Restoring Natural Forests as the Most Efficient Way to Water Quality and Abundance: Case Study from Želivka River Basin

This article shows how to restore Central European natural capital effectively. Water in the landscape is primarily sustained by vegetation and soil, most effectively by natural forests and only secondarily by artificial reservoirs. The authors document these facts using a case study from the Želivka River basin (Švihov reservoir), which collects surface water for the metropolitan region of Prague and Central Bohemia. With the Energy-Water-Vegetation Method, the authors demonstrate that the cultural human-changed landscape of the Želivka river basin is able to utilize only about 60% of its solar energy potential. In 1.5% of the territory of the Czech Republic, society annually loses supporting ecosystem services at a level higher than 25% of the annual GDP of the CR 2015. Water retention in the landscape needs to be re-evaluated and addressed in accordance with the thermodynamic principles of life and ecosystem functioning in the biosphere. It is necessary to begin restoring the most efficient natural capital in the landscapes and to return the broad-leaved deciduous forests by intelligent forestation methods to the cultural landscape to the extent justified; this is especially true of the Želivka River basin, which is Czechia’s biggest surface drinking-water collecting area.

Aquatic bioresources of artificial water bodies in Republic of Mordovia (case of Turgenev Reservoir)

On the territory of the Republic of Mordovia there are found more than 220 multi-purpose ponds and water reservoirs built on the watercourses. The Turgenev Reservoir on the Alatyr River is a typical channel artificial reservoir. The results of comprehensive fisheries research for the period of 2009–2015 are presented. Analysis of the fod der base showed a significant underutilization of zoobenthos and phytoplankton. Using the average indicators of the fodder base over the above period, the production capacity of the reservoir fodder base was calculated, which amounted to 39.69 tons or 405 kg/ha. According to the results of research fishing with fry seine, the ichthyomass of small fish species and juveniles under the age of two years is estimated by years at the level of 8 tons or 73–91 kg/ha. According to the results of net catches, the ichthyomass of the commercial fish fauna is at the level of 6.3 t or 64 kg/ha; the total ichthyomass is 146 kg/ha. The possible catch of mainly small fish in the Turgenev Reservoir can make 5–7 tons, and in total in the Republic of Mordovia in the multi-purpose water reservoirs - about 260 tons. Due to the reconstruction of ichthyofauna at the expense of a free food base, reproduction, fish- and water protecting measures the catches of marketable fish in ponds and water bodies of Mordovia can reach 1000 tons. The artificial reservoirs of the republic have a significant regulated potential of the aquatic biological resources for the low-water regions of Central Russia both providing the population with freshwater fish and creating the conditions for active and useful recreation on the territory near the water reservoirs: developing facilities for sport and amateur fishing and tourism.

Fundamentals of commodity fishery for the cultivation of silver carp in polyculture with carp in the conditions of the LLC “Kovcheg” of the Kyiv

This scientific article describes the technology and stages of designing a fishery for growing silver carp in polyculture with carp in conditions of the LLC “Kovcheg” of the Kyiv. In the conditions of this economy the project of cultivation of fish in polyculture was developed, where calculations of average monthly temperature of ponds, content of dissolved oxygen in water were carried out, indicators of a source of water supply of ponds were analyzed, economic efficiency of cultivation of silver carp in polyculture with carp was carried out. Fish farms have a number of significant problems today, that prevent full and easy development – these are financial difficulties in the state, namely: disruption of economic ties, deterioration of the ecological condition of inland waters, insufficient work on the reproduction of fish stocks. In order to get fish farming out of the crisis, ensure sustainable development of the industry, strengthen the country's food independence, it is necessary first of all to solve issues related to environmental and economic problems of fisheries development, improving the economic mechanism of fisheries management, intensification of investment processes and innovations aquatic living resources. The fisheries sector includes the extraction, processing, reproduction and increase of stocks of fish and other aquatic organisms in natural and artificial reservoirs. It provides valuable food, feed, medicine and technical products. Fisheries are aimed at preserving and improving fish stocks in natural reservoirs and breeding fish in artificial reservoirs. In order to ensure food security of Ukraine, it is necessary to work on the following areas: scientific substantiation of the raw material base and rational fishing, protection of aquatic ecosystems, technology of processing of aquatic fish resources.

FORMATION OF ZOOPLANKTON IN THE BOGUCHANY RESERVOIR DURING ITS FILLING

For the first time, we present the materials of the spatial distribution of qualitative and quantitative indicators of zooplankton in the first year of top water level (TWL) in the Boguchany Reservoir. We indicate the dynamics of the formation of the zooplankton community in the Upper section of the reservoir during its filling (from 2013 to 2015). The Irkutsk, Bratsk, and Ust-Ilimsk reservoirs influence the composition and structure of zooplankton in the Boguchany Reservoir that closes the cascade of the Angara HPPs, and there is a great similarity of the crustacean and rotifer fauna with the upstream artificial reservoirs. During the study period (from 2013 to 2017), the plankton fauna included 84 species from 49 genera and 23 families. The horizontal distribution of quantitative indicators throughout the water area of the reservoir had a mosaic pattern. The relative and absolute proportion of rotifers in the composition of zooplankton decreased from the Upper section to the Lower one, and the dominance of crustaceans was opposite. Due to this, the maximum number (129±97.8 thou ind./m3) of zooplankton was recorded in the Upper section, and the biomass (2080±676 mg/m3) – in the Lower section. The obtained unique data on the composition, structure and quantitative development of zooplankton in the Boguchany Reservoir during its formation and filling are important for further monitoring of its state, including the assessment of the feeding of planktonophagous fish and juvenilefish.

Studies on Algae from the Order Synurales (Chrysophyceae) in Northern Vietnam

The present paper focuses on the flora of synuralean algae from four northern provinces in Vietnam: Bac Kan, Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thanh Hoa. Fifty-five water bodies were studied, including territories within national parks Ba Be, Ba Vi, Cuc Phuong, Ben En, and Trang An Wetland—The World Cultural and Natural Heritage and Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve. Samples were obtained from natural lakes and wetlands, artificial reservoirs and ponds, and small temporary water bodies. Electron microscopy allowed for the discovery of 39 taxa, 37 of which belonged to the genus Mallomonas and two to the genus Synura. Six taxa of the genus Mallomonas and two taxa from the genus Synura were not identified to the lower rank. Five taxa are reported for the first time in Vietnam. The most diverse flora was observed in natural protected water bodies. Eutrophic and hypereutrophic water bodies, which were prevalent in the study area, had a reduced number of selected species.

Using Macroelement Content to Characterize Surficial Water Quality of Artificial Reservoirs

The quality of surface waters in the territory of Poland, despite the implemented remedial measures, is mostly classified as bad. This article presents the results of research on the composition of water macroelements in 24 artificial reservoirs located in Opole province (southern Poland), searching for the reasons behind their pollution. Concentrations of the anions F−, Cl−, Br−, NO2−, NO3−, PO43− and SO42− and cations Na+, NH4+, K+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ were taken into account. An analysis of seasonal changes was carried out and, on the example of a dam reservoir (Turawa Big Reservoir), a multi-point analysis of the distribution of ion concentrations in water at the reservoir surface was also carried out. It was shown that retention and flow-through reservoirs, where the main source of pollution is the water feeding the reservoirs, are the most vulnerable to pollution. The second group consists of closed reservoirs located in industrial and agricultural areas, which are exposed to pollution from rainwater run-off and field leachate. In the case of reservoirs created in marl mining areas, a significant effect was also indicated from the chemical composition of the substrate on the formation of ionic equilibria in waters filling the excavations. The research shows that there are no hard and fast rules regarding the seasonal variability of ion concentrations during the growing season, indicating that eutrophic reservoirs show greater variability of ion concentration. Graphical Abstract

Biodiversity of Vegetation around the Mingechevir Reservoir

Mingechevir reservoir is one of the deep-water artificial reservoirs in the territory of Azerbaijani was created on the Kura River in the 50s. Before the construction of the Mingechevir reservoir, 681 species of plants belonging to 74 families and 325 genera were found here. As a result of our research in the valley in 2019-2021, only 154 species were found, belonging to 24 families and 36 genera. As a result of changes during the last 70 years of the hydrographic regime, the influence of edaphic, physical, anthropogenic factors, the original vegetation cover of the Mingechevir Valley has completely changed, and urbanization, land reclamation and other works have further accelerated these changes. If the successions that have begun are not prevented, there may be a risk of destruction of the high-pressure earth dam built in Europe using the leaching method. With the implementation of the proposed phytomeliorative measures, the bare slopes of the reservoir dam can be turned into a “green cover”.

MODELING THE PROCESS OF LAND RESTORATION AS PART OF THE DIGITALIZATION OF DEPOSITS

It is shown that the scale of land disturbance during subsurface use increases, which leads to an increase in the negative impact on the environment and the threat of complete loss of land value. The issues of recultivation of disturbed lands in Russia and abroad are considered. It is noted that the legislation provides for the technical and biological stages of their restoration. It is proposed to additionally take into account the recreational and construction stage of recultivation, the purpose of which is to reuse the areas of quarries, dumps and landfills for industrial and civil construction, the creation of recreational zones, artificial reservoirs. For the simulation of remediation works, it is possible to use standard software tools that allow you to visualize and study the objects of restoration. The currently widely implemented concept of large-scale digitalization of deposits allows us to propose and evaluate measures to reduce the environmental harm of users of subsurface resources and land through the introduction of the principles of the "green economy".

HELMINTHES OF CATFISH (SILURUS GLANIS L.) IN WATER BODIES OF THE MIDDLE REACHES OF THE SYRDARYA RIVER

Study of the species composition of catfish helminths in water bodies of the middle reaches of the Syrdarya river. The material was collected in 2019–2021 in natural and artificial reservoirs of the middle reaches of the Syrdarya river. We examined 216 specimens of the catfish by methods of complete parasitological dissection proposed by V.A. Dogel (1933), A.P. Markevich (1950) and I.E. Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya (1952). The helminths found were undergone laboratory inspection according to generally accepted methods of I.E. Bykhovskaya-Pavlovskaya (1952), A.A. Shigin (1986) and O.N. Bauer (1987). As the research results show, the prevalence in catfish was 31.5% with the intensity of invasion 1–70 specimens. 29 species of helminths were recorded in the catfish: 7 species of cestodes, 10 species of trematodes, 9 species of nematodes, and 3 species of proboscis worms, which belong to 27 genera, 19 families, 11 orders and 4 classes. Events of mono- and associative invasions have been reported. From 29 species of helminths found, 17 species were found in the larval form, and 12 species in the sexually mature form. In natural and artificial reservoirs of the Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan, the catfish is infected with 29 species of helminths. The total infection rate in fish is 31.5%. This parameter varies depending on the season of the year