Nature Conservation Research

1–23

Authors: Tuniyev B.S., Lotiev K.Yu., Tuniyev S.B., Gabaev V.N., Kidov A.A.

For the first time we have summarised the results of the study of batraho- and herpetofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia. We present an Annotated List of species as authentically living in the region, as well as ever mentioned for it in literature, field notebooks, museum collections and our own expeditions in South Ossetia. The batrachofauna of the Republic of South Ossetia counts nine species and the herpetofauna 19 species. It provides a complete inventory of all finds (65 localities). A number of confirmed species have been assigned for the first time in scientific literature for the territory of South Ossetia: Emys orbicularis, Darevskia mixta, Natrix megalocephala, Hierophis schmidti, Pelias dinniki, P. kaznakovi. We detected the morphological specificity of the South Ossetia' populations of Darevskia praticola, D. brauneri and D. caucasica. The Assessment of conservation status has been evaluated for all forms of amphibians and reptiles in the region. According to its results, five amphibian species and ten reptile species are recommended for inclusion into the Red Data Book of the Republic of South Ossetia. The central problem of environmental activities in the Region is the lack of a network of different rank protected areas covering all natural zones and altitudinal belts. The South Ossetian State Nature Reserve is the single protected area of South Ossetia, which provides protection only for three endangered species of amphibians and three species of reptiles.

38–46

Authors: Ruchin A.B., Makarkin N.V.

The fauna of Neuroptera and Raphidioptera of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve has been studied during 2008–2016. It includes 21 and one species of the studied groups, respectively. The majority of species was collected on low vegetation (including undergrowth of deciduous trees) in clearings and fire-breaks of the forests, openings, meadows, grasslands and forest edges. The most abundant lacewing species is Chrysopa perla. Such typical chortobiots (i.e., living on herbaceous plants) as Micromus angulatus, M. variegatus, Chrysopa walkeri, Ch. phyllochroma, Ch. commata and Ch. abbreviata were recorded. However, the arboreal complex is still not understood completely. For example, only one species, which is characteristic for Pinus (Chrysopa dorsalis) was found, and no species was found on Picea. Typical arboreal lacewings (e.g., Nineta vittata, N. alpicola and Chrysotropia ciliata), which are typical for deciduous trees, are represented by few specimens.

55–65

Authors: Novenko E.Yu., Mazei N.G., Zernitskaya V.P.

The paper presents the results of studies of 59 recent pollen assemblages from protected areas located in the forest and steppe zones of the East European plain. The obtained data show that in pollen assemblages from forest localities a great share of the regional component of spectra is represented by plants with a high productivity of pollen. This pollen gets dispersed by wind over long distances (e.g., Betula, Alnus, Pinus). As a result the ratio of the main components in pollen assemblages from forest localities is distorted. At the same time, the participation of spruce pollen and pollen of deciduous tree species in the spectra is lower than the share of these species in the surrounding forest. Besides, the proportion of the regional pollen component in assemblages is much higher in samples taken from treeless areas and in floodplains than in probes taken under the forest canopy. These patterns should be taken into account in the reconstruction of the ancient vegetation using palynological data. The specific features of pollen assemblages that should be considered by interpreting fossil pollen spectra include: the share of broad-leaved tree pollen, proportion and floristic composition of herbaceous pollen group, occurrence of forest Lycopodium species, share of fern spores and spores of Sphagnum mosses. Different types of forest-steppe plant communities could be determined by the composition and ratio within the pollen group of herbaceous plants.

84–89

Authors: Benediktov A.A.

The presence of the grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus brevis (Orthoptera, Acrididae, Gomphocerinae) has been confirmed for the Vyborg district mainland of the Leningrad region, Russia, for the first time since 1908. Information about its habitats, characteristics of morphology, as well as calling signals of males is presented. The differences of the stridulatory file structure in the males of the closely related species Ch. brunneus brunneus, Ch. brunneus brevis and Ch. porphyropterus from the territory of Russia are considered. Information on the difference in calling of both subspecies of Ch. brunneus is given.

92–93

Authors: Ramanan S.S., Khapugin A.A.

-