Vychegda River Basin Research Articles

Old Permic Universal Dependencies Treebank

Old Permic, also known as Old Komi, is an extinct variety of Komi that was spoken in the late Middle Ages in the lower Vychegda river basin in Northeastern European Russia, in an area that currently is not Komi-speaking. This language variety is attested in fragmentary records from the 14th to 17th century written both in the Old Permic alphabet and in Cyrillic. These records are of significant importance for research on the history of the Komi language. Here we introduce our attempt towards a new Universal Dependencies treebank that will eventually contain the existing corpus of Old Permic in a structured and CoNLL-U annotated format. This will be the first time this material is being made openly available in digital format, and our contribution describes the current state of the art and remaining challenges.

STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF OVERGROWING OF RESERVOIRS IN THE VYCHEGDA RIVER BASIN

Based on the materials of the study of three artificial reservoirs located in the southern part of the Komi Republic, in the Vychegda River basin, it was shown that a characteristic feature of the overgrowth of the studied reservoirs is the predominance of sedge communities in its structure. There are three types of shallow water in the reservoirs: open, protected estuarine, and protected insular shallow water. For each type of shallow water, the formula and the degree of their overgrowth are determined. It has been established that the degree of overgrowth of the reservoirs and their coenotic composition largely depends on age (the time elapsed from filling the reservoir with water).

Aeolian sedimentation in the Vychegda river valley, north-eastern Europe, during MIS 2–1

Aeolian sediments and landforms of the former continental ice sheets' periphery can be used as invaluable sources of information on palaeoenvironmental changes. In the Northeastern Europe, there is very limited knowledge on the structure and age of the aeolian deposits and landforms. This study presents the first data on distribution and chronology of aeolian sediments and landforms in the Vychegda River basin (northeast of the East European Plain). Using grain-size analysis, radiocarbon and OSL dating, we were able to determine the age of the sediments found in the region and study their lithological composition. We discovered aeolian sediments comprising the upper parts of the most river terraces throughout the valley; they come in forms of dunes, dune fields, and sandy or loess-like covers. Previously it was argued that the terraces’ upper parts were comprised by glaciolacustrine deposits, but lithological composition of these sediments showed their aeolian origin. It was found that most of the aeolian sediments have formed in the Late Glacial, between 17 and 10.5 ka. We consider that increased fluvial activity and melting of permafrost were the main causes of the aeolian processes activization and that sediment availability was the most important controlling factor during that time.

Названия микрообъектов среднего Привычегодья в официальных документах XVII века

Introduction: the article considers the names of micro-objects of the Middle Vychegda River basin, recorded in court documents of the XVII century. Official papers serve as material data bearers. They contain data on the life activity of a concrete society, people in a particular historical stage. The micro-names recorded in the texts are part of the lexical system of the Komi language of that period. They are formed according to the basic laws of the language and operate in accordance with historical rules and traditions. Their study is relevant, first of all, in differentiation of the dialect boundaries and, therefore, ethnic groups in the past. Objective: differentiation of micro-names, their linguistic, semantic and phonetic verification. Research materials: the empirical bases of the study are three court cases of the middle of the XVII century relating to the Middle-Eastern Vychegda Komi people. Results and novelty of the research: for the first time, the original lexemes extracted from written sources, reflecting the regional toponymy of the XVII century, are differentiated; a multi-aspect characterization of the lexical materials selected for analysis is carried out; new lexical data, that were previously not recorded in the local toponymical literature due to the functional specificity of micro-toponymical names, are introduced into scientific circulation; author’s etymological verifications are proposed, taking into account linguistic phenomena and regularities of different levels. The uniqueness of the collected material is a consequence of the border location: in the north, the region is adjacent to the territories of distribution of the Udora and Vym dialects of the Komi language; in the west – to the Northern Russian dialects of the Lensky District of the Arkhangelsk Oblast; in the southeast – to the Syktyvkar dialect of the Komi language. The results of the analysis show that the main feature of the adaptations should be considered the influence of the phonetics of the Northern Russian dialects. The letters that are not typical for the Russian language are transmitted by Russian sounds and combinations of sounds that are close to them in terms of articulation. But at the same time, the Komi phonetic system is characterized by a number of features that are reflected in Russian orthoepy and orthography. The research data can be used as a source of comparative data in the onomastic study of adjacent territories, as a base for creation of explanatory, etymological, and spelling dictionaries.

Голавль Leuciscus cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) в бассейне реки Вымь

Впервые проанализированы материалы о распространении, морфологии и росту голавляLeuciscus cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) в бассейне р. Вычегда (бассейн р. Северная Двина). В этой речнойсистеме голавль распространен неравномерно. В крупных водотоках (русло рек Вычегда и Сысола)встречаются единичные особи. В двух притоках р. Вымь (приток р. Вычегда) – реках Елва и Веслянаголавль может составлять до 10 % контрольных уловов. По меристическим признакам голавль, отловленный в бассейне р. Вымь, близок к типичной форме данного вида рыб. Голавль в реках Елва и Весляна характеризуется быстрым ростом (K = 0.079–0.090).

Did long‐term fire control the coniferous boreal forest composition of the northern Ural region (Komi Republic, Russia)?

AbstractAimDocumenting past vegetation dynamics and fire‐vegetation relationships at a regional scale is necessary to understand the mechanisms that control the functioning of the boreal forest, which is particularly sensitive to climate change. The objective of this study is to document these interactions in the Komi Republic during the Holocene.LocationYaksha, Vychegda river basin, Republic of Komi, Russia.TaxonPlantae, gymnosperms, angiosperms.MethodsTwo palaeoecological approaches are combined, based (1) on pollen (this study) and charcoal analysis (recomputed from our previous analysis) applied to cores from two peatlands and (2) on a REVEALS model (a part of the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm “LRA”) applied to six regional pollen cores in order to obtain a regional estimate of vegetation cover during the Holocene.ResultsThe pollen diagram produced locally from Yaksha was compared with the regional vegetation cover determined by REVEALS. Taxa such as Abies sp. and Pinus spp. showed differences between the two approaches, but vegetation signals remain qualitatively consistent. From 10,000 to 6,000 cal. yr BP, the forest was mainly a light taiga (composed of Pinus sylvestris and Betula spp.) and low fire activity was recorded. From 6,000 to 3,500 cal. yr BP, a dark taiga (composed of Picea spp., Abies sibirica and Pinus sibirica) was established due to favourable climatic conditions, despite higher fire activity. From 3,500 cal. yr BP onwards, the continuous increase in fire activity allowed for a gradual return of light taiga, Betula spp., likely reinforced by human activities. The dynamics of Picea spp. and Abies sp. were asynchronous between the sites. For Picea spp., the hypothesis of local inter‐site expansion distributed along stream corridors is supported by the data. For Abies sp., a bias in REVEALS, and in climate cooling may explain disparities between sites.Main conclusionsWe found evidence that in the early and mid‐Holocene, vegetation dynamics were probably more influenced by climate, as fire activity was low. During the late Holocene, fire activity and geomorphology, eventually augmented by human activities, increased in influence on vegetation dynamics and led to the predominance of the light taiga forest up to the present.

Гидробиологические характеристики рек Вычегодского бассейна в различных единицах ландшафтного деления

Гидробиологические характеристики рек Вычегодского бассейна в различных единицах ландшафтного деления

ДВА ЭКСПРЕСС-МЕТОДА ОЦЕНКИ УРОВНЯ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНОСТИ ПРЕСНОВОДНЫХ ВОДОЕМОВ

The experiment is based on the assess-ment of water quality, based on the state of the organism of fish and crustaceans. Fish were surveyed in 1970-2016 years. The work was carried out in various regions of the USSR and Russia on reservoirs of vari-ous types, on fish farms. Various species and age groups of fish were studied. They were caught with a trawl, nets, a lift and sports fishing gear, and fish larvae were caught with a plankton net. A patho-anatomic meth-od was used to assess the condition of fish. Branched crustaceans were examined in 1989-2016. Samples were collected by plankton grid in reservoirs of the Volga, in lakes of the Karelian isthmus, in mountain lakes of the Western Sayan (East. Siberia), in lakes Ilmen and Sevan (Republic of Ar-menia) and in lake Ladoga, in the Nyvchim reservoir (Vychegda river basin), in pools of the Bolshezemelskaya tundra, in the Cu-ronian and Finnish bays of the Baltic sea. Samples were stabilized with 4% formalin and viewed under the MBS-9 binocular mi-croscope. Two methods for assessing the level of contamination of freshwater reservoirs were suggested. First: assessment of the level of pollution by the state of the fish organism. Toxicological studies of reservoirs and in experimental conditions have shown that fish were the most informative indicators of pollution of fishery reservoirs. The ecologi-cal approach to bioindication of the environ-ment using fish as the individual level is associated with changes in various indicators that characterize certain aspects of fish biol-ogy (weight and linear growth rate, fatness, fertility, reproduction process, embryonic and early post-embryonic development, pa-thologies, etc.). And the second method is to assess the level of contamination based on the state of the organism of pelagic branched crustaceans.

Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Vychegda River basin, European North-East

The paper is devoted to the Middle and Upper Pleistocene stratigraphy of the Vychegda River basin, located in the far northeast of Europe, in the Timan–Pechora–Vychegda subzone of the Middle–Late Pleistocene glaciations. The available litho-/chrono-/biostratigraphy data were have been obtained from more than 20 natural outcrops along the valley of Vychegda and its tributaries, which were studied lithostratigraphically. Also radiocarbon, OSL, IR-OSL and 230Th/U dating was performed, together with pollen and palaeocarpological analyses. The oldest glacial deposits are related to the Pechora horizon (MIS 8), and the oldest numerically dated relate to the Rodionovo horizon (Schöningen, MIS 7), embracing the chronostratigraphic archive of the last ~250 ka. The Vychegda horizon (Drenthe + Warthe, MIS 6) includes surficial tills, glaciofluvial and glaciolacustrine sediments dated back to 186–111 ka. This ice sheet produced the ice-dammed lake which overflowed into the Kama-Volga and Caspian basin. The Last Interglacial–Glacial cycle is associated with the Sula horizon (Eemian + Lower Weichselian, MIS 5), and the Nenetsky superhorizon with the Laya (Middle Weichselian, MIS 4), Byzovaya (Middle Weichselian, MIS 3) and Polar (Upper Weichselian, MIS 2) horizons, reflecting alluvial and aeolian sedimentary environments. The chronostratigraphic record of the Byzovaya (67–27 ka) and Polar (27–1 1.7 ka) horizons is well supported with 14C, OSL, IR-OSL and 230Th/U-dates and biostratigraphic data. Unlike the predecessors' descriptions no glaciolacustrine deposits had been identified for these horizons. The Holocene floodplain, aeolian and peat bog deposits dated from 11.7 ka are widespread over the Vychegda catchment area.

Planktonic Fauna of Small Reservoirs in the Komi Republic

One hundred and eight species and forms of planktonic organisms have been revealed in three small reservoirs in the Komi Republic (the northeast of European Russia). Species that were not previously known for the water bodies of the Vychegda River Basin (Limnosida frontosa) and the Republic of Komi (Lecane mira, Macrochaetus subquadratus, Filinia longiseta limnetica, and Rhynchotalona falcata) have been found. It has been established that the richness of the planktonic fauna depends on the age of the water body: the maximum number of species is found in the oldest reservoir, namely, the Kazhim Reservoir. The planktonic communities of artificial reservoirs are distinguished by a low level of similarity of faunas both with each other and in comparison with the natural lakes of the region. The fauna distribution in the old reservoirs is uneven. The relatively large fauna richness of planktonic communities in the littoral zones is due to the water-level regime in the reservoirs.

Phytoplankton in Water Objects of the Vychegda River Basin

In 2014, for the first time in the last 55 years, phytoplankton of the water bodies of the Vychegda River Basin has been studied. The basis of plankton communities is made up of algae from Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanoprokaryota divisions. In terms of quantitative indicators, leading groups with the prevalence of diatoms are identified. The range of abundance and biomass of algae is 3.92–27.82 million cells/L and 0.3–2.9 mg/L, respectively. The biomass of phytoplankton and hydrochemical indices make it possible to classify the studied water objects as second–fourth water-quality classes, with an increase in trophic status under conditions of an anthropogenic load increase.

Спутниковые методы в анализе изменений экосистем бассейна р. Вычегда

Спутниковые методы в анализе изменений экосистем бассейна р. Вычегда

Another Way of Early Pottery Distribution in Eastern Europe? Case Study of the Pezmog 4 Site, European Far Northeast

A case study of the Neolithic comb ceramic site Pezmog 4 of the Kama culture presents a situation when results of radiocarbon dating change long-existing concepts concerning the development of archaeological events. Until the early 2000s, the chronology of the Kama culture, distributed mainly in the Kama and Vychegda River basins, has been based on comparative-typological analysis. Estimates of the age of this culture changed from the 3rd millennium BC in the 1950s to the 1st half of the 4th millennium BC by the 1990s. Research concerning the Pezmog 4 site in the central Vychegda River basin in 1999–2002 has abruptly changed this chronological understanding. The data obtained put the age of the early stage of Kama culture within the time range 5750–5620 cal BC and allowed us to propose the existence of another way of early pottery distribution in the forest zone of eastern Europe at the beginning of the 6th millennium BC. This innovation probably penetrated from the trans-Ural region.

Another Way of Early Pottery Distribution in Eastern Europe? Case Study of the Pezmog 4 Site, European Far Northeast

A case study of the Neolithic comb ceramic site Pezmog 4 of the Kama culture presents a situation when results of radiocarbon dating change long-existing concepts concerning the development of archaeological events. Until the early 2000s, the chronology of the Kama culture, distributed mainly in the Kama and Vychegda River basins, has been based on comparative-typological analysis. Estimates of the age of this culture changed from the 3rd millennium BC in the 1950s to the 1st half of the 4th millennium BC by the 1990s. Research concerning the Pezmog 4 site in the central Vychegda River basin in 1999–2002 has abruptly changed this chronological understanding. The data obtained put the age of the early stage of Kama culture within the time range 5750–5620 cal BC and allowed us to propose the existence of another way of early pottery distribution in the forest zone of eastern Europe at the beginning of the 6th millennium BC. This innovation probably penetrated from the trans-Ural region.

Distribution and diversity of aquatic Oligochaeta in small streams of the middle taiga

The goal of the present study was to describe the fauna, community structure, distribution, diversity, abundance, and ecology of Oligochaeta in small streams of the Komi Republic. The work was performed in 13 streams located in the Vychegda River basin during the month of July, 2005-2008. During the study, 48 taxa from 7 families were collected. The habitat of each study stream was determined with respect to chemical water composition (Na^+, Mg^{2+}, Ca^{2+}, Cl^-, and total phosphorus (P^{tot}), among others) and some environmental factors: bottom structure (hard or soft), water temperature, depth, flow velocity, moss or algae cover, etc. The species composition, diversity, and determination of the small streams' aquatic Oligochaeta as well as the influence of different ecological factors on these characteristics were analyzed and discussed. The number of species, their composition, and the average abundance and biomass of Oligochaeta were found to depend upon bottom texture, current velocity, moss or algae cover, water temperature, and changes in the water chemicals (Na^+, Mg^{2+}, and P^{tot} concentrations), as well as the nitrogen, carbon, and humus contents in the bottom sediments.

The role of different links of the river net in forming winter river runoff

Results of investigations of the winter river runoff formation in the Northern Dvina River basin (without the Vychegda River basin) are under consideration. The peculiarities of the winter runoff formation are revealed from the analysis of the conditions of the runoff reduction in different parts of the river basin. A regulatory effect of the upper links of the river net on the lower links is established.

Диатомовые водоросли (Bacillariophyta) в ручьях лесного заказника «Белый» (бассейн реки Вычегды, Республика Коми)

The article contains first data on diatoms composition in the forest streams of the “Bely” Sanctuary (Vychegda River basin). In total, 210 species and intraspecific taxa from 28 genera and 15 families were revealed. Taxonomical, ecological, geographical and saprobiological analyses of the diatoms are made. The taxonomical list contains ecological, geographical characteristics of the taxa and their distribution in streams with different рН level.

Subfossil oribatid mites as the bioindicators of profound environmental changes during the holocene.

Oribatid mites (moss mites) are microarthropods that inhabit all soils in the world. The history of the studies of moss mites is long. In Russia, C.L. Koch published the first works on mites in the 19th century. However, investigations on fossil oribatids are not numerous in Russia to date. At the same time, studies on subfossil (i.e., fossilized but not lithified) moss mites even from comparatively young deposits provide entirely new information on the ecosystems of the past. This allows us to improve our knowledge of the history and ways of the environment development. The field material for this work was collected in the Holocene peat mire in the southern Arkhangel’sk oblast. The sampling site was located in the lower Vychegda River basin ( 61°16 ′ N, 46°44 ′ E) in the middle taiga subzone. The section was located in the outcrop of the river floodplain deposits, 6 m thick. The maximum radiocarbon (noncalibrated) age of the uncovered deposits was as old as 9000 years B.P. [1]. From each layer, samples were collected for the radiocarbon dating, pollen, and spores analyses, and for the study of oribatids. Sample 1 from a depth of 2.41‐2.45 m was 6155 ± 60 years old; i.e., this layer was formed during the Atlantic period of the Holocene. The present analogue region reconstructed on the basis of the pollen flora is located in the middle Vyatka River basin, in the coniferous‐broadleaf forest zone. Sample 2 from a depth of 1.78‐1.81 m depth was 3250 ± 65 years old (the Subboreal period), and its floristic analogue is located in the Sukhona River basin, near the north boundary of the south taiga zone [1]. Sample 3 was collected from a depth of 2.07‐2.11 m. Its radiocarbon age was 4505 ± 50 years (Subboreal), and its floristic analogue is located in the Unzha River basin. The pollen flora of sample 4 (its age was 860 ± 60 years) from a depth of 0.70‐0.74 m did not differ from the contemporary flora of the study site. Mites’ shells were extracted from peat using the paraffin flotation method, which is new for Russia. This method [2] is based on the difference in the ability of liquid paraffin to modify plant and chitin particles. This method is effective and time saving: it allows separating the chitin remains from the mineral and plant particles within 2 h. Two samples aged 6155 and 3250 years B.P. were chosen for the comparative analysis of the oribatid faunas. A total of 162 shells were extracted from these samples. They belong to 47 species of 34 genera of 25 families of moss mites. Of these, 27 species and 5 genera have not been found before in the fossil state in Russia. From the sample of 6155 years B.P., a new genus Alexebates D. Krivolutski et E. Sidorchuk, 2003 was described [3]. One hundred and sixty shells were extracted from the 4505-year-old sample. Three of them belonged to another new genus, Palaeonothrus D. Krivolutski et E. Sidorchuk, 2003 [3]. The youngest sample with a 14 C age of 860 years B.P. appears to be extremely poor in oribatids; only ten shells were extracted from it. Two of them belonged to a new species (see the description below).