South Siberia Research Articles

Картографирование геосистем гор юга Сибири

Картографирование геосистем гор юга Сибири

Georadar Investigations of the Peretolchin Glacier (Southern Siberia)

Presented are the results obtained from radar profiling of the Peretolchin glacier in the Munku-Sardyk mountain range in the south of Siberia (June 2014 and May 2016) using georadar OKO-2 with the ABDL Triton antenna unit operating at the radiation frequency of 50 and 100 MHz. The ice thickness was determined from the profiles and the ice volumes from the cross-sectional areas and distances between profiles. The ice volume was calculated for the body of the Peretolchin glacier to be 0.007 ± 0.0019 km3. An analytical method was also used to determine the ice volume according to the type and area of glacier. It is established that the correlation between the glacier volume and area is expressed by a power function V = kS p . The mean ice volume, calculated with due regard for different coefficients, was 0.0061 km3. The GlabTop model that assumes the cross-sectional form of the glacier was used to infer the ice volume: the mean volume for two cross-sections (parabolic and elliptic) was 0.0073 km3. It is found that over 110 years since the start of the investigation into the morphology of the Peretolchin glacier, it has increased twice in its length and in area, its volume has decreased by a factor of 3.7, and the lower boundary of the open part of the glacier has risen 184 meters during that period.

Эксплуатация осадочных пород в верхнепалеолитических технологиях расщепления камня Центральной Азии – Южной Сибири

Эксплуатация осадочных пород в верхнепалеолитических технологиях расщепления камня Центральной Азии – Южной Сибири

Анатомическое строение листа видов секции Gamotion Basin. рода Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae) Южной Сибири

Анатомическое строение листа видов секции Gamotion Basin. рода Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae) Южной Сибири

Meromixis and Seasonal Dynamics of Vertical Structure of Lake Uchum (South Siberia)

Meromixis and Seasonal Dynamics of Vertical Structure of Lake Uchum (South Siberia)

Сlimatic Response of Conifer Radial Growth in Forest-Steppes of South Siberia: Comparison of Three Approaches

Сlimatic Response of Conifer Radial Growth in Forest-Steppes of South Siberia: Comparison of Three Approaches

Серьги в виде двойной спирали из погребений Алтая гунно-сарматского времени

The eleven examples of a special type of jewelry – flat, double spiralled, bronze wire ear-rings have been recorded in Altai sites dated to the Xiongnu-Sarmatian period. This paper analyses the main characteristics of the jewelry and their area of dissemination and also the probable sources of their appearance in the culture of the population in the region. It also focuses on a likely source of origin of these earrings within the culture of the Altai people. It is noted that in the Altai sites of the previous Scythian period and the subsequent medieval period, no prototypes or similar products were found. Analogues were not found in the adjacent regions of South Siberia and Central Asia. Nonetheless, a detailed study of the criteria of discovery and characteristics of the earring type throws light on their date and likely origin: the products date back to the second half of the 3rd century and the beginning of the 5th century AD based on the chronology of funerary complexes; their origin was related to the infiltration of the samples of the Xianby material culture to Altai through Mongolia from North China, which became the basis for the appearance of a new type of earrings. All earrings in question were found in burials of women, they were a paired or a single jewelry. Due to their unique nature, flat, double spiralled earrings could be a diagnostic attribute of the Altai archaeological culture on the late stage of the Bulan-Koba archeological culture of Altai.

Climatically driven yield variability of major crops in Khakassia (South Siberia).

We investigated the variability of yield of the three main crop cultures in the Khakassia Republic: spring wheat, spring barley, and oats. In terms of yield values, variability characteristics, and climatic response, the agricultural territory of Khakassia can be divided into three zones: (1) the Northern Zone, where crops yield has a high positive response to the amount of precipitation, May-July, and a moderately negative one to the temperatures of the same period; (2) the Central Zone, where crops yield depends mainly on temperatures; and (3) the Southern Zone, where climate has the least expressed impact on yield. The dominant pattern in the crops yield is caused by water stress during periods of high temperatures and low moisture supply with heat stress as additional reason. Differences between zones are due to combinations of temperature latitudinal gradient, precipitation altitudinal gradient, and the presence of a well-developed hydrological network and the irrigational system as moisture sources in the Central Zone. More detailed analysis shows differences in the climatic sensitivity of crops during phases of their vegetative growth and grain development and, to a lesser extent, during harvesting period. Multifactor linear regression models were constructed to estimate climate- and autocorrelation-induced variability of the crops yield. These models allowed prediction of the possibility of yield decreasing by at least 2-11% in the next decade due to increasing of the regional summer temperatures.

Past crops yield dynamics reconstruction from tree-ring chronologies in the forest-steppe zone based on low- and high-frequency components.

Interrelations of the yield variability of the main crops (wheat, barley, and oats) with hydrothermal regime and growth of conifer trees (Pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica) in forest-steppes were investigated in Khakassia, South Siberia. An attempt has been made to understand the role and mechanisms of climatic impact on plants productivity. It was found that amongst variables describing moisture supply, wetness index had maximum impact. Strength of climatic response and correlations with tree growth are different for rain-fed and irrigated crops yield. Separated high-frequency variability components of yield and tree-ring width have more pronounced relationships between each other and with climatic variables than their chronologies per se. Corresponding low-frequency variability components are strongly correlated with maxima observed after 1- to 5-year time shift of tree-ring width. Results of analysis allowed us to develop original approach of crops yield dynamics reconstruction on the base of high-frequency variability component of the growth of pine and low-frequency one of larch.

New Siberian "spineless" species of Thalassaphorura Bagnall, 1949 (Collembola, Onychiuridae), with a key to world species of the genus.

Six new species of Thalassaphorura from South Siberia are described and illustrated: T. aspinata sp. nov., T. sayana sp. nov., T. sibirica sp. nov., T. stebaevae sp. nov., T. stepensis sp. nov. and T. weineri sp. nov. Their affinity with related species is discussed and a comparison of all species without anal spines is presented. The key to the world species of Thalassaphorura and their geographic distribution are also provided.

Morphotectonic analysis and 10Be dating of the Kyngarga river terraces (southwestern flank of the Baikal rift system, South Siberia)

The formation of the Baikal rift system basins is controlled by active faults separating each basin from the adjacent horsts. The kinematics of these faults is mainly explored through investigation of complex sequences of the fault-intersecting river terraces that record both tectonic and climatic events. This study focuses on the northern margin of the major Tunka basin that develops south-west of Lake Baikal. The development of the basin is controlled by the segmented Tunka fault. We performed a detailed mapping of the Kyngarga river terraces, the best preserved terraces staircase in Baikal rift system, at their intersection with the Tunka fault. In order to decipher the chronology of seismic events and the slip rates along that segment of the fault, key terraces were dated using in situ produced cosmogenic 10Be. We demonstrate that the formation of the terrace staircase occurred entirely during MIS1–MIS2. The obtained data allowed us to estimate the rate of incision at different stages of the terrace staircase formation and the relationship between the vertical and horizontal slip rates along this sub-latitudinal segment of the Tunka fault making respectively 0.8 and 1.12mmyr−1 over the past ~12.5ka. Analysis of the paleoseismology and paleoclimate data together with terrace dating provided the possibility to estimate the influence of tectonic and climatic factors on the terrace formation. Our proposed model of the Kyngarga river terrace development shows that the incisions into terraces T3 and T6 were induced by the abrupt climatic warming episodes GI-1 and GI-2, respectively, whereas terraces T5, T4 and T2 were abandoned due to the vertical tectonic displacement along the Tunka fault caused by coseismic ruptures.

Mitogenomic diversity and differentiation of the Buryats.

In this paper we present a results of first comprehensive study of the complete mitogenomes in the Buryats with regard to their belonging to the main regional (eastern and western Buryats); tribal (Khori, Ekhirid, Bulagad, and Khongodor), and ethno-territorial (Aginsk, Alar, Balagansk, Barguzin, Ida, Khorinsk, Kuda, Selenga, Verkholensk, Olkhon, Tunka, and Shenehen Buryats) groups. The analysis of molecular variation performed using regional, tribal, and ethno-territorial divisions of the Buryats showed lack of genetic differentiation at all levels. Nonetheless, the complete mitogenome analysis revealed a very high level of genetic diversity in the Buryats which is the highest among Siberian populations and comparable to that in populations of eastern and western Asia. The AMOVA and MDS analyses results imply to a strong genetic similarity between the Buryats and eastern Asian populations of Chinese and Japanese, suggesting their origin on the basis of common maternal ancestry components. Several new Buryat-specific branches of haplogroup G (G2a2a, G2a1i, G2a5a) display signals of dispersals dating to 2.6-6.6 kya with a possible origin in eastern Asia, thus testifying Bronze Age and Neolithic arrival of ancestral eastern Asian component to the South Siberia region.

Хакасы в условиях глобализации: ментальные деформации

В статье анализируются деформации, произошедшие в менталитете хакасов, тюркоязычного этноса Южной Сибири. Авторами менталитет понимается как обладающий внутренним единством способ бытия народа в мире для сохранения этноса как целостности через организацию знаний в этническую картину мира; через создание устойчивой иерархии этнически оформленных потребностей, интересов и ценностей; через формирование системы авто- и гетеростереотипов; через устойчивые формы поведения в различных ситуациях. В результате действия внешних и внутренних факторов менталитет, исторически устойчивый феномен, может подвергаться деформациям. Последние нами понимаются как изменение базовых элементов менталитета (потребности, интересы, ценности), приводящие к обратимым или необратимым для народа изменениям.Для фиксации ментальных деформаций у хакасов в статье осуществлено сравнение традиционных этнических ценностей и современных, осуществленных, в первом случае в середине 1990-х на основе междисциплинарного исследования традиционного мировоззрения этноса, во втором — как результат социологического опроса 2015 г.Анализ показал, что иерархия базовых традиционных ценностей «родная земля», «хакасский народ», «семья» остается таковой для этнических акторов как ресурс сохранения и развития народа и в условиях глобализации. Однако социологическое исследование зафиксировало изменение конфигурации системы ценностей в целом среди хакасского народа. На первое место выходит ценность «семья», что отражает действие общеисторической закономерности: этнос, находящийся в состоянии кризиса, возвращает базовые, проверенные временем, социальные институты (семья, род). Последние призваны сохранить этнос как биопсихосоциальную общность.

RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF FRANCISELLA TULARENSIS COLLECTION STRAINS ISOLATED IN SOUTH SIBERIA (1950 -2015)

Aim. Study taxonomic belonging of collection strains of tularemia causative agent based on proteomic and molecular-genetic methods of identification. Materials and methods. 23 strains of tularemia were used in the study, isolated from Krasnoyarsk region and Altai Republic from 1950 to 2015. FT-agar was used for the cultivation. Spectra for time-of-flight mass-spectrometry were collected using Microflex LT (Bruker Daltonics, Germany) and analyzed compared with previously collected enhanced database of MALDI Biotyper 3.0. PC R with specific primers was carried out with electrophoretic visualization of results in real time. Results. F. tularensis strains isolated from south of western Siberia from 1950 to 2010 were established to belong to subspecies holarctica, and 56.3% of those - erythromycin sensitive (1 biovar Erys), the rest - erythromycin-resistant (II biovar EryR). 7 strains isolated after 2011 by citrulline ureidase activity, cleavage of glycerin and presence of pdpA and pdpD fragments of pathogenicity island (FP1) were determined as Central Asian subspecies. Conclusion. Results of a retrospective study of biological properties of tularensis strains isolated from south Siberia have shown the lack of Central Asian subspecies tularemia causative agent in the collection of Irkutsk Institute for Plague Control before 2011. Detection of this subspecies in Russian Federation gives evidence on the necessity to study and analyze problems of epidemiology, ecology and epizootology of Central Asian subspecies tularemia causative agent as well as determination of borders of its spread.

Phylogeography and demographic history of Siberian rubythroat Luscinia calliope

Phylogeographic analysis on the basis of individual marker variability provides insight into the history and mechanisms of the range formation of widely distributed species. A preliminary study of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene in Siberian rubythroat Luscinia calliope revealed the existence of three well-differentiated haplogroups, including one western and two eastern haplogroups. Continuing the study of the genetic markers of the species, we found that, in western part of the range, represented by the nominative geographic race, there were almost exclusively haplotypes of western group. In eastern populations of Khabarovsk krai, Chukotka, Kamchatka, and Sakhalin, haplotypes of all groups are mixed in different proportions. At the same time, the populations of Hokkaido and Iturup islands are exclusively represented by individuals with eastern haplotypes. Comparison of the identified nuclear copies of mitochondrial genes and construction of the phylogenetic network of haplotypes on the basis of cloned and initial sequences showed that two groups of eastern haplotypes (one of which geographically corresponded to L. c. anadyrensis and L. c. camtschatkensis and the second corresponded to L. c. sachalinensis) originated from nuclear pseudogenes of L. c. calliope through intergenomic recombination. In this regard, we propose a new hypothesis for the establishment of the modern range of this species, according to which the Siberian rubythroat dispersal from South Siberia occurred in two stages. At first, the species expanded its range to the northeast in the direction of the Kolyma and Koryak uplands. During the settling of these areas of northeastern Asia, a recombination between the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA took place, which led to the forming of a new haplotype, which was widespread in the emerging breeding populations. Birds with recombinant haplotypes populated the territories of Chukotka and Kamchatka, and then gradually occupied the Kuril Islands and, eventually, reached Hokkaido. At the next stage, Siberian rubythroat, probably, appeared in Sakhalin Island during spring migration, where some individuals stopped for breeding. Settling of the island was accompanied by similar intergenomic recombination and rapid fixation of a new recombinant haplotype with its subsequent spread across Sakhalin. The insular way of dispersal is completely repeated by modern migrants.

The role of large arthropods in the development of halomorphic soils in the south of Siberia

Soil sequences along catenas crossing the peripheral parts of shallow-water drying lakes in the south of Siberia have been studied. They include the sulfidic and typical playa (sor) solonchaks (Gleyic Solonchaks), playa solonchak over the buried solonetz (Gleyic Solonchak Thapto-Solonetz)), shallow solonetz–solonchak (Salic Solonetz), and solonetzic and solonchakous chernozemic-meadow soil (Luvic Gleyic Chernozem (Sodic, Salic)). This spatial sequence also represents a series of historical stages of the development of halomorphic soils: the amphibian, hydromorphic, semihydromorphic, and automorphic–paleohydromorphic stages. During all of them, the biogenic component plays a significant role in the matter budget of halomorphic soils. The diversity, number, and functional activity of large insects and spiders are particularly important. Their total abundance in the course of transformation of the halomorphic soils decreases from several thousand to about 100 specimens/(m2 day), whereas their species diversity increases from 17 to 45 species. Changes in the functional structure of the soil zoocenosis and its impact on the character and intensity of pedogenetic processes can be considered driving forces of the transformation of hydromorphic soils. This is ensured by the sequential alteration of the groups of invertebrates with different types of cenotic strategy and different mechanisms of adaptation to biotic and abiotic components of the soil in the course of the development of the soil zoocenosis.

Benzene and toluene in the surface air of northern Eurasia from TROICA-12 campaign along the Trans-Siberian Railway

Abstract. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured by proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) on a mobile laboratory in a transcontinental TROICA-12 (21 July–4 August 2008) campaign along the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Vladivostok. Surface concentrations of benzene (C6H6) and toluene (C7H8) along with non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), CO, O3, SO2, NO, NO2 and meteorology are analyzed in this study to identify the main sources of benzene and toluene along the Trans-Siberian Railway. The most measurements in the TROICA-12 campaign were conducted under low-wind/stagnant conditions in moderately ( ∼ 78 % of measurements) to weakly polluted ( ∼ 20 % of measurements) air directly affected by regional anthropogenic sources adjacent to the railway. Only 2 % of measurements were identified as characteristic of highly polluted urban atmosphere. Maximum values of benzene and toluene during the campaign reached 36.5 and 45.6 ppb, respectively, which is significantly less than their short-term exposure limits (94 and 159 ppb for benzene and toluene, respectively). About 90 % of benzene and 65 % of toluene content is attributed to motor vehicle transport and 10 and 20 %, respectively, provided by the other local- and regional-scale sources. The highest average concentrations of benzene and toluene are measured in the industrial regions of the European Russia (up to 0.3 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and toluene, respectively) and south Siberia (up to 0.2 and 0.4 ppb for benzene and toluene, respectively). Total contribution of benzene and toluene to photochemical ozone production along the Trans-Siberian Railway is about 16 % compared to the most abundant organic VOC – isoprene. This contribution, however, is found to be substantially higher (up to 60–70 %) in urbanized areas along the railway, suggesting an important role of anthropogenic pollutant sources in regional ozone photochemistry and air quality.

Calypogeia azurea (Calypogeiaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the Northwestern European Russia

Calypogeia azurea is reported for the first time in the Leningrad Region and for the second time for the Republic of Karelia. Description of C. azurea based on alive collections from the Leningrad Region and the Republic of Karelia, and their photographs are provided. The variability of the species in studied specimens is rather broad and corresponds to the plants from Great Britain and Nordic countries. C. azurea is known in Russia from alive collections from the Northwestern European Russia, Caucasus, South Urals, South Siberia and South Kuril Islands. Ecology and differentiation of C. azurea are discussed. The revision of all kept in LE specimens from Russia, Latvia, Finland and Georgia identified as C. trichomanis, nom. rej., has shown that most of them cannot be attributed to C. azurea or C. muelleriana, which usually correspond to this rejected name. Except two specimens from Finland and one from Georgia tentatively attributed to Calypogeia cf. azurea, they represent mostly materials of C. integristipula, partly of C. neesiana and exceptionally of C. suecica and C. fissa. LE older collections of C. trichomanis from Caucasus are C. fissa, from Arctic Siberia and Arctic Far East are C. muelleriana.

Niche dynamics of Palaeolithic modern humans during the settlement of the Palaearctic

AbstractAimDuring the Late Pleistocene (c. 126–10 ka), modern humans (Homo sapiens) expanded their geographical range across Eurasia and eventually colonized the Americas. Although the routes by which they migrated have been intensively analysed, the dynamics of their realized climatic niche are still largely unknown. We assess temporal changes in the climatic niche of modern humans, the geographical distribution of their climatic niche and whether niche dynamics correlate with the magnitude of climate change and cultural advances, between 46 and 11 ka.LocationPalaearctic.MethodsUsing the radiocarbon dated archaeological record and spatial palaeoclimatic simulations, we quantify different parameters of the realized climatic niche of modern humans (niche overlap, niche breadth and climatic marginality) between consecutive 1000–2000 year intervals. Moreover, using climate envelope models, we map the potential distributions of modern humans for each time interval and identify the regions that remained more climatically suitable and stable for modern humans through time.ResultsBetween 46 and 22 ka the climatic niche of modern humans expanded, including periods of intense growth in niche breadth at 40 and 30 ka. Changes in seasonal water availability and technological innovations partly correlate with dynamics in niche parameters. We document a persistent climatically suitable mid‐latitude belt in south Siberia linking western Europe to the Far East that may have facilitated human migration, and a potential climatic refugium in Beringia.Main conclusionsThe climatic niche of modern humans changed across the Late Pleistocene, as the result of both climatic and cultural changes. These populations of hunter‐gatherers occupied novel climatic conditions but also remained in previously occupied areas under changing climates during the settlement of the Palaearctic. Our approach can provide clues as to where early modern humans may have overlapped in geographical and environmental space with Neanderthals or Denisovans, as evidenced by their contribution to the genetic heritage of some current populations.

The impact of increasing fire frequency on forest transformations in southern Siberia

Wildfires are one of the main disturbances that impact structure, sustainability, and carbon budget of Siberian forests, as well as infrastructure and human safety. The Zabaikal region in the south of Siberia is characterized by one of the highest levels of fire activity in Russia. We have estimated fire disturbances in the Zabaikal region using both a satellite fire dataset and official fire statistics. Both datasets show a trend of increasing fire activity in the region. According to the satellite fire dataset, from 1996 to 2015 total annual area burned in the Zabaikal region varied from 0.12 to 6.33Mha with forest area burned accounting for 0.04–5.60Mha. The highest fire activity was observed in the central and southern parts of the Zabaikal region. About 13% (3.88Mha) of the total forest area in the Zabaikal region was burned more than once during the 20-yr period of observation, with many sites burned multiple times. Fire disturbance was highest in forests dominated by Scots pine. We have evaluated fire impact on fuel loads, carbon emissions, and tree regeneration on about 150 sites in the light-coniferous (larch or Scots pine dominated) forests of the region. Carbon emissions from fires on repeatedly burned areas were 3–50% of those from previously undisturbed sites. Regeneration density depended on site conditions and fire characteristics. Inadequate regeneration for forest recovery was observed in Scots pine stands on dry nutrient-poor soils as well as on repeatedly-disturbed sites. This regeneration failure is leading to transformation of forests to steppe ecosystems on some sites. We conclude that negative impacts of fire disturbance on forests of the Zabaikal region could be decreased through implementation of fire prevention measures with emphasis on education of local communities as well as construction and maintenance of a fuel break system, first of all, nearby settlements and tree plantations.