West Siberian Forest Steppe Research Articles

In situ and ex situ variability of phenological and morphological features in Caltha palustris L. under the conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe

Background. Caltha palustris L. is known as a medicinal, food, and ornamental plant. It is a circumboreal species, and hygrohelophyte. Due to its ecological specificity, this plant can be used to study the response to an abrupt change in environments. The goal was to assess the variance in phenological and morphological features of C. palustris in the forest steppe of Western Siberia.Materials and methods. Phenotypic characters of the native population and the accessions introduced from Kemerovo Province and Altai Territory were studied. Phenological observations followed a well-known technique for herbaceous perennials. Morphometric data were processed in the PAST program using statistical indicators: the arithmetic mean with an error (M ± mM), minimum and maximum values of the trait (lim), and coefficient of variation (Cv). Significance of differences was assessed using Student’s t-test (Pt) at a 5% significance level. For traits deviating from the normal distribution, the significance of differences was assessed using the Mann–Whitney criterion (PMW) by median values of the trait (Me) at the same 5% level.Results and conclusions. The accessions varied significantly in the timing and duration of phenophases. Plants in the native population grew later and bloomed for a long time because of the variation in microconditions. Ex situ plants produced the second generation of rosette shoots and were capable of long vegetating, but the Altai accession differed in later growth and shorter phenophases. All accessions significantly differed in morphological characteristics of the shoot, except for flower size. The introduced accessions were inferior to the native ones in shoot height, leaf size, and number of flowers due to non-optimal cultivation environments. Since C. palustris demonstrated high individual and interpopulation variability, it is promising to study this species in different natural populations and select the most ornamental and sustainable accessions.

Impact of No-Tillage on Soil Invertebrate Communities in the Southern Forest Steppe of West Siberia: Preliminary Research

The aim of our study is to assess changes in soil macroinvertebrate biodiversity when conventional tillage (CT) is replaced by no-tillage (NT) in agroecosystems of the southern part of the West Siberian forest steppe. The research was conducted in the Novosibirsk region at the end of May 2017, May 2018, and in June 2018. The agricultural plots with CT and NT were located close to each other on identical soils, at a distance of about 200 m from the nearest forest shelterbelts. NT technology has been applied on the experimental plot since 2007. Sampling of invertebrates was conducted in two ways, namely soil sampling and pitfall trapping. The majority of basic physicochemical properties of soil were the same or similar between the CT and NT plots. However, depending on the type of tillage, different soil invertebrate communities had already developed in the control (CT) and experimental (NT) plots during this time. The community of the CT plot includes a large number of flying predatory Carabidae species typical of early successional stages (such as Bembidion properans and B. quadrimaculatum, Poecilus spp.) and phytophages, i.e., larvae of Elateridae. The NT plot has significantly higher density and species richness of earthworms (Eisenia nordenskioldi and synanthropic E. fetida in the NT plot versus one individual of E. nordenskioldi in the CT plot). The NT plot has a significantly richer and more abundant assemblage of spiders (especially in spring) and a poor assemblage of insect predators (except for the superdominant ground beetle Poecilus cupreus and the subdominant P. versicolor in summer 2018). Large numbers of larvae of some carabids (e.g., Amara consularis) were found in the NT soil, suggesting that they complete a full life cycle in this habitat.

Planigraphic (Spatial) Distribution of Mitochondrial DNA Variants at the Andronovo Time Cemetery Tartas-1: Preliminary Results

The most informative funerary site documenting the Andronovo (Fedorovo) migration to the West Siberian forest-steppe is Tartas-1, where more than 600 burials of that period, associated with Late Krotovo (Cherno- Ozerye) and Andronovo (Fedorovo) cultures, have been excavated to date. On the basis of skeletal remains from these burials, we have formed and successfully analyzed 256 samples of mitochondrial DNA, uniformly covering the entire area of the cemetery. This approach is a genetic counterpart of the continuous area method, which is used to excavate Tartas-1. The article opens a series of publications addressing the analysis and interpretation of this sample. We present the findings of the first stage in the analysis of spatial distriЬution of mtDNA lineages over the cemetery area under a simplified model that disregards the archaeological differentiation of the Andronovo time burials other than their spatial distribution. The analysis was performed at several resolution levels: from crude (at the level of the West Eurasian and East Eurasian clusters of mtDNA haplogroups) to high-resolution (at the level of specific structural variants). The information potential of each of those levels is evaluated. Data on the pattern of individual mtDNA lineage distribution are analyzed with regard to clusters on the cemetery area, indicating a considerable role of kinship across the site. The most promising areas for revealing groups of close relatives are identified. The findings enaЬle us to minimize the effect of close kinship on assessing the population structure of Tartas-1.

Interannual changes in δ15N baseline in a lake–swamp–river food web: effects of summer precipitation in West Siberian forest steppe

Frequency and intensity of precipitation events can alter hydrological conditions of lotic systems and material inflow from the catchment. In this study, interannual changes in food web structure were investigated in a lake–swamp–river system in the semi-arid West Siberian forest-steppe region using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N). The δ15N signatures of aquatic producers and consumers including zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish sharply increased (up to 7.2‰ in range) in 2009 under high summer precipitation. This would reflect the inflow of 15N-rich nutrients accumulated in the catchment through natural and anthropogenic activities, e.g., sewage, livestock farming, evaporation, and/or microbial denitrification. In 2010, benthic producers including epiphytes and macrophytes were more 13C-enriched, which is likely due to limited supply of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) under water stagnation, leading to a large isotopic fractionation during photosynthesis. However, 13C-enrichments in the benthic producers were not reflected to those of aquatic consumers in the habitat. Interannual changes in δ13C of particulate organic matter (POM; a proxy of phytoplankton) were reflected to those of zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and fish fry, suggesting the trophic importance of autochthonous phytoplankton in the system. These findings suggest that occasional precipitation events in semi-arid forest-steppe regions can modify nutrient flux from the catchment, leading to changes in δ15N baseline in the lotic food web.

Комплексы с плоскодонной керамикой в неолите от Волги до Оби: хронологический аспект

Purpose. The aim of the work is to analyze the chronology of Neolithic complexes containing flat-bottomed ceramics in the European part of Russia and the Ural-Siberian region, as well as an attempt to highlight patterns in the development of Neolithic Ural-Siberian cultural traditions amidst complexes with flat-bottomed ceramics of the Volga region. Results. Researches of Baraba culture of the early Neolithic of Western Siberia: Tartas-1, Ust-Tartas-1, Vengerovo-2, with radiocarbon dates 8th – 7th thousand BC made it possible to re-address the problem of complexes with flat-bottomed ceramics, especially in the Trans-Ural region and Western Siberia and, perhaps, to reconsider some established points of view. One of the first centers of the autochthonous origin of the Neolithic at the end of VIII – beginning of VII millennium BC is the Baraba cultural tradition of the West Siberian forest-steppe. Also, the autochthonous center for the origin of the Neolithic was the territory of the Northern Caspian region and the Lower Volga region in the first half of the 7th millennium BC. In the middle of the 7th millennium BC in the Volga-Urals region, due to direct migration of the population from the territory of the Aral-Caspian, an Elshan cultural tradition appears. In the second half of the 7th millennium BC the Neolithic of the Trans-Urals is being formed. Technology of Koshkino and Kozlovo cultural pottery traditions was most likely borrowed from the population of the Aral-Caspian, relations with which have been established since the Mesolithic. Conclusion. The obtained results give grounds to identify several centers of origin of the Neolithic in the territories of European Russia, the Urals and Western Siberia with flat-bottomed ceramics at the end of 8th – first half of 7th millennium BC and round-bottom ceramics in the middle of the 7th millennium BC. The oldest among them are sites of the Baraba forest-steppe.

The formation and the study of a collection of the Miscanthus resource species gene pool in the conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe

Several species of the genus Miscanthus Anderss. (elephant grass) characterized by a high rate of growth of the aboveground vegetative mass are currently in the focus of attention due to their high practical application as a source of bioethanol and cellulose. The main goals of this study were: (1) molecular genetic identification and (2) histochemical analysis of the genus Miscanthus Anderss. species in the collection of Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS in order to identify the most perspective and technically valuable individuals. To study the collection of Miscanthus samples, a multi-disciplinary approach was applied. To collect the samples of different species from native habitats, traditional systematic and geobotanical methods (comparative morphological and phytocenological) were used. According to the results of the ISSR-analysis, 16 samples of three Miscanthus species were divided into two clades: Sinensis and Sacchariflorus, the former including two subclades. For the samples of M. purpurascens_I and II, a hybrid origin of this species was confirmed by ISSR data. The molecular data obtained from the study allowed us to hypothesize that the samples involved in the subclade I of the Sinensis clade could be used as donors of resistance to adverse environments, and the samples of the subclade II, as donors of high biomass productivity. Based on histochemical analysis, sclerenchyma cells were characterized by the most lignin-rich thickened membranes, so the most appropriate direction in Miscanthus selection should be based on identification and using less lignin-containing samples.

VARIABILITY OF CONES AND SEEDSCALESIN PICEA SPECIES AND THEIR FORMS IN CONDITIONS OF THE CITY OF OMSK

The study addressedthe morphometric indicators of cones and seed scales, such as length, width, and weight (before opening and after drying). Similarly, seed scales were measured, the marginal lines were described, and the number of seed scales in the cones was counted. The summary tables showed significant differences in the length and width of cones (Student's criterion). The correlation analysis was used to quantify the association between various indicators and the seed scale size. The samples were collected in the Genze Dendrological Garden, a natural landmark of regional significance. The study was carried out usingMolchanov and Smirnov’s (1967) method in the summer-autumn period. Siberian spruce (both blue and green forms), Serbian spruce, Colorado spruce (green form), and Canadian spruce had medium and large cones, which indicates a high adaptive capacity of these species. The length of cones in blue-grey and golden forms of Colorado spruce was below the average, indicating a low adaptive ability of the introduced species in the West Siberian foreststeppe. The correlation analysis showed a moderate dependence of the weight of seed scales and the weight of cones after drying (K = 0.60). A small dependence was found between the weight of seed scales and the length of cone after drying (K = 0.39). The size of seed scales strongly correlated with the size of cones (K ˃ 0.8). Student's t-test did not reveal significant differences in the width of cones in the studied species and forms of spruce, except for green form of Colorado spruce as compared to Serbian spruce and Canadian spruce, and blue-grey form of Colorado spruce as compared to Canadian spruce , showing notable differences at 1% significance point. By the length of cones, the studied species can be categorized into twoessentially different groups, the first one including all forms of Siberian spruce and Colorado spruce and the second one including Serbian spruce and Canadian spruce .

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING OLD-AGED DISUSED LANDS IN THE WEST SIBERIAN FOREST STEPPE

Results are given from studies on improving old-aged disused lands in the West Siberian forest steppe, which were conducted in 2011–2014. The SibNIISKhoz 189 variety of smooth bromegrass (Bromopsis inermis (Leyss) Holub.) and Sibirskaya 8 variety of bastard alfalfa (Medicago varia Mart.) were sown. The variants of experiment were as follows: control (old-aged disused land); amelioration + drill sowing of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa; amelioration + skip-row sowing of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa; direct drilling of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa; rotary tillage without overdrilling; rotary tillage + drill sowing of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa; rotary tillage + skip-row sowing of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa. Most of leguminous plants (18.8%) were observed in the variant of ameliorating old-aged disused land + skip-row planting of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa. The proportion of motley grasses in the botanical composition of herbage on old-aged disused land decreased from 27.1 to 11.3–21.1% at different methods for sod plowing and direct drilling of perennial grasses. The variant with amelioration + skip-row sowing of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa turned out to be most productive: the yield of green mass was 5.96 t/ha, that of dry mass 1.75 t/ha. The variant with direct drilling of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa was somewhat inferior to it in productivity: the yields of green and dry mass were 4.46 and 1.29 t/ha, respectively. The amount of digestible protein per fodder unit was 119 g. The control variant of field experiment (old-aged disused land) showed productivity by 1.2–2.9 times lower as compared with the improvement techniques. Direct drilling of smooth bromegrass and alfalfa was found to be the most energy-favorable variant among techniques for ameliorating old-aged disused lands. Rotary tillage of sod without overdrilling of perennial grasses was least energy-favorable.

TECHNIQUES FOR IMPROVING DEGRADED HAYLANDS IN THE WEST SIBERIAN FOREST STEPPE

Results are given from studies (2006–2010) on forming high-yielding perennial legume grasslands using different techniques for degraded sod tillage. The most effective techniques have been established that contribute to increasing yields, fodder quality and productive life of haylands. The content of perennial leguminous grasses in the herbage composition at different techniques was recorded as follows: 91% at sod plowing, 82 at rotary tillage, and 74% at disking. The maximum yields of green and dry mass of 17.3 and 3.64 tons per ha have been obtained in the variant of amelioration (plowing + disking), which is 3.6 times higher than controls. It was found that amelioration of degraded haylands increased the output of fodder units up to 1.74 tons per ha, and that of digestible protein to 0.25 tons per ha. The amount of digestible protein per fodder unit made up 140 g. When disking sod, these parameters were 1.55 t/ha, 0.22 t/ha, and 135 g, respectively. At direct drilling of perennial legumes into degraded grassland, the variant with strips of 60 cm wide was remarkable. The yield of fodder units made up 1.61 t/ha, that of digestible protein 0.18 t/ha. The control variant (degraded hayland) showed the yield of fodder units of 0.38 t/ha, digestible protein of 0.025 t/ha. Economic assessment of techniques for improving degraded haylands has shown that direct drilling of perennial legumes turned out to be most effective for the West Siberian forest steppe. The net income, depending on a direct drilling variant, amounted to 1439–1641 rubles per ha, profitability 71–87%. When ameliorated, the economic indicators were slightly lower – 1520 rubles per ha and 57%, respectively.

EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES ON MAIZE PRODUCTIVITY FOR FEED PURPOSES

Results are given from studies on the effects of cultivation techniques on productivity of early-ripening maize hybrid Obskiy 140 SV when cultivated for silage and fodder-grain purposes under conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe. The cultivation techniques have been optimized, when the early-ripening maize hybrid Obskiy 140 SV (FAO 140–150) was grown for silage and fodder-grain purposes using mineral fertilizers in a dose of N60P60K40, and without fertilizers. The optimum complex of techniques under conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe was found to be two harrowings and two inter-row tillage using fertilizers in a dose of N60P60K40. These techniques provide increasing green and dry mass yields 3.6–3.8 times, as compared with the control (without crop cultivation, without fertilizers), with the maximum outputs of metabolizable energy (110.3 GJ) and feed units (94.1 centner) per ha. Maize cropping without fertilizers against a background of the entire complex of cultivation techniques provides the increases in green mass yield by 201% and dry mass yield by 188% as compared with the control. Carrying out the complex of crop cultivation techniques contributes to a reduction in weed infestation by 70%. Fertilizers applied to maize without cultivation techniques are largely used by weeds. When early-ripening maize hybrid Obskiy 140 SV is cultivated for fodder-grain purposes, carrying out the full complex of crop cultivation techniques with and without using fertilizers is necessary to obtain grain yields up to 45.3 centner per ha.

IMPACT OF SOILS IN MICRO-DEPRESSIONS ON AGROLANDSCAPE STRUCTURE IN THE WEST SIBERIAN FOREST STEPPE

Results are given from research into impact of soils in micro-depressions within the agrolandscapes of the West Siberian forest steppe on their structure. The research was conducted in areas differing in agrolandscapes: areas near the Ob, Baraba central and southern forest steppe in Novosibirsk Region, subtaiga in Tomsk Region. The contrast range of textural and differentiated soils (Luvisols, Planosols and Epigleyic Phaeozems according to World Reference Base) that occupy the micro-depressions has been determined. These soils are oppositely different from background soils such as arable Greyic Phaeozems and Chernozems. The highest contrast range of micro-depression soils is observed in the central and southern forest steppe areas in Barabinsk, Novosibirsk Region. The contrast range decreases in the direction of east and north owing to increase in proportion of grey soils in the background. Most areas of soils in the micro-depressions within the territory studied are of monolithic structure, except for the Priobskoye plateau, where medium and strongly dissected areas of elongated branched shape are observed. More than 90 percent of micro-depressions have very small area of less 5 ha, and only in the south they reach medium size (more than 10 ha). The greatest part of the territory (27.1 %) is occupied by soil areas of the micro-depressions in the subtaiga agricultural zone of Tomsk Region. Agricultural landscape in question is characterized by complex inner configuration of the fields that makes tillage more complicated. The least complicated agrolandscape is the southern forest steppe. Micro-depressions here occupy only 5.6 percent of total area that defines this territory as most suitable for tillage. The regularities revealed are directly associated with changes in soil formation conditions, in particular, with enhancing climate aridization.

BIOMETRICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF USSURIAN PEAR FRUIT

Biometrics and chemical parameters of Ussurian pear fruits cultivated under conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe were investigated. The fruits were harvested at the optimum stage of maturity, evenly from the upper, medium and bottom branches of the trees, from all sides of the crown with respect to cardinal directions. The rounded and oval shapes of fruits prevailed. Color of fruits varied from bright yellow to yellow with reddish patches and dirty-green with yellowish tint. The fruits have an expressed smell, firm skin and rough pulp. The taste is tart, sough-sweet. The average length and diameter of the fruit were 3.4 ± 0.1 cm and 3.7 ± 0.1 cm, respectively. The weight of the fruit varied from very small (22.3 g) to medium (53.5 g), with the average weight of 33.2 ± 1.3 g. The weight of thousand seeds obtained by the method of water flotation is 33.8 g; the average number of seeds in the fruit is 7.6 ± 0.3. The length of the seed is 0.4–0.6 cm; the width is 0.2–0.3 cm. The amount of soluble dry substances in the fruit pulp is 26.6 ± 0.3%. The sum of total sugars is 11.5 ± 0.3%. The mass fraction of arbutin on conversion in initial matter made up 0.59 ± 0.04; the average C vitamin content was 7.6 ± 0.4 mg/100 g; carotene content 2.5 ± 0.1 mg/100 g; the average nitrate content in the Ussurian pear fruits was 8.1 ± 0.2 mg/kg as compared with a maximum allowable value of 60 mg/kg. Titratable acidity (total acidity) was equal to 1.1 ± 0.1%. The Ussurian pear plants introduced to the forest-steppe areas near the Ob are able to form fruits possessing qualities similar to those, which the fruits of this species formed in a natural area have.

Ecological Structure of West Siberian Forest-Steppe Spider Community (Arachnida, Araneae) and its Comparison with Carabidae Community

Ecological Structure of West Siberian Forest-Steppe Spider Community (Arachnida, Araneae) and its Comparison with Carabidae Community

Поселение Кочегарово I в Урало-Иртышской лесостепи (краткие итоги исследований)

Research of settlements of forest-steppe Ural-Irtysh area presents enormous interest, as this region is the most relevant sphere of researches in archaeology of the Stone Age. An aim of researches is a reconstruction of historical events of certain society within the framework of separate settlement. Work is based on application of approach of the systems, consolidating archaeological, historical and natural-science directions of researches. Long-term researches of settlement of Kochegarovo I gave unique materials on the Neolithic and Aeneolithic of Ural-Irtysh area and allowed to decide a number of fundamental scientific problems. To present tense it is dug out about 2000 sq. m. a 8 dwellings of the Neolithic and Aeneolithic are studied, collection of settlement contains about 20 000 artefacts of stone tools and ceramics. In natural cavities used under dwellings, the layers of the Neolithic and Aeneolithic divide a layer strongly saturated with a humus loam appearing as a result of standing of water during the flood of settlement. Time of uselessness for life of ground of monument coincides with the periods of enhanceable moisture of climate between 6000 and 5000 thousand years BP, that confirmed by the conducted radiocarbon dating of settlement. Stone tools equipment fully corresponds to the modern ideas about stone tools of river settlements of Transurals in the Neolithic and Aeneolithic. Basis of the system of life-support of habitants of settlement were a hunt and fishing. Presently the lack of modern data on archaeology of region substantially restrains development of problems of socio-cultural history of population of Transurals and West Siberian forest-steppe. Analytical research of settlement of Kochegarovo I is not yet complete, however, already now clear, that this settlement have all pre-conditions, to become the main in archaeology of the Late Stone Age of Transurals.

West Siberian forest-steppe is a cluster of biodiversity, a universal biome, and a reserve of forthcoming biogeographic reconstructions

Forest-steppe is usually characterized as a mosaic marginal biota complex at the junction of forests and steppes. Meanwhile, in the gradient of environmental conditions from the equator to the North Pole, the forest-steppe latitudes are a zone of environmental comfort for biota. As a result, the maximum species richness in the sequence of latitudinal zones occurs here. It is shown that in forest-steppes, the overall proportion of insects does not exceed 30%. The overwhelming majority of forest-steppe inhabitants are psychromesophiles with a stress-tolerant life strategy, capable of penetrating from the forest-steppe into the forest and steppe zones along the biotopes of transient positions.

Migrations of dragonflies (Odonata) in the south of the West Siberian plain

The paper presents a summary of mass dragonfly migrations observed previously in Russia, in particular in West Siberia. From 1969 to 2009, the authors studied the dynamics of dragonfly population, their spatial distribution and movements in the West Siberian forest-steppe. The main studies were conducted in the Lake Chany basin (the Biological Station of the Institute of Animal Systematics and Ecology, Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences). The spatial redistribution of dragonflies is regarded as a balance of homing and wandering behavior. Homing results in a relative stability of local dragonfly populations and assemblages, while wandering leads to dispersal of dragonflies from their emergence sites and colonization of new habitats; the latter is especially important due to the ephemeral nature of many shallow reservoirs where the nymphs develop. The formation of more or less constant migration routes is a peculiar variant of wandering activities. A special type of dragonfly migrations is mass exodus from native habitats, triggered by excessive population growth and leading to elimination of all or most individuals. Such migrations not only optimize the size of dragonfly populations but also facilitate removal of nutrients and organic matter from eutrophic water bodies. An original generalized classification of dragonfly migrations is proposed.

Spatial displacement of Odonata in south-west Siberia

A brief account is presented of mass dragonfly migrations observed previously in Russia and West Siberia in particular. A mass migration in Libellula quadrimaculata is described in detail. It occurred on 1 July 1981 in the south-western part of the West Siberian Plain in the valley of the Ishym River. From 1968 to 2008 we studied population dynamics, spatial distribution and displacement in dragonflies in the West Siberian forest-steppe. Detailed research was conducted at the biological station of the Russian Academy of Sciences near the Chany Lake. Mass migrations in L. quadrimaculata and some Leucorrhinia spp. followed situations with an extremely high population density and local mass aggregations and occurred with a period of c.10 years, correlated with fluctuation of water level in the region, mainly in the south. It is suggested that dragonfly migration not only optimizes their population size but increases the rate of transport of chemical elements and organic matter to dry land from eutrophic wate...

Characteristics of the formation of the leaf surface in spring wheat varieties having a different ecogeographic origin in the forest steppe of the Orenburg cis-Ural region

The effect of contrasting moisture conditions on the dynamics of formation of the leaf surface in spring bread wheat having a different ecogeographic origin in the forest steppe of the Orenburg cis-Ural region has been revealed. It has been established that the leaf apparatus of varieties of the North Russian forest ecological group is subjected more strongly to the negative effect of drought conditions, and varieties of the West Siberian forest steppe and Volga steppe and forest steppe ecological groups are more resistant to a moisture deficit. The results of the investigation can be used in breeding for creating wheat varieties for the forest steppe conditions of the Southern Urals.

Dependency of water absorption speed in common spring wheat seeds with different ecotypes on temperature of the environment

Specific features of the water absorbing capacity in common spring wheat seeds with different ecotypes, connected with their ecological-geographic origin, have been disclosed in the course of sprouting as dependent on the temperature of the environment. The highest speed of water absorption by seeds at low temperatures was found in varieties of the West-Siberian forest steppe ecotype, while somewhat lower values were found in varieties of the North-Russian forest ecotype. The results of research might be used in breeding work to create wheat varieties for the conditions of forest steppe in Middle Povolzhye and Orenburg Cisurals.