2016. T. 121. Vyp. 2. - Bulletin of Moscow Society of Naturalists. Biological Series

New Data on Clavarioid Fungi (Basidiomycota) of S.N. Skadovsky Zvenigorod Biological Station Surrounds

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:41 +0000

There are 72 species of clavarioid fungi collected in the vicinity of S.N. Skadovsky Zvenig- orod Biological Station of Moscow State University (Odintsovo area, Moscow province), and 63 species of them found here for the first time. The number of species known for Moscow prov- ince has increased by 47 and now stands at 78 species. However, this level of species richness at a regional scale is lower compared to other well-studied regions of Central Russia. Four species (Clavaria zollingeri, Ramaria fennica, R. rubella, Sparassis crispa) proposed for inclusion in the new edition of the Red Book of Moscow province.

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European Bison and Maintenance of Biodiversity of Meadows (on the Example of Nature Reserve Bryansky Forest)

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:41 +0000

Modification of upland meadow vegetation of nature reserve Bryansky forest (Bryansk region, the Russian Federation) as a result of vital activity of European bison (Bison bonasus Linnaeus, 1758) after their reintroduction in 2011 have been analyzed. European bison is edificator that defines the structure, dynamics and species composition of plant communi- ties. Bison creates environmental and phytocenotic heterogeneity of upland meadows. Patch of aftergrass with domination of Poa angustifolia, Festuca rubra and Agrostis gigantea are formed in place of permanent grazing of bison. Aggregation of pioneer plants (Chenopodium spp., Echinochloa crusgalli, Filaginella uliginosa, Juncus articulates, Polygonum persi- caria, Conyza canadensis, Erodium cicutarium, Erysimum cheiranthoides and other) located on wallow sites. Domination of tall grasses (Calamagrostis epigeios, Bromopsis inermis, Elytrigia repens) of initial meadows is maintained in areas that are not affected by bison. A variety of microsites allows co-existence of species that differ in ecology and life forms in the community. The soil under aftergrass and in wallow sites becomes warmer and drier due to less closed ground vegetation. In this regard, number of dry meadow species in after- grass and wallow sites was higher in half-two times than in initial tall grass meadow. Long- rhizomatous plants dominate in initial tall grass meadow, bunchgrass – in aftergrass sites and taproot and brush-root plants – in wallow sites. Representing zoogenic soil disturbance wallow sites maintain of the populations of largely uncompetitive short-lived plant species in meadows. Species diversity of vascular plants in the community increases two to three times as a result of bison vital activity.

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The Making of a Life Form in the Ontogenesis of Trifolium eximium Steph. ex DC

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:41 +0000

The paper deals with the making of a life form in ontogenesis of Trifolium eximium in nature conditions. The author studied development of life form of T. eximium which grows in the Amur region (Far East of Russia). The life form is changes in the process of development. In the under- ground part of the virginal state of T. eximium the taproot is replaced to the tap-long–rhizome. This construction is characteristic for all life cycle of this plant.

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Age of Maturity of Alpine Short-Lived Herbaceous Plants, North-West Caucasus, Russia

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:41 +0000

Age of maturity or pre-reproductive period is an interval between seed germination and first flowering shoots appearance. Short-lived plants germinate and produce seeds within short period of time, less than 1–2 years, but due to severe habit conditions it can be extended over 5-15 years. Our observations were conducted in 2009–2014 in alpine plant communities of Teberda Reserve, the North-West Caucasus, Russia, 2800 m above sea level. We found out that Anthyllis vulneraria, Murbeckiella huetii and Trifolium badium start blossoming not earlier than on the second year of life, Carum meifolium, Draba hispida and Sedum tenellum – the third, Eritrichium caucasicum – the fourth, Androsace albana – the sixth. Most of species showed ontogenetic multiplicity. For example, some of individuals of Anthyllis vulneraria can start the first flowering on the 2, 3 or 4th year of life, Carum meifolium – 3, 4, 5 or 6. Seedling death-rate was high and the most of individuals could not reach a maturity age. For instance, from 146 seedlings of Androsace albana 9 individuals survived and 1 started the flowering in 6 years after germination. Short pre-reproductive period of Anthyllis vulneraria, Draba hispida, Carum meifolium, Murbeckiella huetii, Sedum tenellum confirmed their belongings to species of ruderal strategy.

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Features of Limb Skeleton of Elephant Shrews (Mammalia, Macroscelidea)

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:40 +0000

There have been studied 10 skeletons of adult Macroscelides proboscideus specimens, and one incomplete skeleton of Elephantulus rufescens. Also, a very wide range of mammals have been researched for comparison: in total more than 1300 skeletons belonging to 130 species of 93 genera. Postcranial skeletons of both studied Macroscelididae species demonstrate a set of features that indicate a high level of adaptations to running. According to the elongation of bones, both fore and hind limbs outperform most rapidly running representatives of such groups as lagomorphs and artiodactyls. The relative length of the hind limb bones of Mac- roscelides proboscideus is close to that of gerbils, but is slightly less than even the fat-tailed jerboas Pygeretmus platiurus and P. pumilio and markedly inferior to five-toed jerboas Allac- taga. Morphological features of the forelimb bones of both species seem to be very similar to the characteristics of erinaceomorphes (Erinaceus, Hemiechinus) and can easily be deduced from the latter. The differences are mostly connected with very strong specialization of Mac- roscelididae in rapid run and with an unusually strong development of entepicondylar foramen. Forelimb adaptations to fast running are less expressed than in lagomorphs. There are no any indications of adaptation to digging. The hind limb skeleton shows deep adaptation to fast run- ning, while it is specialized by type very close to that of gerbils (Gerbellinae) and three-toed jerboas (Dipodinae). Lagomorphs and five-toed jerboas have a different direction of hind limb specialization. The pelvis of Macroscelididae refers to a rigid type with a long narrow iliac bone and a long axis oriented parallel to the spine which is not ventrally deflected. The proportions of the hind leg bones, as well as many details of the structure, show that the level of Macros- celididae specialization in cursiriality corresponds to the one of fast running gerbils Meriones, but is significantly lower than in such jerboa genera as Allactaga, Allactodipus, Dipus, Jaculus, Paradipus. Nevertheless, in some features elephant shrews surpass all other cursorial mammals that the author has researched.

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Birds of Lake Baikal (From the End XIX оn the Beginning of XXI Century): the Species Structure, Distribution and Character of Stay

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:40 +0000

On the basis of long term works (1968–2016) and the literature analysis dynamics of fauna of birds of a hollow of lake Baikal more, than for the 150-year-old period is considered. The analysis of the gathered data is spent for two big periods: the end XIX and first half XX cen- turies (prior to the beginning of obvious warming of a climate in the late 40th and the begin- ning of 50th years of the last century) both second half XX and the beginning of XXI century. According to last data, for this time the terminal of a century cycle of a climate and, probably, centuries-old cycle duration of 1800, coming to an end with the heat-dry period (Voronin et al., 2014) is necessary. Considerable warming of a climate of Northern Eurasia, most strongly expressed in Eastern Siberia, has led to augmentation of number of birds in a hollow of the lake Baikal – with 321 to 405 species. Their eviction from the Central Asia (Mongolia and Northeast China), in connection with development here the long shallow period in a climatic cycle, most likely, centuries-old level was the cause of such dynamics of bird fauna. The most appreciable qualitative changes in fauna of birds have descended in the winter period in which warming is expressed most strongly. As in summer, and winter periods the abundance has increased at a small number of new species, and their basic part has negligible number and enters into a cate- gory of bird passage. Changes of number of the most ordinary both numerous species shorebird and a waterfowl, in norm developed Southern Transbaikalia and adjacent areas of the Central Asia which are bound to dilating of northern borders of areals and shift of their optimum in northern widths are more significant.

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Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), new for Ivanovo Area. Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) new for different areas of the Russian Federation, 4

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:40 +0000

There have been presented identification results of a collection of Mr. S.A. Kotov from Iva- novo area. We supplement a base Noctuids list with 30 species, new for territory. Now the List contents 294 species. Identification of the three species is modernized. We describe the new method of selective series of sibling-species specimens identification for faunistic purposes.

The post Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), new for Ivanovo Area. Noctuid Moths (Lepidoptera) new for different areas of the Russian Federation, 4 first appeared on Bulletin of Moscow Society of Naturalists. Biological Series.

The Fauna of Jewel Beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) of Yaroslavl Oblast’

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:40 +0000

The paper present the fauna of jewel beetles (Coleoptera, Buprestidae) of Yaroslavl re- gion. Revealed 30 species, 6 of them are recorded in the study area for the first time (Dicerca aenea, Agrilus cuprescens, A. ribesi, A. suvorovi, A. sinuatus, Trachys fragariae), based on a study of more than 680 exemplars of the family collected from 1877 to 2015. The modern fauna includes 28 species, and two – Dicerca aenea и Buprestis octoguttata are known only from specimens collected more than a century ago. Five species known from the earliest works, two of which – Dicerca berolinensis и Trachys pumila excluded from the fauna of the Yaroslavl region due to misidentification of the material. Species Agrilus ribesi et A. angus- tulus are recorded in the Kostroma region for the first time.

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Changes of Aboveground Phytomass Structure of Alpine Lichen Heath of the Northwestern Caucasus in Response to Long-Term Nutrient Addition

fidukoffMOIP — Wed, 06 Sep 2023 09:42:40 +0000

Aboveground phytomass structure of the alpine lichen heath (Teberda reserve, the North- western Caucasus) was studied on the plots with the long-term (1999–2008) nutrient addition. Six treatments were established: 1) control, 2) lime addition, 3) nitrogen addition, 4) phospho- rous addition, 5) both nitrogen and phosphorous addition, 6) water stress reduction under low precipitation. Phytomass was sampled in late July – August 2008. Total phytomass significantly increased after ten years of treatment only in response to both nitrogen and phosphorous addi- tion. Share of vascular plants doubled at NP treatment and increased by 1,4 times at P treatment. Lichens almost completely disappeared at N and NP treatments. Necromass increased at N and NP treatments. Changes in alpine lichen heath community structure were caused by changes in the role of separate components of community, and were based on species initially growing on the experimental plots; no invasions of new species were observed.

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