Tomsk State University Journal of Biology

7-22

Authors: Anatoly G. Dyukarev, Natalia N. Pologova

Pinus sibirica forests near settlements are formed on the rich habitats in the absence of competition from other forest species. Tree stands here have fast rate of biological processes and high productivity. These forests ecosystems inherit the background conditions of the environment and are formed in habitats with a wide variety of moisture conditions and soils. Most of studied P. sibirica forests at the south of Tomsk region are dedicated to landscapes subtaiga forest zone with zonal gray soils. In the north of forest-steppe zone P. sibirica forests are rarer and confined to the river valleys due to high standards of P. sibirica to moisture conditions. Complex combinations of soil cover in each P. sibirica forest patch is determined by proximity to river valleys. There are several levels of heterogeneity of soil. Zonal level is defined by climatic conditions. Regional level is defined by position in the macro-relief. Local level of inhomogeneity is related with the microrelief and soil position in the system of tree stand edificator. Zonal automorphic soils are typical of upland habitats. Accumulation – transitive or eluvial soils are typical of sloping positions. Semi-hydromorphic and hydromorphic soils are typical of accumulative positions. The patterns of distribution of soil are found in each patch of P. sibirica forest, but in general, the soils of slope positions are found for a large part of their area. Tree stand structure in biogeocenosis affects through redistribution of precipitation by crowns and litter inflow. Edificator influence of forests determines capacity of forest litter, sod horizon, bulk density of humus and humus content in the upper part of soil. The main factor of differentiation of the soil cover in South taiga is lithological. It is heterogeneity of the underlying rocks. The variety of lithological basis was analyzed by using combined indicator – the average diameter of fractions. The soilforming processes and patterns of the soil profile were analyzed by distribution of silt fraction. The peculiarity of soils of Pinus sibirica forests is loose constitution and high aggregation of humus horizons. These facts create an optimal water-air and thermal conditions in the root zone. Basic soil characteristics determine the type and shape of Pinus sibirica trees and their productivity. Pure P. sibirica forests of park type with low resistance to pests and diseases are formed in rich soils, but stable P. sibirica forests of taiga type with complex structure are formed on podzolic soils. Modern degradation of P. sibirica forests near settlements occurs due to their accelerated development, high levels of anthropogenic pressure and the lack of renewal.

43-51

Authors: Tatyana P. Alekseeva, Tatyana I. Burmistrova, Larisa D. Stakhina, Natalia N. Tereshchenko

For intensification microbiological destruction of oil in in oil contaminated soils may use ecological ameliorant based on peat, it has good sorption properties and it is enriched active hydrocarbon oxidiring microorganisms. Rate of biodegradation in soil may defined by form and dose nitrogen fertilizer in consist of peat ameliorant. Laboratory trials revealed that the ameliorants which contain the peat and nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are able due to active stimulation of microflora to increase the rate of decomposition of oil in soil by 1.5–2.0 times. The influence of carbamide and ammonia nitrate contents and their ratios to others components on the rate of destruction of oil pollutants in soil have been studied. The most optimal kind of nitrogen fertilizer in composition of peat ameliorant is cаrbamide. Application of peat ameliorant with carbamide in comparison with ameliorant containing ammonium nitrate promote more active flow of microbiological and enzymatic process during the whole period of experiment. This factor serve higher ratio of destruction oil hydrocarbon. These ratios are 32.4 and 54.3% vs. 21.6 and 42.5% for 6 month of experiment. Changing of carboxylic group contains for 6 month of experiment argue about more significant oxidizing process, that it is passing in oil in case of using peat ameliorant. In these versions in comparison with version where ammonia nitrate are used, is marked lower content of carboxylic group. It is connected to further transformation of carboxylic acid into another oxygen-containing compound. In this case it has been reached maximum degree of paraffin- naphthenic hydrocarbon’s destruction – 2.6 vs. 1.9. The high initial dosage in content peat ameliorant of nitrogen fertilizer added to oil-contaminated soil don’t lead to maximal rate of oil carbon destruction. This rate is higher with more wide ratio C:N:P (863:1:1 in this case) and for 6 month experiment is 42.5 and 54.3% vs. 21.6 and 32.4% with C:N:P ratio equal to 20:1:0.15.

57-69

Authors: Marina N. Dirks

Colonization peculiarities and ontogenetic structure of coenopopulations of two shrubs Juniperus sibirica and Betula rotundifolia were investigated at different stages of vegetation development on new moraines of the Maly Aktru glacier (2200–2290 m a.s.l., Aktru headwater basin, Severo-Chuiskiy range). Colonization of J. sibirica can occur in early years after glacier retreating. The first individuals on some sites probably don’t survive dying when they are young because of unfavorable conditions. B. rotundifolia colonizes new moraines not until 40 years after glacier retreating at the herb-moss-willow stage of vegetation development and depends on the presence of plane sites of fine fragments of rocks protected from cooling by the glacier and with a considerable snow cover. The time period of new moraine forming is not enough for passing overall ontogenesis by individuals of this species. Seemingly, the absence of the youngest individuals of J. sibirica is connected with unfavorable weather conditions in the years of investigations and/or low germinating ability. A settlement of the youngest individuals of B. rotundifolia at the herb-moss-willow-birch stage is hampered by dense moss cover and leaf litter. These are reasons why the ontogenetic spectra of all investigated coenopopulations of this species are incomplete. The series of J. sibirica cenopopulations from invasional cenopopulation at the pioneer stage to the young and normal ones at the herb-moss-willow-birch stage and on the end moraine of the middle of the 19th century were observed. The series of B. rotundifolia cenopopulations from the young and normal cenopopulation at the herb-moss-willow stage to the mature and normal one at the herb-moss-willow-birch stage were revealed. Coenopopulation of J. sibirica at the pioneer stage isn’t capable yet of self-sustaining and completely depends on seed influx from without because of the absence of generative individuals in its structure. Self-sustaining of its other coenopopulations can occur by their own seeds as there are generative individuals. All coenopopulations of B. rotundifolia are capable of self-sustaining by seed reproduction due to the presence of generative individuals and also by partial formations at the herb-moss-willow-birch stage. The character of ontogenetic spectra and demographic characteristics of species cenopopulations depend on the age of moraine deposits, substrate features, micro- and mesorelief peculiarities, ecotopes protected from cooling by the glacier and a sufficient snow cover.

84-100

Authors: Natalia I. Makunina

The Saksary hill massif is situated in the western part of the South-Minusinskaya basin in rain shadow of the Range Abakansky. It is limited by the Abakan river and its affluents the Uybat and the Kamyshta rivers. It extends from west to east by 22 km, from north to south - by 20 km. The climate is ultracontinental. The average annual temperature is about 0 ºC, a minimal one - -48º…-52ºC and a maximal one +34º…39 ºC. The sum of temperatures above 10 ºC is 1600 ºC, the annual amount of precipitation is 250-300 mm. In the western part of Mynusinskaya basins the upper limit of steppe belt is 600 m above s.l. Only the marginal parts of the massif are characterized by heights below 600 m. The basic central part has the heights from 600 to 900 m above s.l. Nevertheless, it is covered with steppe vegetation. At the top part of the northern steep slopes of several highest hills we can only see some trees. The steppe vegetation of the Saksary hill massif in outline was characterized by V.V. Reverdatto (1928), A.V. Polozhyi and A.T. Maltseva (1974). The principal aims of this work are to reveal the diversity of steppe communities of the Saksary hill massif, to classify them according to the principals of Braun-Blanquet classification and to describe the structure of vegetation cover. The diversity of the Saksary hill massif steppe communities is presented with 5 variants and 5 subassociations of 7 associations belonging to Central Asian class Cleistogenetea squarrosa and European Siberian class Festuco-Brometea. The altitude above the sea level, steepness and stoniness of hill slopes determine the pattern of steppe associations. The Saksary hill massif has three altitudinal steps: 1) the pediment of hill massif (350-450 m above s.l.); the foot, marginal part of hill massif (450-600 m above s.l.); 3) the top, central part of hill massif (600.900 m above s.l.). The first hill massif step is characterized by predominance of flat surfaces, the second one - with gentle slopes (3-7º) and the third - with mean (7-15º) slopes. The steep slopes (15.25º) are present on the third hill massif step and more rarely on the second one. The altitudinal-belt steppe types cover the gentle (3-7º) and mean (7-15º) slopes. They succeed one another as the altitude increases. On the hill massif pediment bunchgrass steppes of subass. Artemisio frigidae-Stipetum krylovii artemisietosum scopariae predominate. On the foot part of hill massif (450-600 m above s.l.) they give place to bunchgrass steppes of ass. Thalictro foetidi-Festucetum valesiacae, above 600 m gentle slopes and sun exposed mean slopes are covered with tussock steppes of ass. Artemisio glaucae-Caricetum pediformis, on shadowed slopes the meadow steppes of ass. Bupleuro multinervi-Helictotrichetum desertorum predominate. The steep slopes (15-25 ºC) are covered with crushed stones and have the shape of stairs, their pattern of steppe communities is the same on its all altitudinal range. The crushed stone “steps” are covered with short grass petrophytic steppes of ass. Androsaco dasyphyllae-Caricetum pediformis, on the steep parts of stony slopes tussock petrophytic steppes of ass. Youngio tenuifoliae-Helictotrichetum desertorum predominate. The steppe communities of the first and the second hill massif step belong to the class Cleistogenetea squarrosae and the third one - to the class Festuco Brometea.

115-126

Authors: Sergey A. Abramov1, Vladislav V. Vinogradov2, Alexander S. Zolotyuh3

Characterising of habitat associations of species is fundamental for understanding of basic mechanism of animal communities organization. Differences in species diversity between different localities can be attributed to ecological, biogeographic and evolutionary processes. The main indicator which shows the relation of the species to the environmental conditions is its abundance. Population diversity of rodent species with different ecological specialisation is a marker of different habitats. Mouse-like rodents form the most abundant communities among vertebrate animals inhabiting the forest belt of the mountain region. Based on the long-term research and literature data the authors discuss the distribution regularities of rodent species in the mountain forest ecological space of the Altai-Sayan Mountains. The forest belt of the Altai-Sayan Mountains is inhabited by 15 mouse-like rodents species. A comprehensive analysis of distribution of rodent species within the forest zone allowed us to determine the attitude of species to the range of environmental factors and to estimate the collocation of rodent species in the multidimensional ecological space. Three main axes of environmental space were allocated with a multidimensional scaling method. To identify the ecological niches of the studied rodent species, each axis was regressed to the abundance of rodent species. Regression analysis was also used to assess the association between the environmental parameters and the axes of the environmental space. The analysis showed that the differences in the sensitivity of species to environmental factors cause a divergence of their ecological niches, which provides the independence of these species within their community. The most significant ecological factors which provide the distribution of rodents in the forest belt are density of canopy, altitude elevation of the territory, humidity and the understory layer (shrubs and herbs) structure.

141-149

Authors: Petr A. Popov

The information in this article about the characteristics of ichthyofauna composition in a number of lakes and rivers of Gorny Altay shows an adaptive nature of fish distribution in ponds of this mountain country. In rivers and lakes located at relatively high altitudes above sea level, ichthyocenoses are poor according to the number of their constituent species, and the number of fishe is low. The main reason for this is a relatively small value of radiation balance and the part of the solar energy that is absorbed by high mountain reservoirs. A significant limiting role in the formation of species diversity of ichthyocenoses is played by small sizes and the modules of rivers, their high velocity and strong bias, the mobility of bottom substrate, the lack of floodplain system, localized icings freezing, a short period of open water and low temperatures as well as forage supply of fish. A significant role in limiting the spread of fish upstream is played by waterfalls and areas with great steepness of the stream. The presence of insurmountable physical barriers to fish is the main cause of total absence of fish in a large number of lakes and river systems in Gorny Altay. In alpine lakes, the taxonomic diversity of ichthyofauna composition is also limited by large depths, a short vegetation period, low water temperatures, a low quantity of nutrients in the water, a low degree of diversity and productive efficiency of biocenoses plankton and benthos. The factor that significantly restricts species diversity of ichthyocenoses in some rivers and lakes in Altai is a great number of mineral suspensions in water as a result of snowfields and glaciers melting. The adaptive nature of fish distribution in the conditions of Gorny Altay is manifested not only in a particular lake-river system as a whole, but within a lake or a short length of a river. We often meet Thymallus arcticus Pallas, 1776, Barbatulus toni Dybowski, 1869 or Сottus altaicus Kaschenko, 1899 and С. sibiricus Warpachowski, 1889 in a rough river stretch in the shade of large boulders or in pits. In lakes, fish, during summer feeding, as a rule, prefer the most productive area of littoral zone on a forage basis, and during winter – the deepest parts of a water body. In general, the adaptive nature of fish distribution in the waters of Gorny Altay should be taken into account while developing a strategy for protection and sport fishing in the region of Western Siberia.

160-171

Authors: Irina S. Kovtun, MarinaV. Efimova

Present-day science must base on molecular biology methods to conduct detailed and multifaceted researches. Biochemical, morphological, biophysical and other methods are not enough for description and interpretation of phenomena and mechanisms that occur in a plant cell. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is an integral part of many molecular investigations. The PCR is the basis of many research methods, in particular, of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RT-PCR is characterized by high sensitivity and is used for relative quantitative assessment of gene expression on mRNA level. The initial phase while preparing to carry out the polymerase chain reaction is the primer design for specific gene. For successful realization of this process it is necessary to have some experience in work with information databases, nucleotide sequences and primer design. Also, it is necessary to find primers not only for specific genes but also for control gene. As a means of control, it is recommended to use the «housekeeping» gene or genes (constitutive gene), the expression of which is relatively constant regardless of external conditions. This fact will help to assess the change of expression of the target genes. This scope of work doesn’t take a researcher a lot of time, but for a young explorer this search of nucleic acid sequences and primers canpresent a significant challenge. Wherewith, especially this phase of work is the initial stage of the initiation of molecular biological studies. All mistakes and inexperience could bring a great time and financial costs. In the present article a step-wise sequence of actions when searching for nucleotide sequences of genes and primer design to them are described, which may contribute to a general idea of the versatility, value and scope of bioinformatics approach. The description is made on a specific example using gene sequences of the constitutive protein tubulin of different plant objects. Described basic skills are quite enough for a young researcher to make a successful primer design, who has encountered the need for molecular studies for the first time.