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Ground fuel loads and structure in the dark-coniferous forests with the dominance of Siberian pine were studied in the Central Siberian State Nature Biosphere Reserve located in the middle taiga of Central Siberia. The impacts of surface fires of various forms and severities were studied. Low- to moderate-severity fires were found to decrease ground fuel loads from 35-49 t/ha to 26-28 t/ha, while moderate- to high-severity fires - to 17-18 t/ha. Consumption of down woody debris varied from 3 to 29 t/ha depending on the prefire fuel characteristics, fire form and severity. Steady fires spreading under the fire danger index PV-1 of 3919 ± 482 resulted in carbon emissions of 14.0 tC/ha and 24.6 tC/ha due to fires of low- to moderate- and moderate- to high-severities, respectively. The lowest carbon emissions (10.1 tC/ha) were estimated to be due to fast-moving fire spreading under PV-1 of 1167±386.

We studied features of algal communities in forest litters of natural and artificial forest biogeocoenoses in the steppe zone. The greatest resemblance was observed between algal communities formed in the litters with a similar composition (leaf or needle litter). The complex of dominants and the structure of algal groups varied by seasons and subhorizons of the forest litter, which characterized the specifics of the forest litter as a medium of existence of algae with high dynamics of changes in thickness, chemical and physical properties as a result of processes of abiotic and biotic degradation of plant residues. Needle forest litter was characterized by the predominance of green and yellow-green algae, both in the number of species and its percentage in the total number while leaf litter - by green and yellow-green algae with significant contribution from Cyanoprokaryota. When some leaf litter was added to the needle one, it resulted in the increased diversity of algae.

In this study, amphipods Eulimnogammarus vittatus were evaluated as test organisms for use in aquatic toxicity bioassays. Dependence of the time of departure of organisms from the light on presence of toxicants was studied. The most rapid response to light was established in pure Baikal water. Presence of pollutants retarded moving of E. vittatus individuals to the dark areas. A similar effect was observed in the experiments with heavy metals, detergents, and petroleum products. The results obtained indicate good prospects of using this test reaction of E. vittatus as a biological assay for toxic contamination.

⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in the march frog were studied in the regions of the Beloyarskoye (discharge channel) and Verkhnetagilskoye (the Tagil river downstream of the dam) reservoirs. ⁹⁰Sr concentrations in the animals from the discharge channel varied from 2 to 25 Bq/kg, from the Tagil ri ver - from 1 to 13 Bq/kg, ¹³⁷Cs concentrations were 8-26 and 11-100 Bq/kg, respectively. No distinctions in ⁹⁰Sr and ¹³⁷Cs accumulation depending on age and sex were found. Accumulation levels in the march frog were compared with those in other representatives of the water ecosystem of the discharge channel. It was found that the population from the discharge channel accumulated significantly more ⁹⁰Sr and less ¹³⁷Cs than the population from the Tagil river. Evidently, ¹³⁷Cs was transferred to the Tagil river from a certain unknown source of radioactive pollution.

Kyrgyzstan is a natural repository of genetic resources and the diversity of species and natural laboratory, where at the small area are represented almost all altitudinal belts, ranging from semi-desert, ending with glacial-nival belt. This article discusses water-protective, water-regulating, anti-erosion and anti-mudflow functions of each forest category. It analyzes the main factors affecting the degradation of forests and reduction of forest cover in the study area. The complex of silvicultural measures on reforestation in the country and, in particular, the improvement of the forest seed business. It notes the importance of mountain forests in the national economy, and examines prospects for their conservation and restoration. Protection and rational use of forest genetic resources, which are an integral part of the global ecosystem, began to take on a special significance in recent years. Due to the high sensitivity of mountain ecosystems of the Tien Shan to human impact, there is a need for particularly careful monitoring of wildlife. The practical solution of many problems for the protection of mountain ecosystems directly or indirectly linked to the protection of the unique vegetation of the mountains. To solve these problems we should use the objects of flora and fauna on a legal basis under the rules and regulations set by laws and other normative legal acts of the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as to benefit from the commercial and other utilization of genetic resources. Such sharing shall be on mutually agreed terms with the local authorities and local communities in their jurisdictions providing such resources.

Strains of microorganisms that have antagonistic and growth-stimulating activity ( Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp., Bac. subtilis and Trichoderma harzianum ) were added to the dark-gray soil of a forest nursery (Pogorelsky EEF) and to conifer seeds ( Pinus sylvestris L., Larix sibirica L.). Pre-sowing seed treatments of Trichoderma harzianum , Bacillus sp., and Pseudomonas sp. strains increased Scots pine ground germination in 1.5-1.7 and Siberian larch - in 1.3-5.8 times; improved safety and quality of viable pine seedlings in the 1.4-11.0, larch - in 1.3-3.5 times in the end of the growing season, compared with the control. Morphometric parameters of the pine seedlings increased processing of Pseudomonas sp. and Bacillus subtilis , larch seedlings - Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus sp. in 1.5-2.0 times (both). The pine and larch seeds bacterization, initially infected by Fusarium , reduced to 1.2-2.5 times the population of phytopathogen, which helped lower the death of coniferous seedlings. The biologically active microbial strains, which were introduced in the nursery soil, have increased and maintained the total number of microorganisms (ETGM) in conifer seedlings during the whole period of vegetation. It has had a positive effect of bacilli treatment ( Bacillus sp. and Bac. subtilis ) on the dynamics of microbial biomass content, the rate of basal respiration and microbial metabolic coefficient values ( q CO₂). In general, the introduction of spore bacteria ( Bac. subtilis and Bacillus . sp.) and micromycetes ( Trichoderma harzianum ) populations with coniferous seeds increased the biogenetic and productivity of the nursery soil (MB, enzymatic activity, the ETGM number) to 1.5-3.0 times in comparison with the control and, despite of the high values of specific microbial respiration throughout the growing season, had a positive impact on the restoration of the ecophysiological functioning rule of soil microbial community.

The paper presents the evaluation of the stock and structure of plant communities formed in the dumps of the Borodino brown coal pit (the eastern part of the Kansk-Achinskcoal basin). A comparison of different age dumps reclaimed with top soil (TS), planned dumps and slopes. The observations cover the period from 2007 to 2009 and 2013. Almost immediately after its creation, on the surface dumps with TS a solid grassy vegetation formed, which was characterized by high productivity. Over the next two decades, a biomass reserve decreased more than 2 times. The major portion of the biomass of 7 and 31-year-old community is concentrated in the 0-10 cm layer. The plant communities amount to the original level of stocks and the structure of the biomass of both aboveground and underground are as no earlier than in 25-30 years. Forest plantations making to force the accumulation of biomass of young biogeocenosis formed on poor substrate (litostratah). The stock biomass of pine man-made stands on 30 % less than in the grass lands to growing on the dumps with TS. Slopes of reclaimed dumps were slowly overgrown and emerging communities were characterized by a low cover and productivity. The major portion of biomass was located above ground. Significant seasonal variations in quantities of above-ground phytomass of plant communities of old dumps, indicating their«immaturity»in spite of thethirty years of the formation of vegetation.

Article considers results of long-term studies of birch undergrowth in subtaiga subzone and forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia, the features of silver and downy birch seed regeneration under the canopy of parent stands, on logging, burned and abandoned arable lands, and hayfields. The distance of seed dispersal by wind, dynamics of accumulation of self-sown birch after continuous tillage and plough furrows is specified. It was found that seed regeneration under the birch stand canopy is hindered by drying of litter and root competition of the parent stand. A necessary condition for the germination of small seeds and the survival of weak shoots of birches is sufficient rainfall during the period of seed production and careful soil treatment, which provides removal of litter, total removal of herbaceous vegetation and soil reserve of weed seeds: continuous repeated plowing, bulldozing strips or shallow plow furrow with 0.7-1.0 m in width, with their additional cultivation. The most effective way of preparing land for seed regeneration of birch trees in arid steppe conditions is to transfer it under temporary cultivation of grain-crops, providing suppression of permanent weeds. Autumn plowing after harvest will provide annual readiness of the site for seed colonization of the birches. When there is an optimum combination of good seed harvest, rainy weather conditions, and appearance of mass self-sown birch, the land is excluded from the agricultural use. Prerequisites: the presence of seed productive walls of birch with preliminary removal of aspen and undesirable forms of birch. In spring of the next year an inventory is done of wintered self-sown birches, at least on 100 evenly spaced accounting plots. If the self-seeding dies, the site continues to be used by agriculture. Less reliable but acceptable is tillage by bulldozer stripes and furrows with 0.7-1.0 m in width, in a year of abundant seed production, before the start of mass seed fall.

Complex estimation of forest ecosystems dynamics based on detailing characteristics of structure, growth and productivity of the stands and describing general geographical and biological management options for preserving their biodiversity and sustaining stability are discussed in the paper by describing examples of tree stands restored on burned and logged areas in mountain regions of Siberia. On vast areas in Siberia, characterized as sub-boreal, subarid and with a strongly continental climate, forests grow on seasonally frozen soils and in many cases are surrounded by vast steppe and forest-steppe areas and uplands. Developing criteria for sustainability of mountain forest ecosystems is necessary for forest resource management and conservation. It is therefore important to obtain complex biometric characteristics on forest stands and landscapes and to thoroughly study their structure, biological diversity and productivity. Morphometric methods, Weibull simulation and allometric equations were used to determine the dimensional hierarchies of coenopopulation individuals. Structure and productivity of the aboveground stand components were also studied.

Studies were carried out in the lowmountain part of the Kuznetsk Alatau. The spruce stands were studied in the peaty valley of river Tunguzhul and swamp near Agaskyr Lake (valley of river Pechische, basin of river Black Iyus). The objects belong to the group of high ash content flood plain peat lands of cryogenicseries. We have done the evaluation of organic carbon response to physical-chemical properties - decomposition degree, ash content, and bulk density, connected together ( r - 0.5-0.7), that in contrast to carbon, is easy determined analytically. Received results according to stepwise regression analysis characterize the strong conditionality predictors of carbon: multiple determination index R ² - 0.86. The highest partial correlation coefficient with the response belongs to the ash content in range (5-68 %). Partial correlation coefficient values of bulk density and decomposition degree is not significant. The determination index ( R ² - 0.93), constant and negative coefficient of pair regression analysis are highly significant and evidence of the strong bond of carbon and organic substrate ash content. The relative error of approximation is in the range of 2-8 % and characterizes the high accuracy of prognosis. Including only one indicator (ash content) in the calculation formula makes it convenient and simple in practical application for the carbon content prediction on the forest litter, modern peat soils, buried peat and peat-mineral formations with ash content of 5-68 %. We are the first to present the geochemical characteristics of forest swamps peat mine for the KuznetskAlatau intermountain basins.