Home – Home – Jornals – Contemporary Problems of Ecology 2009 number 6

Peculiarities of sterilization and germinаion of the seeds after different storage periods as explants for introduction into culture in vitro are considered along with the features of morphogenesis and shoot regeneration of S. umbrosa in Murasige and Skuga nutrient medium with the addition of some hormonаl factors. The initial stages of the ontogenesis of fig-wort were studied in vitro. Microclones introduced under the conditions close to those in the natural habitats of the species were under observation.
On the basis of this research, a detailed technology of S. umbrosa micropropagation was elaborated. The reduction of the development cycle and formation of viable seeds in the introduction of microclones developed in vitro was demonstrated.

Dependence of the variation range revealed in the electrophoretic spectra of seed polypeptides on the ecological-phytocoenotic conditions of 13 populations of Hedysarum theinum Krasnob. (tick trefoil) was investigated. It was discovered that the variation range of the seed polypeptide spectra for the populations of H. theinum from the high-mountain belt of vegetation is smaller than for the populations from the forest belt. The latter is also characterized by the presence of populations in which extremal variation values were observed. Populations from the high-mountain vegetation belt which are borderline with respect to the altitude above the sea level were characterized by not very high variability.

A comparative anаlysis of taxonomic structure was carried out in ten regional partial floras (PF) of basins in the latitudinal and longitudinal gradients. The South-Eastern position of PF in the basins of the Ilmen State Reservation in the considered edaphic-climate profiles was determined. A new border of the domination of Cyperaceae-type spectra was revealed. It passes through the boreal zone and sub-zone including highlands.

The list of rare plants conserved in the Nationаl park Tunkinsky includes 44 species. Exact locations and brief characterization of habitats are presented for these species. The comparative anаlysis of the sites of rare species with respect to the existing functional zones of the park is performed; the efficiency of their protection is shown.

Data on the seasonаl rhythms of development of the representatives of Lamiaceae family - Ballota nigra L., Dracocephalum ruyschiana L., Hyssopus officinаlis L., Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, аnd Asteraceae family - Eupatorium cannаbinum L. are presented. The cytoembryological investigation of these species was carried out, including the phases of flower development, morphological features and fertility of pollen grains.

The data on individual variability of Siberian larch cones in field-protective plantations of Shira steppe of Khakasia are presented in the paper. Three forms of cones were revealed according to their colour, such as green-coned, red-coned and transitional forms. The technical germinating capacity and quality of seeds from different forms of cones (green-coned, red-coned and transitionаl) were determined.

Accumulation and variability of ecdysteroids in the phytomass, which are analogs of the insect moulting hormones, were studied in ontogenesis of the agropopulations of Rhaponticum carthamoides (Leuzea carthamoides DC.) and Serratula coronаta, with relation to the age and plant cultivation conditions. The physiological role of ecdysteroids in the ecological mutual relations with pests was evaluated.
It was revealed that the enhancement of the activity of phytophagans coincides with biochemical changes in the composition of ecdysteroids, possessing various kinds of physiological activity, and is accompanied by damage of reproductive organs. During the age-related changes in ontogenesis and seasonal development during the vegetative period, the individual share of physiologically active ecdysteroid 20-hydroxyecdysone decreases, while the low-activity ecdysteroids inokosterone and ecdysone are accumulated in generative sprouts.
Concentrating of the low-activity ecdysteroid ecdysone in the phytomass is affected by the ecological conditions of the environment and anthropogenic factors of cultivation. The factors promoting realization of the potential of affection by pests are the microclimate of the environment, accommodation of populations over the relief elements of the area, and the performed agrotechnical actions (intensity of phytomass removal, superfluous humidity in the rooting layer of populations).
The work was done under partial financial support granted by the administration of the Arkhangel'sk Region and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) NN 08-04-98840, 03-04-96147.

The problem of preservation of a relict of nemoral flora Menispermum dauricum DC. in nature is considered. The age structure and features of six local populations are studied. It is shown that, in spite of fact that the species is phytocoenotic patient, local populations on mountain-steppe slopes are influenced by destructive exogenous geomorphological processes. For preservation and restoration of Menispermum dauricum, reservations should be organized. This will also help to introduce and reintroduce Menispermum dauricum.

Data on 22 Southern-Siberian vascular plants of Amurskaya province are listed with the brief taxonomic, geographical, ecological-and-cenological analyses. The problems of conservation of the rare and endangered plant species are considered. The author proposes to establish 2 regionаl refuges in the Amur basin for the conservation of Southern Siberian plants included the Red Book species.

Distribution of lichens in forest and part zones of Novosibirsk is investigated. Lichen synusia on soil, on decomposing wood, on the bark of indigenous and introduced tree species are revealed, the anthropogenic transformation of lichen synusia is analyzed.

The concentration of phytoplankton photosynthetic pigments was monitored every decade on the Biya River outflow at the site located in the direct vicinity of Lake Teletskoye, from July 1998 till December 2001. The phytoplankton pigment characteristics in this site and in the surface layer of the lake area were compared. Processes of lake phytoplankton development and functioning are represented in full at the river site, as are changes of pigment composition that follow dynamic regularities. On the basis of seasonal variations of pigment concentration and ratios, the main phases of planktonic algal cenoses development were revealed. The comparison of phytoplankton seasonal dynamics in this deep oligotrophic lake and the lakes of different types in the temperate zone was made. The trophic status of the pelagic zone and outflow at the Biya River defined by chlorophyll a content corresponds to the ultraoligotrophic-oligotrophic one. The relationship between green and yellow pigments classifies Lake Teletskoye as a water body of «carotene» type. A lack of linear relationship between chlorophyll a content and water level, as well as weak correlation with nutrients, testify to a complex interdependence resulting from synchronous effect of abiotic and biotic factors.

On example of plaining Karasuk river (Western Siberia) it was discussed the indicative significance of taxonomic structure, values of number and phytoplankton biomass and the application of these indices for characterizing the water quality are discussed for the example of the Karasuk, a plain-land river in West Siberia.

Vitality of individuals and coenopopulations of rare and relict species (Sophora flavescens Soland.) were studied. Number and length of shoots, number of leaves on a shoot and the ratio of the leaf length to its width are the main signs characterizing the vitality of an individual. Different combinations of these quantitative signs characterize the vitality of each individual quantitatively. Such characteristics as the type of population, average points of individual vitality in the population, the sufficiency of age spectrum, the presence of genets and ramets and abundance of species in community are important indices in determining the vitality of coenopopulations. It was noted that individuals in young and transitional populations have high points of vitality.

The population of Gymnodinium baicalense Antipova from Lake Baikal was investigated alive. Living vegetative cells of G. baicalense are closely related morphologically to G. wigrense Woіosz. These species have identical ecological features. Vegetative cells are forming endogenous rest cysts. Sexuаl reproduction occurred during the mass development of the species.
The author believes G. baicalense is a relict species and its formation has taken place during the ice age.

The role of lichens in high-mountainous belt in epilit-lichens tundra, cobble tundra, alectoria tundra, dryad tundra, bush-lichens tundra, fescue tundra, cobresia and yernik tundra - integral components of mountainous vegetation - was studied and analyzed.

On the basis of long-term monitoring (1926-2003) at a permanent test ground arranged by B. A. Ivashkevich in an overmature virgin hornbeam cedar forest with fir, it is concluded that natural decomposition of the cedar part occurs in the tree stand; cedar had lost its dominant part. At the same time, secession of the tree species dominating in the lower canopy that had completed their life cycles occurs. However, the dead generations of these species are rapidly replaced by the young ones, while the young generation of cedar able to form a new tree stand is almost unformed. All these facts provide evidence of distortion of the cyclic character of cedar digenesis. The phase of predominance of hardwood species begins.

Investigation of the variability of morphological indices of Alnus fruticosa s. l. at the territory of Asian Russia was carried out. It was revealed that the species possesses a complicated internal structure, which is due to the features of climatic and foresting conditions in different parts of the habitat.
The results of phenotypic variability and sequences of intergenic spacer ITS1 nuclear eibosomal RNA of the taxons of Alnobetula subgenus point to the species rank of Alnus viridis and subgenus rank of A. fruticosa, A. sinuata and A. crispa with the priority specific name A. crispa.
A. maximowiczii, A. glutipes, A. kamtschatica and A. mandshurica are the result of intraspecific variation of the polymorphous species A. fruticosa.

Effect of optimal and contrast temperature on the fractional composition of proteins and respiration of germinating seeds of Gmelin larch (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) and Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) is revealed. Prevalence of globulins (salt-soluble fraction) and the fraction of insoluble proteins was detected in the viable air-dry larch seeds. Optimal and contrast temperature of seed germination caused substantial changes in the content and dynamics of separate protein fractions. Contrast temperatures caused stronger changes: the content of insoluble proteins increased, intense consumption of globulins occurred as separate stages of germination. Seed respiration during germination at contrast temperatures increased to a higher extent than it did at the optimal temperature. Temperature mode of germination also affected the character of interrelations between respiration intensity and the content of different protein fractions.

Features of substrate specialization of 196 species of wood-destroying aphyllophoroid fungi were revealed in the pine forests of the right-bank upper Ob territory. Distribution of species on deciduous and coniferous species in connection with confinement to substrates was demonstrated: over the types of rot caused by them, in connection with the character of substrate. The largest number of the species of wood-destroying fungi develops on forest-forming tree species. The majority of species develops on deciduous trees, the majority of white rot fungi is also confined to these tree species.