Small mammals of background areas in the vicinity of the Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia)

The dataset contains records of small mammals (Eulipotyphla and Rodentia) collected in the background (unpolluted) areas in the vicinity of Karabash copper smelter (Southern Urals, Russia) and the territory of the Sultanovskoye deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development. Data were collected during the snowless periods in 2007 (18 sampling plots), 2008–2010 (13 plots annually), 2011 (30 plots) and 2012–2014 (19 plots annually). The capture of animals was carried out in different types of forests (pine, birch, mixed and floodplain), sparse birch stands, reed swamps, marshy and dry meadows, border areas, a household waste dump, areas of ruderal vegetation and a temporary camp. Our study of small mammals was conducted using trap lines (snap and live traps). During the study period, 709 specimens of small mammals were caught, which belonged to five species of shrews and 13 species of rodents. The dataset may be highly useful for studying regional fauna and the distribution of species in different habitats and could also be used as reference values for environmental monitoring and conservation activities. Our dataset contains new information on occurrences of small mammals. It includes the peculiarities of their habitat distribution in the background areas in the vicinity of the large copper smelter and the deposit of copper-pyrite ores before the start of its development (Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia). All occurrence records of 18 mammal species with georeferencing have been published in GBIF.

ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTHERN URALS RECREATIONAL POTENTIAL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AKTOBE TOURISM INDUSTRY

Tourism is a sphere of the social and economic complex, which is gradually turning into a developing industry. The importance of tourism development for the economy of Kazakhstan as a whole is essential. This scientific article is devoted to the assessment of the promising areas recreational potential of the Aktobe regions tourist activity. The study geographically describes the research area, the pattern of natural and climatic conditions, the uniqueness of landscapes and the complexity of their spatial and temporal organization. The units of physical-geographical or economic-geographical zoning serve as an objective basis for assessing territorial combinations of natural conditions and resources. The scientific work gives a brief description of the natural conditions, geomorphological and floral composition of the Southern Urals territories that are promising for recreational tourism. The article presents the factors reflecting the attractiveness of the region for the creation of specially protected natural areas.

Effect of forecrop on yield of spring durum wheat and soil potassium in chernozems of southern steppe zone in Southern Urals during long-term research

The goal of the study was to determine the infl nce of forecrops on spring durum wheat productivity and content of soil potassium in monoculture, double-cropping and six-year crop rotation at two types of nutrient statuses. The information obtained as a result of long-term experiments is of great interest, since systematic determination of nutrient elements in soil gives a correct assessment of the effect of the longterm use of fertilizers on soil fertility. Content of available forms of potassium in soil under spring durum wheat depending on different forecrops and nutrient statuses was studied. The best forecrops for durum wheat in 31-year experiments were black, soil-protecting and green fallows. The yield of durum wheat after black fallow was 1.20 t/ha under fertilization and 1.27 t/ha without using fertilizers. Vegetative mass of cropped fallow ploughed into soil and use of mineral fertilizers led to an increase in content of soil potassium. The use of mineral fertilizers has a positive effect on yield of durum wheat; the yield increase was 0.10 t/ha after soil protecting fallow, 0.11 t/ha after common wheat and 0.13 t/ha after winter rye. Content of soil potassium was higher in six-year crop rotation and it increased durum wheat productivity compared to double-cropping and monoculture.

Geodynamic conditions of massive sulfide formation in the Magnitogorsk megazone

Research subject. Volcanism, rock geochemistry, geodynamics, and massive sulfide formation in the Magnitogorsk megazone (MMZ) of the Southern Urals in the Middle Paleozoic.Materials and Methods. Across the largest part of the massive sulfide deposits under investigation, the authors conducted route studies, including geological surveys of individual ore fields and quarries of deposits, core samples of deep wells and transparent sections. Representative analyses of petrogenic and microelements were performed using wet chemistry and ICP-MS in analytical centers in Russia and Europe. Along with the authors’ data, analytical materials published by Russian and foreign researchers were used. Geodynamic reconstructions were carried out taking into account regional data on gravics, thermal field, magnetometry, and seismic stu dies, including «Urseis-95».Results. The geodynamic reconstructions established that the main elements of the paleostructure of the Southern Urals in the Devonian were the subduction zone of the eastern dip and asthenospheric diapirs that penetrated into the «slab-window», which determined the type of volcanic belts, the composition and volume of volcanic rocks of pyrite-bearing complexes, and ore matter of pyrite deposits. The following geodynamic zones in the MMZ were identified: 1 – polychronous accretion prism; 2 – frontal and developed island arcs (D1e2–D2ef1); 3 – zone of back-arc spreading (D1e2); 4 – rear island arc (D2ef1).Conclusions. All investigated zones and ore areas are characterized by an autonomous development of volcanism, a special deep structure and a different composition, as well as by a different volume of massive sulfide deposits that vary in the Cu and Zn ratios and Pb, Ba, Au amounts. In the MMZ volcanic complexes, three groups of plume source basalts are distinguished. The results can be used in predictive-estimation and search operations for massive sulfide mineralization.

Radioepidemiological studies in the Urals: outcomes and future directions

The paper presents the key milestones and outcomes of 65-year studies of the carcinogenic consequences of accidental radiation exposure of the population of the Urals region. The radioactive contamination of the Techa River and the 1957accident at the Mayak PA were the reasons for the long-term exposure of the population at a wide range of doses. The most important tasks of the study were the reconstruction of individual doses, follow-up of the health and life status of cohort members. The research results have shown that chronic human exposure, in comparison to acute exposure, does not reduce the risk of developing malignant tumors and leukemias, and the value of the dose-rate factor does not exceed “one”. Thus, according to our data, the current recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection underestimate the radiation risk of malignant tumors and leukemias in case of chronic exposure of the population by a factor of two. Prospects for further radio-epidemiological studies in the Urals are associated with the analysis of the cohort of Southern Urals Populations Exposed to Radiation (SUPER), which includes about 63 thousand exposed people and makes it possible to assess the radiation risk of solid cancers of certain localizations, certain types of leukemia, and non-cancer effects.

The Patriotic War of 1812 and the Foreign Campaigns of 1813-1814 in the Historical Memory of the Peoples of the Urals

The article identifies the features of the Ural region in terms of preserving and updating the memory of the epoch of 1812-1814. Based on the analysis of various options for preserving images of the epoch (through living memory, materialized memory, festive events and other means), the author comes to the conclusion that the Ural region, despite its remoteness from the theater of war, organically fit into the all-Russian memorial context. At the same time the memory is shaped by the regions focus on military production, and by its providing a significant part of the irregular cavalry recruited from the Orenburg Cossacks and non-Russian peoples. The latter circumstance, through images of Northern cupids, gave the Urals an exotic fame abroad. Forms of preserving Urals memory of the events of 1812-1814 range from variants of living memory, which includes elements left over from the communicative memory, to purposeful activities of central and local authorities to organize mass events at anniversary dates. A significant role in memory preservation is traditionally played by educational institutions, which, starting from the school level, form the memory of childhood. The greatest concentration of memory elements related to the epoch is observed in the Southern Urals, which is predetermined, to a large extent, by the presence of compactly living non-Russian peoples who seek to emphasize their role in the events of all-Russian and even global history. Unlike a number of other national regions of the Russian Federation, the appeal to historical memory in the Urals takes place within the framework of a unifying and reconciling tradition. Despite some commemorative gaps, the three epochs (pre-Soviet, Soviet and post-Soviet) in relation to the historical memory in the Urals about the events of 1812-1814 look quite organic. Images of this great time continue to act as a unifying factor, thus preserving the sense of a common past not only with the all-Russian, but also with common European and global history.

ARCHITECTURE OF RURAL HOUSES OF CLERGYMEN OF THE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURIES IN THE MIDDLE VOLGA REGION AND THE SOUTHERN URALS

The article for the fi rst time carried out a comprehensive analysis of the architecture of rural houses of clergymen in the middle Volga region and the Southern Urals in the 19th - early 20th century. The materials of construction, planning, composition and stylistic features of the architecture of these buildings in the region have been studied. Houses made by local carpenters and designed in St. Petersburg are considered. Changes in the architecture of such buildings over time have been revealed. Examples and descriptions of the architecture of diff erent types of wooden houses of clergymen are given. The most detailed complex of buildings at the church of Nicholas the Wonderworker in the village of Epifanovka. The features of the interweaving of “red-brick” and neo-Russian architectural styles in the decoration of the buildings of this complex have been analyzed.

ASSESSMENT OF THE MODERN GEOECOLOGICAL STATE OF THE LANDSCAPES OF MIDDLE MOUNTAINS OF THE SOUTHERN URALS: METHODS AND RESEARCH RESULTS

The medium-altitude mountains of the Southern Urals began to experience a strong anthropogenic impact since the 18th century in connection with the construction of mining plants. Subsequently, a long economic development of the territory formed anthropogenic transformed landscapes. The assessment of the modern geoecological state of landscapes of the middle regions of the Southern Urals was carried out by superimposing thematic maps based on the processing of indicators, including the influence of climatic factors, the stability of natural complexes to external influences, the anthropogenic transformation of natural complexes, the modern state of landscape components. As a result, landscapes with a favorable, satisfactory and stressed geoecological state were identified.