The paper presents all the known data obtained as a result of field studies of the Transcaucasian tree mantis (Hierodula transcaucasica Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878) on the territory of Rostov Region, including behavior and life cycle, namely, the growth and development of individuals at different stages of ontogenesis. New sampling sites in the region are indicated, and issues of the species penetration into this territory in the period of 2017–2021 are considered.
The materials on the distribution of Nyctalus noctula in Rostov Region are given. On the basis of this, the northern border of its winter habitat and the seasonal characteristics of the stay are specified. The presented findings of this species in the south and extreme east of the region, which were made in the summer and in the off season showed that this territory was used both during the migrRegionation period and as summer habitats. In the scientific literature, the expansion of the winter range of this species over the past decades has been noted. Findings of wintering animals in high-rise buildings of cities are considered as confirming facts of expansion. However, the issue regarding the expansion of wintering boundaries remains ambiguous because all these detections are made in the climatic “risk zone.” The results of modeling of the probabilistic area of winter habitats of N. noctula in conditions of natural shelters (hollows of trees) showed that, over the past 70 years, there have been no changes in the boundaries and its northern limits do not correspond to those that were previously indicated. In the east of the European range of this species, the northern boundary of the natural wintering area passes through Rostov Region and ends to the east at the latitude of the city of Astrakhan. The most important bioclimatic factors that determine wintering within such a territory are the average temperature of the driest and the average temperature of the coldest quarters of the year and the minimum temperature of the coldest month. In the regions to the north of this area owing to the severity of winters, the overwintering of animals in natural shelters is unlikely. On the basis of the results obtained, the total wintering area of N. noctula is divided into two zones. The first zone is the territory where wintering is massive and possible in poorly protected natural shelters; the second zone is a territory with a climatic “risk zone,” where only a very small part of population of the species remains, and the spaces protected from external factors in multistory buildings of settlements serve as shelters. Findings of wintering colonies of noctules in the second zone that are located far outside the natural wintering area can obviously be considered as an invasive process, which in migratory bats has an adaptive character and is associated with the development of urbanized landscapes.
For the first time, the dimensional and weight characteristics of the bivalve mollusk Anadara kagoshimensis (Tokunaga, 1906), an alien species in the Sea of Azov, were examined. The relationships between allometric parameters of the mollusk (dimensions and weight) were approximated by power functions. The maximum coefficient of determination was noted for the power-law correlation between shell width and total weight of Anadara; the minimum one was noted for the correlation between its shell height and total weight. Also, the maximum coefficient of determination was noted for the power-law correlation between shell length and wet weight of Anadara soft tissues; the minimum one was noted for the correlation between its shell width and wet weight of soft tissues. The ratio between dry and wet weight of soft tissues was 0.16. A comparison of different Anadara habitats in the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Aegean Sea showed that cage farming of these mollusks in moderately saline waters ensures the most favorable conditions for their maximum growth.
The article presents the results of studies on the species composition of vascular plants and soil enzymatic activity in communities dominated by Acer negundo. The studies were carried out on accounting sites located in the mountain-taiga and forest-steppe zones of Kuzbass. The selection of trial plots was made taking into account the horizontal differentiation of space into under-crown (registration plots) and external zones (control) of phytogenic fields. Floristic descriptions and the level of activity of enzymes (invertase, protease, and phosphatase) in the soil were analyzed. The diversity of vascular plants in the areas under study constituted 64 species. The dominant plant species in the ash-leaved maple communities were identified. Ruderal species Cirsium setosum, Elytrigia repens, Lamium album, Urtica dioica, and Taraxacum officinale dominate under the canopy of A. negundo, while the proportion of meadow species Achillea millefolium, Dactylis glomerata, and Festuca pratensis increases in the outer zones. It has been shown that the floristic composition of communities does not affect significantly the level of activity of soil enzymes. An increase in the activity of hydrolytic enzymes by an average of 11% compared with the outer zones was noted in the under-crown space of A. negundo.
This paper presents information about new finds of the goose barnacle Lepas anatifera Linnaeus, 1758 in the Barents Sea. Data on the capture site, depth, and date, as well as pictures and a brief description of the captured individuals, are given. Possible causes of the appearance of this species in the Barents Sea are analyzed.
On the basis of developed individual-based model and empirical data the importance of anemochory for the dispersal of giant hogweed mericarpia over long distances (up to 55 m from the parent plant) was proved. The use of cellular automate for modelling of the plant population area increase allowed to reveal the influence of weather condition, number and spatial distribution of hogweed plants in the period of the beginning of introduction on the rate of invasion. Verification of the results of the cellular automaton work based on satellite images and field observations showed a significant level of compliance of theoretical calculations and observed results. The logistic functions parameters describing the change in the area of giant invasive hogweed stands were determined. A retrospective analysis of satellite images of model plots, starting from the 1990s of the 20th century, showed an annual increase in the area of hogweed populations by 20% in the exponential population growth phase. A significant variability in the rate of invasion (from 5 to 70% per year) depended on the initial conditions and stage of invasion, usage modes and ecological capacity of the available sites.
The introduction of alien species to marine islands leads to the destabilization of the unique ecosystems characterized by a high level of ecological vulnerability. A review of alien mammal species in the insular theriocomplexes of the Northwestern Pacific was made, and the results of a massive invasion that occurred in the last 150 years were analyzed. Currently, the islands of the Northwestern Pacific are inhabited by 43 alien species belonging to 19 families of 7 mammal orders, 9 of which are included in the list of the the world’s 14 most dangerous invasive species, and the islands of the Russian segment of this region are inhabited by 8 of the 10 most dangerous introduced mammals of the Russian Federation.
Current climate change, habitat degradation, and road network development contribute to the invasion of alien plant species in areas of more northern latitudes and higher altitudes. Using the maximum entropy method (Maxent), we built spatial distribution models of Ambrosia artemisiifolia, considering abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors and accessibility to the area. Maps of the species current distribution in the Caucasus and its range dynamics according to the climate change scenarios were constructed. The most important variables determining A. artemisiifolia spatial localization in the region were as follows: distance to roads (not more than 0–5 m), terrain roughness (gentle areas), and humidity (climate from semiarid to perhumid). The distance of 0–5 m is also characterized by the area accessibility factor (species dispersal capacity), which contributed about 47% to the final model. Species dispersal beyond roadsides was hindered by forests and meadows with the probability of A. artemisiifolia occurrence not exceeding 0.01%. The species core ranges were predicted in foothills and low mountains of the Western and Central Caucasus, Western and Central Transcaucasia, the northwestern Lesser Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea coast. The species invasion in highlands could occur along the gentle river valleys that concentrate the main mountain roads. According to the pessimistic and optimistic climate change scenarios, by 2100, the decline in optimal A. artemisiifolia habitats will be 87 and 27%, respectively, and will affect mainly the plain areas of the currently most humid regions. The main core ranges were predicted in the middle mountains and highlands of the Caucasus.
The resource melliferous-polleniferous potential of Russian invasive plant species was studied on the basis of the results of melissopalynological (pollen) analysis. The study of the pollen composition of 2121 honey samples from 70 Russian regions made it possible to diagnose the pollen of 26 invasive plants in their composition, 13 of which were resource plants. In the European part of Russia, important melliferous plants were Robinia pseudoacacia L., Gleditsia triacanthos L., Amorpha fruticosa L., Solidago canadensis L., and Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle. Monofloral honey types from these invasive species were obtained mainly in the southern regions. In Siberia, Centaurea scabiosa L., C. jacea L., Echium vulgare L., and Conium maculatum L. were of resource importance. Monofloral greater and brown knapweed, viper’s bugloss, and wild hemlock honey types were found mainly in the regions of Western Siberia. In the Far East, sources of monofloral honey were Nonea rossica Steven and Amoria hybrida (L.) C. Presl. The species Lupinus polyphyllus Lindll. and species of the genus Ambrosia were classified as important Russian polleniferous plants.
The paper provides information on new species of the Poaceae family that are alien to the flora of Dagestan and the Eastern Caucasus. These species have been identified in field studies and during the analysis of various herbarium collections in 2020–2022. For the flora of the Eastern Caucasus, Echinochloa tzvelevii and Setaria adhaerens are indicated for the first time. For the flora of Dagestan, the presence of feral cultivated species—Avena sativa, Lolium multiflorum, Sorghum drummondii, and Sorghum technicum—has been confirmed. For the first time for the flora of Dagestan, the quarantine species Cenchrus longispinus has been recorded. For each species, we present a brief description of its location and information on population status, phenophase, etc. Additionally, we assign each species an invasive status according to the criteria and guidelines used for the regional Black Books. Sorghum technicum and Cenchrus longispinus have a higher invasive potential (status 2), while the remaining five species (Avena sativa, Echinochloa tzvelevii, Lolium multiflorum, Sorghum drummondii, and Setaria adhaerens) have been found in disturbed and segetal communities (status 3).
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