An estimation of resources of biomass of invertebrates in ochra subbrown soils, sandy podzols and gray soils of the taiga zone of the Krasnoyarsk Region is made. It is demonstrated that the contribution of the soil zoomass to the processes of carbon and nitrogen accumulation in the series of podzols < subbrown soils < gray soils reflects the increase of the role of invertebrates in deposition of the most important biogenic elements that goes in parallel with improvement of local climatic conditions.
For 53 out of 57 species and subspecies of dragon flies in the fauna of the Pamir-Alai, the range of altitudinal diffusion and optima in the altitudinal component of their distribution area have been established. Distinguished are mountainous species (13), lowland species (10), those with optima of the area in the mountains (16) and in plains (11), and 3 species of obligate migrants with vaguely expressed optima. The vertical diffusion of dragon flies is determined by climatic factors, first of alltemperature, with existence of reproductive stations. In the latter case, the most important role is played by the anthropogenous factor. With the advent and development of artificial irrigation systems, the pattern of vertical diffusion of dragon flies in the Pamir-Alai, like in general in the south of Middle Asia, has radically changed. Some initially montane species have succeeded in populating plains with desert climate, and the majority of lowland and euryzonal ones have considerably enlarged their distribution areas.
The species composition and the biotopic distribution of herpetobiont coleopterous insects in the vicinities of the mount Neroika (Circumpolar Urals) is considered, 78 species have been recorded. Four beetle complexes have been distinguished: forest, meadow, mountain-meadow and mountain-tundra complexes which correspond to meadow-forest, mountain-meadow, and mountain-tundra habitat types. It is established that altitudinal borders are clearly expressed only between the two first biotopes, while between the mountain-meadow and mountain-tundra habitats there are no clear-cut differences in the altitudinal localization. On the basis of this, it is hypothesized that the spread of insects is determined first of all by the specificity of hydroedaphic factors in each biotope type associated, i.a., with their altitude localization. An analysis of the degree of equalization of the insects` species composition with respect to Shannon`s index of diversity has been carried out, a decrease of this index from meadow-forest to mountain-tundra habitats has been established. A high activity of the beetles in mountain-meadow and mountain-tundra biotopes throughout the catching period has been demonstrated. Here, two peaks of beetles` activity have been noted: in the beginning of summer and in late July. Variations in the beetles` activity in mountain-meadow and mountain-tundra biotopes are accounted for by changes in weather conditions, in particular the air temperature, during the catching period.
In the West-Siberian northern taiga (the Yamal-Nenetz Autonomous District, vicinities of Noyabrsk city), 54 carabidae species (Coleoptera) have been found. The fauna of natural landscapes (forests, bogs, river flood-plains) contains a larger number of tundra-taiga species than the fauna of anthropogenous landscapes (sand quarries and burned-out forests) in which more taiga west-paleoarctic elements are represented. The carabidae population of natural biotopes is poorer and lower in numbers than that of anthropogenous biotopes, and they differ both at the level of species and genera. Distinguished are complexes of stenobiont species of inconstant small lakes, flood plains, permafrost swamps; oligibiont species of swamps, forests, open dry habitats; a wide eurybiont Carabus canaliculatus Ad. Although biotopes with destroyed soil cover become populated by carabidae already the next year, this is not a fauna typical of northern taiga, but rather prevalent widespread species. Such an unstable structure is conserved for no less than 20 years, and it is only in a few decades that the structure approaches the natural one.
For 2 years ecophysiological studies of the physiological state of isolated myocardium of anural amphibians (Rana arvalis Nilss. and Rana temporaria L.) were carried out by biophysical methods. As the object of studies, the myocardium was chosen, since it is known that myocardium possesses a high sensitivity to factors that influence directly or indirectly the mechanisms controlling the contraction. A certain physiological specificity of individuals from populations inhabiting the territory of urban agglomeration is demonstrated, data of the dependence of key characteristics of contraction capacity of the myocardium on the degree of anthropogenous influences are obtained. It is established that there exists a mechanism directed at compensation of a lowered contracting capacity of myocardium in animals from populations from the most urbanized territories.
The method described in the paper is based on the principles and methods of economical estimation checked in the course of various design developments and adapted to the conditions of Moscow. Calculations of the damage have been maximally simplified for the users of this method, which will make it possible to avoid delays in the procedures of suits for compensation of damage due to complicated calculations. In the substantiation, methodological approaches to, and the order of, estimation of the cost of the main group of animal habitats in Moscow are described at length. The method has been approved by a decree of the mayor of Moscow and is used for estimation of the damage by the organs responsible for the control of natural resource protection, urban inspection services, specialists in evaluation of economical influences on the natural milieu of Moscow.
