Occurrence of the insectivores and rodents in the Samarskaya Luka (European Russia)

In this paper, we present our dataset containing up-to-date information about occurrences of small mammals (Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha and Rodentia) on the territory of Samarskaya Luka. It is a bend of the Volga River in the southern part of the forest-steppe zone of the Russian Plain (European Russia). This unique territory is surrounded on almost all sides by water. The dataset summarises small mammal occurrences noted in long-term studies in Samarskaya Luka from 2000 to 2020. A major part of the dataset was obtained during our helminthological study of small mammals. Besides, some data were attained when studying the ecology of tree-dwelling rodents. Our studies of small mammals were conducted by trap lines and direct observations in the wild. The dataset includes 8147 records of erinaceomorphs, soricomorphs and rodents of 26 species (of total 28) belonging to three orders, nine families and 21 genera. It is based on the research of the staff of the Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Zhiguli State Nature Reserve. The distribution of erinaceomorphs, soricomorphs and rodents in Samarskaya Luka has not been completely studied and further investigation may well discover new small mammal habitats. Our dataset contains new information on occurrences of erinaceomorphs, soricomorphs and rodents in Samarskaya Luka (European Russia). All occurrence records of 26 mammal species with georeferencing are published in GBIF for the first time. The occurrence data are stored in our field journals and we would like to make them available to all researchers.

Kimmeridgian–Volgian ostracods of Samarskaya Luka: Paleoecological analysis and reflection of sedimentation conditions in rock magnetism

The analysis of the distribution of the Kimmeridgian–Volgian ostracods in the section near the village Valy made it possible to establish a sequence of eight communities, the change of which reflects changes in the ecological conditions in the basin. Changes in sea level fluctuations, the main physical and chemical parameters of the ostracod habitat – temperature, salinity of water, oxygen content in it, eutrophy and concentration of organic matter in sediment – are reconstructed. Information on the magnetic susceptibility and its increase after heating was obtained. Statistically significant relationships between the petromagnetic characteristics and some conditions of sedimentation were established. The conclusion about the relevance of continuing such studies at objects of different ages and genesis was made.

Biostratigraphy of Upper Jurassic of the Valy clay pit (Samarskaya Luka) by ammonites, ostracods and dinocysts

The results of integrate biostratigraphic study of Upper Jurassic deposits of the clay pit near the village of Valy (Syzran district, Samara region) are presented. For the first time a bed-by-bed description was made and the subdivision of the section into zones, subzones and biohorizons by ammonites was established. Bauhini and Kitchini zones (Bayi subzone) are established in the Lower Kimeridgian, while Upper Kimmeridgian is represented by Autissiodorensis zone only. In the Lower Volgian Sokolovi and Pseudoscythica zones were recognized, while the Middle Volgian is represented by the Panderi zone. The age of the regionally developed unconformity at the base of the Trazovo Formation has been clarified. As in the sections located to the south from studied section, this unconformity is located in the base of the Autissiodorensis zone, overlying different Oxfordian and lower Kimmeridgian. For the first time for Kimmeridgian of Central Russia in the marlstone band of the Kitchini zone (bayi biohorizon) solitary corals conditionally attributed to the genus Trochocyathus were found. Along with corals other warm-water taxa (belemnites Hibolithes, rare ammonites Taramelliceras) were found in the same bed, suggesting deposition of this bed during the short-time warming event. 6 biostratigraphic units (zone and beds with fauna) were recognized by ostracods, along with 2 dinocyst-based units (assemblage and zone) which are compared with the stratigraphic subdivisions by these groups, previously proposed for the Kimeridgian and Volgian stages of the Russian Platform. The paleo-ecological analysis has allowed to assume, that sediments have accumulated in the conditions of warm shallow eutrophic basin with depth to 50 m, with gradual increase of eutrophy through time. At some levels, short-term episodes of severe shallowing or freshening are recorded by ostracods.

FEATURES OF DESIGNING LANDSCAPE-ECOLOGICAL ROUTES FOR SCHOOLCHILDREN IN THE TERRITORY OF THE NATIONAL PARK “SAMARA LUKA” SAMARA REGION

The national Park “Samarskaya Luka” and the adjacent “Zhigulevsky state reserve of I. I. Sprygin” is a special territory that includes a variety of natural monuments, natural landscapes, unique flora and fauna for the forest-steppe zone. In this regard, this area opens up a wide potential for tourism, which is actively implemented by the management of the national Park. The purpose of this article is to show the prospects of studying this territory in the framework of a school geography course, conducting field trips along pre – developed routes on the territory of this protected area.

Toponymic folklore of Moksha-Mordovians of Samarskaja Luka

В данной статье вводятся в научный оборот оттопонимические предания мордвы-мокши Самарской Луки, проживающей на данный момент в трех населенных пунктах на полуострове: селе Бахилово Ставропольского района Самарской области и селах Торновое и Шелехметь Волжского района Самарской области. Данная этнотерриториальная группа мордвы-мокши в силу особенностей этноисторического развития, а также природно-географических условий проживания была изолирована от носителей иных мордовских диалектов по меньшей мере с первой половины XVII века. В силу этих обстоятельств, культурное, топонимическое и фольклорное пространство мордвы Самарской Луки является уникальным. Предания, связанные с названиями географических объектов, как правило, составляют значительную часть фольклора того или иного населенного пункта. При этом информация, содержащаяся в подобных преданиях, чаще всего рассматривается исследователями как «народная топонимика», подразумевающая «наивную этимологию». На примерах оттопонимических преданий мордвы-мокши Самарской Луки автор показывает, что данный подход не всегда является верным. Топонимическая информация, содержащаяся в фольклорных произведениях такого рода, зачастую может указывать на истинную мотивацию номинаций, либо косвенно указывать верное направление исследований. Данная работа выполнена на основе полевых материалов автора. This article introduces toponymical traditions of the Moksha-Mordovians of Samarskaja Luka, currently residing in the three settlements on the Peninsula: the village of Bahilovo, Stavropol district, Samara region and villages of Tornovoe and Shelehmet of the Volga district of the Samara region, into scientific circulation. This ethno-territorial group of Moksha-Mordovians, due to the peculiarities of ethno-historical development, as well as natural and geographical conditions of residence, was isolated from the carriers of other Mordovian dialects, at least from the first half of the XVII century. In these circumstances, cultural, and toponymic and folkloric space of the Mordvinians of the Samarskaja Luka is unique. Legends associated with names of geographical objects, as a rule, constitute a significant part of the folklore of a settlement. At the same time, the information contained in the legends of this kind is most often considered by researchers as "folk toponymy", implying "naive etymology". The author shows that this approach is not always correct regarding the examples of toponymical traditions of the Mordva-Moksha Samarskaya Luka. Toponymic information contained in folklore works of this kind can often indicate the true motivation of nominations, or indirectly indicate the right direction of research. This work is based on the author's field materials.

Fauna of leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) of isolated Volga Islands and mechanisms of their secondary settlement

The following paper deals with the study that was carried out during 1974-2016 in natural and laboratory conditions in the Samara Region. The authors studied the features of adults leaf beetles survival as a result of the Volga river flood spill, flooding of the isolated island systems as well as migratory processes of insects. Over a 12-year period of field research, 11 entomologists, using 2 traditional and 6 authors methods, have collected 29 species of Chrysomelidae beetles on 11 large Volga Islands (3 of which are periodically flooded) and 20 large, regularly flooded shallows and braids. It is established that the fauna of the Islands leaf beetles is very close to the fauna of adjacent coasts by genesis. The authors analyze the origin and relief of typical Islands, the level of flood waters, the duration of flooding of the Volga river floodplain near Samarskaya Luka, the mechanisms of survival of beetles by adapting them to the conditions of habitats or features of their migrations, with the secondary settlement of island systems. It is established that, in addition to the active flight and autonomous navigation to the Islands, beetles use available boats - rafts from vegetable flood sludge, small and fairly large floating objects (from branches and boards to river vessels). It is established that migrations occur annually, completely regardless of the island beetles-predecessors population wintering success.