Assessment of Plant Biodiversity around the Tobolsk Industrial Site

The article presents the results of comprehensive studies of the plant biodiversity near the industrial zone of the city of Tobolsk, Tyumen Oblast, Russia. Nine species of formation communities were identified: Abies sibirica Ledeb, Pineta (sylvestris), Betuleta (pendula), Betuleta (pubescens), Tilieta (cordata), Populeta (tremula), Saliceta, Prata, Emersiherbosa. Also, eleven associations were identified for the studied communities: fir forest with sedges, linden and birch; mixed small-leaved dark coniferous forest with sedges; low-shrub sphagnum pine forest; steppe birch forest; swampy low-shrub sphagnum birch forest; swampy reedgrass birch forest; linden-birch forest; cereal-horsetail-fern aspen forest; aspen forest with grass layer; aspen forest mixed with birch and sedges; mixed birch-aspen forb forest; maturing aspen-birch forest with hygrophilous grasses.

Seasonal dynamics of Diptera in individual biotopes in the center of the European part of Russia

In a changing climate, phenological observations are gaining new importance. They can tell what changes are taking place in certain environmental conditions. The studies were conducted in 2019 within the territory of the Republic of Mordovia (the center of the European part of Russia). Beer traps (beer as a bait) were used to collect Diptera. The material was collected in the period from April to October in different forest biotopes (pine forest, lime forest, aspen forest, birch forest and oak forest) and the air temperature was recorded at the same time. In total, more than 14.000 specimens of Diptera were recorded. Overall, 29 families were recorded. The largest number of families was observed for birch (23 families) and pine (24 families) forests, the smallest number – in aspen forest (16 families). The families Muscidae, Drosophilidae, Calliphoridae had the largest number of captured individuals (44.5%, 35.2%, 7.6% of the total number of individuals respectively). The highest number of individuals was captured in oak forest. The dynamics of abundance in all biotopes were similar and were characterized by the same number of declines and rises. The first small significant peak in the number of Diptera occurred in the first half of summer. A slight increase in the number of specimenі occurred in mid-June. In the second half of September, there was a gradual increase in the number and the maximum peak was recorded in mid-October, then there was a decline. The autumn increase in the number of Diptera in all five biotopes exceeded the summer peak by several times. This dynamic was typical for most families. However, species from the family Lonchaeidae had the peak in July. For our better understanding of the changes in the seasonal dynamics of the number of Diptera, long-term observations in different climatic zones are needed.

Effect of harvest date and frequency on aspen ricegrass (Oryzopsis asperifolia) and cream-coloured vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus) in the boreal transition ecoregion of Saskatchewan

Aspen forest communities of Saskatchewan, Canada, support a significant cattle population. The objectives of this study were to determine seasonal forage dry matter (DM) accumulation and evaluate repeated annual defoliation on DM yield (DMY) of aspen ricegrass (Oryzopsis asperifolia) and cream-coloured vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus) in the boreal transition ecoregion of east–central Saskatchewan. The experimental design was a randomized completed block with five replicates. Seasonal DMY of aspen ricegrass (p < 0.0001) was lowest in June, intermediate in July, and highest in August to October, with DMY ranging from 2.9–15.3 g m−2. Cream-coloured vetchling (p < 0.0001) had the highest DMY in July and August (5.5, 4.8 g m−2) than other months (1.2–2.3 g m−2). Single repeated defoliation, regardless of clipping date, reduced (P = 0.0098) the overall production of aspen ricegrass (Oryzopsis asperifolia) and cream-coloured vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus) in this study.

Testing of Automated Photochemical Reflectance Index Sensors as Proxy Measurements of Light Use Efficiency in an Aspen Forest

Commercially available autonomous photochemical reflectance index (PRI) sensors are a new development in the remote sensing field that offer novel opportunities for a deeper exploration of vegetation physiology dynamics. In this study, we evaluated the reliability of autonomous PRI sensors (SRS-PRI) developed by METER Group Inc. as proxies of light use efficiency (LUE) in an aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest stand. Before comparisons between PRI and LUE measurements were made, the optical SRS-PRI sensor pairs required calibrations to resolve diurnal and seasonal patterns properly. An offline diurnal calibration procedure was shown to account for variable sky conditions and diurnal illumination changes affecting sensor response. Eddy covariance measurements provided seasonal gross primary productivity (GPP) measures as well as apparent canopy quantum yield dynamics (α). LUE was derived from the ratio of GPP to absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (APAR). Corrected PRI values were derived after diurnal and midday cross-calibration of the sensor’s 532 nm and 570 nm fore-optics, and closely related to both LUE (R2 = 0.62, p < 0.05) and α (R2 = 0.72, p < 0.05). A LUE model derived from corrected PRI values showed good correlation to measured GPP (R2 = 0.77, p < 0.05), with an accuracy comparable to results obtained from an α driven LUE model (R2 = 0.79, p < 0.05). The automated PRI sensors proved to be suitable proxies of light use efficiency. The onset of continuous PRI sensors signifies new opportunities for explicitly examining the cause of changing PRI, LUE, and productivity over time and space. As such, this technology represents great value for the flux, remote sensing and modeling community.

Vegetation cover of the river Vyatka flood plain protected areas

The paper presents results of 4 protected areas investigation within the river Vyatka flood plain. We have conducted a floristic research in accordance with a hierarchy system of floristic complexes by a type-class-group principle, and classified vegetation. 3 types of floristic complexes (forest, meadow, and water), 2 classes (hilltop-flood plain, ridge and natural) and 8 groups of floristic complexes were defined. Small-leaved forest floristic complexes is presented by the following forest types: mixed-herbs-Aegopodium aspen forest, mixed-herbs aspen forest, herbaceous boggy birch forest, cowberry birch forest, aspen-linden birch forest, bilberry-herbaceous birch forest, and mixed-herbs-Filipendula alder forest. Dark coniferous floristic complexes are presented by bilberry spruce and herbaceous spruce forests. Light coniferous forest floristic complexes are: cowberry-herbaceous pine, green-moss-cowberry pine, and stone-bramble-herbaceous pine forests. Broad-leaved forest floristic complexes are presented by flood-plain oak and aspen-linden herbaceous forests. Oak ( Quercus robur L.) is also marked as an undergrowth component of deciduous and coniferous phytocoenoses. Flood-plain meadow floristic complex is formed by gramineous-mixed-herbs and Filipendula-Calamagrostis-mixed-herbs associations. Former river-bed floristic complex is marked within all studied objects. Communities with high level of biodiversity are restricted to water and hilltop-flood-plain ecotopes. Species richness of studied communities varies within 15 to 43 species. Less diverse ecotypes are ridge types. Investigated floristic complexes are habitats of rare and relict species of Kirov Region flora. The study of partial flora composition is a base for vegetation monitoring.

Ecological-geochemical assessment of the Sorochinskie Mountains soils (Samara Region)

In this paper we first explain the trivial geographic name Sorochinskie Mountains, introduced into scientific circulation with the aim of more accurately linking natural (botanical, zoological, soil, geological-geomorphological) objects and etalon areas to a specific locality. Then we describe the types of anthropogenic impact that manifested themselves in different historical periods and allow evaluating modern ecological-geochemical state of the Sorochinskie Mountains soil cover. In the main part of the paper we report about ecology-geochemical research of soils conducted in 2015 in the Sorochinskie Mountains, during which the etalon areas within the main plant communities (birch forest, maple forest, aspen forest, stony steppe, maple oak forest) were laid. Samples of soils were taken from each etalon area to determine the amount of humus, the reaction of the soil solution (pH), and the content of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) by the atomic absorption method. As a result of the conducted studies it was established that the soils of the etalon areas of the Sorochinskie Mountains are characterized by a weakly acid or close to neutral reaction and a higher content of humus than the data available in literature. The ecological-geochemical feature of soils is their considerable enrichment of Zn, the level of which in all etalon areas significantly exceeds the local and regional background, in etalon areas of birch forest, maple forest and aspen forest - approximately permissible concentrations (APC). To a lesser extent the soils of the Sorochinskie Mountains accumulate Cu and Pb, the content of which exceeds the regional background, but basically does not reach the level of the APC. The concentration of Cd in soils is also below the dangerous level, but in birch forest and aspen forest it considerably exceeds the local and regional background. In general, the most contaminated with heavy metals are the soils of birch forest, maple forest and aspen forest. The soils of the maple oak forest and stony steppe, lying at a distance from the places of passage of unpaved highways, have a lower level of accumulation of heavy metals. Sources of heavy metals in the soils of the Sorochinskie Mountains are soil formation rocks and man-made streams formed by industrial objects and urban vehicles.