime logistics and scientific operations on Antarctica, especially on the Antarctic Peninsula, which hosts half of the scientific stations. Ships needed to supply British and Turkish scientific bases on Horseshoe Island in the southernmost part of the Antarctic Peninsula are in high demand. Therefore, the analysis of the oldest trends of sea ice that affect maritime operations is crucial. The goal of the study was to examine the formation of sea ice, and especially ice-free days, by using images collected between 2000 and 2022 by over 8000 NASA’s Terra/MODIS Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer instruments (MODIS). An analysis of maritime traffic gives a better understanding of maritime operation needs and usage of natural ports, including bays within the research area. Therefore, the study focused on four sites: western approach to Horseshoe Island, Sally Cove (hosting a British station), Lystad Bay (hosting a Turkish station) and Gaul Cove. The results indicate that there has been no multiyear sea ice around Horseshoe Island. The most suitable months for the safe navigation of any type of ship in the area, due to the greatest number of ice-free days, are March, February, April and January. The study reveals that, in accordance with the Polar Code, lower ice class ships are required for safe navigation during scientific expeditions to Horseshoe Island. Also, as the average number of days with clear skies was 38, and average cloudiness very high, the use of optical satellites for long-term monitoring studies on Horseshoe Island is not recommended.

Зоолог Сергій Парамонов: Хемогенез — нова теорія еволюції (до 130-річчя від дня народження)

The paper present little-known aspects of the scientific activity of the famous expatriate scientist, world-renowned Ukrainian and Australian zoologist, theoretical biologist, and dipteriologist Sergiy Paramonov (1894–1967). The main purpose of this work is to give a detailed presentation to the scientific community on the important but little-known work of the scientist titled ‘Chemogenesis—A New Theory of Evolution’ (theory of chemogenesis). The role of the Kara Dag scientific station (Crimea, Ukraine) in the formation of the so-called points of scientific growth is shown. The scientist had visited the station several times to carry out dipteriologial research; in 1925, he met the famous Russian scientist S. L. Ivanov whose reconsidered research was used in creating the theory of chemogenesis. Paramonov’s theoretical works written in Ukraine in 1934–1943 and devoted to issues of systematics and its novel chemical methods and of species and speciation are briefly considered. Selected postulates of the theory of chemogenesis are described and analysed in short. The scientist drew special attention to the criticism of Darwin’s theory of natural selection and considered it a brilliant achievement of human thought of the 19th century. Noteworthy is that the theory of chemogenesis does not rely on the recognised scientific significance of related areas of knowledge such as geochemistry and biochemistry, but pulls away from them to prove its own correctness. Paramonov had been seeking the truth but did not claim it; he merely tried to show another way to understand the driving forces of evolution, to show that biologists are ‘barking up the wrong tree.’ A logical mistake keeps existing in biology, when the result (morphogenesis) is considered as the cause, and the cause (chemogenesis) as the results. Eliminating natural selection the scientist understood that he had opened a way to recognise various ‘mysterious’ forces. Although Paramonov did not present a respective philosophical basis for his theory, it is still worth mentioning that the solution for the existing antinomy between the mechanistic theory of natural selection and the theory of chemogenesis with certain elements of teleology lies in the combination of mechanistic and teleological explanation of nature. It is important to take the first steps into the unknown, to understand the incomprehensible, or even to admit ignorance than to engage in the simplification of the problem.

On Turbulent Helicity in the Surface Layer of the Atmosphere

Synchronous measurements of vorticity and velocity in the boundary layer of the atmosphere were carried out using the original 3-component acoustic circulator developed at the A.M. Obukhov Institute of Physical Physics in 2019–2020. The measurements were carried out in summer at the Tsimlyansk scientific station (in 2021, 2022) at altitudes of 1.75 and 30 m. For different realizations, turbulent helicity has negative values on average, which is possibly due to the presence of local (breeze) winds. The observed spectra of turbulent helicity exhibit a slope close to –5/3, which corresponds to the transfer of helicity along the spectrum towards small scales (direct cascade). Spectrum slopes of –4/3 are also observed, and in the low-frequency region – –1, associated with the convective component, wind shear, and submesoscale structures. The components of the turbulent vortex flow are calculated. The helicity values agree with the previously measured and theoretical estimates obtained for neutral conditions.

The Effectiveness of Using Scientific Station Strategy in improving EFL Writing skills among secondary school students

The Effectiveness of Using Scientific Station Strategy in improving EFL Writing skills among secondary school students

Variability of biothermal conditions in the vicinity of the Polish Antarctic station in the South Shetlands, West Antarctica

There are nine year-round and 11 seasonal scientific stations in the South Shetland Islands, an area often visited by cruise ships and sailing yachts. Although this is the warmest part of Antarctica, the weather conditions may be demanding for humans. We analysed the variability of biothermal conditions near Henryk Arctowski Station Polish Antarctic Station, on King George Island, during the period 2013–2021, using the wind chill index (WCI), which combines air temperature and wind speed, to determine thermal sensation. WCI values were interpreted using two cold sensation categorisations. Hourly WCI values were assigned to thermal sensation classes that ranged from “comfortable” to “frosty.” The most favourable biothermal conditions occurred from December to February. The “cold” sensation was dominant in all months, its average occurrence frequency ranging from 56.4% (in January) to 84.4% (in July). From November to March, there was no risk of frostbite to uncovered body parts. Such conditions occurred only from April to October, with a frequency of 0.2–6.8%; biothermal conditions were also the most variable in this period. Maximal WCI hourly values show that dangerous weather conditions may occur throughout the day in June and for most of the day from July to September. An abrupt change in biothermal conditions was more often caused by wind speed change than by air temperature change. The most marked WCI changes occurred from April to September, on average five times per year. Our results indicate that biothermal conditions in the vicinity of Arctowski Station are predominantly favourable for outdoor work only if a person wears proper winter clothing.

Seasonal photosynthesis and respiration dynamics of Pinus sibirica latitudinal ecotypes: ex situ study

Photosynthesis and respiration are temperature dependent processes. Therefore, it is important to understand how the physiological processes of photosynthesis and respiration will respond to climate change in the future. Seasonal carbon dioxide gas exchange of vegetative scion Siberian stone pine ecotypes (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) of latitudinal transect grown in the scientific station “Kedr” in the south of the Tomsk region were studied. The latitudinal transect was represented by two ecotypes: the southern ecotype (Tomsk) and the northern ecotype (Urengoy). The age of the grafted trees was 26 years. Apparent uptake of CO2 of the southern ecotype began a week earlier than the one of the southern ecotype, when the needle length reached 35 and 40 % of the final length of the southern and southern ecotypes, respectively. Photosynthesis reaches its maximum values when the needle length was 45-52 % of the final length of both ecotypes. The carbon dioxide assimilation rate of the southern ecotype remained high until the second decade of July, then its intensity decreased. Photosynthetic rate of the southern ecotype decreased in early August. In fully developed needles, the photosynthetic intensity between ecotypes did not differ significantly. The dark respiration of both ecotypes was maximum at the beginning of needle growth, then decreased significantly, was almost constant in July, and had minimum values at the end of the growing season. At the initial growth stages the needles of the southern ecotype had high values of dark respiration, which was 2 times higher than that of the southern ecotype. In the growth process by the first ten days of
 July, the differences between ecotypes were practically leveled. Subsequently, the dark respiration of the southern ecotype became 2 times higher than that of the southern one, however, it remained low compared to the initial stages of needle growth. The respiration of needle finished growing decreased by 8-10 times. The negative balance between photosynthesis and respiration of both ecotypes maintained until the needle length exceed 40 % and 35 % of the final length in the northern and southern ecotypes, respectively. Positive balance CO2 was observed when the needle length reached 45 % in the northern and 52 % in the southern ecotypes. During the summer months the CO2 balance was significantly higher for the Tomsk ecotype. In September and October the CO2 balance of the northern ecotype became lower than of one the southern one due to increased part of respiration of gas exchange. We believe that the high respiratory intensity of the Siberian stone pine northern ecotype is hereditary, therefore significant respiratory costs will have negative impact the productivity of high latitude plants and their adaptation to climate warming.

Зоолог Володимир Караваєв та Карадазька наукова станція в Криму (до 160­річчя з дня народження)

Some unknown pages in the life of Volodymyr Karavaiev the world-famous Ukrainian zoologist, myrmecologist, traveler, as well as a large landowner of the former Kyiv Governorate are considered. Particular attention is paid to his stay and research activities in the Crimea, near the Karadag mountain massif, at the Karadag scientific station. The station was founded in 1914 at the own cost of Terentiy Viazemsky, doctor of medicine, a privatdozent of the Moscow University, in order to develop science free from state supervision. In 1917, at the beginning of the revolutionary destruction, Volodymyr Karavaiev was in Crimea, and the went to the Karadag trying to find a safe place for scientific activity. He was fascinated by the untouched nature of this place and, with the help of the geologist Oleksandr Sludskyi, who was in charge of the station, decided to build his own house and set up an entomological laboratory at the station. However, subsequent political events made it impossible to implement the scientist’s ideas. The significance of the station in the scientist’s life is considered in the context of the complicated fate of the manuscript on ants of the Ponerinae subfamily the first one that the scientist almost managed to process after returning from a trip to the Dutch Indies in 1913 (the events of 1917 prevented it). The history of the manuscript is filled with losses, experiences, and hardships, but scientific activity in Kyiv and at the station continued and covers the period from 1913 to 1923. The acquaintance with academician Volodymyr Vernadsky is also mentioned. Also considered the trip of the scientist in the ‘academic’ carriage to Kharkiv, and from there to Crimea in November 1919 (together with Volodymyr Vernadsky, who continued traveling to Rostov.) It is emphasised that thanks to the shelter at the station, the scientist was able to increase his scientific knowledge; the tropical collections of ants brought to the station and therefore preserved, gave him the opportunity to successfully continue studying the ants of the world. Another significant reason for developing scientific studies was the station’s surroundings, which revealed the biodiversity of the myrmecofauna of Karadag. It is proposed to create a memorial library and a memorial collection of ants of the scientist as a national heritage.