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Features of the biological diversity of the Kruglaya Bay and the prospects for creating an ornithological reserve (southwestern Crimea, Black Sea)

V.E. Giragosov, N.A. Milchakova, E.P. Karpova, S A. Kovardakov, L.V. Bondareva

Section: Population ecology

This work aimed to analyze the diversity of hydrophilic avifauna and natural complexes to substantiate the creation of an ornithological reserve in the Kruglaya Bay (Crimea, Black Sea). The diversity of biotopes, marine and coastal flora, and fauna characterized on the basis of long-term research data. The avifauna includes 74 species from 43 genera, 14 families, and 9 orders. The orders Charadriiformes, Anseriformes and Ciconiiformes unite 57 species (77% of the total number of species). The number of birds in winter reaches 0.99–1.38 thousand individuals. There are 11 protected species in the avifauna, including 10 species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The natural complexes of the bay are most attractive for wintering hydrophilic birds, and to a lesser extent – for transit migrating, nomadic and nesting species. The flora of marine macrophytes and coastal vascular plants comprises 141 species, including 17 protected ones. The ichthyofauna and benthic invertebrates contain 60 and 124 species, respectively, including 9 protected ones. The high environmental value of the bay is associated with the formation of large seasonal clusters of hydrophilic birds, a high degree of biota diversity, the presence of many protected species and biotopes. We are recommended to create an ornithological reserve with a temporary regime (in winter) in the Kruglaya Bay. The new reserve will be the first ornithological object of this category in the nature-protected network of Sevastopol and Crimea. Its formation will allow to preserve biotopes and nesting places of birds, rare flora and fauna, and introduce some restrictions on environmental management and extraction of bioresources.

Keywords: hydrophilic birds, biota, biocenosis, specially protected natural areas, Sevastopol, Black Sea

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Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-179-185

Carbohydrates in surface waters and its relation to the nutrients and organic matter content

T.A. Efremova

Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects

The results of a long-term research of the content of carbohydrates in natural waters of Republic of Karelia (Russia) from 2011 to 2020 are summarized. In total, 34 water bodies (29 lakes and 5 rivers) were studied in different hydrological seasons. The presented sample of water bodies captures almost all types of surface waters in the humid zone in terms of trophicity and humus content. It was found that the carbohydrates concentration varies widely from 0.7 to 53.1 mg/L (average 3.3 mg/L) and its share of total organic matter averages 16%. It was revealed that the content and distribution of carbohydrates in surface waters depends both on natural (the level of trophicity and humus content in the reservoir) and anthropogenic factors (eutrophication, trout farms, industrial wastewater discharge, seepage waters of solid waste landfills, communal wastewater). In addition, all the studied water bodies were categorized into two groups according to the water pollution degree: contaminated and uncontaminated. It was revealed that the concentration of carbohydrates in contaminated water bodies of Karelia is on average 1.4 times higher than in uncontaminated ones. In addition, the content of carbohydrates increases together with such chemical parameters as 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD Cr), permanganate oxygen demand (COD Mn), chlorophyll a, mineral and total phosphorus (Pmin and Р total relatively) and ammonium (N-NH 4+). In particular, these relations are pronounced in contaminated water bodies, where the highest values of the correlation coefficient between the above parameters are noted. The content of carbohydrates in surface waters is a complex indicator of both organic and biogenic water pollution.

Keywords: carbohydrates, organic matter, nutrients, contamination, surface waters

Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-094-102

Numerical simulation of the passive tracer advection in the White Sea

I.A. Chernov, A.V. Tolstikov

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

It is hardly possible to make experiments on transport of potentially dangerous tracers in a sea. Therefore numerical simulation is successfully used to assess the risks and consequences of various events like oil spills, flux of toxicants with river runoff after industrial accidents or phytoplankton in case of harmful algae bloom. As the White Sea is a transport hub and a strategically important location for extraction of natural resources, so it is important to know the most likely scenarios of pollutants behavior. The JASMINE numerical model, based on the FEMAO (Finite-Element Model of the Arctic Ocean) simulates evolution of sea state, including three-dimensional currents, temperature and salinity, and sea ice, and is able to calculate tracer advection, so giving answers to a number of questions related to how pollution evolves in the White Sea. We describe numerical experiments to study advection of floating tracers in the White Sea when the initial distribution is delta-like and located in the mouths of main rivers. Also, we calculate the time of almost complete removal of an initially homogeneous concentration of a passive tracer. Spatial resolution is 3 km, vertical grid is 5 m down to the depth level of 150 m (10 m for depths more than 150 m). The time step is 360 s. NOAA/NCEP atmospheric reanalysis is used for atmospheric forcing. Five main rivers are taken into account with the monthly-mean runoff taken from the multi-year observation data. We have estimated the time needed to remove most of the matter from the sea; it depends on morphometric characteristics of the bays and is the highest for the Onezhskiy bay. Matter exchange between the bays is low, only Dvinskiy-Onezhskiy-Mezenskiy transport is present, as we would expect from the geostrophic current pattern.

Keywords: passive tracer, advection, numerical simulation, the White Sea, JASMINE

Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-021-027

Detection of the key biotope of boreal floodplain meadows in the Smolenskoe Poozerye National Park based on satellite and topographic data

N.V. Koroleva, D.V. Ershov, Е.V. Tikhonova, Т.Yu. Braslavskaya, A.О. Kharitonova, E.A. Gavrilyuk, D.G. Grummo, A.V. Sudnik

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

The research shows the possibility of identifying a key biotope of boreal floodplain meadows in the Smolenskoe Poozerye National Park on the basis of spectral and topographic characteristics of the territory. The key biotope E3.47 according to EUNIS is a meadow along large rivers with areas of calm flow; it freeze every winter and affected by flooding in spring. This category includes areas that are open or poorly overgrown with woody and shrubby vegetation. Sentinel-2 multispectral satellite images (ESA Sentinel-2, 2019) are used to determine areas of floodplain meadows. The geospatial assessment of boreal floodplain meadows is carried out using the method of uncontrolled classification of “K-means” of ten spectral channels of Sentinel-2 satellite images obtained over six seasons, including the flood period. As a result of cluster analysis, classes that are spectrally close to meadow communities are selected. These classes located along flood-plains of rivers, with the elevation difference from the water line not exceeding 5 m. This elevation corresponds to the maximum possible rise of water in rivers during a flood for the studied area. A topographic index using a digital elevation model (DEM) and a hydrographic terrain network are used to correct the selected classes. The accuracy of recognition of the floodplain meadows class is determined using a matrix of error in 133 segments along the 4 transects located in floodplain and dry meadow communities. The convergence of result between the floodplain meadows classification and ground surveys data was 75% (Cohen’s kappa equals 0.53).

Keywords: Smolenskoe Poozerye National Park, EUNIS, boreal floodplain meadows, Sentinel-2, “K-means” method, Earth remote sensing

Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-028-036

Application of gas discharge visualization technique for seeds hidden defects evaluation

N.S. Priyatkin, M.V. Arkhipov, L.P. Gusakova, V.N. Pishchik, T.A. Kuznetsova, A.V. Karamysheva, L.P. Trofimuk, P.A. Shchukina, M.A. Kuznetsova

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

The gas-discharge visualization (GDV, electrophotography) method allows recording and quantifying the glow that occurs near the surface of the object (seed), when placing it in an electromagnetic field of high intensity. The hidden defects – emptiness of Pinus sibirica Du Tour seeds and biogenic damage (by phytopathogenic bacteria Pantoea ananatis) of Zea mays L. seeds were revealed and analyzed by the method of gas discharge visualization in combination with automatic analysis of digital gas-discharge images. It is shown that empty seeds have reduced values of the averaged intensity of digital gas discharge images. According to the data obtained, the methods of gas-discharge imaging (electrophotography) and microfocus radiography showed high efficiency (> 90%) of accuracy in the detection of empty seeds of Pinus sibirica. It was found that the sample of Zea mays seeds (hybrid Krasnodarskiy 194 MV) was characterized by reduced values of the average intensity of gas-discharge images, as well as the average brightness of digital X-ray images, compared with the other three seed samples. The seed sample of hybrid Krasnodarskiy 194 MB was characterized by the worst sowing qualities: emergence rate, germination, root length and shoot length. It was shown that the Krasnodarskiy 194 MB seeds were affected by phytopathogenic bacteria Pantoea ananatis. The average inverse correlations of a number of characteristics of gas-discharge glow (area, total intensity) with the standard deviation of brightness of digital X-ray images, as well as weak reliable correlation of most gas-discharge characteristics with seeding qualities were found. Comparative assessment of gas discharge indices and seedlings germination as integral indices for evaluation of biological completeness of Zea mays seeds was carried out. Research has confirmed that the method of gas discharge visualization in combination with automatic analysis of digital gas-discharge images can be used as an effective additional tool for rapid detection of defective seeds.

Keywords: gas discharge visualization (electrophotography) of seeds, seed image analysis, sowing qualities of seeds, Pinus sibirica Du Tour, Zea mays L.

Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-037-048

Use of basic hydrochemical and hydrobiological indicators to determine the invariant state of the Kuibyshev reservoir and its tributaries

Т.А. Kondrateva, T.V. Nikonenkova, A.R. Gaisin, T.R. Latypova, N.Yu. Stepanova

Section: Chemistry of natural environments and objects

The method of ecological modifications was used to determine the invariant state of aquatic ecosystems in the Middle Volga basin. Based on the analysis of long-term regime hydrochemical and hydrobiological information using the methods of mathematical statistics (cluster, hierarchical cluster analysis, ordination methods), the studied water bodies were grouped according to the chemical composition of water, highlighting the main indicators of natural and anthropogenic genesis. We highlighted the general indicators of the chemical composition of water (temperature, salinity, hardness, content of oil products, chromium ions) that affect the change in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of hydrobiocenoses, as well as specific indicators (nitrogen-containing compounds, phosphates, chlorides, sulfates, copper and iron ions), negatively affecting the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of hydrobiocenoses. A group of ciliates – cilioplankton (qualitative and quantitative characteristics) was used to assess the invariant state. Cilioplankton in the ecosystem of the Kuibyshev reservoir is characterized by high species diversity, which indicates anthropogenic stress. The quantitative characteristics of cilioplankton in rivers are low, and the community changes are ecological modulations. The share of rotifers development in zooplankton indicates the elements of ecological regress in water bodies, as well as anthropogenic eutrophication with elements of ecological regress (in most of the Kuibyshev reservoir). The level of zoobenthos development and its size, as well as the oligochaetes relative proportion indicate anthropogenic stress in the ecosystem of most parts of the Kuibyshev reservoir. The elements of ecological regress are traced only in the area of Chistopol. The water ecosystem in Tetyusha area is characterized as a transition from background to anthropogenic stress. The Vyatka and Mesha rivers are characterized as background rivers with the transition to anthropogenic stress. Anthropogenic eutrophication with elements of ecological regress can be traced in the Kazanka River. The Stepnoy Zai, Noksa and Ilet rivers has elements of ecological regress. Hydrobiocenoses indicators statistically depend on hydrochemical composition.

Keywords: aquatic ecosystems, monitoring, ecological modifications, invariant state, ecological regress, anthropogenic stress

Article published in number 3 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-3-113-119

Application of geoinformation modeling and fractal analysis in the geoecological assessment of urban geosystems

B.I. Kochurov, M.A. Movchan

Section: Methodology and research methods. Models and forecasts

The article tests modern methods of geo-ecological assessment of settlements, namely GIS modeling and fractal analysis. Recently, they have found wide application in quantifying both the infrastructural components of the urban environment – the street and road network, the density of buildings, the degree of transport accessibility, and the environment-forming ones, such as green zones. GIS modeling methods allow quantifying the distribution density of a certain component of the urban environment or calculating the degree of accessibility in the form of classification and visualizing the results on a spatiotemporal scale in a form convenient for perception. The paper evaluates the parameters of the density of the road network, the density of buildings and the degree of landscaping of the territory according to spectral indices – NDVI and NDBI. Fractal analysis evaluates the range of sustainability of the environment of settlements to factors of anthropogenic load and, thus, areas with varying degrees of severity of anthropogenic impact are identified by the indicator of fractal dimension. The methods of geoinformation modeling and fractal analysis complement each other in geoecological assessment and allow for a more objective assessment of the state of the urban area.

Keywords: geoinformation modeling, urban geosystems, fractals, geo-ecological assessment, sustainable develop-ment, accessibility

Article published in number 2 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-2-032-037

Ecological factors determining natural and anthropogenic invasion of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden., measures to combat it (review)

T.Ya. Ashikhmina, E.V. Tovstik, T.A. Adamovich

Section: Theoretical problems of ecology

This review analyzes the problem of invasion of Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. under the influence of various environmental factors. Particular attention is paid to abiotic, biotic and anthropogenic factors. The influence of these factors on invasiveness is considered on specific examples. It has been established that among abiotic factors, temperature, humidity, light, wind speed and direction, duration and depth of snow cover, terrain, and elemental composition of the soil play the main role in the distribution of H. sosnowskyi. The totality of abiotic factors generally determines the confinement of H. sosnowskyi to areas of a cool humid climate. Increased humidity, the presence of snow cover, low positive temperatures in the autumn-winter and early spring periods create conditions for seed stratification, which ensures the viability of hogweed. Various interspecific interactions, along with other environmental factors, make a significant contribution to the invasiveness of H. sosnowskyi. The determining biotic factor in the case of this species is competition for resources. However, despite the allelapathic activity of hogweed, it can be the object of parasitic invasion of some plant species, for example, vines of Echinocystis lobata. The introduction of H. sosnowskyi into natural phytocenoses depends on their density, it is also closely related to pollinators and phytophages. The connection of the plant with soil microbial communities is noted, which have both positive and negative effects on the invasion of Hogweed. Among anthropogenic factors, the greatest contribution to the invasiveness of H. sosnowskyi is made by the movement of soils contaminated with viable seeds of this plant during construction, the transfer of seeds with various modes of transport. Deforestation plays a significant role in the invasiveness of H. sosnowskyi, during which the structure and composition of vegetation changes. The distribution of hogweed is due not only to environmental factors acting in combination, but also to its high adaptability to various environmental conditions. In this regard, in order to determine the method of combating H. sosnowskyi, it is important to take into account not only the effectiveness of measures, but also the role of environmental factors that determine the viability of this plant.

Keywords: biotic, abiotic, anthropogenic factors, introduction, invasive species, control measures.

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Article published in number 2 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-2-020-031

Galvanic sludge is a source of secondary material resources in the production of filler pigments for paints and varnishes

L.N. Olshanskaya, E.N. Lazareva, E.A. Tatarintseva, O.A. Aref’eva, E.V. Yakovleva, Z.A. Simonova

Section: Ecologization of industry

Galvanic production occupies one of the first places according to the degree of negative impact on the environment due to the content of heavy metal ions which have toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Finding an effective method of recycling and utilization of galvanic sludge will solve the problem of the steady growth of the cost of metals and minimize the negative impact on the environment, which is an important environmental task of great scientific and practical significance. This paper presents the results of studies on the extraction of iron oxide(III) Fe₂O₃ from ironcontaining galvanic sludge to use it as a filler pigment in the manufacture of paint (red iron oxide). At the initial stage, the original galvanic sludge was dissolved in distilled water to a creamy consistency, and then, sulfuric acid was gradually added until the pH value gradually decreased (pH 6.0–1.5), metal sulfates were obtained. Iron hydroxide(III) Fe(OH)₃ was precipitated from filtered sulfate solutions with 40% NaOH alkali solution at pH 1.5–4.1. After preliminary drying at a temperature of ≈ 150 ^оС, heat treatment was carried out at 600±2 ^оС for 5–6 h, obtaining iron oxide(III) Fe₂O₃, which met the requirements of GOST 10503-71 “Oil paints, ready to use. Technical Conditions in terms of particle size, oil capacity, particle density and pH of aqueous extracts. The iron minium paint made on its basis also met the requirements of this GOST on parameters: viscosity, hiding power, drying time, etc. A schematic diagram is proposed for obtaining a filler pigment used for the production of paints and varnishes. The scheme uses a set and layout of equipment widely used in industry (conveyor, batchers, screw feeders, acid and alkali treatment baths, centrifuge, drying and roasting oven).

Keywords: galvanic sludge, iron hydroxide, utilization, filler pigments, iron oxide, paint and varnish products, iron oxide (III), scheme for obtaining iron oxide (III)

Article published in number 2 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-2-089-095

Monitoring of soil algocyanoflora in the technogenic territory

L.V. Kondakova, E.V. Dabakh

Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas

The results of monitoring higher vegetation and soil algocyanoflora on the territory of the self-overgrowing liquid waste storage facility after reclamation are presented. The species composition of higher plants and algocyanoflora on monitoring sites depends on the whole complex of soil formation factors: the initial heterogeneity of the substrate, topography, and moisture conditions. Reduced relief and excessive moisture contribute to development of moisture-loving species of higher plants, algae and cyanobacteria; the density of grass sod exacerbates the competitive relations of higher plants (monodominance) and contributes to decrease in the species diversity of microphototrophs. For the entire observation period from 2019 to 2022 66 species were identified on the territory of the backfilled tailing dump including: Cyanobacteria – 29; Chlorophyta – 20; Xanthophyta – 5; Eustigmatophyta – 3; Bacillariophyta – 9. Cyanobacteria (СВ) dominate the algocyanoflora communities at all sites accounting for 43–47% of the species diversity. Few species of yellow-green and eustigmatophyte algae sensitive to technogenic pollution have been noted. The research did not reveal any regular relationship between soil pollution, vegetation species diversity and algocyanoflora composition. However, it can be assumed that the increased content of nitrates in soils in the low area under reed thickets may be the reason for the low species diversity of CB. Over time, increasing similarity of algocyanoflora on the monitoring sites was noted. The maximum difference in the species composition of algae and CB identified on the site under the monoassociation of common reed is conditioned by excessive soil moisture in the lowering of the relief.

Keywords: technogenic landscape, waste storage, soils, vegetation, cyanobacteria, algae

Article published in number 2 for 2023
DOI: 10.25750/1995-4301-2023-2-047-055

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