Southern Part Of European Russia Research Articles

Study of the circulation and properties of the West Nile virus in Russia in 2022

Introduction. The relevance of the study is due to the need to assess the real expansion of West Nile fever (WNF) in Russia, analyze the manifestations of epizootic and epidemic processes and study the population structure of West Nile virus (WNV).
 Aim. To obtain objective data on the intensity of WNV circulation in certain territories of Russia and study the properties of the isolated strains of the pathogen.
 Materials and methods. 4564 samples of field material from 23 subjects of the Russian Federation and 1547 samples of clinical material from 12 subjects of the Russian Federation were examined. A set of laboratory diagnostic methods was used: ELISA, RT-PCR, virological, sequencing.
 Results. In 20 out of 1331 (1.5%) examined febrile patients, IgM antibodies to WNV were detected, including positive cases identified for the first time in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, Tver and Vladimir regions. The presence of immunity to WNV was found on average in 8.6% of 11 federal subjects' population with high seroprevalence rates in Zaporozhye (24,5%), Tula (15,4%) and Kursk (11,1%) regions. Low-avidity IgG antibodies were detected in 44 (33,1%) samples from a population of 9 federal subjects. Intensive circulation of WNV lineage 2 in the epizootic cycle in the southern part of European Russia was confirmed. 12 WNV isolates were obtained, including those isolated for the first time in the Republic of Crimea, the Karachay-Cherkess Republic and the Stavropol Territory. The heterogeneity of circulating WNF causative agent's strains related to the two clades of the WNV lineage 2 formed in 2021 and 2022 was established.
 Conclusion. In the course of comprehensive monitoring studies, a new northern border of the WNF range was established, which as of 2022 passes through the territory of the Tver region. Data from seroepidemiological studies, including the detection of low-avidity IgG antibodies, confirm fairly intense, but undiagnosed contact of the population of the European part of Russia with the WNF pathogen. In the southern region of the European part of Russia, WNV genotype 2 predominantly circulates, belonging to at least two clades formed in 2021 and 2022.

Chondrichthyan fishes from the Middle Eocene Osinovaya Formation of Rostov Region, Russia

ABSTRACT A new chondrichthyan assemblage comprising 27 genera is described from the Middle Eocene Osinovaya Formation of the Bystraya River Basin, Morozovsk District of Rostov Region, in the southern part of European Russia. The Morozovsk assemblage consists of 21 genera and 24 species of shark, 5 genera and species of batoid and a single genus and species of chimaeroid fish (Edaphodon sp.). A composition of the assemblage is characterised by the coexistence of Otodus sokolovi, O. auriculatus, Isurolamna bajarunasi, Macrorhizodus praecursor, Jaekelotodus trigonalis and Brachycarcharias lerichei and indicates the Lutetian age of the deposits (possibly middle – upper Lutetian because of the presence of O. sokolovi together with O. auriculatus). This corresponds to the previous dating of the Osinovaya Formation. Lamniformes (12 taxa) and Myliobatiformes (5 taxa) are dominated in assemblage between elasmobranchs, characterising the inner to middle neritic warm-water environments. The Morozovsk elasmobranch assemblage belongs to the European paleobiogeographic region and shows a great similarity with the previously known coeval assemblages from the Western Europe, as well as with Uzbek assemblages from the adjacent Crimean-Caucasian paleobiogeographic region. Scarce data on chimaeroid fishes show that only the genus Edaphodon is rarely present in shallow-water environments and only in the European paleobiogeographic region.

Lime tree honey resources in Eurasia

The genus Tilia, commonly known as linden, basswood (North America) or lime tree (Eurasia), was investigated as a resource for honey. This article describes the results of melissopalynological analysis of the role of lime tree (Tilia spp.) in honey from Eurasia. From a review of published palynological characteristics and using independently discovered data from lime tree honey in Europe and Asia, five resource zones were identified where lime tree honey is produced. The lowest levels of Tilia pollen grains (0–44%) are typical for samples of lime honey from western and southern Europe (henceforth resource zone 1, RZ 1). In central European countries (RZ 2), honey with similar characteristics was reported (10–41% of Tilia pollen). The content of Tilia pollen grains in monofloral linden honeys from RZ 3, which includes the territory of south-eastern Europe, the south of central and eastern Europe, and the southern part of European Russia, was higher than in the previous zones (25–88%). Even higher rates (30–99%) were typical for linden honey samples extracted from the north of eastern Europe and European Russia (RZ 4). The regions in the Russian Far East (Primorye Krai) and the northeast China have been allocated to RZ 5. Here, we noted lime honey samples had the highest proportion of Tilia pollen (50–99%). An analysis of the features of the pollen spectra of all Eurasian linden honeys allowed the zones to be combined and be identified into two major groups: southern and northern.

Loess Accumulation in the Southern Part of European Russia at the End of the Quaternary Period

Loess Accumulation in the Southern Part of European Russia at the End of the Quaternary Period

Variability in Growth Patterns and Tree-Ring Formation of East European Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Provenances to Changing Climatic Conditions in Lithuania

An increase in the mean monthly temperature in July and a lack of precipitation during the vegetation period will cause an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts during the vegetation period in Lithuania. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the growth response to climate change of East European pine provenances in Lithuania. The research was performed based on a long-term pine provenance experiment that was established in 1975 in Lithuania. The results showed that central populations demonstrated the same or better survival and growth results compared with western populations that also included local Lithuanian provenances. Even though southern populations were characterized by the same productivity, their low survival rate suggests a negative introduction effect. Analysis of temporal variation in climate sensitivity showed a higher resistance of central and southern Scots pine provenances to the negative climatic changes, compared to the western provenances. Provenances from the central, southern and especially western locations demonstrated an increasing statistically significant negative effect of monthly temperatures in July. Additionally, provenances from western locations were more sensitive to precipitation amounts, water balance and droughts in June and July. Considering that central and southern provenances demonstrated the consistent effect of growth tolerance, the incorporation of the genetic material from the southern part of European Russia and Ukraine into local breeding programs of Scots pine might amplify positive effects of the transfer. Moreover, knowledge gaps remain regarding the growth performance of Scots pine provenances that originated from central or western European regions. Thus, Scots pine origins from Poland and the northeastern part of Germany should be included in Lithuanian provenance experiments.

Влияние климата на риски развития аграрной отрасли (на примере аридного региона)

Despite modernization, digitalization, and informatization of human activity, economic systems continue to depend on natural factors. First of all, this applies to the agricultural sector, which depends on the dynamics of temperature, amount of precipitation, which affect the cultivation of crops, state of pastures, which is important for the development of animal husbandry. The purpose of this article is to analyze the situation in the Republic of Kalmykia in 2020 caused by natural and climatic disasters. For this purpose, the author used such methods as the analysis of documents, materials of the national and federal media, observation, interviewing during a scientific expedition to the regions of the republic. This approach allowed us to hear the opinions of rural residents whose livelihoods were affected by the unprecedented climatic drought and get a reliable picture of the consequences of the natural anomaly. The Republic of Kalmykia is the driest in the southern part of European Russia. Rural areas of the republic are regularly affected by drought, one successful year alternates with two or three unfavorable ones. The analyzed year of 2020 was the driest, which brought huge losses to the agricultural sector of the republic. About 54 agricultural organizations and 1,416 peasant farms were affected, the productivity of pastures in the republic fell by two or three times due to the drought, and even more in the most affected areas. Agricultural producers suffer huge losses, which will further affect the development of the region’s agro-industrial complex. The article analyzes how internal (agricultural enterprises, farms, authorities, the Ministry of Agriculture) and external resources (federal authorities) interacted in overcoming the emergencies. The lack of scientific analysis of the relationship between natural, climatic and economic factors hinders not only the adoption of the necessary measures to support the region, but also the prevention of negative consequences of various natural anomalies, and the timely and adequate response to them.

Vegetation Dynamics with Elevation in Southern European Russia

In this research work vegetation dynamics was examined for spring-summer (may–august) season based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroadiometer (MODIS) satellite data generated Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) with elevation from 2014 to 2018 in Southern part of European Russia. The resulting divergent groups with respect to decreasing, increasing or no trends presented significant differences in vegetation dynamics and correlation between elevation and NDVI values. Results indicate that in the year 2016, vegetation was highly degraded with low NDVI values from less than 0 to 0.20. In comparing of elevation maximum vegetation was present from 100 to 250 m elevation, below and above this range was very low vegetation. In high elevation from 100 to 250m, low NDVI values slightly shift in high NDVI values, which show healthy vegetation on high altitude. Field observation also conform high NDVI values to high elevation. The MODIS time series with 250m resolution is appropriate for vegetation dynamics study for a large, inaccessible area with low coast, within less time for long term changes in vegetation growth.

Aedes koreicus (Edwards, 1917) (Diptera, Culicidae) Recorded in Crimea

Mosquitoes Aedes koreicus are recorded in Crimea for the first time. Taking into account the favorable climatic conditions of Crimea, the biological features of A. koreicus, and also distribution of this species in the southern part of European Russia, formation and spread of a reproducing population of A. koreicus in Crimea appear quite probable. Mosquitoes of this species are vectors of diseases. It is necessary to study the population density, ecological features, and spatial distribution of this species in Crimea in order to optimize epidemiological surveillance and to determine the necessary sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measures.

Changes in the Rate of Soil Loss in River Basins within the Southern Part of European Russia

Four river basins located in the forest, forest-steppe, and steppe zones of European Russia were evaluated for two time intervals (1960–1985 and 1986–2015) based on the use of the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) and State Hydrological Institute (SHI) models. The obtained results attest to multidirectional tendencies in the mean annual rates of erosion rates in different landscape zones. The rates of soil erosion have decreased in the forest and eastern steppe zones and have slightly increased in the southern steppe zone. The reduction of surface snowmelt runoff is one of the main reasons for the decrease of soil erosion in the investigated river basins. An increase in the rates of soil erosion is related to the growth of rainfall erosivity factor (R-factor), has been partially offset by an increase in the soil-protective coefficient of crops (C-factor).

Leading modes of interannual soil moisture variability in European Russia and their relation to regional climate during the summer season

Soil moisture (SM) data from the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model dataset for 1980–2014 are used to investigate interannual variability of SM in European Russia during the summer season. An Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis performed on monthly-mean data (i.e., separately for June, July and August) revealed three leading modes of SM variability, characterized by monopole (EOF-1), zonal dipole (EOF-2) and meridional dipole (EOF-3) patterns. Together these modes explain more than half of the total SM variability in each summer month. Analysis of correlations between the leading PCs (principal components) of SM in European Russia and indices of regional teleconnections suggests that the monopole pattern is associated with the Polar—Eurasia teleconnection, whereas the zonal and meridional dipole patterns are linked respectively to the East Atlantic—West Russia and Scandinavian teleconnections. These links are subject to change over the summer season. The leading PCs broadly capture the large SM anomalies associated with regional climate extremes (such as the Russian summer heat wave in 2010). Correlation analysis revealed generally consistent patterns in which positive (negative) SM anomalies are linked to cyclonic (anti-cyclonic) anomalies of sea level pressure, above (below) normal precipitation and negative (positive) anomalies of air temperature. Locally we find differing roles of air temperature and precipitation in land-atmosphere interaction. Specifically, while precipitation is the dominant driver of interannual SM variability in early summer, air temperature plays a larger role in late-summer land-atmosphere interaction (at some time scales) over the southern part of European Russia, where moisture availability is limited.

Distribution of Mammals in the Southern Part of European Russia: Historical and Ecological Analysis Based on Materials from the General Land Survey

The historical changes in animal distribution in the European territory of Russia have always attracted the interest of specialists. Therefore, the data contained in the Economic Notes to the General Land Survey of the Russian Empire at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries is of great importance. This article presents the results of the analysis of data on the mammalian fauna of the southern provinces of European Russia sampled from the Economic Notes. The sample covers 15 governorates (guberniya), 102 uezds (a secondary level administrative division), and 1150 land holdings (dachas). There were 2395 references made to mammals, including 22 presumptive name references comprising 25 species, 11 families, and 5 orders. Based on the available data on historical changes in the ecological condition within this territory, a comparison with the current situation was made for those species that are the most significant and common in the study area.

Dynamics of intense rainfalls in the southern half of European Russia for the period 1960-2015

Two time periods (1960-1986 and 1986-2015) were compared in terms of mean annual frequency and mean annual sum of warm season rainfalls to quantify general trends in the changing regime of heavy precipitation over the southern part of European Russia, which is the area of the most intensive agricultural activity. The identified trends were compared with the published assessment of the intensity trends of soil erosion processes. The prevalence of the increasing tendency in the frequency and amount of precipitation is demonstrated, which undergoes against a decrease in the rate of eroded sediment accumulation and against a decrease of linear growth rate of gullies. This result rather proves the crucial contribution of the snowmelt to the soil erosion over the studied area.

Lichenicolous fungi new to Orenburg region, southern part of European Russia

Abstract Twenty two species of lichenicolous fungi are reported as new to Orenburg region. Of these, Didymocyrtis cladoniicola is new to European Russia; Lichenoconium lichenicola, Marchandiomyces corallinus, Merismatium decolorans, Phoma peltigerae and Roselliniella cladoniae are new to the southern part of European Russia.

Lichenicolous fungi from the Samara Region, southern part of European Russia

Twenty two species of lichenicolous and two occasionally lichen-inhabiting fungi are reported from the Samara Region. Twenty three of them are new to the region, eighteen – to southern part of European Russia; Intralichen lichenum is new to European Russia, and Phoma grumantiana and Pyrenidium crozalsii are reported for the first time for Russia.

Availability of water in the Russian federation under global climate warming

The main problems of the use of water resources in Russia against the backdrop of global climate warming are considered. An especially complex situation is developing in the southern part of European Russia and in western Siberia, which are experiencing a deficit of water resources. Possible trends in improving water availability in the regions are determined, as are ways of their implementation, taking into account recent achievements in science.

A revised checklist species of the Curculionoidea (Coleoptera, excluding Scolytinae) of Rostov Oblast and Kalmykia, the southern part of European Russia

This work provides a list of 703 species of weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea, excluding Scolytinae) recorded in two adjacent administrative regions in the southern part of European Russia: Rostov Oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia. The species diversity of the ten recorded families is as follows: Nemonychidae (1), Anthribidae (10), Rhynchitidae (12), Attelabidae (2), Apionidae (70), Nanophyidae (12), Brachyceridae (2), Dryophthoridae (4), Erirhinidae (13), Curculionidae (577, excluding Scolytinae). In total, 151 species are added to the faunal list of the southern European Russia.

The Beetle Question: The Growing Problem of Insect Infestations in South Russia in the Late Nineteenth Century

As is well known to historians of Russian agriculture, from the second half of the 1870s to the early 1880s the provinces of the southern part of European Russia suffered from a series of crop failures. These crop failures were the result of drought as well as insect infestation, the latter attributable in large measure to the ‘grain’ or ‘kuzka’ beetle, Anisoplia austriaca. This article examines the Regional Entomological Congresses organized in Odessa and Kharkov in the 1880s as a response to these outbreaks. Agronomists of the late nineteenth century such as Aleksandr Ismailskii and Mikhail Neruchev,1 as well as current historians of Russian agronomy (Varfolomei Savchuk and Olga Elina) have highlighted these Congresses as an important episode not only for the development of applied entomology, but also for the development of agricultural experimentation in South Russia.2 At the same time, while a few scholars such as Larisa Chesnova,

Natural complexes of shores of artificial reservoirs in territories of southern part of European Russia

The consideration of the zone of interaction of water basins and adjoining territories as water-terrestrial ecotone systems and the use of indicators of the hydrogenic dynamics of natural complexes has allowed us to identify the ecological-geographical peculiarities of their transformation in different zonal-landscape conditions and connect the direct and indirect influences of the water factors. The features of the structurally functional organization of the ecotone systems of coasts are established, the degree and character of transformation of components of the ecosystems in different blocks of ecotone are appreciated, and the development of dangerous processes is determined.

Stable isotopic composition of carbonate pedofeatures in soils along a transect in the southern part of European Russia

Abstract Stable isotopic analysis of carbonates is widely used for paleoreconstructions in various regions of the world. Only few and sparse information on stable isotopic composition of soil components are available for Russia. The aim of this research was to obtain for the first time systematic data on stable isotopic compositions of C and O in carbonate pedofeatures in modern soils of the European part of Russia. This territory is known as a classical example of natural bioclimatic zonation with an increasing of MAT from 4.5 to 9.4 °C and variation of MAP from 300 to ~ 600 mm. We also aimed to compare the isotopic values of hard carbonate nodules with soft carbonates. Key-sites were located in Lipetsk, Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, Manych and Stavropol regions in Russia; Samara key-site was studied in Ukraine. C and O isotopic compositions of soil carbonates vary depending upon geographical position, carbonate morphologies and age. The overall range of isotopic compositions varies by approximately 5–7‰, from − 12.6 to − 5.2‰ for С and − 10.8 to − 5.6 for O. The isotopic compositions of C and O in pedogenic carbonates indicate that carbonates were formed under various environments. The general trend of C isotopic compositions correlates with MAP and MAT i.e. show the climatology gradient similar to latitudinal gradient described for other regions. The most complicated isotopic pictures were described in Voronezh, Kursk, Stavropol and Samara key-sites, which may be explained by the recent or past climatic changes, ground or perched water, or shallow paleosols containing old carbonates. Isotopic composition of soft carbonates is usually slightly different from those of hard nodules, which may reflect the different mechanism/rate of formation for nodules and soft masses, and reveal several generations of carbonates. Carbonates with younger and older radiocarbon age were identified. Meanwhile, the carbonates with older radiocarbon age generally have similar stable isotopic compositions as the carbonates with younger 14C-age. Three bioclimatic types of environment were identified according to the stable isotopic compositions of carbonates: wetter and warmer (MAT 5.4–9 °C, MAP 550–600 mm), wetter and cooler (MAT 5.2–5.4 °C, MAP ~ 600 mm), and drier and warmer (MAT 8.5–9.4 °C, MAP 300–500 mm). This information may be used for the future paleoreconstructions in paleosols of the central-southern parts of European Russia.

Chemical composition, impact from biomass burning, and mass closure for PM2.5 and PM10 aerosols at Hyytiälä, Finland, in summer 2007

AbstractA comprehensive chemical aerosol characterisation was carried out at the forested site of Hyytiälä, Finland, from 2 to 30 August 2007. PM2.5 and PM10 Nuclepore polycarbonate and quartz fibre filter samples were taken in parallel, typically for separate day‐time and night‐time periods. All samples were analysed for the particulate mass by weighing. The Nuclepore filters were analysed for over 20 elements by particle‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry and for major anions and cations by ion chromatography. The quartz fibre filters were analysed for organic and elemental carbon by a thermal‐optical transmission technique. A number of samples exhibited high K, Zn, and oxalate levels, indicating an impact from biomass burning. A noteworthy episode occurred on 12‐13 August, when air masses were advected from the southern part of European Russia where extensive biomass burning had occurred. In the aerosol chemical mass closure calculations, eight aerosol types were considered. Organic matter (OM) contributed by far the most to the PM2.5 and PM10 mass; it accounted for about 70% of the average PM2.5 and PM10 mass and 48% of the coarse (PM10–2.5) aerosol. Crustal matter, deduced from the PIXE data, provided a rather small contribution; only 3% in PM2.5, 13% in PM10, and 32% in the coarse aerosol. The mean PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations and their attribution to the eight aerosol types for the 2007 campaign at Hyytiälä were similar to those for the cold period of a 2006 summer campaign at the forested site of K‐puszta, Hungary. OM was more important and nitrate was clearly less important at Hyytiälä, though. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.