European Geographical Studies

143-151

Authors: Nikolay A. Bityukov, Nina M. Pestereva

This article, through the example of one of the country’s most complex and contrastive mountainous regions, the Northwest Caucasus, examines the regime of brook and river streamflow in mountain conditions and its dynamics in conjunction with the economic reclamation of forest ecosystems in river catchment areas. The paper provides the findings of a research study into the quality of slope run-off affecting the sanitary condition of mineral water springs. The author illustrates the patterns of change in the regime and quality of streamflow under the impact of economic activities.

161-169

Authors: Andrei N. Lesik

This article, based on theoretical research into growth conditions, lays out the fundamentals of typological classification of beech and fir forests within Sochi National Park. Plants in the lower tiers of the forest act as indicators of habitat conditions as an active component of the forest coenosis affecting the flow of the forest formation process. The discovered interrelationships between forest growth conditions and the elements of the relief and productivity of forest vegetation have made it possible to classify the types of beech and fir forests by edaphic and phytocoenological attributes.

98-107

Authors: Nikolay A. Bityukov, Nina M. Pestereva

The evaluation analysis was conducted to identify different approaches to the recreational use of protected natural areas (PNA) of Federal Significance – Northwest Caucasus. The relevant methodology was developed; criteria and evaluation indicators of recreational prospects have been identified. The perspective approaches to development of regional model (scheme) were highlighted. Such system of measures should include managerial strategies, taking into account the ecological necessity and feasibility study.

116-125

Authors: Mikhail Yu. Puchkov, Diana Sh. Smirnova, Elena G. Loktionova, Shamas A. Yakubov

The article identifies and presents an indicator (relaxation time), which can be regarded as a key criterion concerning suitability of crops for nutrition. The allowable ranges of the values criteria for ecological and economic assessment of living standards are considered. The authors have conducted comparative characteristic of quality of tomatoes, fruits and seeds of melons. The qualitative analysis of used water for irrigation was made. This condition guarantees quantity and quality of the crop, which is closely interrelated with health security issues. The proposed admissible limits scale featured 4 gradations (minimum; neutral; middle and maximum). The practical appliance of Nanodiagnostic method for identifying product quality in agriculture, based on the methodology "Shammas", ensures the effective environmental and economic assessment of value and quality of life. The duration of express method is less than 30 minutes, and it is conducted on molecular genetic level, which is a proof of universality of proposed nanoinstrumentarium.

51-54

Authors: Z.V. Elchaninova, Irina S. Sharova

This article deals with the problems that have arisen as a result of regulation of the water regime of the Volga River in Astrakhan region and methods of their solutions.

70-74

Authors: Anna V. Fedotova, Lyudmila V. Yakovleva, Elena G. Loktionova

The ecosystem of the Lower Volga exists and grows depending on the variable and peculiar mode of the river Volga. The levels of floods and their duration are directly dependent on the flow of the Volga and the level of the Caspian Sea. In the period of intense uplift of the Caspian Sea and the Volga flow increased the height of spring-summer floods and their duration significantly increased, which caused the redistribution of soluble salts in the soil. Adapting to such a mode of soil when the soil depending on the location and the intensity of floods is salinizated or desalinizited, on this part of the delta the unique biocenosis forme. The observations carried out by the authors, suggest that changes in the structure and thecomposition of the plant communities have a directional character. During the lowering of the Caspian Sea and the low flood the halophytizatongrass occurs, and with increasing water content of the area (and reducing the salt content) of the soil are as in flood plain. The industrial complex of the city is represented in shipbuilding, timber and fish processing industry. The leading industries is engineering, electric power, food processing. The region has extensive natural resources (fish, minerals, land). The region is almost inexhaustible supplies of gas, oil, sulfur and salt. In the region there are five oil and gas fields, and one gray-gas condensate, which is the largest in Europe. Compared with other regions, Astrakhan is located in a region with relatively high average annual temperature that causes high activity of biological organisms in the aquatic complexes. Urbanization leads to a change in the hydrological regime of urban ponds and streams, affect the water balance, hydrochemical regime change due to discharge of sewage: industrial, household, stormwater, wastewater from construction sites. All this calls for an objective assessment of its current state. The hydrochemical analysis showed that the content of pollutants in the municipal water reservoirs significantly exceeds the background values, whereby an aqueous medium becomes unsuitable for living organisms. The high toxicity of the environment and confirm the results of the parallel bioassay. The existing work has revealed an extremely unfavorable ecological situation in the territory of Astrakhan. The conducted comparative analysis of content in water reservoirs of all intra-toxic substances identified the trend of ecological deterioration of the situation in terms of time.

12-20

Authors: E.G. Loktionova, V.A. Andrianov, L.V. Yakovleva

Considered in the paper, is the analysis of water quality data in the various areas of the Volga River, including urban regions. As the bio-indicators of pollution we used mollusca of the family Unionidae, which are characterized by a high capacity of metal concentrations Chemical analysis was carried out by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. The main stream of the Volga River 80 km upstream of Astrakhan was chosen as a reference area. The most polluted areas were revealed and recommendations for the effective use of geo-environmental monitoring methods were given.

27-32

Authors: Irina N. Shvedova, Elena V. Kachalina

Labour immigration represents the most intensive inflow of population in Russia and, particularly, in Astrakhan region. Specific features, types and problems of migration processes in Astrakhan region are analyzed in the paper. Main types of immigrants’ labour activity are described.