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The GIS-based approach for classification and mapping of forest vegetation and forest growing conditions was developed. The combined analysis of Lands at satellite imagery and digital elevation model were applied to produce the digital maps of potential forest growing conditions and forest regeneration dynamics of southern CircumYenisei Siberia. This automated approach allows creating and quickly updating the forest cover maps that is very urgent for the large Siberian forest areas.

In the presented paper we used MODIS data to estimate disturbance of forest covered lands in the south-western areas of the Zabaikal Krai caused by fires. Joint analysis of vegetative indices calculated by measurements of the reflected radiation in the near and mid-infrared wave range and data of the on-ground studies allowed to identify areas of successful and poor reforestation on the fire disturbed territories. Based on instrumental data it was found that repeated fires prevented successful reforestation. The analysis of seasonal dynamics indicates that summer fires result in greater damages of forest vegetation as compared to spring fires. Larch stands prevailing in the region account for a major proportion of the fire disturbed lands (including the largest area where the reforestation processes are hampered) while the pine and deciduous stands are characterized by a higher frequency of fires.

Spatial and temporal dynamics of fir-dominant stand mortality in the Altai Mountains was studied based on remote sensing and GIS methods. Mortality was primarily caused by Siberian silkmoth ( Dendrolimus sibiricus Tschetv.). Spatial distribution of stands mortality was dissimilar with respect to relief features. Initially pest outbreak occurred on the south-west slopes (about 10 steepness) and elevation about 400 a.s.l. Then mortality spread uphill and downhill and to the steeper slopes and those of the eastern exposure. About 45 % of total (6 thousand ha) mortality was due to secondary pest (bark beetles) attacks. Based on remote sensing technique an initial phase of pest outbreak was determined with one-decade precision. Siberian silkmoth outbreak happened at increase in air temperature and decrease in precipitation and late frosts. Weakened by Siberian silkmoth and water stress trees became sensitive to secondary pest’s attacks. Observed and predicted warming and aridity increase will facilitate Siberian silkmoth outbreaks both within its range and northward of its current border.

The relationships between climate (January and July temperatures, annual precipitation and a relative moisture index) and the numbers and intensities of Lophodermium needle cast disease events in Pinus sylvestris L. nurseries and provenance trials across the Krasnoyarsk Krai have been studied using multiple regressions. The maximum number of the disease manifestations was found to be associated with warm and humid weather conditions. Climate-based biolclimatic models of Lophodermium needle cast have been built and used to predict a spatial dynamics of the disease for two climate change scenarios during the 21st century. Model experiments demonstrated that the needle cast range would shift northwards into new regions where this pathogen had not been registered in nurseries yet. The largest forest areas that may be damaged by disease outbreaks are predicted under moderate warming by 2020. Under substantial warming by 2080, forest areas of potential disease outbreaks would decrease because pine shifts into the permafrost zone would be limited by slow thawing of its active layer depth.

Ixodiae ticks were counted and sampled in six distant locations within the Altai-Sayan Mountain Area and nouthern forest-steppe in 2012. In total, 1829 individuals of I. persulcatus and 719 of I. pavlovskyi were trapped. I. persulcatus was found in all six examined locations and I. pavlovskyi - in the Western Altai, North-Eastern Altai, and Northern Altai, and the forest parks near Novosibirsk’s Academgorodok . In total, 16S rRNA and COI sequences were determined for 144 and 164 I. persulcatus individuals, and for 60 and 55 I. pavlovskyi . Selectively equivalent mutant forms were present in I. pavlovskyi populations of the North-Eastern Altai and Northern Altai. The hydrothermal regime in the forest parks near Novosibirsk is optimal for ticks I. pavlovskyi . These ticks have recently colonized the forest parks near Novosibirsk and therefore are genetically close to I. pavloskyi from the “Altai-Sayan Mountain Area” populations.

During the primary colonization of substrates by cyanobacterial-algal flora in obviously different regions of Russia (Yano-Oimyakon Highlands, Northeast of Asian Russia and West Siberia), 78 specific and intraspecific taxa of algae and cyanobacteria were found. The analysis of obtained data gives an indication of different nature of the development of substrates (rocks and sandy soils). It is quite possible to consider them as specific situ models throughout autogenous litho- and psamosuccessions.

Species composition and phytoplankton biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll a (Chl) and nutrients, as well as concurrent hydrophysical conditions were studied in the southern part of the White Sea in July 10-15, 2012 during chlorophyll a decrease after summer peak. The water column stability varied, the concentration of dissolved silicon in the upper mixed layer was closed to the range favorable for diatoms with the exception of areas of intensive tide mixing and areas influenced by waters of the Severnaya Dvina River. In the surface layer the dinoflagellates dominated except for areas with intensive tide mixing where diatoms prevailed. Diatoms provided major contribution to biomass in different stations above, in and under pycnocline and in deep waters out of the photic zone. The structural analysis revealed three phytoplankton communities that corresponded to different depths: communities of the photic zone, intermediate and deep layers. Extension of layers inhabited by different communities depended on water column stability and on genesis of water masses. Integrated values of phytoplankton biomass and Chl varied from 250 to 1188 mg С/m², and from 22 to 51 mg/m², respectively.

Hierarchical classification was drafted and spatial-typological structure of the winter and pre-spring bird population was revealed for the northern macroslope of the Kyrgyz Range. Descriptiveness of obtained classification and structural representations, as well as evaluation of the variability of communities due to environmental factors were determined by linear approximation of quality, Structure and organization of the bird communities in these periods were compared. Overall, the heterogeneity of the bird communities of the northern slope of the Kyrgyz Range in winter and early spring periods is associated with variability in heat and humidity, and presence of built-up areas and mono-crop agriculture. In winter, the avifauna changes more gradually than in the early spring period.

Pup survival and growth were monitored to determine whether paternal care potentially contributed to reproductive success. The subjects were 143 pups from 24 litters obtained from adult voles trapped in the wild. One group of litters ( n = 12, 72 pups) was raised by adult females without sires, and the other group of litters ( n = 12, 71 pups) was raised by both parents. Pup survival and growth rate were found to decrease in the presence of the sires especially those ones exhibiting a higher level of aggressiveness. These findings indicate a decrease of fitness of male common voles living in family groups.

The article analyzes and summarizes the literature data and own material regarding the influence of living plants on the formation, oxidation and concentration of methane in aquatic and wetland ecosystems, principally through the regulation of plants physical-chemical conditions of the rhizosphere soils and sediments, number and activity of microorganisms, as well as methane emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, the paper discusses the results of theoretical and experimental studies of the mechanism of aerobic, not microbiological formation of methane in plant filesphere.