Syntaxonomy of secondary communities formed instead of earlier agricultural lands in the middle and south taiga subzones of the European North-East of Russia

We have identified the diversity of secondary communities formed instead of earlier agricultural lands (middle and south taiga subzones of the European North-East of Russia). The work describes 8 associations, 2 subassociations of the classes Papaveretea rhoeadis, Artemisietea vulgaris,Epilobietea angustifolii, Molinio–Arrhenatheretea, Vaccinio–Piceetea. 3 associations (Urtico dioicae–Chamaenerietum angustifolii, Centaureo phrygiae–Dactyletum glomeratae, Deschampsio cespitosae–Salicetum capreae), 1 subassociation (Galeopsietum bifidae galeopsietosum speciosae)were fixed for the first time. We noted a replacement of segetal communities (subass. Galeopsietum bifidae galeopsietosum speciosae) by meadow communities (аss. Centaureo phrygiae–Dactyletum glomeratae) through the domination stage of Cirsium setosum and Elytrigia repens (аss. Cirsio setosi–Elytrigietum repentis). Favorable conditions for development of woody plants (small size of study area, its close position to forest ecosystems, poorly sodded soil) respond for replacement of meadow succession stage by young woody plants towards the second decade of succession. Earlier agricultural lands are an appropriated place for formation of birch forests with a well-developed undergrowth of Salix caprea and herb layer of meadow and forest edge plants (аss. Deschampsio cespitosae–Salicetum capreae). Big-size study areas with a well-formed grass stand are dominated by meadow communities towards the second succession decade even in case of no haying. The highly competitive nitrophytes as Heracleum sosnowskyi, Chamaenerion angustifolium, Anthriscus sylvestris form the following communities as аss. Urtico dioicae–Heracleetum sosnowskyi, аss. Urtico dioicae–Chamaenerietum angustifolii, аss. Symphyto officinalis–Anthriscetum sylvestris. Being highly competitive, these species lead to degradation of first-formed meadow communities.

Inventory of leaf and flower odorants in plants associated with the life cycle of Japanese Papilio butterflies

The odorants of eight Japanese mainland native species (Citrus x deliciosa, Zanthoxylum ailanthoides, Z. schinifolium, Z. piperitum, Phellodendron amurense, Orixa japonica, Skimmia japonica, and Boenninghausenia albiflora), one tropical species (Euodia meliifolia), and one invasive species (Ruta graveolens) of the Rutaceae family and three Japanese mainland native species (Angelica keiske, Heracleum lanatum, Anthriscus sylvestris, and one invasive species (Foeniculum vulgare) of the Apiaceae family were analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry with dynamic–headspace and thermal–desorption methods. These plants are hostplants to Japanese Papilio butterflies. Herein, these 14 plants were classified into six major groups based on the odorant volatiles, which did not correspond to the current phylogenetic classification. Similarly, floral odorant analysis of the six plant species (Clerodendrum trichotomum, Cayratia japonica, Robinia pseudoacacia, Lonicera japonica, C. deliciosa, Z. ailanthoides) visited by Papilio butterflies for nectaring, revealed the presence of linalool in all the flowers. Floral volatiles in C. deliciosa and Z. ailanthoides exhibited moderate resemblance to their respective leaf volatiles. Interestingly, our results in C. trichotomum was not in complete agreement with previous reports, emphasizing the need for newer methods of extraction and analysis.

Effects of desiccation of seeds in nine species with morphophysiological dormancy on germination and embryo growth

Aims In species with morphophysiological seed dormancy (MPD), little is known about the effects of desiccation of imbibed seeds on embryo growth and germination. We studied seed responses to dehydration in nine species with different levels of MPD. Methods For each species, a control test was conducted by keeping seeds permanently hydrated and exposed to the optimal stratification-incubation sequence to promote embryo growth. Simultaneously, tests were run in which seed stratification was interrupted for 1 month by desiccation at room temperature. Important Findings In Clematis vitalba and Ribes alpinum, with nondeep simple MPD, desiccation affected neither embryo growth nor seed viability, but the desiccation led to a decrease of germinative ability in R. alpinum by 16%. The seeds of Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. munozii-garmendiae, with deep simple epicotyl MPD, tolerated desiccation in different embryo growth stages, but their germinative ability decreased slightly. The response of species with complex levels of MPD to desiccation was more variable: Delphinium fissum subsp. sordidum, with intermediate complex MPD, and Anthriscus sylvestris and Meum athamanticum, both with deep complex MPD, tolerated desiccation. In contrast, Ribes uva-crispa with nondeep complex MPD, Lonicera pyrenaica with intermediate complex MPD, and Chaerophyllum aureum with deep complex MPD, had diminished germination ability by desiccation. Although seeds of the species with simple levels of MPD tolerated desiccation, those of some species with complex levels were also highly tolerant. Thus, desiccation did not induce secondary dormancy in late embryo growth stages. The desiccation tolerance of imbibed seeds of most of the nine species may show their adaptability to climate change in the Mediterranean region.

Fauna and ecology of Hymenoptera background species of terrestrial ecosystems in the Yenisei Siberia tundra and forest-tundra

This paper presents materials on the ecology and faunistic composition of four species of Hymenoptera: Urocerus gigas L., 1758; Vespula vulgaris L., 1758; Bombus polaris Curtis, 1835; Bombus hyperboreus Schonherr, 1809. Their number was calculated for 20172019, data on population density, seasonal activity and forage plants of Hymenoptera adults in the tundra and forest-tundra of Yenisei Siberia are presented. As a result of calculating in both natural conditions, numerous species are true wasps and bumblebees and the large horntail is a rare species and was recorded only in the forest-tundra. When studying the food base of the studied species, it was noted that Vespula vulgaris was most often found on the forest bellap Anthriscus sylvestris L., in thickets of willow shrubs, Salix polaris Wahlenb. Adult insects Urocerus gigas were found mainly on Siberian larch Larix sibirica L. and alder forest Alnus fruticosa Rupr. Individuals of Bombus polaris and Bombus hyperboreus were recorded on horned dandelion Taraxacum ceratophorum L., narrow-leaved fireweed Chamerion angustifolium L., common tansy Tanacetum vulgare L.

Comparative evaluation of several biologically active compounds content in Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. and Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm.

Relevance. A rare representative of the Apiaceae family the garden chervil is widely used abroad in nutrition and in folk and traditional medicine.Methods. Evaluation of nutritional potential of Anthriscus cerefolium (L.) Hoffm and Anthriscus sylvestris Hoffm grown in Moscow region is achieved using the parameters of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, total antioxidant activity of ethanolic extracts.Results. Garden chervil (Anthriscus cerefolium) was characterized by lower concentrations of ascorbic acid (1.6-1.8 times), phenolics (2.2-2.5 times), flavonoids (1.8-2.2 times), total antioxidant activity (1-1.54 times) and dry matter content (2.4-4.9 times) than wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris) but demonstrated significantly higher levels of total dissolved solids. Significantly higher content of dry matter in leaves and especially stems of wild chervil correlates with low nutritional value of stems despite large total mass of plants compared to garden chervil. Contrary to wild chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium recorded unusually high concentrations of carotene in leaves and significantly lower levels of chlorophyll b. Seeds of garden chervil were also characterized by low antioxidant status contrary to wild chervil and seeds of curly parsley. High yield and significant nutritional value of garden chervil indicate important prospects of its wide-scale cultivation in Russia while Anthriscus sylvestris plants seem to be important in breeding processes.