Walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus, Pallas, 1814) fishery, size and age composition, state of stocks and catch prospects in the waters adjacent to Kamchatka peninsula and Northern Kuril Islands

The article provides data on the catch of the Northern Okhotsk, Eastern Kamchatka and Western Bering Sea walleye pollock stocks, fishery structure by the fishing gears in 2016–2019, size and age composition of the fish in the commercial trawl and Danish seine catches in 2010–2019. Data on the generation abundance and stock condition indices used in the stock assessment models are also demonstrated. Interannual dynamics of the total and spawning stock biomass, determinants of the dynamics and prospects of fishing are analyzed.

Spatial Distribution of Different Age Groups of Herring in Norwegian Sea, May 1996–2020

The commercially important Norwegian spring spawning herring is characterized by its extensive annual migrations and, on a decadal timescale, large shifts in migration patterns. These changes are not well understood, but have previously been linked to temperature, food availability, and size and age composition of the stock. Acoustic and trawl data from the International Ecosystem Surveys in the Nordic Seas, carried out annually in May since 1996, were used to analyze the spatial distribution of herring in the period 1996–2020. The dataset was disaggregated into age classes, and information about where the different age classes feed in May was derived. The analysis of herring feeding patterns in May confirms that the youngest age classes are generally found close to the Norwegian shelf, whereas the older age classes display larger variations in where they are distributed. During the period 1996–1998, the oldest age classes were found in the central and western Norwegian Sea. During the period 1999–2004, the whole stock migrated north after spawning, leaving the regions in the southern Norwegian Sea void of herring. Since 2005 the oldest herring has again congregated in the south-western Norwegian Sea, in the frontal zone between the cooler East Icelandic water and the warmer Atlantic water. There was a significant positive relationship both between stock size and distribution area and between stock size and density. Moreover, it is likely that the strong year classes 1991/1992 and 1998/1999, which were relatively old when the respective changes in migration patterns occurred, were important contributors to the changes observed in 1999 and 2005, respectively.

Archaeoichthyological Research of Settlements of the Golden Horde Period of the Saratov Volga Region

The article presents a study of fish remains from the Bagaevka settlement with the involvement of the results of identifications of fish remains from other settlements in the region of the Golden Horde city Ukek, functioning in the second half of the 13th – 14th century. The purpose of the work was a comprehensive analysis of the remains of fishes from the Bagaevka settlement, as a large Golden Horde rural settlement of Ukek region, including species, quantitative, dimensional and age composition of the fishes on the basis of the archaeoichthyological collection and interpretation of the obtained results taking into account archaeological data. The 19 species of fishes were determined from bone remains and scales, the main species of which were large-sized: Russian sturgeon, Beluga, Starred sturgeon, Catfish and Zander. The predominance of large-sized species indicates that fishing was carried out on the Volga. The identified dimensional-species composition of fishes (large species with a large body weight), as well as the discovered fishing equipment, directly indicate the presence of collective fishing of the inhabitants of the Bagaevka settlement. Cutting and processing of all incoming fish was carried out on the territory of the settlement. Fishing in this settlement, as well as throughout the Saratov Volga region, has already acquired the features of a specialized subsidiary farming.

Reflection of the family structure of the population at the biritual burial ground of the Saltiv culture in Chervona Hirka

The article presents the preliminary results of the analysis of individual burial complexes discovered at the biritual burial ground of the Saltiv culture in Chervona Hirka (Balakliia district of Kharkiv Oblast). During the work at the burial ground, 313 burials were examined, of which 191 were performed as inhumations, and 122 – cremations. Also, 18 cases were recorded at the burial ground when some burials were inlet into the filling of the burial pits of other burials without destroying the latter. At the same time, most often, the main burial was an inhumation according to the rite, and the burial inlet into the filling of the burial pit belonged to the category of cremations (Table 1). Among the complexes under consideration, the burials performed simultaneously (one-act) and those made after a certain period of time are presented. The latter are numerically dominant over one-act burial complexes. In 18 cases, 11 burials belong to paired ones, in 6 cases a burial contained the remains of three deceased. In the filling of burial No. 75/ k-4, the remains of three deceased were found, deliberately placed there. Thus, in Chervona Hirka burial ground, cases are presented of one burial pit usage for the simultaneous or different graves of 2—4 deceased. In these complexes, we tend to see the burials of close relatives, members of the same family (husband and wife, mother with children, minor children). An analysis of the sex and age composition of people buried in these complex burials allows us to speak of the existence of undivided families of the paternal or fraternal type among the population who left the Chervona Hirka burial ground, along with small families. The most striking evidence of the latter is the fixation of a group of 11 burials (6 inhumations and 5 cremations) on an area of 25 m2, the main one is the burial of a man accompanied by a horse (burial No. 75/ k-4) (Fig. 6: 1). At the same time, in the filling of three graves from this group (No. 75/ k-4, No. 36 and No. 74) there were burial complexes, deliberately placed there: Nos. 37, 38, 58, 59, 64, 71 (Table 1).

Diagnostic and age composition of excess mortality associated with the New Year holidays in Russia

Statistics show that in many countries of the world holidays are associated with an increase in morbidity and mortality; this is especially pronounced during the New Year and Christmas period. This article presents an estimate of the excess number of deaths in Russia during the January holidays in 2011–2019 by main classes of causes of death and by age groups. The study relies on the Rosstat dataset of 16.83 million individual non-personalized death records referring to 2011–2019. The authors of the paper estimate excess mortality for each cause and age group as the difference between actually observed mortality and the LOWESS moving average calculated for non-holiday period, extrapolated to the holidays. The calculations showed that the period of excess mortality lasted from January 1 to January 22 with a maximum on January 1. Over 22 days, excess mortality in 2011–2019 amounted to 89.0 thousand cases or 8.4% in relation to mortality on non-holidays; excess mortality on January 1 amounted to 11.4 thousand cases. In contrast to mortality from diseases of the circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems, the contribution of which to excess mortality was proportional to their prevalence on non-holidays, proportion of excess mortality from external causes almost doubled (23.6% versus 12.7 % on weekdays). January 1 saw the highest excess mortality from external causes, including that of alcohol poisoning, homicide, and suicide, in all age groups; on January 2 the highest increase was observed in mortality from diseases of the circulatory system; on January 9 and 10 — from the pathologies of the respiratory and digestive systems. January holidays in Russia are associated with significant excess mortality, primarily as a result of the abuse of strong alcoholic beverages. Informing the population about the fatal consequences of such a consumption regime and a decrease in the availability of strong alcohol, the maximum sales of which falls on December, can reduce the damage during the January holidays.

NEW FINDS OF ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIGURINES OF THE NORTH CAUCASIAN CULTURE IN THE CENTRAL FORE-CAUCASUS

Статья посвящена публикации погребальных комплексов с алебастровыми и глиняными антропоморфными статуэтками развитого и позднего этапов северокавказской культуры (XXVIII - нач. XXV в. до н. э.), обнаруженными в Центральном Предкавказье в 2000-2014 гг. В работе приводятся описание и датировка пяти погребений, содержавших 14 таких статуэток (рис. 1-3). На основе анализа общей источниковой базы (9 погребений, 21 статуэтка) рассматриваются закономерности расположения захоронений со статуэтками в насыпях курганов и самих статуэток внутри погребений, возрастной состав погребенных, классификация статуэток по материалу изготовления, форме, размерам и орнаментации (рис. 5). Далее приводятся аргументы в пользу происхождения антропоморфных статуэток северокавказской культуры от культовой пластики так называемого серезлиевского типа Северного Причерноморья (конец IV тыс. до н. э.). В заключение на основе картографирования находок статуэток на территории Центрального Предкавказья (рис. 4) предлагается название для данной серии культовых предметов: статуэтки «подкумского» типа. This paper publishes funerary assemblages with alabaster and clay anthropomorphic figurines of the developed and late stages of the North Caucasian culture (XXVIII - early XXV centuries BC) discovered in the central Fore-Caucasus in 20002014. The article describes and dates five graves containing 14 figurines (Fig. 1-3). Based on the analysis of the overall source database (9 graves, and 21 figurines), the paper explores the location pattern of the graves with the figurines in the kurgan mounds and the figurines themselves inside the graves, age composition of the deceased, classification of the figurines by material they are made from, size and decoration (Fig. 5). The authors provide arguments that help trace the origin of the Northern Caucasus figurines to religious cult figurines of the so called Serezlievka type in the North Pontic region (late IV mill. BC). In the final section of the paper this series of the religious cult figurines is proposed to be called the Podkumok type of figurines based on the mapping of the figurine finds from the Central Fore-Caucasus.

Demographics of Scomberomorus commerson in the Central Taiwan Strait

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson is an economically essential species; however, few studies have investigated its demographic structure in the northwestern Pacific, which includes Taiwan’s waters. This study examined the growth parameters, age composition, mortality, and sex ratio of S. commerson catches by examining sagittal otoliths and other biological data collected in a 3-year project from June 2018 to June 2021. The transverse sections of sagittal otoliths exhibited alternating translucent and opaque zones, in annual cycles, and this observation was validated by otolith edge analysis. Opaque zones began to form in October; the growth peaked in December and lasted until March. Growth parameters were estimated for female (L∞ = 144.1 cm fork length [FL], k = 0.39 y−1, to = −0.85 y) and male (L∞ = 136.0 cm FL, k = 0.32 y−1, to = −1.49 y) specimens. The maximum recorded FL, body weight, and age were 159.0 cm, 27 kg, and 9.2 y for female and 135.0 cm, 17.8 kg, and 7.2 y for male specimens. Rapid growth was observed for both sexes, with FL reaching 66.8 ± 14.2 cm in female specimens and 70.1 ± 11.0 cm in male specimens during the first year of life. An age–length key based on the direct otolith aging and FL dataset (N = 646) was used to estimate the age composition of 3-year catches measured at landing (N = 16,133). The results verified that the S. commerson currently caught in the central Taiwan Strait are mainly young fish aged 1+ to 2+ y. The estimated fishing mortality (0.27 y−1) and exploitation rate (0.30) suggested that overfishing was not occurring in this stock. The findings of this study have helped clarify the population dynamics of the S. commerson in the Taiwan Strait, and the biological parameters reported herein can aid the management and conservation to ensure the sustainability of this species in this region.

Population Studies on the Southern Black-Backed Gull

<p>An account is given of ecological studies on the Southern Black-backed Gull Larus dominicanus Licht in which attention is directed to the structure and balance of the Wellington population. This population is large; in the 1963-64 season more than 5,600 pairs were breeding in the study area, and the peak non-breeding season population in 1964 exceeded 12,000 birds. Its growth has been closely associated with the increase of the human population, and the present distribution and dispersal of gulls is strongly influenced by the distribution of " artificial" feeding sites such as refuse tips and meatworks. The population is composed of breeding colonies, night roosting flocks and daily communal flocks which are inter-related by the social activities and dispersal of the birds. Thus the population is more or less integrated, rather than simply comprising discrete geographic units. Seasonal fluctuations in size and age composition of communal flocks are discussed. Breeding success varies between colonies. It is affected by mammalian predation in some, and by drowning in others, while the largest colonies are comparatively safe for breeding birds. The rapid growth of the whole population in the last five to 10 years appears to have some influence on nesting density, clutch size, spread of laying and overall breeding success. In recent years production of young has been twice that required to maintain the population which has grown at the rate of not less than 7.2% annually. Mortality of banded gulls inside and outside the colony is described and the influence of several factors on chick mortality examined. The principal factor limiting the population appears to be the food supply in relation to the number of birds. When numbers increase and the food supply diminishes, major regulation of the population is apparently achieved in the colony by predation (but not cannibalism) of young by adults. Dispersal of banded gulls from the Wellington colonies is very restricted.</p>

Population Studies on the Southern Black-Backed Gull

<p>An account is given of ecological studies on the Southern Black-backed Gull Larus dominicanus Licht in which attention is directed to the structure and balance of the Wellington population. This population is large; in the 1963-64 season more than 5,600 pairs were breeding in the study area, and the peak non-breeding season population in 1964 exceeded 12,000 birds. Its growth has been closely associated with the increase of the human population, and the present distribution and dispersal of gulls is strongly influenced by the distribution of " artificial" feeding sites such as refuse tips and meatworks. The population is composed of breeding colonies, night roosting flocks and daily communal flocks which are inter-related by the social activities and dispersal of the birds. Thus the population is more or less integrated, rather than simply comprising discrete geographic units. Seasonal fluctuations in size and age composition of communal flocks are discussed. Breeding success varies between colonies. It is affected by mammalian predation in some, and by drowning in others, while the largest colonies are comparatively safe for breeding birds. The rapid growth of the whole population in the last five to 10 years appears to have some influence on nesting density, clutch size, spread of laying and overall breeding success. In recent years production of young has been twice that required to maintain the population which has grown at the rate of not less than 7.2% annually. Mortality of banded gulls inside and outside the colony is described and the influence of several factors on chick mortality examined. The principal factor limiting the population appears to be the food supply in relation to the number of birds. When numbers increase and the food supply diminishes, major regulation of the population is apparently achieved in the colony by predation (but not cannibalism) of young by adults. Dispersal of banded gulls from the Wellington colonies is very restricted.</p>