The ecology and distribution of the Indian crested porcupines in the fauna of Artsakh

In the fauna of Artsakh, there is no information on the order of rodents, especially on porcupines, that can give a clear idea of the distribution, ecology and biology of these animals. The data presented in the literature are either fragmentary or outdated and incomplete. Thereby, the results of research carried out by us in the foothill and mountain zones of the Askeran, Martakert, Karvachar and Kashatag regions of Artsakh in the period of 1999-2020 are presented in the article. The paper discusses the dynamics of the porcupine population, changes and their causes, the habitat of these animals and the distribution of their nests, humidity and temperature in the nests. Particular attention is paid to the types of their daily and seasonal activities, depending on climatic conditions and temperature. The article presents the breeding time of porcupines, the dependence on vertical zoning, the composition of forages and their changes depending on the season.

New locations and distribution of the alien species Acalipha australis L. (Euforbiaceae) in Azerbaijan

The article is devoted to the introduced species Acalypha australis L., which has recently been actively expanding its secondary range in Azerbaijan. The results of the study of the distribution and new localities of the species in the republic are discussed, the areas are specified, the species composition of phytocenoses is described, the influence of field moisture on the vitality of A. australis and the dependence on vertical zoning are considered. The main habitats of the species are garden plots, vegetable gardens, park zones and the sides of small water channels, the introduction of A. australis into forest, coastal ecosystems is noted. Keywords: invasive species, Greater Caucasus, Lesser Caucasus, forest ecosystems, coastal strip, agrocenoses, abundance

Vertical Zoning in Hydrothermal U-Ag-Bi-Co-Ni-As Systems: A Case Study from the Annaberg-Buchholz District, Erzgebirge (Germany)

The Annaberg-Buchholz district is a classic occurrence of hydrothermal five-element (U-Ag-Bi-Co-Ni-As) veins in the Erzgebirge (Germany) with an historic production of ~8,700 metric tons (t) Co ore, 496 t U ore, and 26.9 t Ag. Multiple mineralization stages are recognized in polyphase veins hosted by Proterozoic paragneiss. Fluorite-barite-Pb-Zn mineralization occurs across the entire vertical profile of the district, whereas U and five-element stages are restricted to the upper 400 m below surface, coinciding with a graphite-rich gneiss lithology. Here, we present field and petrographic observations, electron probe microanalysis and fluid inclusion data, as well as thermodynamic calculations to characterize five-element and fluorite-barite-Pb-Zn associations, and to constrain the origin of the vertical zoning in the Annaberg-Buchholz district. Microthermometric analyses of fluid inclusions related to the fluorite-barite-Pb-Zn stage yield homogenization temperatures between 78° and 140°C and salinities between 21.9 and 27.7 equiv wt % (NaCl-CaCl2). A correlation of fluid inclusion Na/(Na + Ca) ratios with salinity suggests fluid mixing as a likely precipitation mechanism and relates ore formation tentatively to regional tectonics of the Mesozoic opening of the Atlantic. Thermodynamic calculations indicate that U is more sensitive to reduction than As, predicting that arsenide minerals are precipitated more distally relative to uraninite upon reduction along the fluid-flow path. This implies that the observed vertical zoning is not a primary feature but is the result of hydrothermal remobilization. The observations made in the Annaberg-Buchholz district have general importance to the understanding of U-rich five-element mineralization and may be relevant for exploration targeting in unconformity-related U deposits.

Dairy productivity ewes' karachai breed of sheep and its relation with living mass and vertical zoning of pastures

Milk production and live weight of queens in mountain meat-coarse-wool sheep breeding, as one of the main quantitative traits in postnatal ontogenesis, are more susceptible to the influence of paratypical factors, that is, they have a large “rate of reaction” to the conditions of feeding and maintenance.In order to resolve the question * how to select, what animals to leave for the tribe in the mountain meat coarse-wool sheep breeding *? We at OOO Dargan, a mountainous zone of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (KBR), according to the methodology, formed five groups of queens, with a class interval of 5 kg.It was found that the milk production of the queens had a certain relationship with their live weight, and was 32.4 kg in group V, which exceeds the same indicator of group IV by 1.4 kg; III - by 3.0; II - by 7.6; I - by 8.5 kg, the difference between IV and III groups is 0.6 kg.At 4 months of age, the rams of group V in live weight exceeded rams of groups IV and III by 0.7 and 0.4 kg, II - by 2.5 kg, I - by 5.3 kg, at 6 months of age - I at 7.9 kg, II - at 4.0 kg, III - 1.5 kg. There were no significant differences between IV and V groups - 0.7 kg.Along with this, it should be noted that with an increase in the vertical zoning of pastures above sea level (above sea level), with steep slopes, the higher milk production potential of large queens is leveled.The obtained research results indicate that in mountain meat and coarse-wool sheep breeding, selection for increasing the milk yield of ewes, in combination with the optimal live weight, is an effective method of increasing the live weight of young animals.

VERTICAL ZONING OF THE COPPER-MOLYBDENUM FORMATION OF THE KUZNETSK ALATAU (KHAKASSIA)

The previously identified zoning of the copper-molybdenum formation based on a comparison of geological features of the Sorskoye, Ipchulskoye and other deposits, is confirmed by a comparison of their deep structure and general model of the ore-magmatic system. As a result, it was possible to determine the distribution of ore matter and the degree of concentration of fluids and metals in the evolutionary chain in the first approximation: the initial granite melt-leucogranite residual chamber – ore-forming apophyse from the chamber. The maximum concentration in apophyse is 1000–2000 times higher than the initial content in an ordinary granite. This makes it possible to consider the fluidized apophyse melt as “ore magma” responsible for the ore formation.

GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SCHEMATIZATION OF THE DRAINAGE OF THE SHARYN RIVER BASIN

On the basis of the geosystem approach, using the laws of geographic vertical zoning, the energy resources of river basins and groundwaters, the natural and climatic potential of natural systems that characterize the heat and moisture supply of natural landscapes were determined, which made it possible to carry out a geomorphological schematization of the catchment area of the class of landscapes (eluvial facies), foothill subclass of landscapes (transeluvial facies), foothill lowland subclass of landscapes (transaccumulative facies) and plain class of landscapes (superaquial and subaquial facies) and the natural function of the river basin, that is, nature improvement.

Platinum-group minerals from the Malaya Kamenushka River placer, Middle Urals, Russia

This work presents a detailed study of platinum-group mineral (PGM) assemblages from the Malaya Kamenushka River placer, whose formation is associated with the weathering of the Kamenushensky Uralian–Alaskan type massif, Middle Urals, Russian Federation. The deposit is characterised by the dominance of isoferroplatinum, together with significant numbers of inclusions of Os–Ir–Ru alloys and platinum-group element (PGE) sulfides. A study of the Os–Ir–Ru alloys permitted recognition of two types of iridium with different morphology and composition. The similarity of the PGM assemblages from the Malaya Kamenushka River placer and the lode mineralisation of the Kamenushensky massif is demonstrated. A comparison of PGM assemblages from the Malaya Kamenushka River placer with other placers and massifs of the Ural platinum belt demonstrates significant differences in the number of Os–Ir–Ru inclusions. Such differences for minerals of refractory elements cannot be explained by the vertical zoning of the lode mineralisation. Most probably this is associated with the enrichment of the primary substrate with Os, Ir and Ru and/or the degree of melting, depending on the chosen model of formation of the Uralian–Alaskan type massifs.