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A 13-year study of forest-nesting birds (orders Passeriformes and Piciformes) was conducted at five constant census areas in European Russia, the Caucasus and mountains of Southern Siberia. Nesting individuals were mapped at each census area during two or more nesting periods. Nesting densities for each species were estimated. The raster maps of spatial allocation (MSA) at the scale 50 x 50 m of the raster grid were obtained for each species. The degree of spatial conservatism (DSC) for each local population was inferred from the pairwise comparisons of the specific MSAs obtained in the same area in different years with the use of the Gamma rank correlation method. This index characterizes connection between the population and the habitat. Based on 5-year observations in the particular census area, the areas of habitats were estimated and mean DSC values were obtained for each of 18 model species. Using the model Y = 117 - 103.5 X ( Y area of habitat, X DSC; R = 0.84, p < 0.01) it was demonstrated that (axis Y ) and the mean estimates of DSC (axis X ) were calculated by the five-year rows on one experimental plot for 18 bird species. With the help of the model ( Y = 117 - 103.5 X ; R = 0.84 p < 0.01), it is shown: under conditions of almost complete saturation, when population uses almost entire area of available habitats and maximum carrying capacity of habitat is almost achieved, the total area occupied by the individual nesting home ranges of the particular species is in an inverse linear relation from DSC estimates. Based on this model, it is possible to calculate the maximum carrying capacity of habitat for each species from its DSC value. Maximum nesting density for each species in the particular census area was calculated based on its DSC values and mean size of its nesting home range. The ratio between observed and maximum nesting densities allowed to estimate the degree of saturation of carrying capacity of habitat and the population status of the particular species under different environmental conditions.

In the last years, in the Northern Pre-Urals there have been significant changes in the population dynamics of forest voles. In the foothill area the abundance of red vole decreased, and that of bank vole increased significantly, as a result of which there was the change of dominant species. In the nearby lowland areas abundance of the bank vole population remained stable, and that of the red vole increased. The main reason of these changes was the transformation of the environment under the influence of global climate change. Most of all it affected the coniferous forests of the foothills and less - the forest lowlands. As a consequence, response of the various species of voles to these changes in different landscape areas were non-identical.

A comparative study of movement activity and anxiety in the “open field” tests was conducted on the subadult flat-headed and Tuva silver voles using arenas of two diameters of 50 and 63 cm. It was found that the diameter of the arena influenced features of movement in the test conditions. At the arena of larger diameter, individuals of both species had a higher speed of movement and passed a larger distance both in general and on the periphery. Also only at the larger arenas subadult flat-headed voles showed more mobility and probably were less anxious in the test conditions compared to Tuva silver voles. Hypotheses were proposed about the peculiarities of the ecology of these species reflected in their behavior.

We studied fatty acid (FA) composition and content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids in biomass of larvae and adults of Chironomidae species that dominated in benthos of saline Lake Shira: Glyptotendiрes barbiрes, Сhironomus nigrifrons and C. halophilus. Species of different genera significantly differed in their larvae FA composition and essential PUFA content; and they also occupied different ecological niches in the lake. Chironomus species with low PUFA content, 0.2-0.3 mg x g^-1 of wet weight, inhabited a deepwater zone, while G. barbiрes that was rich in PUFA, 2.3 mg x g^-1 of wet weight, dwelt in littoral of the lake. The biochemical differences were likely related with feeding sources of these taxa and may also be explained by the phylogenetic factor. We did not find differences in the PUFA content of larvae and adults of the same species, G. barbiрes. This finding contrasted with previous data that were based on multispecies samples and showed a substantial increase of PUFA content in adult biomass due to the metamorphosis. Thus, data on biochemical content of larvae can potentially be used in calculations of PUFA fluxes from water to land through chironomid emergence from water bodies. However, taxonomic affiliation of the emerged chironomids should be considered due to high variability in PUFA content in Chironomidae species.

According to the materials of a multi-year research the author estimates an ecological status of the forest lakes in the Omsk Priirtyshye in terms of a phytoplankton development. The species composition, structure and floristic similarity degree of the phytoplankton of the polytypic forest lakes are described. The author also determines the trophic status and water quality of these lakes. It was found that an excessive recreation had a negative influence on the ecological status of surveyed lakes.

The authors present the data of the substance analysis of gold-copper-arsenic flotation concentrate. Gold and copper recovery by autoclave leaching of the concentrate has been studied. It is found that maximum gold and copper recovery under optimum conditions reaches 96 and 92%, respectively. The profitability of the proposed process flowsheet is proved by the technical-and-economical calculations.

The authors present the gravity concentration-and-flotation technology for joint processing of gold ore and placer gold mining waste ensuring high gold recovery. The research is carried out using samples of ore from a primary gold deposit under mining and from waste of gold placer mining in the Yano-Kolyma gold province in the Russian Federation. The feature of the technology is the use of bullion gold in the gold flotation circuit. Bullion gold is recovered from gold placer mining waste by gravity concentration. The ore and waste processing by gravity concentration and flotation is based on the stream flow of feed material and rough concentrate. The second flotation stream circuit uses the technology of aerosol column flotation. The efficiency of investment to joint processing of gold ore and placer gold mine waste is evaluated.

The application of integrated monitoring of ground subsidence, including geotechnical calculations of rock mass movements, leveling and satellite radar interferometry, is considered in terms of Karaganda Coal Basin. The satellite radar interferometry data show reliable measurement of ground subsidence as a consequence of underground mining.

The authors propose the approach to validation of the surveying control accuracy in safety monitoring of earth dams in terms of liquid waste receivers at mines. Based on the system structuring of types of earth dams and their elements, estimation of influence of loads and effects exerted to these structures, as well as the analysis of accident risks using the Hazard and Serviceability Analysis, an ideal sign model of earth dam safety monitoring has been constructed and the scope of field observation has been specified to record hazardous off-sets and prevent hydrodynamic accidents. By modeling an ideal earth dam, the authors determine the dam stress-strain state criteria. From the condition of non-admittance of limit equilibrium disturbance of the earthen structure, the requirements on the accuracy of horizontal and vertical surveying control over structural elements of dams are set.

The procedure of revealing water-saturated areas near underground openings by the data of radars with resistive-loaded antennas is developed. The key identifying parameter (attribute) of the procedure is the information entropy showing specific character of function of distribution of radar trace amplitudes. It becomes possible to distinguish anomalies in the profiles using the attribute after amplitude equalization. The procedure of processing of traces is described and exemplified, and the reasons of the entropy parameter efficiency are explained. For the comparison, the author considers alternative identifying parameters that appear less efficient as against the entropy attribute either for their weak capability to reveal anomalous sections in profiles or for the low interference immunity.