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INFLUENCE OF THE AGROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF OIL-CONTAMINATED SOIL ON THE ABUNDANCE DYNAMICS OF MESOPHILIC AND PSYCHROPHILIC MICROORGANISMS

The influence of a polymeric structure-formation agent, chalk and microorganisms on the numbers of mesophilic and psychrophilic microorganisms in oil-contaminated soil was estimated. A carbamide-formaldehyde structure-formation agent had the most positive effect on microbial growth. Introducing hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria and chalk influenced to a lesser degree.

RESTORATION OF A BLACK-HEADED GULL (LARUS RIDIBUNDUS) (CHARADRIIFORMES, AVES) COLONY: THE ROLE OF RELEASERS IN THE FORMATION OF A NEW BIRD COLONY

Our study was conducted on the Kiyovo Lake situated within the limits of the town Lobnya (Moscow region). Formerly, the lake had held a large colony of the Black-headed Gull. Since 1996, these gulls ceased to breed at this lake. During 2009 - 2015, we managed to restore the colony by the usage of artificial measures.

DYNAMICS OF THE ABUNDANCE AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF SMALL MAMMALS IN THE SARATOV TRANS-VOLGA REGION

The population of small mammals in different areas of the Saratov Trans-Volga region features long-term and constantly increasing numbers of Sylvaemus uralensis, and its wide distribution in a variety of habitats. The maximum density of S. uralensis is 72.0 ind. per 100 trap-days and the fraction in catches is 73.0%. A tendency is observed to an increasing numbers of Microtus arvalis.

DYNAMICS OF THE ABUNDANCE AND DEMOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS OF THE SMALL WOOD MOUSE (APODEMUS URALENSIS PALLAS, 1811) (RODENTIA, MURIDAE) AT URBANIZED SITES OF THE SOUTHERN TAIGA SUBZONE

The dynamics of abundance and demographic structure of the small wood mouse (Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811) at urbanized areas of a pine forest located within the urban limits and exposed to anthropogenic impact of various degree and character was under study during 9 years. No clear relation between the abundance dynamics and the sex ratio dynamics (age ignored) in the populations of A.

ECOLOGICAL-PHYTOCENOTIC ASSESSMENT OF THE POPULATION STATUS OF THE RARE SPECIES DICTAMNUS GYMNOSTYLIS STEV. (RUTACEAE, MAGNOLIOPSIDA) IN THE SOUTHERN URALS

The results of our ecological-phytocenotic assessment of the natural coenopopulations of the rare (in Bashkortostan Republic) species Dictamnus gymnostylis Steven are given. In the Southern Urals, the species is on the northeastern border of its habitat. The ontogenetic, demographic and vitality structures of 20 coenopopulations were studied, the existence optima were found. The majority of the surveyed coenopopulations of D. gymnostylis have densities within 1 - 10 ind./sq.m and an incomplete ontogenetic spectrum, the basic ontogenetic spectrum being centered.

ON THE SPECIFIC COMPOSITION, DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF VOLES (MAMMALIA, CRICETIDAE, MICROTINA) IN THE NORTH-WESTERN CAUCASUS

Molecular-genetic typing was done for voles in the vicinity of the Pslukh forest station (the south of the Caucasus nature reserve), the Krasnaya Polyana, and the Utrish nature reserve (the Abrau peninsula). Based on the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, the voles from the Krasnaya Polyana and Pslukh station were attributed to Robert’s snow vole (Chionomys roberti), whereas the animals from the Utrish nature reserve belong to the Eastern-European vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis).

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF MAJOR LIMITING FACTORS ON THE GROWTH OF A VIMBA BREAM POPULATION (VIMBA VIMBA VIMBA) (CYPRINIDAE) - AN INTRODUCED SPECIES IN THE VOLGOGRAD RESERVOIR

An attempt was made to estimate the impact of major limiting factors on changes of the vimba population size in the Volgograd reservoir. The vimba population size in the reservoir is already close to its limit by one hypothesis, based on the accessibility of spawning area resources. A 15-fold increase in the vimba population size is possible for at least two decades by another hypothesis, providing for the population restriction by food resources.

ANADROMOUS STURGEONS (ACIPENSERIDAE, ACTINOPTERYGII) OF THE DON RIVER ABOVE THE TSIMLYANSK DAM

Based on the literature, non-published and survey data, information on the occurrence of anadromous sturgeons after the regulation of the Don River downstream and upstream of the Tsimlyansk Dam is given. There were two peaks of mature adults approaching the dam, namely, in the 1950s and 1980s. The first mass peak was associated with the wild population existed then; the second one was a result of mass artificial breeding.

COUNTING FEATURE VARIABILITY OF THE CRUCIAN CARP CARASSIUS CARASSIUS (L.) (CYPRINIDAE, ACTINOPTERYGII) FROM SMALL PONDS WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF ANTHROPOGENIC POLLUTION

The intrapopulation and interpopulation variability of ten counting features of the external morphology and skeleton in individuals of the crucian carp from three small ponds differing by their anthropogenic pollution level was studied. A statistically significant trend of the decreasing average population values with increasing the water salinity in the small ponds was revealed for five non-metric osteological signs.

HABITAT AND ADAPTATION CHARACTERIZATION OF HEDYSARUM GRANDIFLORUM PALL. (FABÁCEAE, DICOTYLÉDONES) IN THE SOUTHERN VOLGA UPLAND

The coenopopulations of Hedysarum grandiflorum Pall. in the southern Volga Upland within the administrative boundaries of the Saratov region were studied for the first time. The relief, parent rocks and soils in their habitats were characterized. Main environmental scales were supplemented by new data. Tolerance amplitudes by vital environmental factors were revealed. Adaptation features of this species to its environment are presented. H. grandiflorum is shown to be a quite stenobiontic species.

PARTICULARITIES OF THE GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (DENDROCOPOS MAJOR) (PICIDAE, PICIFORMES) WINTER SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION IN SARATOV CITY

The spatial distribution of the Great Spotted Woodpecker in Saratov city was studied in the winter seasons of 2004-2012. The bird distribution was either aggregated or random. The multi-year wintering sites of the Great Spotted Woodpecker are associated with the gully network of the suburban woodland park, city parks, forest belts and old gardens. Dependence between the spatial distribution and pine harvest was found. The bird distribution was grouped in productive years and random in lean years, respectively, because of woodpeckers’ movements to the woodland park and built-up areas.

ON THE CASTOR FIBER (CASTORIDAE, MAMMALIA) ACTIVITY INFLUENCE ON THE ECOSYSTEM BIODIVERSITY OF SMALL RIVERS IN THE FOREST-STEPPE ZONE

Preliminary data on the Castor fiber activity influence on the ecosystem biodiversity of small rivers in three steppe clusters within the State Nature Reserve “Volga forest-steppe” were obtained. With zooplankton, amphibians and fish as examples, it was shown that after beaver-made ponds had appeared, the abundance of all these groups increased. In old ponds, the fish abundance decreases whilst the amphibian one continues to increase. In drained ponds, the zooplankton and amphibian abundance decreases while the fishes become more numerous, due to the appearance of better flowability.

ANALYSIS OF THE AFFORESTATION STATUS IN THE ARID CONDITIONS OF WESTERN KAZAKHSTAN

The current status of the forest fund is considered, the agroforestry melioration potential of the Western Kazakhstan region is assessed. The modern silviculture stage on the area studied is described. The biodiversity depletion is noted, the possibilities of conservation of the existing natural and artificial protective plantings in the extreme conditions of the Western Kazakhstan region are assessed. Floodplain forests, chopping sand massifs and estuary-type depressions, gully and ravine forests are considered as key botanical and landscape territories of the surveyed area.

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF CYPRIPEDIUM GUTTATUM SW. (ORCHIDACEAE, MONOCOTYLEDONES) AT THE NORTHERN BORDER OF ITS HABITAT

The paper presents data on the reproductive biology of Cypripedium guttatum Sw. (Orchidaceae) in the Komi Republic, at the northern border of its habitat. Bees (Lasioglossum calceatum and L. brevicorne) are pollinators of C. guttatum in the region. The pollination efficiency is 21%. C. guttatum seeds are the largest ones among those of other orchid species in the region (1.11×0.22 mm). The size of seeds depends on the growing conditions of mother plants. The seed productivity of C.

VIRAL INFECTION OF PICOCYANOBACTERIAE IN THE RYBINSK RESERVOIR DURING THE FREEZE-UP PERIOD

The virioplankton and planktonic picocyanobacteria abundances in the deep and shallow waters of the Rybinsk reservoir during the freeze-up period (the water temperature within 0.3 - 0.9°C) varied within (37.1 - 84.1)×106 ((57.3±2.1)×106 on the average) particles/ml and (13.5 - 75.0)×103 ((48.7±3.4)×103 on the average) cells/ml, respectively. The fraction of picocyanobacteria with viruses attached to their cell surface was 6.5 - 29.0% (12.0±0.8% on the average). The proportion of visible infected cells was 0.7 - 7.6% (2.2±0.3% on the average) of the numbers of picocyanobacteriae.

SPECIFIC COMPOSITION AND ABUNDANCE OF THE WINTER ZOOPLANKTON IN THE RYBINSK RESERVOIR

The specific composition, seasonal dynamics, vertical and horizontal zooplankton distribution were studied in the pelagic zone and littoral of the Rybinsk reservoir in the winters of 2008 – 2016. The zooplankton abundance was found to be low (the abundance < 10,000 ind./m3, the biomass < 0.1 g/m3), by an order of magnitude lower than the values recorded in the 1970 – 1980s. As earlier, the abundance peak was observed in March. The cryophilic Cyclops kolensis prevailed among the crustaceans. A reproducing population of C.

TROPHOMETABOLIC POTENTIAL OF ESENIA FETIDA SAVIGNY, 1826 (OLIGOCHATA, LUMBRICIDAE) CAUSED BY COPPER NANOPARTICLES AND COPPER OXIDE IN THE SOIL

Depending on the concentrations of Cu and CuO nanoparticles (NPs) (50, 100 and 500 mg/kg dry matter) introduced into an artificial soil, the influence of Cu NPs upon E. fetida is much stronger than similar CuO doses. In particular, this was reflected in higher mortality (80%) and a 50% weight reduction of the worm (p ≤ 0.05) when the dose of Cu NPs was 500 mg/kg, whereas the validity limit of the test (20%) was not exceeded with a similar dose of CuO. Copper hyperaccumulation in the body of E.

ABUNDANCE OF TETRAX TETRAX L. 1758 (OTIDIDAE, AVES) IN THE SARATOV REGION

Based on the count data obtained by various methods and their statistical processing, the abundance of the autumn population of Tetrax tetrax in the Saratov Trans-Volga region was estimated from the late 1990s till now. From 2012 to 2016 it averaged about 30,000 individuals, and in the Right Volga Bank region it was one or two orders lower, the species’ distribution there was sporadic. When studying the T. tetrax abundance dynamics, an increase in its population on the studied territory in the first half of the 2000s was established.

PERCULARITIES OF HYDROCARBON DEGRADATION BY BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM DRILL SLUDGE

Some microorganisms isolated from drill sludge (Bacillus circulans NSh, B. firmus OBR 1.1, B. firmus OBR 3.1, Solibacillus silvestris OBR 3.2, B. circulans OBR 3.3, Halomonas sp. OBR 1, and Erwinia rhapontici OBR 4.1) have been shown to be capable of degrading crude oil, mineral oil, and diesel fuel. It has been established that the B. circulans NSh and B. firmus OBR 1.1 bacteria degrade 62 and 32% of crude oil, respectively, in an alkaline medium (pH 9) for 14 days and degrade 42 and 22%, respectively, in a saline medium (10% NaCl).

CHEMICAL SIGNALS OF CONSPECIFICS AND THEIR ROLE IN THE SEASONAL RELATIONSHIPS IN THE MONGOLIAN HAMSTER (ALLOCRICETULUS CURTATUS) (CRICETINAE, RODENTIA)

The hormonal response of males of the Allocricetulus curtatus hamster to the natural excreta (urine and midventral gland secretion [MVGS]) of conspecific females during several seasons of the year was studied when the animals were kept in the conditions of natural light and temperature. In the autumn, no significant changes in the testosterone level in the blood of males for any of the signals presented were observed. In the winter and summer, there was a trend of increasing this indicator in response to the smells of urine and MVGS of females in their diestrus state.

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