Biodiversity of the Ingoda River ecosystem

The results of a study of the biodiversity of hydrobionts in the Ingoda River are presented. In phytoplankton sixty six taxa of algae with a rank below the genus have been identified. The zooplankton contains 21 species. The species composition of the macrophytobenthos includes 5 taxa. In the flora of hydrophytes, 15 plant species have been identified. The zoobenthos contains 40 species. Our researches have been showed that widespread species prevail in the flora and fauna of hydrobionts in the Ingoda River. Two alien species (Elodea canadensis and Gmelinoides fasciatus) have been recorded in the Kenon Lake. A very rare East Siberian species of mayfly Acanthametropus nikolskyi has been recorded in the Ingoda River zoobenthos.

Wormwoods (Artemisia L.) of Southern Siberia

The article presents the data on the species composition and geographical distribution of the genus Artemisia L. in Southern Siberia, which were revealed in the process of studying the literature, critical revision of the P. N. Krylov Herbarium, Tomsk State University (TK), as well as field research by the authors in Gorny Altai, Khakassia, Sayan,Tuva. Several species from this territory are questionable in a taxonomic review (Artemisia viridis Willd., A. sacrorumLedeb., A. marschalliana Spreng. and species of the subgenus Seriphidium (Besser ex Less.) Fourr.). It was determined thaton the territory of Southern Siberia there are 88 species of wormwood belonging to 3 subgenera (Artemisia Less., Dracunculus Besser, Seriphidium (Besser ex Less.) Fourr.), 7 sections and 20 subsections. A chorological analysis was carried out,during which 36 endemic taxa were identified on the territory of Southern Siberia. The authors also identified a separategroup of South Siberian endemics, including narrowly endemic, subendemic taxa and South Siberian species that have anarea of distribution from Altai to Northern Mongolia.

Karyological studies of Siberian species of the genus Viola L.

The article presents an analysis of chromosome numbers in Siberian species of the genus Viola (40 speciesfrom 12 sections) based on numerous literary sources and original data. In addition, hybrid forms from the collection site“Rare and endangered Plant Species” of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden (Novosibirsk) were analyzed. Just as theroots of germinated seeds, so the roots of adult plants from an open ground area were studied. Samples of different originswere investigated: Siberia, the Far East, Mongolia, Belarus, Korea, Japan, the Caucasus, in some taxa from remote points ofthe area (for example, V. selkirkii). This allowed us to reveal the variability of the chromosome numbers for some species.Chromosomes in species of this genus are small, 0.8–1.2 mkm long. This involves difficulties to count them. The presenceof mixoploids in some sections and the polybasic state of chromosome numbers for a number of species were established.Polymorphic species in the Violidum section are characterized by polyploid races. The variability of chromosome numbersin taxa reflects their ability to hybridize, as well as the processes of speciation. However, the predominance of autogamy formost species of the genus prevents intensive hybridization. Endemic and tertiary relicts are characterized by a stable number of chromosomes and they are tetraploids.

ON THE ECOLOGY AND SPECIES DIVERSITY OF THE FRESHWATER GASTROPODS OF SPRINGS IN ANDIJAN REGION, UZBEKISTAN

This study examines the species composition, biodiversity, zoogeography, and ecology of freshwater gastropods of 12 springs in Andijan region of Uzbekistan. The study used generally accepted malacological, faunistic, ecological, analytical, and statistical methods. As a result of research in the springs, 14 species of freshwater gastropods belonging to 2 subclasses, 5 families, and 10 genera were recorded. 7 of them are endemic to Central Asia. When indicators of biodiversity of mollusks were analyzed according to the Shannon index, it was found that the highest value was recorded in the springs besides the hills. According to the biotope of distribution and bioecological features, they were divided into cryophilic, phytophilic, pelophilic, and eurybiontic ecological groups. The mollusks, which are common in the springs, were divided into 3 groups according to their faunal similarity. The contribution of the Central Asian and European-Siberian species to the formation of the malacofauna in the springs of the Andijan region was significant.

Orthoptera assemblages of the relict meadows of the Szernye marsh area (West Ukraine: Transcarpathia)

Orthoptera assemblages were sampled between 2012 and 2014 on six grasslands in marginal part of the former Szernye Marsh (Bereg Lowland, Transcarpathia, West Ukraine). 24 species in 1306 individuals were observed which is about the half of the Orthoptera species known from the Bereg Lowland. The bulk of the assemblages is formed by generalist chortobiont species (62.5%), while thamnobionts, connected with tall forb and/or shrubby vegetation, also reach a relatively high frequency (29.1%). According to the biogeographical composition, the Euro-Siberian species were predominating (58.3%), combined with only scarce presence of West Palearctic and Mediterranean species. The multivariate analysis did not show any clear subdivision according to the a priori vegetation types with the exception of the xeric habitats. This assemblage type were characterised by a low species number (7–12) and very high frequency of one or at least two dominant species which were common in all types of studied habitats. Although their subdominant species differed from the other two assemlage types but they could not be referred as true character species. Thus the studied xeric habitats are not such true xeric grasslands as the sandy and saline grasslands of the Pannonian lowland. The main natural value of the area is preseved by semi-natural humide and transitional habitat types, which can be conserved by yearly alternating mowing and preserving the mosaic structure with some corridors among them.

Phenolic compounds in taxonomy of Myricaria longifolia and Myricaria bracteata (Tamaricaceae)

For the first time, the phenolic profile of poorly studied Siberian species of the genus Myricaria Desv. Myricaria longifolia (Willd.) Ehrenb. was investigated by HPLC and LC-MS/MS in comparison with that of wide-ranging species M. bracteata Royle. 65 quantitative parameters of the phenolic profiles were processed by ANOVA and principal component analysis (PCA). The results suggest that the distinction between the species is mainly determined by the variance in total flavonoids and free quercetin in the leaves. Free gallic and ferulic acids, hyperoside and total phenolics in aqueous ethanol extract, as well as kaempferol and rhamnazin in the hydrolyzed extract contributed to the difference between the species. The significant differences justify the positions of these species in two individual series of the genus Myricaria established before. The statistical analysis of the biochemical data allowed us to identify both the characters that determined the distinction between species, and indicators of heterogeneity of the species that varies abnormally (the concentrations of isorhamnetin and rhamnazin, and their ratio).

A preliminary information on spider fauna (Arachnida, Aranei) of the Fastiv district (Kyiv region)

In this article, an inventory of the spider fauna of the Fastov district of the Kiev region was carried out, an annotated list of spiders was compiled and includes 84 spider species of 67 genera from 20 families. The annotated list contains faunistic material, collection method and biotopic preferences of species. The most represented by the number of species in the fauna are the families Araneidae – 19 species (24 %), Thomisidae – 8 species (9 %) and Salticidae – 8 species (9 %). The dominance of species of the family Araneidae is due to the large proportion of the surveyed habitats and vegetation layers inhabited by orb weaving spiders. In general, widespread species of spiders with high ecological plasticity were prevail. Including 10 species: Clubiona caerulescens, Harpactea rubicunda, Haplodrassus silvestris, Zelotes electus, Diplostyla concolor, Tenuiphantes flavipes, Agroeca brunnea, Pardosa amentata, Pseudeuophrys erratica and Ozyptila praticola were recorded in the litter layer of a pine forest only. Three species: Cyclosa oculata, Oxyopes ramosus and Dolomedes plantarius are rare according to the literature data. Five species were found in near-water habitats: Larinioides cornutus, Clubiona phragmitis, D. plantarius, Tetragnatha extensa, and Marpissa radiata, and were not found in the other biotopes. Two species, Metellina segmentata and Tetragnatha montana, are found on near-water vegetation and forest edges. In buildings and in household plots, two synanthropic species were found – Tegenaria domestica and Parasteatoda tepidariorum. The zoogeographic and taxonomic compositions of the araneofauna of the region under study are presented. Arealogically, the basis is made up of the Palaearctic (35 %) and Holarctic (19 %) groups. West-Central-Palaearctic species – 14 %, European-Ancient Mediterranean – 12 %. European and more northern European-Siberian species account for 8 and 5 %, respectively. In comparison with the data for Polesie, the araneofauna of the Fastov region has certain characteristics, namely: a large participation in the composition of the araneofauna of Palaearctic and Holarctic species, a decrease in the proportion of EuropeanSiberian species and an increase in the proportion of European-Ancient Mediterranean groups of species.

Microevolutionary relationships between biotypes of Elymus confusus, E. peschkovae, and E. sibiricus (Poaceae) according to hybridization and sequencing of the nuclear gene GBSS1 (waxy)

According to descriptions, the Siberian species E. peschkovae and E. confusus differ in the presence or absence of trichomes on lemma and rachilla surfaces only. Two methods were used for study microevolutionary relationships between these species: hybridization of biotypes from different locations and analysis of nucleotide sequences of the low-copy nuclear gene GBSS1. Created and grown hybrids in combinations AMU-8804 × BER-0807 and AMU-8804 × BUK-1109 showed complete seed sterility in two field vegetations. Taking into account wide species areas, 3 hybrids were created between Magadan biotypes from a common habitat in the combination E. confusus MOL1887 × E. peschkovae MOL-1882. The plants showed seed fertility (SF) of 0–3 %. This result does not obscure the possibility to assess SF in the F2 generation and the character of inheritance of diagnostic traits. A comparative study of the GBSS1 gene sequences in accessions was carried out in comparison with clones of reference species. Differentiation of clones by the St2 subgenome in E. confusus, E. peschkovae, E. sibiricus and E. caninus did not reveal a clear relationships between the species. Meanwhile, a certain species specificity for the H1 subgenome was noted, confirming the existence of microevolutionary isolation of these species.

Biologically active and reserve substances of Siberian peonies

Levels of biologically active and reserve substances were investigated in the leaves and rhizomes of Paeonia anomala L., P. hybrida Pall., and P. lactiflora Pall. The peonies’ leaves are rich in ascorbic acid (1205.7 mg/100g in P. anomala) and tannins (15.9% in P. lactiflora and 15.7% in P. anomala) at the beginning of the growth season. Concentrations of flavonols, pectins, and carotenoids in the Siberian peonies are low at the beginning of the growth season. P. lactiflora is a promising species for further research on the set and levels of biologically active and reserve substances in rhizomes because this species stands out among the three Siberian species in terms of the levels of catechins (1297.8 mg/100g), protopectins (10.1%), saponins (19.2%), and sugars (22.1%) in rhizomes. In these parts of the plant, starch (18.6%) accumulates the most in P. hybrida among the studied peonies species. Concentrations of the analyzed substances in the rhizomes of the peonies change significantly by the end of the growth season and vary widely among these species. Levels of ascorbic acid (except for P. hybrida), protopectins, and starch increase significantly while concentrations of catechins and sugars decrease in the rhizomes by the end of the growth season.

Alan Mozley: An American malacologist in Siberia (1932–1933)

The history of malacological exploration of Siberia, made in 1932 and 1933 by the malacologist Alan Mozley, then affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, USA, is given, with a discussion of his contribution to the knowledge of taxonomy, biogeography and ecology of freshwater and terrestrial molluscs of Northern Asia. The type specimens of the Siberian species and subspecies, described as new by Mozley, are illustrated, with remarks on the current taxonomic status of these taxa. A social-historical context of Mozley’s trip to Stalin’s Russia is also provided, including its connection to the prosecution of Nikolay Vavilov, a key opponent of “Lysenkoism”.