Home – Home – Jornals – Russian Geology and Geophysics 2016 number 8

Study of Late Triassic volcanic, subvolcanic, and volcanosedimentary rocks of the Chukchi Peninsula (Vel’may terrane) has shown their different geochemical types. Basalts, dolerites, and tuffs of the lower-middle strata of the Upper Triassic section bear evidence for their formation in suprasubductional geodynamic setting. Basalts and dolerites of the upper strata of this section correspond in composition to within-plate rocks and are similar to Middle-Late Triassic oceanic-plateau basalts and dolerites. U-Pb dating of magmatic zircons from tuffs of the lower-middle strata and from dolerites of the upper strata shows the almost synchronous magmatic activity in the suprasubductional (206 ± 5 Ma) and within-plate (212 ± 4 Ma) geodynamic settings.

A fluid model for the formation of mantle plumes is proposed. During the emission of gas from the Earth’s core, it accumulates as lenses at the core-mantle boundary. Reaching a critical size, the lenses burst out into the mantle and migrate to the surface. A relatively stationary transmantle fluid flow from the core-mantle boundary appears, which heats the mantle and the layer interacting with it. The flow stops in the base of the hard lithosphere and spreads laterally, causing its melting accompanied by the formation of magma chambers, which, reaching critical sizes, massively intrude and flow out.

The ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of volcanics from the sections of core boreholes in the northern Tyumen’-Kostanai trough (Kurgan Region) has been determined. The geologic structure of the northern part of the trough has been refined. The paleogeographic environments and geodynamic settings of formation of Carboniferous deposits have been established by sedimentological, petrological, and geochemical studies of the sections. In the Visean, marine environments with maximum basin depths were predominant. In the Kachar epoch (C₁v₃-s), the submarine relief of the basin became more complicated; blocks of older rocks appeared in the deposits. The geochemical indicator characteristics of the volcanics-contents of HFSE (Ti, Nb, Ta, Th, and Hf)-are close to those of andesitoids of island arcs and Andean-type active continental margins, as well as present-day andesites from the Kurile-Kamchatka zone. They are an order of magnitude lower than those in similar continental-rift volcanics, among which are volcanics of the Valer’yanovka zone (according to some researchers). The contents of Ni, Co, and V are similar to those in island-arc andesites, including rocks of the Kurile-Kamchatka zone. The Ba/Ta and Ba/La ratios and the proportions of Th, Hf, and Ta in andesitoids of the Valer’yanovka and Kachar Groups are close to the indicator characteristics of island-arc and active-continental-margin volcanics. The Kachar Group siliceous rocks are similar in the Rb/Zr-Nb, Fe-Nb, and Rb-(Y + Nb) correlations to rocks of mature island arcs and active continental margins. The incompatible-element and REE patterns for the Valer’yanovka and Kachar volcanics are typical of island-arc volcanics, including rocks from the Kurile-Kamchatka zone. The indicator geochemical features and petrology of the volcanics and the sedimentologic features of the deposits testify to their formation on an Andean-type active continental margin (western margin of the Kazakhstan paleocontinent) in the Early-Middle Carboniferous.

We consider the regularities of formation and prospects for the integrated use of fossil coals of two conjugate lithogeodynamic groups: East Donetsk Basin group of coal-bearing deposits of suprarift genesis and platform group of coals of the southern slope of the Voronezh anteclise. The paleogeographic and lithologo-geochemical environments of formation of coal deposits in the Millerovo coal-bearing district and in the northeastern folded area of the Donetsk Basin are analyzed. The geochemical characteristics of coals with high contents of trace elements and their localization in the coal-bearing series (at the sites with hydrocarbon fluidization of coal seams) are discussed. We also assess the prospects for using coals and products of their conversion and burning as a specific mineral raw material containing nonferrous, rare, and noble metals.

Gold- and silver-containing pyrites of the Tikhii area at the Dzhulietta deposit (Engterinskii ore cluster, Magadan Region) were studied by optical and scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis. One- or two-phase rounded microinclusions consisting of electrum (450-680 ‰) and/or galena or of petrovskaite and/or uytenbogaardtite, galena, and sphalerite have been found in early pyrites. Later As-pyrites (up to 2.6 wt.% As) contain multiphase xenomorphic microinclusions of acanthite, uytenbogaardtite, freibergite, argentotetrahedrite-tennantite, naumannite, petzite, selenopolybasite-selenostephanite, tellurocanfieldite, and other ore minerals localized in pores, cracks, and interstices. Pyrites that underwent hypergene alterations have rims and veinlets formed by acanthite, goethite, anglesite, plattnerite, and native silver. The presence of rounded ore mineral microinclusions and large pores in the early pyrites suggests the participation of volatiles in the mineral formation and the uptake of large amounts of impurities by pyrite under high-gradient crystallization conditions. The thermobarogeochemical studies of fluid inclusions in quartz have shown that the ore zone formed under boiling-up of hydrothermal medium-concentration NaCl solutions at 230-105 ºC. The results of thermodynamic calculations evidence that Ag-Au-S-Se minerals formed under decrease in temperature and fugacity of sulfur (log10fS2 = -22 to -9) and selenium (log10fSe2 = -27 to -14) and change of reducing conditions by oxidizing ones in weakly acidic to near-neutral solutions.

Detailed chemical and structural studies were carried out for Li-Na-Fe-amphibole from cryolite rocks of the Katugin deposit, Transbaikalia. The rocks contain 30-70 vol.% cryolite, mafic minerals as Fe-silicates (Li-Na-Fe-amphibole, Li-containing fluorannite, and bafertisite), oxides (magnetite, ilmenite, pyrochlore, cassiterite, and others), and sulfides (sphalerite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite). Quartz, K-feldspar, polylithionite, REE-fluorides, and albite occur as minor or accessory phases. The chemical composition of amphibole (wt.%) varies as follows: SiO₂, 48.5-48.9; TiO₂, 0.4-0.8; Al₂O₃, 1.6-2.2; Fe₂O₃, 15.9-17.1; FeO, 17.6-18.4; MnO, 0.8-0.9; ZnO, 0.3-1.1; MgO, 0.2-0.3; CaO, <0.1; Na₂O, 8.4-8.7; K₂O, 1.4-1.5; Li₂O, 0.6-0.8; H₂O, 0.7-0.8; and F, 2.2-2.5. The amphibole has a specific composition intermediate among the F-Fe members of the Na-amphibole subgroup: 40-45 mol.% ferro-ferri-fluoro-nybøite, 40-45 mol.% ferro-ferri-fluoro-leakeite, and 10-20 mol.% fluoro-riebeckite ± fluoro-arfvedsonite. The mineral is monoclinic, space group C 2/ m , a = 9.7978(2), b = 17.9993(3), c = 5.33232(13) Å, b = 103.748(2)º, V = 913.43(3) ų, and Z = 2. The structural formula of Li-Na-Fe-amphibole is (Na_0.46K_0.24□_0.30)Na_2.00(Fe²⁺_0.95Mg_0.05)₂(Fe³⁺_0.95Ti_0.025Mg_0.025)₂(Li_0.37Fe²⁺_0.48Mn_0.10Zn_0.05)[(Si_0.91Al_0.09)₄Si₄O₂₂](F_0.58(OH)_0.42)₂. Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy data are given for this amphibole.

The study provides geological, structural, mineralogical, petrological, and geochronological evidence for polymetamorphic evolution of gneisses from the Garevka complex of the Yenisei Ridge. The results of the study provide significant insight into the geochemical behavior of major and trace elements in zoned garnet crystals and mineral inclusions formed during prograde and retrograde metamorphism of pelitic rocks. It was shown that the concentrations of Y and HREE in garnet decrease with increasing P and T and increase with decreasing pressure and temperature. The combined study of multicomponent chemical zoning patterns of coexisting minerals and metamorphic mineral reactions in metapelites was conducted. The results show that the main reason for a drastic increase in CaO content in garnets during collisional metamorphism is a mass exchange between garnet and plagioclase. The deviation from this trend, as indicated by the concurrent increase in the grossular content of garnet and anorthite content of plagioclase, arises from the breakdown of epidote. The calculated metamorphic reactions, mass balance analysis, and changes in mineral chemistry during metamorphism reinforce the evidence for the isochemical character of processes with respect to most components of the system. The minimum volume of the system in which chemical exchange between reacting phases is balanced for all major and trace elements did not exceed ~1 mm3. The total HREE balance requires a greater reaction volume (up to ~8 mm3) involved in the redistribution of these elements, which provide evidence for their relatively higher mobility during metamorphism relative to other rare earth elements. The specific distribution and quite substantial mass transport of HREE are controlled by heterovalent isomorphic substitution between these elements and CaO in garnet.

Paleobathymetrical reconstructions were performed for the Volgian-Neocomian basin in northern West Siberia. The proposed technique takes into account a number of factors, such as the rates of basin subsidence and sedimentation, sediment lithification and types of lithology, sea level fluctuations, and isostasy. The role of each factor controlling the depth of the paleobasin is considered. The study reveals several stages of formation of the Neocomian clinoform complex of West Siberia, with different regimes of basin subsidence, sedimentation, and isostatic compensation.

This is a summary of new oxygen isotope record of diatoms from Lake Kotokel sediments, with implications for responses of the lake system and its environment to global change over the past 46 kyr. Fossil diatoms in all samples are free from visible contamination signatures and contain no more than 2.5 % Al2O3, which ensures reliable reconstructions. The δ18O values in diatoms vary between +23.7 and +31.2‰ over the record. The results mark mainly diatom assemblages of summer blooming periods, except for the time span between 36 and 32 kyr, when the isotopic signal records a shift from summer to spring blooming conditions. Possible water temperature changes only partly explain the changes in the isotopic record. The observed isotopic patterns are produced mainly by isotope changes in lake water in response to variations in air temperature, hydrology, and atmospheric circulation in the region. During Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 2 (Last Glacial maximum), high δ18Odiatom resulted from rapid evaporation and low fluvial inputs. The high δ18Odiatom values of about +29 to +30 ‰ during the first half of MIS 1 (Holocene interglacial) suggest an increased share of summer rainfalls associated with southern/southeastern air transport. The δ18Odiatom decrease to +24 ‰ during the second half of MIS 1 is due to the overall hemispheric cooling and increased moisture supply to the area by the Atlantic air masses. The record of Lake Kotokel sediments provides an example of complex interplay among several climatic/environmental controls of δ18Odiatom during the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene.

The study presents a seismic and geological characterization of the Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary cover of the Nadym-Pur interfluve area and discusses the morphology of the Jurassic and Aptian-Albian-Cenomanian sedimentary complexes, formation history of structures, and geologic processes responsible for the formation of Cenomanian gas accumulations.

The problem of evaluating the influence of the variable parameters of the proposed surface defect detection algorithm on the result of its operation is considered. A method for estimating the effect of variable parameters on the recognized geometric characteristics of the surface damage network is proposed. This method is based on representing the basic zones of the skeleton of the surface damage network in the form of compact fuzzy sets in two-dimensional space (fuzzy quasi-points). The set of points of the recognized object obtained for various combinations of the test algorithm parameters is presented in the form of a fuzzy set with a certain membership function. A method of calculating the geometric parameters of the damage network (length and slope) by means of fuzzy geometry is considered, and its use in determining the geometric parameters of the damage network of the roller of a continuous casting machine is demonstrated.

This paper studies the problem of the acoustic wave reception sector of a tomograph detector in an aqueous medium, whose solution anticipates the development of a tomograph with a circular aperture synthesis in monochromatic probing. In the theoretical consideration of the problem of object image reconstruction, the transducer beam pattern was assumed to be isotropic in the plane i.e., disk-shaped, with an unlimited circular reception sector, which allows investigation of the internal structure of the object in the plane of the beam pattern disk. The effect of the deviation from isotropy due to the restriction of the acoustic wave reception sector on the results of image reconstruction of a point object is determined by modeling the reconstruction of a point object image from the trajectory Doppler signal received by the detector moving on a circular path around the point object.

It is shown that the problem of observer synthesis to estimate a set of linear combinations of variable object states can be formulated in terms of linear matrix inequalities. An algorithm for constructing functional observers based on a non-degenerate transformation of the object model in the state space using the matrix canonization technique with subsequent solution of the system of linear matrix inequalities.

A problem of digital watermarking of a sequence of TV images is considered. An algorithm of embedding of such watermarks based on combining singular decomposition and Haar filtration procedures and a corresponding blind algorithm of watermark retrieval are developed. It is shown that the embedded watermark is stable to basic distortions arising in the TV path, e.g., enhancement of noise, loss of definition, truncation and compression of the multimedia material by MPEG2 or AVC algorithms. Owing to noise-immune encoding, the number of correctly retrieved bits of digital watermarks can reach 100 %.

A problem of identification of a shear-type solid flow is considered. Characteristics of the shear flow are determined on the basis of the initial displacement vector field. An algorithm of formation of a finite-size model displacement field of the shear type is given. A functional is proposed to search for the amplitude and direction of the shear flow for each local area of the vector field. The influence of the size of this area and of the degree of its overlapping with the shear flow on the error of shear angle measurement is shown. The choice of the local area size is discussed. Functional operation is demonstrated by an example of the displacement field obtained in the case of compressive loading of the Hatfield steel monocrystal.

Specific features of monitoring metrological parameters of optical scales, limbs, or code disks are considered. A concept of building an intelligent mechatronic module on the air bearing basis for a high-performance angle measuring machine is proposed. The result is achieved by using the differential method of control in the mechatronic module design. This method allows one to determine the contribution of the measuring machine to the resulting error of structures.

This paper considers the development of a sequential procedure for decision making on detection of a seismically active object in an area defined by the placement of a seismic protection system. It is shown that the use of a sequential Wald test to develop the decision rule provides specified detection characteristics and decision making with minimum delay, which is an important requirement for seismic protection systems. This procedure is used in seismic protection systems to select the detected objects based on their location.

In this paper, we present the results of correlation, spectral, and probabilistic-statistical analyses of signals in the multiple reflection echo-shadow method of flaw inspection of cylindrical specimens, and establish new informative parameters for integrated use to improve the reliability of non-destructive testing results.

Wide-band pulsed terahertz (THz) spectroscopy is a popular method of studying optical properties of various materials. This method is considered as applied to polarization-sensitive measurements of properties of anisotropic materials and media possessing significant dichroism and birefringence. It is important to understand that the development of the elemental base for the terahertz range, in particular, for THz polarizers, falls behind the achievements of polarization optics for the visible range. In studying anisotropic materials, this may lead to simultaneous detection of orthogonal components of the THz field and to formation of artifacts in the spectral range in calculations of properties of examined samples. A unique specific feature of pulsed terahertz spectroscopy, namely, a possibility of capturing the time-dependent shape of the THz pulse, allows separation of the orthogonal components of the field in the time domain. Thus, it is possible to detect the signal from radiation with orthogonal polarization and eliminate it by means of appropriate adjustment of polarization elements of the spectroscopy system. This method is demonstrated by an example of studying the terahertz properties along the optical axis z of an anisotropic ferroelectric crystal of lead germanate in which significant birefringence and dichroism arise as the crystal is heated to the phase transition temperature.

This paper describes the project of an accumulative cell of a silicon integral signal reading microcircuit with a built-in analog-to-digital converter for matrix IR photodetectors based on the Hg_{1 - x} Cd x Te solid solutions with sensitivity in the spectral range from 8 to 10 microns. The cell is designed according to the silicon technology HCMOS8D of JSC NIIME "Mikron" (Moscow) with a project norm of 0.18 microns. The presented project of the cell has the size of 20 ´ 20 microns, and the number of bits in the built-in analog-to-digital converter is 15. When the average photocurrent is 7 nA and the integration time is 7.5 ms, the estimated value of the temperature difference equivalent to the noise is 4.6 mK.

Specific features of the formation of local fields in spherical composite nanoparticles containing metal cores surrounded by a silica shell with implanted dye molecules are studied. A system consisting of two closely located nanoparticles (dimers) is analyzed. It is shown that the field configuration in the dimer corresponds to a much more effective feedback than that in the case of individual spherical nanoparticles. The dynamics of the fluorescence field near a flat package of composite nanoparticles is studied numerically with due allowance for the enhancement of the dye fluorescence field, saturation of the energetic transition, and diffraction. It is found that close arrangement of nanoparticles leads under pumping conditions to the formation of high-intensity fields localized with time in the space of the nanoparticle package neighborhood.

This paper describes the theoretical justification of operative contactless measurement of electromagnetic parameters of nanomaterials, based on probing of the test surface with an electromagnetic signal with subsequent processing of the reflected signal. The electromagnetic properties of these materials are determined by dielectric and magnetic permeability and specific electrical conductivity. The mathematical description of the measurement is given, and the technique of searching for the desired parameters based on the measurement of the amplitude and phase of the reflected signal with a further solution of the nonlinear system of algebraic equations is developed.

The layered systems of holographic photopolymer materials for recording color holograms are designed and developed. Monochromatic and dichromatic (green-red, red-blue, and green-blue) three-dimensional reflection holograms are obtained using He-Ne, Ar⁺, and DPSS lasers in red, green, and blue spectral ranges. The effects of cross-discoloration of the colorants used, and the holographic properties of monochromatic and dichromatic holograms in layered systems are considered. It is shown experimentally that the diffraction efficiency of these holograms is ~(70-80 %) and comparable with that of monochromatic holograms obtained in single-layer holographic photopolymer materials.

Results of calculations of the ultimate characteristics of a rotationally tunable two-beam interferometer on the basis of a beam-splitter cube with fixed mirrors and a fixed photosensitive element are presented. The convergence angle is changed solely by rotating the beam source with respect to the interferometer. It is shown that the convergence angle can be varied in the interval from 46 to 166° with sufficiently wide light beams.

In this paper we consider the random structure systems with distributed transitions. A theorem about the form of conditional structure distributions has been proved. To simulatethese distributions a statistical algorithm using a randomized method of maximum cross-section is constructed. Also, a modified version of this algorithm using the simulation of one random number has been constructed. The algorithms developed were used for the simulation of the numerical solution of random structure systems with distributed transitions. The theorem about a weak convergence of the numerical solution, obtained by the algorithms developed has been proved.

A family of interior point algorithms for the linear programming problems is considered. In these algorithms, the entering into the domain of admissible solution of the original problem is represented as optimization process of the extended problem. This extension is realized by adding just one new variable. The main objective of the paper is to give a theoretical justification of the proposed procedure of entering into the feasible domain of the original problem, under the assumption of non-degeneracy of the extended problem. Particularly, we prove that given the constraints of the original problem being consistent, the procedure leads to a relative interior point of the feasible solutions domain.

A class of preconditioners for solving non-Hermitian positive definite systems of linear algebraic equations is proposed and investigated. It is based on the Hermitian and skew-Hermitian splitting of the initial matrix. The generalization for saddle point systems which have semidefinite or singular (1,1) blocks is given. Our approach is based on an augmented Lagrangian formulation. It is shown that such preconditioners are effective for the iterative solution of systems of linear algebraic equations by the GMRES.

In this paper, we consider reaction-diffusion systems arising from two-component predator-prey models with Smith growth functional response. The mathematical approach used here is twofold, since the time-dependent partial differential equations consist of both linear and nonlinear terms. We discretize the stiff or moderately stiff term with a fourth-order difference operator, advance the resulting nonlinear system of ordinary differential equations with a family of two competing exponential time differencing (ETD) schemes, and analyze them for stability. A numerical comparison of these two methods for solving various predator-prey population models with functional responses is also presented. Numerical results show that the techniques require less computational work. Also in the numerical results, some emerging spatial patterns are unveiled.

This paper presents the results of numerical experiments with a model of the coastal trapped waves, which made it possible to identify two features that are important in terms of the regional modeling of the shelf zone interaction with the open ocean. The first feature is the fact that the wave train of this type may be formed as a result of the wind action at a considerable distance from the place where their impact may occur. The propagation of waves along the coastline takes place without significant loss of wave energy, provided that the coastline and topography of the shelf zone contain no features comparable to the Rossby radius. However, the wave loses its energy while passing capes, submarine canyons and in the case when the width of a shelf decreases. For the regional modeling, the possibility of remote wave generation should be well understood and taken into account. The second feature is that a propagating wave is able to spend part of its energy on the formation of density anomalies on a shelf by raising the intermediate waters of the adjoining offshore areas of the open ocean. Thus, the coastal trapped waves carry the wind energy from the areas of the wind impact to other coastal areas, where it can bring about the formation of density anomalies and other types of motion.

The direct simulation Monte Carlo method is now widely used to solve the problems of rarefied gas dynamics. While solving stationary problems a special feature of the method is using dependent sample values of random variables to calculate macroparameters of a gas flow. In this paper, the possibility of using the results of statistical physics to estimate the statistical error of the DSMC method is theoretically analyzed. A simple approach to approximate evaluating the statistical error while calculating components of the velocity and temperature is proposed. The approach is tested on a number of problems.

In this paper, the problem of constructing a spline σ in the Hilbert space satisfying bilateral restrictions z^- ≤ A σ ≤ z⁺ with a linear operator A and minimizing a squared Hilbert seminorm is studied. A solution to this problem could be obtained with the convex programming iterative methods, in particular, with the gradient projection method. A modification of the gradient projection method allowing one to reveal a set of active restrictions in a smaller number of iterations is offered. The efficiency of the modification proposed is shown on the problem of approximation with a pseudo-linear bivariate spline.

Forest genetic resources are the aggregate of genofonds of native and cultivar populations of forest woody plants, valuable really or potential for specific territory (A brief dictionary… 2014). Forest genetic resources are studied in practice in most cases on example of forest-forming woody plants. It is necessary to consider of study of these resources in two positions: taxonomic and geographic. Forest forming coniferous species are studied best of all from the taxonomic point of view taking into account biodiversity. Genetic polymorphism is studied most in detail with such species as Pinus sylvestris , Pinus sibirica , Larix sibirica , Larix sukaczevii , Picea obovata , Abies sibirica . Populations of Larix gmelinii , Larix cajanderi , Picea ajanensis are studied considerable worse. Materials about genetic polymorphism of forest forming foliage species - representative of genera Betula and Populus are absent. Caryological polymorphism is studied sufficiently well in all Siberian conifer species. It should be noted especially attached to examination of this problem, that individuals with B-chromosome were discovered first by gymnosperms as an example Picea obovata . Discovery in Siberia of triploid asp deserve special attention. Geographic variability is shown most broadly in the investigations of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus sibirica, Larix sibirica . These investigations were conducted both in natural populations and in provenance trials. Such investigations of another conifer and foliage species either are shown by separate fragments or are absent at all Geographic variability is shown in a large measure in the operative forest seed sources regionalization. Numerous investigations directed to the analysis of morphological variability are conducted by all forest forming species in the first place by conifers. Questions of hereditary determination of either signs remain in this problem. Similar questions concern the variability of other signs: phonological peculiarities, resin productivity etc. It can be noted from the geographic point of view. General typical peculiarity for all species: best study of forest genetic resources in the south regions and worse study in the north regions. This fact concerns all species with the exception of Larix cajanderi, which does not grow in the south regions of Siberia. Noted regularity is explained simply of more difficult availability of forests in the north Siberian regions. Certainly the north forests are characterized as a general rule by bad productivity, but they have great ecological importance. Besides that, north forests are represented in most cases by autochthonous stands that raise value of their genetic resources. It is necessary to note too that investigations of species of woody plants near the north edge of their range (by south range edge, too) are an important component of the adaptive breeding of their species. It is necessary to take into account by analysis of Siberian forest genetic resources specifics of different types of woody plants populations: isolated insular populations outside the main areas, hybrid populations in the zones of natural intraspecific hybridization etc.

The spatial structure of the natural ecosystems in the South-Western Pribaikalie is considered. In mountain-belt arrangement ecosystems are divided into mountain taiga, dark- and light coniferous, sub-taiga-forest steppe and steppe. A special group assigned the ecosystems of the river valleys. Within Goloustnensky landfill 53 kinds of ecosystems are allocated. Depending on geomorphological and lithological structures within the mountain taiga dark coniferous belt - 12, in mountain taiga light coniferous - 18, subtaiga-forest-steppe - 8, steppe ecosystems are represented by 4 and 11 - are formed in the river valleys. The main factor destabilizing the normal functioning of forest ecosystems in South-Western Pribaikalie is fire. In the region, almost all the forests were subjected to varying degrees of fire. Forest Fund is presented along with a conditional not impacted by fire areas, large burned areas of different age and with different trends in their recovery. It was found that the litter grassroots-humus fires of low and moderate intensity without damaging the forest stand, allow it to maintain basic edificator role, but destroy the undergrowth and thereby violate the normal course of forest renewing process. Evaluation of anthropogenic disturbance of forest ecosystems by fires and final felling have been designed. Fragments of the maps of natural and anthropogenically disturbed ecosystems at a scale of 1:200 000 within the Goloustnensky forestry district of Irkutsk region are presented. Assessment and mapping of ecosystems serves as a base for the organization of monitoring of the state of ecosystems, as well as to predict possible changes in its economic activities.

The criterion for steady state species in the community is the possibility of a complete turnover generation. Ontogenetic structure of Fragaria vesca and Trientalis europaea cenopopulations in phytocenoses of different seral stages of forest community depended on the ecological-coenotic conditions. Cenopopulations of species with a high frequency of individuals of generative period were formed on disturbed forest communities, however, Frsagaria vesca and Trientalis europaea seedlings in disturbed forest areas were not present. For these species, regeneration niches or microbioloby were the optimal conditions for seed germination and successful completion of the initial stages of ontogenesis, dedicated to the cenopopulations of phytocenoses climax serial stages. In holistic forest communities, species showed strategy type of patients. This allowed the species to be kept on a previously developed site. Invasive-regressive ontogenetic structure of Frsagaria vesca and Trientalis europaea cenopopulations was formed in climax stages of forest communities. However, this type of ontogenetically structure of cenopopulations reflected the survival of seedlings of species in the community, but did not represent, the tenuous state of the population. The stages of the life cycle of Fragaria vesca and Trientalis europaea were confined to different cenopopulations, where they developed the necessary conditions for the flow of the hotel stages of ontogenesis. A set of populations, within which is carried out the full turnover of the generation of Frsagaria vesca and Trientalis europaea , formed a correct idea about the status of the species in the community. In terms of a mosaic of phytocenosis cenopopulation of Platanthera bifolia was presented cenopopulations loci. The development of plants within loci differed. A variety of factors in heterogeneous pine forest determined by the separation in space of the processes of formation of seeds and survival of seedlings. This ensured the passage of the life cycle within one cenopopulations and sustainable status of the species.

Chosenia arbutifolia A. Skvorts. is a relict endemic of the Asian Pacific Coast adapted to flood activity of mountain rivers. The studies were executed in Russia in south and central areas of Magadan Oblast (the flood plains of the rivers Yana, Chelomdzha, Kolyma, Dukcha) and in the south of Primorsky Krai (the river flood plain Partizanka). The range, habitats, research history, and economic value of chosenia are described in the article. The species features of chosenia , distinguishing chosenia from willow are noted. Based on the analysis of biology and ecology of chosenia in the Russian Far East, three types of the species’ life strategies have been distinguished and characterized: 1 - secured anchoring of juveniles in substrate during the colonization of pebble floodplains (up to 3-4 years old); 2 - maximal manifestation of habitat-forming functions during the period of active growth (from 4-5 to 25-30 years); 3 - providing for the species’ advancement onto new pebble deposits (from 25-30 to 70-100 (120) years old). The experience of chosenia introduction in Russia (southern Siberia) and USA (Massachusetts) by sowing seeds and breeding of grafts with growth stimulants was analyzed. Due to ecological plasticity of the species and its specialized habitats, any unwanted chosenia invasions were excluded. Major reasons for the absence of chosenia from street plantings are analyzed and most perspective ways of its introduction are suggested. There are difficulties of the reception of the planting material in sufficient quantities in connection with quick loss germinating ability, high frailty of seedling roots, plants’ inability for vegetative reproduction, high requirement for good drainage and moisture of substratum. An experiment with raising seedlings in stationary capacities with sandy-pebble substrate is essential for a solution of the given problems. These boxes should be placed directly in areas of natural chosenia habitats along the edge of flooded deposits.

The changes of morphological and anatomical characteristics of Scots pine needles as well as their fluctuating asymmetry (FA) were studied in pine stands under the influence of industrial emissions of Krasnoyarsk. Observations were made in forest-steppe zone on windward pine forest edges in the conditions of long-term anthropogenic effect. Background site was pine stand 100 km from the city outside the direction of wind pollution. The investigations were carried out in 2013-2014 in pure pine stands of grass type, V-VI class of age. For every model tree the needle lengths in pairs were measured, as well as the cross section area of needle, area of central cylinder and conducting bindles areas and the number of resin canals. Indices of fluctuating asymmetry were calculated by method of Palmer and Strobeck (1986). The content of copper, nickel, zinc, cobalt, aluminum, cadmium, lead, fluorine and sulfur were analyzed in needle samples in parallel. The dimensions of needles and its internal structure elements showed the tendency to decrease under the influence of urban industrial emissions in comparison with background sites. On the other hand, there were adaptations of morphological and anatomical parameters of physiologically active needles to the changing environment through a compensatory mechanism. Fluctuating asymmetry indices of needles parameters were found to vary both in technogenic conditions and background ones. The variations were caused by abiotic factors of habitats and levels of technogenic loadings in these stands. Correlation analysis revealed relations between concentrations of heavy metals, aluminum and fluorine and morphological and anatomical characteristics of needles and FA indices. The most unfavorable effects were produced by high concentrations of lead and fluorine.

Aley river basin is one of the most developed territories in West Siberia. Initially, the development here was related to the development of ore mining in the Altai. Currently it is associated mainly with the agricultural orientation of economic development. The intensive involvement of basin lands into the economic turnover for the last 100 years contributed to the formation of a number of environmental problems, such as water and wind erosion, loss of soil fertility and salinization, and desertification of the territory. Besides, the decrease of Aley river water content due to natural and anthropogenic reasons was observed. A specific feature of water management in Aley river basin is a significant amount of water resources used for irrigation purposes and agricultural water supply. To ensure the economic and drinking water supply, two reservoirs and a number of ponds have been constructed and operate in the basin. Forest ecosystems of the basin are considered from the viewpoint of preservation and restoration of small rivers. The ability of forest to accumulate solid precipitation and intercept them during the snowmelt for a longer time reduces the surface drainage and promotes transfer into the subsurface flow, significantly influencing the water content of permanent watercourses, is shown. The state of protective forest plantations in Aley river basin is analyzed. Aley river tributaries are compared by area, the length of water flow, and forest coverage of the basin. It is proposed to regulate the runoff through drastic actions on the increase of forest cover in the plain and especially in the mountainous parts of the basin. Measures to increase the forest cover within water protection zones, afforestation of temporary and permanent river basins, and the protection of agricultural soil fertility are worked out.

Features of external environmental factors (such as electromagnetic radiation in certain spectral bands) influencing pheromone molecules, which are carriers of information for forest insects in the search of the opposite sex, were examined. Stability of pheromone molecules for external influences has been studied for siberian moth Dendrolimus superans sibiricus Tschetv., pine moth Dendrilimus pini L., gypsy moth Lymantria dispar L., for xylophages Ips typographus L., Monochamus urussovi Fish. and Monochamus galloprovincialis Oliv. Properties of pheromone molecules were evaluated by calculations using quantum-chemical method B3LYP. Existing methods of quantum-chemical calculations are useful for analyzing the properties of quite small and uncomplicated molecules of forest insect pheromones. The calculations showed that the molecules of insect pheromones are able to absorb light in the ultraviolet range and move into an excited state. The values of dipole moments, the wavelengths of the absorption, atomic and molecular electronic properties of pheromones in the ground and excited states were calculated. The calculations showed that for the reaction of pheromones with oxygen an energy barrier is somewhat higher than for reactions of pheromones with water vapor. The worst reaction of pheromones with water molecules likely to pheromones such molecules whose dipole moment is comparable to the dipole moment of water. Quantum-chemical characteristics of the pheromone molecules can be linked to specific behavior of the insects.

The paper reports on new and previously known data on insufficiently studied fauna of aphids living on flowering plants in Krasnoyarsk region, the main part of a vast geographical province named Central or Middle Siberia, depending on terminology used by authors of literature sources. From physical geography viewpoint, the surveyed territory belongs to the Yenisey river basin. Aphids are an ecologically and morphologically diverse group of insects included in 11 families of the suborder Aphidinea in insect fauna of Russian Federation and 25 families in the world’s fauna. Geographical location, dates of collection of aphid colonies are presented with identification of species-specific feeding preferences. First found in Siberia were Symydobius nanae, Euceraphis betulae , Cavariella cicutae , C. konoi , Uroleucon (Dactynotus) aeneum , U. giganteum, U. nigrocampalulae , U. trachelii , Aphis agrimoniae , A. coronillae , A. mongolica , A. neothalictri , A. pruni , A. pseudocomosa , A. pulsatillae , A. sambuci , A. (Debilisiphon) umbelliferarum . Collected for the first time from willow were Betacallis comes (normally feeds on birch and alder), B. quadrituberculata (common on birch), colonies of Metopeurum fuscoviride were first found on Achillea millefolium . Aphis craccivora was previously collected from plants of different families, but was never seen on Cruciferae ( Capsella bursa-pastoris ). Aphis frangulae was concidered to feed exclusively on buckthorn, however, it was found on Chamaenerion angustifolium. Judging on diversity of host species, some aphids may be more important for agriculture than it was previously thought. A general review of Krasnoyarsk Krai aphid fauna is suggested for the first time ever.

The article deals with birch stands of the forest steppes in Cis-Urals. It is pointed out that the latter are represented both by native and derivative stands formed in the place of native coniferous forest, for the most part pine stands. Birch stands, as a rule, have vegetative origin, low density (0.3-0.5) and deposit that does not exceed 130 m³/ha. As a silvicultural measure aimed at derivative birch stands’ productivity increasing, it is offered to create under the canopy preliminary forest crops of Scotch pine. The advantage of such crops is tending of plantations cutting and terms of technic mature wood growing. It has been determined that in investigated regions with low density birch stands on grey forest soil and chernozem, Scotch pine in preliminary forest crops develops surface roots which are branching in different directions from planting sites including in the direction of the brand stems. These roots are terminated among the interplacement mass of this mass of stiffened roots. In other words, on the first step of forest growing, preliminary crops do not experience considerable root competition as concerns birch stand. Based on the research data, high safe keeping of preliminary forest crops during the initial years after planting is proved. However, delay in birch stands harvesting can result in preliminary forest crops increment reduction and, in the long run, their destruction. Thus the mean height of the preliminary pine crops at the age of 11-12 years constitutes only 42-62 % as compared with pine crops of the same age that were formed on the cutover area if agrotechnical tending is systematically carried on in the latter. The positive role of birch stands in the initial 3-4 years after preliminary forest crops of Scotch pine forming has been proven experimentally. Then the birch woody canopy must be removed. Replacement of derivative birch stands for native pine stands by forming preliminary forest crops will make possible significantly increase stands’ productivity in forest-steppe of Cis-Urals, along with preserving stability of their protective environmental functions.