Vegetation Season Research Articles

Productivity of corn as affected by the accumulation of heat units and different nitrogen fertilizers

Purpose. To establish the effectiveness of the application of different fertilizers in corn cultivation technologies in the Left Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine, depending on the weather conditions of the years of research.
 Methods. Field research was conducted in the years 2019–2021 in dark grey podzolized soil. The results of the study were calculated using the SAS 9.4 software package. Analysis of variance was performed using the Duncan rank criterion.
 Results. Calculations of the accumulation of heat units showed a significant difference by year, which largely determined the level of corn productivity. During vegetation, the sum of active temperatures in the conditions of the northern regions of the Left Bank Forest Steppe varied, on average for 2019–2021, from 3235 (May–September) to 3731 (April–November). The largest range of difference between the sums of heat units was for the period April–October, from 3550 in 2019 to 3845 in 2021, which indicates the potential for earlier corn sowing dates in this region under favorable weather conditions. Corn hybrids ‘EU Concord’ and 'EU Asteroid' are quite plastic and respond positively to optimization of nutrition. Application of N22Р57К57 in the form of diamophoska provides an increase in the yield of their grain by 0.99–1.01 t/ha, or 16.3–16.4%. Additional application of nitrogen fertilizers against the background of diammonium phosphate provides an increase in yield from 0.57 to 1.33 t/ha, or by 8.0–18.6%. With the introduction of potassium ammonium nitrate (KAN 32), the yield increase in ‘EU Concord’ was 2.19 t/ha and in ‘EU Asteroid’ 2.34 t/ha compared to the control.
 Conclusions. The sum of the accumulated heat units during vegetation more objectively characterizes the thermal resources of the area compared to the sums of positive, active and effective temperatures, which makes it possible to more accurately determine the optimal dates for sowing and the end of the crop vegetation season in the conditions of the research region. Applying nitrogen in several ways optimizes the nutrition of corn plants, ensuring an increase in individual productivity and grain yield up to 18.6%.

Relationship of the Seasonal Vegetation Indices against the NDVI and LST in the Region of Kamuku Game Reserve and Kwiambana National Park, Nigeria

While it is anticipated that there would be some similarities amongst spectral Vegetation Indices (VIs) because the majority of the indices use the red and NIR bands, it is also expected that there would be some variances. The NDVI, derived earlier by Rouse (1973), and is the commonly used VI, there have meagre understanding of the relationship between the NDVI and another VIs. Similarly, investigations on the correlation between LST and other VIs (other than NDVI) in both dry and raining seasons have not been adequately explored. This motivated the study to determine the seasonal correlation of some spectral VIs against the NDVI and LST over the forest reserve area. The study investigated two categories of VIs: slope-based and distance-based. It derived spectral VIs from Landsat 8 images for dry (January) and raining (August) seasons; and estimated LST from MODIS. The findings showed that the ARVI, GNDVI and TVI not only showed resemblance in appearance with the NDVI in both seasons, but also had a high coefficient of correlation: ARVI = 0.973, 0.964; GNDVI = 0.919, 0.879; TVI = 0.779, 0.716. Based on this finding, the ARVI, GNDVI and TVI can be used to supplant the NDVI for biomass related studies in the study area. The study further revealed that the LST-VIs relationship was negative for both dry and rainy seasons, except for the distance-based VIs (DVI, SAVI, MSAVI) that specifically had a positive correlation with the LST. The LST was strongly correlated with the GNDVI, TVI, NDVI, ARVI (0.664 ? r ? 0.598). However, the strength of the correlation for the LST-VIs in the raining season was very weak (0.003 ? r ? 0.245). The study concluded that the correlation of the LST versus the ARVI, GNDVI, NDVI, and TVI can be used for climate related studies.

CONTAMINATION OF SEEDS AND PLANTS OF WHEAT WITH PHYTOPATOGENES OF FUSARIUM GENUS, METHODS OF RECOVERY

Widespread production of grain crops and rejection of classical tillage technology have led to a noticeable increase of harmfulness of phytopathogens. First of all, this appertains to facultative parasites with a wide specialization - Bipolaris spp., Fusarium spp., as well as to secondary fungi from Alternaria spp., Cladosporium spp., Penicillium spp. genera and others. There is a simultaneous change of dominance in microbial community of seeds obtained in the Trans-Urals. Fungi of Fusarium spp. genus occupied the leading place among the most harmful pathogens, placing Bipolaris sorokiniana Sacc. Shoem. to the background. F. oxysporum (Schleht) Snyd, F. graminearum Schwabe, F. sporotrichoides Sherb are most spread on spring wheat, both in the tillering phase and at milk-wax stage of grain ripeness. The abundance and diversity of species was significantly higher in the tillering phase than when counted at the end of the vegetation season. To reduce the spread and development of any phytopathogen, it is necessary to apply a set of measures. One of the most effective measures is pre-sowing disinfection of seeds. However, the proposed preparations are not all equally effective in suppressing the development of the fungus of Fusarium spp. genus. During the experiment, it was found that seed treatment fungicides from the class of benzimidazoles - Zim (carbendazim), mixtures of active substances from the classes of triazoles with imidazole - HYIP (triticonazole + prochloraz), and also two triazoles - Oplot (difenoconazole + tebuconazole) were distinguished by high activity from 5.2 to 7.5 units. Application of a microbiological preparation (Bacillus subtilis), as well as its mixtures with a reduced application rate of a chemical disinfectant, showed the absence or low inhibition of fungus mycelium development.

A New Benzothiadiazole Derivative with Systemic Acquired Resistance Activity in the Protection of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo convar. giromontiina) against Viral and Fungal Pathogens

The ability of plant resistance inducers to provide protection against viral diseases is one of their main advantages over conventional pesticides. In the case of viral diseases that cannot be controlled directly with pesticides, insecticides are used to control the vectors of viruses. However, the effectiveness of such treatments is strictly dependent on the time of application. The plant response to the application of systemic acquired resistance (SAR) inducers, as a result of the stimulating action of these substances, does not depend on the time of application as it triggers the plant's natural defence mechanism. The best-recognised substance showing SAR inducer activity is acibenzolar-S-methyl ester (ASM, BTH). As its activity against different plant pathogens of crops has been well documented, the current research is concentrated on the search for novel substances of the type. The tested substance, N-methoxy-N-methylbenzo(1,2,3)thiadiazole-7-carboxamide (BTHWA), is an amide derivative of benzothiadiazole, showing plant resistance-inducing activity. This article presents the activity of BTHWA that has led to increased resistance of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo convar. giromontiina) towards viral infections. In addition, since the occurrence of the fungal pathogen, powdery mildew, was also observed during the two-year field experiments, the activity of BTHWA related to the reduction of infection with this fungus was also investigated. The substance was applied in two different variants either four or eight times, over the whole vegetation season. Surprisingly, the variant of four applications performed at the beginning of the vegetation season proved more effective in protection against viruses and fungus. A possible explanation may be the occurrence of the growth-immunity trade-off phenomenon that is known in the literature. Disturbance in plant metabolism resulting from eight applications may lead to lower yields of plants treated with SAR inducers. Perhaps such overstimulation of the plants we treated eight times may not have brought the optimum increase in plant resistance.

Diaspore dispersal season influences root growth and seed traits, but not germination responses, of sympatric Piper species in a seasonal forest.

Seeds may differ in terms of dormancy, longevity, sensitivity to desiccation and dry mass, according to the timing (dry season/rainy season) of diaspore dispersal. In addition, seasonal variations in temperature and water availability can act as signals of the season during seed development, influencing germination responses and root growth. We evaluated the effects of temperature variations and water availability on germination parameters, root growth and seed traits of four coexisting Piper species in seasonal vegetation that differed in diaspore dispersal timing. Eight temperature treatments (15, 20, 23, 25, 28, 30, 35 °C, and alternate 30 °C-20 °C) and four induced water potentials (0, -0.3, -0.6 and -1.2 MPa) were used. The parameters germination onset, germination percentage (G%), mean germination time (MGT), root elongation, seed longevity during ex situ storage and dry mass of seeds were evaluated. Germination responses observed were independent of the diaspore dispersal timing, such as variations in germination onset, G% and MGT, both in temperature and water availability treatments. In contrast, root elongation, longevity and dry mass of seeds varied according to the time of diaspore dispersal. Our results corroborate the hypothesis that the timing of diaspore dispersal is an important factor in controlling the initial development of seedlings in seasonal vegetation, but not in germination responses. The predominance of negative effects of temperature increases and water deficit on root growth shows that the initial stages of plant development can be strongly impacted by these environmental factors.

Patterns of seasonal population dynamics of soil macrofauna in meadow phytocenoses in the volga-kama reserve

The aim of our study was to reveal patterns of soil macrofauna abundance variation during vegetation season. The studies were carried out in Russia, Volga-Kama reserve. The latter is divided into two part – Raifa (55.900330, 48.723119) and Saraly (55.308186, 49.239262). We sampled macrofauna their in 4 biotopes. Additionally buffer zone was investigated: 2 biotopes under anthropogenic impact. In each biotope, the spring and autumn abundance was estimated for three years. In the Saralinskii section of the reserve, in most cases, it differed insignificantly. In the Raifa section earthworms abundance declined toward autumn slightly. In buffer zone, there was a tendency to decrease in abundance by autumn, which, apparently, is associated with anthropogenic influence.

Farming system effects on root rot pathogen complex and yield of faba bean (vicia faba) in Germany.

A survey across Germany was undertaken from 2016-2019 to evaluate effects of management system (organic vs conventional), pedo-climatic conditions and crop rotation history on faba bean root health status, diversity of major root rot pathogens and yield. Root rot incidence was generally low and there was no effect of the management system on the spectrum of pathogens isolated. Among the most common fungal species identified, frequencies of Fusarium redolens and Didymella pinodella were significantly higher in roots from organic fields compared with conventional and lower was observed for F. avenaceum, F. tricinctum and F. culmorum. Faba bean roots were colonized at similar rates by F. equiseti and the members of the F. oxysporum (FOSC) and F. solani (FSSC) species complexes in both management systems. Almost no legumes had been grown in the 5-11 years preceding the conventional faba beans surveyed while legumes had almost always been present during this period in the organic fields. This difference in rotational histories between the farming systems led to apparent cropping systems effects on the isolation frequencies of several species. For example, D. pinodella was ubiquitous in organic fields with a high frequency of legumes in the rotations but much rarer and often absent in conventional fields. Pedo-climatic conditions, particularly cool conditions at sowing and plant emergence and/or during the vegetative season favored most of the most prevalent Fusarium species identified in this study. In organic systems, yields correlated negatively with D. pinodella and F. redolens frequencies whereas higher levels of F. tricintum in faba bean roots had a positive correlation with yield. In conventional systems, faba bean yields depended more on the total precipitation before sowing and during the main growing season but were also negatively correlated with the frequencies of FOSC and F. culmorum. Phylogenetic analysis based on the TEF1 alpha locus indicated that the FSSC isolates mainly belonged to the F. pisi lineage. In contrast, the FOSC isolates were placed in 9 different lineages, with a conspicuous dominance of F. libertatis that has until now not been associated with any leguminous host.

Effect of Nitrogen Fertilization of Apple Orchard on Soil Mineral Nitrogen Content, Yielding of the Apple Trees and Nutritional Status of Leaves and Fruits

Contemporary trends in horticulture are aimed at limiting the use of mineral fertilizers to the necessary minimum, which is to guarantee adequate profitability of production while maintaining high-quality fruit and at the same time preventing environmental pollution. Thus, in the presented study, we investigate the effect of diversified nitrogen fertilization on soil mineral nitrogen content during vegetation season, yielding of apple trees and the nutritional status of apple leaves and fruits. We compared several ammonium nitrate treatments as well as growth without fertilization as a control. The results of our study show that under the conditions of humus-rich soils and with appropriate agrotechnics, N mineralization from the organic matter available in the soil may completely cover demand of apple trees for this component. Achieved outcomes clearly revealed that nitrogen fertilization in the amount of 100 kg N · ha−1 on the entire soil surface carries a real risk of groundwater contamination, and the same nitrogen dose applied within the grassland does not bring any production effects, therefore it should be considered as unjustified. Obtained results revealed that in a rationally managed, fully fruiting apple orchard, the annual dose of N should not exceed 50 kg N∙ha−1. This dosage of N should fully secure the nutritional needs of apple trees, guaranteeing their high yield and complete safety for the environment. What is important is, nitrogen fertilization strongly affects macroelemental composition of apple leaves and fruits.

Evaluation of Tick Abundance and Pyrethroid Resistance Via Determination of Glutathione-S-Transferases Activity.

Controlling the number of ticks as carriers of infectious diseases is very important. The process is sometimes compromised by activating the protective mechanisms of the tick itself. Glutathione-S-transferases activity (GSTs) was the subject of our investigation of tick abundance after pyrethroid treatment. We determined GSTs activity in ticks collected from six locations in Belgrade before and after pyrethroid treatment and correlated it with the number of ticks in the locations. The results showed that tick abundance correlated with GSTs activity. On the other hand, treatment efficiency was location-dependent, being similar in each particular location in both April (spring) and October (autumn). Our results suggest that GSTs activity reflects the influence of both present local allelochemicals from different environmental seasonal vegetation and applied pyrethroid. We can conclude that by evaluating GSTs activity in ticks from particular locations as well as during the treatment with acaricides tick removal practice could be improved.

The Biomass Productivity of Maize, Hemp and Faba Bean Multi-Crops

Crop biomass is valuable not only from a nutritional and fodder point of view, but also from an energetic point of view. The main task is to increase biomass production while maintaining low nutrient and pesticide requirements and low ecological footprint. A stationary three-year field experiment was performed at the Experimental Station of Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, in 2020–2022. Single crops and mixtures of maize, hemp, and faba bean were investigated in terms of their biomass productivity. Results showed that as the crop diversification increases, the productivity of maize and hemp grown in the mixture decreases, while faba bean ensures high dried biomass productivity. During the three years of the experimentation, the highest total dried biomass was found in the ternary crop: on average, 1495.4 g m−2 per year. The highest dried biomass of the ternary crop was established in the first year of experimentation: 2081.1 g m−2. A decrease in biomass yields in the second and third years of the experiment was observed in all treatment plots. The results suggest that the low fertilization level (totally N 45, P 45, K 45 kg ha−1) in the experiment should be increased if multi-crop cultivations are to be regrown during vegetative seasons.

Temporal and Spatial Variation of Land Use and Vegetation in the Three–North Shelter Forest Program Area from 2000 to 2020

The Three–North Shelter Forest Program Area (TNSFPA), covering the three subregions of Northwest, North and Northeast China, is an important green ecological barrier in northern China. Research on spatiotemporal variation of land use and vegetation in this area can help us understand the evolution of vegetation recovery. Based on MODIS image data, we built a dataset including land use/cover, annual and seasonal vegetation coverage and vegetation productivity in the TNSFPA from 2000 to 2020, then analyzed their spatiotemporal dynamics’ characteristics and further explored the driving factors. The results demonstrate that 90.05% of land area in the TNSFPA remained unchanged from 2001 to 2020. The area of barren decreased, whereas the area of all other land use types increased. From 2000 to 2020, the vegetation coverage generally presented a spatial pattern of high in the east and low in the west, and the interannual fluctuation of high coverage area was small. More than 90% of the TNSFPA had an increasing vegetation coverage (0.41%·a−1), with the change rates of 0.51%·a−1, 0.54%·a−1 and 0.37%·a−1 in Northeast, North and Northwest China, respectively. The spatial distribution of vegetation productivity was generally consistent with the vegetation coverage, and the interannual fluctuation in areas with low productivity was small. The area with an increasing vegetation productivity (3.41 gC·m−2·a−1) occupied 51.66% of the TNSFPA, mainly in the basic stable state and significantly increased state. The change rates in Northeast, North and Northwest China were 7.34 gC·m−2·a−1, 6.72 gC·m−2·a−1 and 2.10 gC·m−2·a−1, respectively. The vegetation coverage and productivity were positively correlated with climate factors, and the correlation with precipitation is significantly higher than that with temperature. The ecological protection and restoration activities in the TNSFPA have accelerated the recovery of the vegetation ecosystem. Meanwhile, the rapid growth of population has led to the acceleration of urbanization. The intensification of the interaction between humans and land has led to the reclamation and development of barren, which has a great impact on the small–scale vegetation ecosystem.

Temporal and Spatial Variation in Vegetation Coverage and Its Response to Climatic Change in Marshes of Sanjiang Plain, China

Sanjiang Plain is the most extensive marsh distribution region in China. Marshes in this region can protect biodiversity, regulate climate, and provide habitats for wild animals and plants. The normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) is a crucial indicator of vegetation coverage, which may reflect ecosystem structure and functional features. Clarifying the spatiotemporal change of marsh coverage and its climatic drivers is vital for observing and predicting vegetation change in Sanjiang Plain. Using meteorological dataand MODIS NDVI data from 2000 to 2020, we analyzed the spatiotemporal variation in marsh vegetation coverage and climatic change effects in Sanjiang Plain. We found that the growing season vegetation NDVI of marsh increased significantly at a rate of 0.011/decade, indicating that the marsh vegetation growth has obviously improved during the past 21 years. Furthermore, we found that the increase of minimum (Tmin) and maximum (Tmax) temperature in July can significantly promote the marsh plant growth, and increasing nighttime Tmin has a stronger impact on promoting the growth than increasing daytime Tmax in this month. In addition, the increase of daytime Tmax in August can promote the marsh vegetation growth, whereas the increasing precipitation in August was unfavorable for the growth in Sanjiang Plain.

The Influence of Lactic Acid Fermentation on Selected Properties of Pickled Red, Yellow, and Green Bell Peppers

Red, yellow, and green peppers are vegetables rich in natural pigments. However, they belong to seasonal vegetables and need to be treated to prolong their shelf life. One new approach to processing vegetables is to pickle them using lactic acid bacteria. The use of such a process creates a new product with high health value, thanks to the active ingredients and lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of the applied strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on the chemical properties, including the content of active compounds (pigments) and the physical properties of the peppers. Levilactobacillus brevis, Limosilactobacillus fermentum, and Lactoplantibacillus plantarum were used for fermentation and spontaneous fermentation. The pigments, polyphenols content, and antioxidant properties were determined in the pickled peppers, as well as sugar content, color, dry matter, texture properties, and the count of lactic acid bacteria. In all samples, similar growth of LAB was observed. Significant degradation of chlorophylls into pheophytins was observed after the fermentation process. No significant differences were observed in the parameters tested, depending on the addition of dedicated LAB strains. After the fermentation process, the vitamin C and total polyphenols content is what influenced the antioxidant activity of the samples. It can be stated that the fermentation process changed the red bell pepper samples in the smallest way and the green ones in the highest way.

Spatiotemporal patterns of different forms of nitrogen in a coastal mangrove wetland invaded by Spartina alterniflora

The invasion by smooth cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) has a serious impact on ecosystem function and the ecological environment in the coastal region of subtropical China. However, little is known about the fluctuation of different forms of nitrogen in mangrove wetlands invaded by cordgrass. In this study, we compared the spatial and temporal distribution of different forms of nitrogen with or without invasion by S. alterniflora in a coastal wetland in the Jiulong River estuary, Fujian province, China. The results revealed that the variation of nitrogen concentration in the wetland was closely related to the main intertidal vegetation type, season and sampling location. Organic nitrogen accounted for the majority of the deposited nitrogen and exhibited the highest values in the mangrove zone. The content of ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen was higher in cordgrass zone and lower in the mangrove, reaching a maximum in summer. Total nitrogen concentration was significantly influenced by the tidal water level which was highest in high tide zone and lowest at low tide. Invasion of S. alterniflora significantly altered nitrogen stocks in the sediment, including the contents of total nitrogen, total organic nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen.

Hygienic assessment of the population risk after consumption of agricultural products grown with the application of triazole class-based fungicides

The problem of pesticide poisoning is particularly acute among countries whose primary source of income is agriculture (India, China, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina etc.). About 3 million cases of intentional and unintentional pesticide poisoning are reported in the world annually, resulting in the death of more than 250000 people. In Ukraine, by 2020, more than 250 pesticide preparations containing active substances of the triazole class. Aim of the work. Hygienic assessment of the population risk after consumption of agricultural products grown with the application of triazole class-based fungicides. Materials and methods. We analyzed the resistance parameters of triazole fungicides (difenoconazole, prothioconazole, cyproconazole, and metconazole) and strobilurin (azoxystrobin) in various crops. To determine the content of active substances in crops, we used modern methods of high-performance liquid and gas chromatography. For the integral assessment of the hazard indicators was used, the indicators of the allowable daily intake, the half-life periods in plants and the average daily consumption of the product were evaluated. Research results. The risk assessment for the population, calculated according to the methodology showed that the risk values of triazoles were 0.0002-0.2239, strobilurins – 0.0002-0.0016, which does not exceed the acceptable (less than 1). Calculations carried out according to the method show that all studied compounds of triazoles class belong to the moderately hazardous when consuming treated products of rapeseed, soybean, sunflower, sugar beet and hazardous when consuming cereals; strobilurin - low hazard when consumed the most of the studied cultures. Differences in hazard classes are primarily due to differences in the behaviour of pesticides in different crops and the length of the vegetative season.

Prominent vegetation greening in spring and autumn across China during the 1981–2018 period

Vegetation greening in China has been extensively examined, but little is known about its seasonal characteristics and its association with soil moisture (SM) and temperature changes. Using high-resolution (0.1°, 8 d) datasets of leaf area index (LAI), together with SM, soil temperature (ST) datasets, and the dominance analysis method, this study is designed to detect seasonal vegetation changes across China during 1981–2018 and its links to climate change. The results show that 56.8% of land area across China experienced a greening trend while 6.6% browning trend through 1981–2018. LAI increasing area expanded to a maximum of 59.3% in spring and the decreasing area reached a maximum of 10.6% in autumn. Spring increases in LAI in main vegetation regions were significantly correlated with positive ST anomalies, while autumn decreases in LAI except sparsely vegetated regions were correlated with negative SM anomalies. Combined SM and temperature anomalies explain 10.9% of the observed LAI changes, which is 4 times larger than that directly explained by precipitation and surface air temperature (2.7%). The warming of soil under climate change was driving the LAI increases, while drying was largely responsible for LAI decreases. These findings provide further evidence of climate change impacts on regional ecosystems and highlight the importance of soil heat and water conditions in translating global warming signals.

Seasonal land use/land cover change and the drivers in Kafta Sheraro national park, Tigray, Ethiopia

Kafta Sheraro National Park (KSNP) has experienced rapid and consecutive destruction of dry woodland vegetation due to the influence of anthropogenic activities in the past three decades. However, to date, the change in woodland cover and its driving factors have not been addressed. This study aims to assess the spatial and temporal trends of land use/land cover change, seasonal vegetation cover change via the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and human-induced drivers of change that occurred in the KSNP between 1988 and 2018 by using satellite imagery sensors (TM, ETM+, OLI), field observations, and local community interview data. The 2018 image results showed kappa coefficients of the dry season and wet season of 0.90 and 0.845, respectively. There was a continuous decline in woodland (29.38%) and riparian vegetation (47.11%) and an increasing trend in shrub bush land (35.28%), grassland (43.47%), bare land (27.52%), and cultivated land (118.36 km2) over the thirty-year period. Moreover, the results showed that bare land expanded from wet to drier months, while cultivated land and grazing land increased from dry to wet months. Based on the NDVI results, high to moderate vegetation was decreased by 21.47%, while sparse and non-vegetation expanded by 19.8% and 1.7%, respectively. Settlement and agricultural expansion, human-induced fire, firewood collection, gold mining, and charcoal production were the major proximate drivers that negatively affected park resources. Around KSNP, the local communities’ livelihood depends on farming (crop and livestock production). This expansion of farming is the main driver of woodland depletion, which leads to increased resource competition and a challenge for the survival of wildlife. Therefore, urgent sustainable conservation of park biodiversity by encouraging community participation in conservation practices and preparing awareness creation programs should be mandatory.

Responses of autumn vegetation phenology to climate change and urbanization at northern middle and high latitudes

• Urbanization influences the vegetation EOS depending on the temperature context. • Urbanization induced advanced vegetation EOS by increasing nighttime temperature. • Strengthened urbanization weakens the effects of temperature on vegetation dormancy. Shifts in vegetation phenology caused by climate change and human activities play a crucial role in regulating global terrestrial ecosystems' nutrients and carbon cycling. However, the mechanism underlying autumn vegetation’s phenological reaction to urbanization remains unexplained. Using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and a nighttime light remote sensing dataset, we examined the dynamics of the end of the growing season (EOS) and responses to climate change and urbanization from 1992 to 2015 across the northern middle and high latitudes (north of 30° N). EOS exhibited an advanced trend with a pace of −0.22 days/yr across the study area. The spatial proportion of advanced EOS was 62.66%, which was more pronounced north of 60° N. In most regions, increased precipitation delayed EOS, whereas daytime temperature (Tmax) and nighttime temperature (Tmin) exhibited the opposite impacts on EOS, which was related to water availability in the study area. In general, we found that higher urbanization could induce earlier EOS in warm regions (south of 46° N) and delay EOS in cold regions (north of 46° N). Urbanization could cause an increase in Tmin and Tmax, and EOS exhibited a significant negative sensitivity to Tmin across the urbanization levels, which decreased from −0.175 days/°C to −0.112 days/°C. Our results indicated that urbanization could advance the EOS by increasing Tmin, however, such a negative effect may be weakened with the development of urbanization. Our findings demonstrated the complicated influence mechanisms of autumn vegetation phenology induced by climate change and urbanization, which provides a unique perspective for exploring the contribution of growing season vegetation to the carbon sink and global carbon balance.

Bi- and three-dimensional fractal analysis of the brown seaweed Gongolaria montagnei and their relationship with gastropod molluscs assemblage

Habitat complexity is one of the main influences on biodiversity in marine environments, particularly in coastal areas where foundation seaweeds provide substrate for highly diverse communities. We studied the 2D and 3D fractal dimensions of Gongolaria montagnei (Fucales) over the vegetative season and examine their relationship with the abundance, species richness and morpho-functional groups of the gastropod associated. Overall, the 3D fractal analysis method used here better describes seaweeds structural complexity compared to the traditional 2D fractal analysis, as highlighted by the higher relationship with gastropod assemblage associated to the alga in terms of abundance, number of species and morpho-functional groups. We propose this new method as a valuable tool for understanding the relationship between seaweeds and associated fauna, which is critical for gaining a better understanding of the role that algal species play in a specific habitat and the consequences of their loss.

Occurrence of Nosemosis in honey bee, Apis mellifera L. at the apiaries of East Kazakhstan.

Nosemosis is the most common disease in honey bee Apis mellifera L., and is a major issue related to bee health worldwide. Therefore, the purpose of this research study was to determine prevalence of microsporidia parasitic infection of the genus Nosema spp. in East Kazakhstan Region (EKR). In the years of 2018 -2021, 394 honey bee samples were collected at 30 apiaries located in four districts of East Kazakhstan Region (Katon-Karagay, Urzhar, Borodulikhinsky, and Shemonaikhinsky). In order to determine the level of infestation, firstly, the presence of Nosema spp. spores was detected using optical microscopy, and then the average amount of spores per bee was counted using a hemocytometer. The degree of nosemosis prevalence was determined in points by means of a semi-quantitative method, and as a percentage from the total of samples and of the amount of positive tests. At the outcome of the study, microsporidia of the genus Nosema spp. were detected in 23.3% of cases (92 samples). Prevalence at its low degree was found in six samples (1.5%), at an average degree in 55 samples (14%), and at a high one in 31 samples (7.9%). This research study proved that microsporidia of the genus Nosema spp. are widely spread at the apiaries of East Kazakhstan Region in different orographic and climatic conditions. Notwithstanding that it was impossible to statistically determine any significant differences between the dependence of nosemosis prevalence and the apiary location, this indicator is actually higher in the mountainous regions than in the steppe. Concurrently, a close inverse correlation was recognized between the amount of spores in one bee and the level of infestation in bee families from the duration of the vegetation season at the apiary location. This gives grounds to assert that the environmental factors have an impact on formation and development of nosemosis. The results of the research presented in the article indicate the need for further research aimed at increasing the number of studied apiaries, and above all the use of molecular biology methods to distinguish the species that cause nosemosis infection (PCR).