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Based on long-term investigations, we compiled the soil and soil degradation maps for the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory (CEZ BNT). It was found that the soil cover has, in addition to the general facies and provincial peculiarities, a clearly pronounced beltedness, because most of the study territory is occupied by mountain ridges, and only a small part of it corresponds to a narrow lowland belt of the Lake Baikal shores, and to the river valleys. It is shown that the northern and northeastern parts of the CEZ BNT are characterized by a predominance (in automorphic conditions) of podzols and podburs with a weakly differentiated profile. The map displays a widespread occurrence of soddy podzolic soils on the southwestern and eastern shores of Baikal, both on the plain and in the foothill belt. The eastern macroslope of the Primorskii Ridge, immediately adjacent to Baikal, is distinguished by its steepness, and by an abundance of rocky cliffs. Podzols and podzolized burozems are of widespread occurrence on the southern coast of Lake Baikal, on the bedrock slope under dark-coniferous and grass aspen-birch forests with the undergrowth of dark-coniferous species. It is determined that carbo-lithozems of dark-humus and grey- and dark-humus soils tend to occur to the outcrops of marbles and their derivatives. It is established that the distinctive nature of the ecological conditions for soil formation in landscapes within the Lake Baikal drainage basin is responsible for the uniqueness and specificity of soils, and this may be exemplified by formation of coarse-humus burozems in conditions of Siberia, which is not typical for this region according to the general classification of soils of Russia.

We investigated the influence of two anthropogenic factors, plowing and fires, on soil formation in the delta of the Selenga river along the southeastern shores of Lake Baikal. The study revealed changes in soils transitional from soddy podburs to burozems that are almost entire drawn into the agricultural turnover, occurring on sandy waterworn terraces at the foot of the Khamar-Daban Range. It is established that heavy agricultural machinery on the fields leads to soil compaction and a decrease in water permeability, and promotes the processes of soil loss and subsoil plowing in the upper part of the slope as well as the fill processes in its gentle part. As a result, the main area of tillage experiences an increase in the thickness of the humus-accumulative layer accompanied by the formation of a thick subsurface horizon. It is determined that the soils of pine forests: humic podzolized psammozems, are transformed under the influence of forest fires; characteristic features of their post-fire development are revealed. It is found that among the anthropogenic factors under investigation, crown fires have the most negative influence on the soil. Plowing and ground fires have not only negative but also positive effects: in either case, the thickness of the humus-accumulative horizons and humus reserves increase.

In conditions of extensive and difficult-of-access territories of Siberia, data about distribution of plant and animal species are fragmentary; therefore, for identifying the potential habitats of species we propose to use computer modeling methods as implemented in the MaxEnt 3.3.3k program. Using information on environmental parameters in the known localities of a species being modeled, the program determines the likelihood of its existence on the remaining territory. As the source of information on environmental parameters, it is customary to use the WorldClim database. However, our attempt to model the geographic dis tribution for Anemone baicalensis Turcz. ex Lebed., a nemoral relict occuring in the Baikal region only on the Khamar-Daban Range turned out to be invalid because of a small number of meteostations, the data from which are included in WorldClim. To resolve this problem we made use of the GRID model of the Baikal natural territory (sc 1:1 000 000) constructed on the basis of data taken from published atlases of thematic maps. The GRID model was used to obtain the probable geographic distribution of a reasonably high accuracy. The largest value for the distribution of the species corresponds to the altitude above the sea level (62.3 %), and to the annual precipitation amount (36.8 %). The potential distribution area of A. baicalensis within the northern macroslope of the Khamar-Daban Range correspond to the entire nemoral refugium situated there. The spurs of the Baikal and Barguzin Ranges and the foothill areas of Eastern Sayan as identified in the model are also recognized as nemoral refugia. It might be recommended that WorldClim data should only be used in a small-scale modeling, whereas some other sources should be used for medium and large scales, such as the contemporary atlases of thematic maps in order to substan tially improve the quality of the resulting model.

Presented are the results from investigating the components of geosystems, such as the soil and vegetation, and their response to changes of climate on the southwestern shores of Baikal (settlement of Listvyanka and adjoining territories), the most well-developed part of the central ecological zone. A characteristic of the soils of this settlement and its surroundings is provided, the soil-plant relationship is investigated, and the response of the soil to temperature changes is revealed. As a result of using a set of methods (standard and contemporary), we obtained new evidence concerning the components of geosystems for the southwestern shores of Baikal under current climate change. It is found that the territory of the settlement and its surroundings are experiencing a strong anthropogenic impact, which manifests itself in a change in the internal connections of natural complexes and, as a consequence, in a transformation of the dominant stable mountain-taiga geosystems. The detected high concentrations of trace elements in the soil tend to occur in roadside ecosystems and the residential zone. It is revealed that the concentrations of the trace elements Ba, Mn, Cu, V and Cr in tissues of the plants used in the study are relatively high. Grasses are distinguished by the smallest number of elements (Mn, Cu and V) which have maximally high values. The coefficient of biological absorption higher than 1 was observed in Ba, Mn and Cu. It is determined that the anomalous air temperatures in 2014-2015 had influence on soil temperature, cumulative active temperatures, and on the amplitude between winter and summer temperatures at a depth of 20 cm on different-aspect slopes. It is found that the northeastern slope is colder, is warmed at a later date in the springtime and has a longer period of subzero temperatures. It is revealed that the climatic anomalies in recent years implied a rise in winter temperatures of the soil, and an extension of the summer maxima, which was reflected in an increase of the time of the growing period, and the rate and length of ice setting on Baikal.

We present new data on the morphology of Murinskaya Banka (Southern Baikal) obtained during specialized expedition investigations by using the high-resolution multibeam echosounder, and the acoustic profile recorder system. The set of bathy metric data was subjected to a pre-assessment in the ArcGISforDesktop software package to construct the terrain model using the 3D-Analyst Module by the method of TIN interpolation based on a Delaunay triangulation. The MeshDenoise smoothing method, developed specifically for processing volumetric data, was used to eliminate all errors as revealed in the model after its analysis. For the first time for this upland, we obtained and analyzed, along with data from the multibeam echosounder, seis moacoustic data. We assessed the age boundaries of the epochs in the history of formation of Murinskaya Banka, including on the basis of palynological data on samples obtained by means of Deep Submergence Vehicle Mir. As a result, a detailed bathy metric map was constructed for the first time for the underwater upland, unconformities and faults in its internal structure were revealed, and the sedimentary genesis of its body was determined. By studying the morphological characteristics of the shoalbank and the adjacent territory of the coastland, it was found that the formation of the underwater upland was associated with the submergence of the coastal plain and the ancient delta of the Khara-Murin and Langatui rivers beneath the lake water line. This event could occur during the lake substage of the Neobaikalian stage that started about 0.15 million years ago. Nowadays there is taking place a rise of the shoalbank itself and of the coast, which is evidenced by intense incisions of the rivers flowing into the lake, and of the canyons.

Pyroclastic material was discovered on the pediment of the Barguzinskaya depression adjacent to the Ikatskii Ridge. It is found that the contents of SiO2 in it vary from 56.35 to 62.67 wt%, Na2O + K2O from 4.59 to 5.9, and Al2O3 from 20.4 to 26.5 wt%. According to K-Ar dating of a sample of aleurite containing glass, the lower limit of the baking and fusion of sedi mentary deposits is estimated at 8.5 million years. For identifying the source of pyroclastics, a borehole in the area of the dis covery exposed a sequence of sedimentary deposits of the Miocene-Lower Pliocene coal-bearing Tankhoi and Pliocene/Eo-Pleistocene ocherous Anosov formations. The profile of the Tankhoi formation revealed six layers with the transition from bog-oxbow deposits of layers 1-3 to lake deposits of layers 4-6. We identified considerable weathering of material in unite 3 characterized by an accumulation of brown coal layers as thick as 10 m. A comparative analysis of major oxides and trace ele ments of the sedimentation sequence of pyroclastics showed that the source of baking were represented by lacustrine aleurites of layer 4 overlaying directly the coal seam from layer 3. In most samples of pyroclastics, the interval Fe2O3 /FeO - 0.06-0.15 is correlated with Fe2O3 / FeO in the brown coal unite, which might point to fusion of sedimentary material under the action of the flow of reduced gases liberated from the coal intercalation. It is suggested that the coal seam self-ignited when exposed to the air during the rise of the Ikatskii Ridge at the time of restructuring of the northeastern Baikal Rift Zone 9-5 Ma.

We investigated the changes in the subaerial surface of the Selenga river delta occurring under the effect of variations in the Lake Baikal level, erosion-accumulation activity, the river hydraulicity and, perhaps, due to tectonic processes. It is found that an increase in absolute elevations of the delta surface that began in 1956 was caused by multiple inundations of floodplains and terraces by the river waters at high-water periods. Bank outcrops with several horizons of buried soils were observed in the central part of the delta. A radiocarbon dating of horse bones and a pollen analysis of the profile of alluvial-delta deposits have been made. A retrospective analysis of topographic maps, nautical charts and space images is made. For a comparative analysis we generated hypsometric models, and the model of the evolution of erosion-accumulation processes. An assessment is made of changes in the area of the delta, the shoreline length, the lake percentage and the degree of channelization of the delta and its sectors. The findings can give evidence of the tectonic origin of a reduction in the area of the Sredneustyevskii sector on account of a compaction of waterlogged materials. Since 1956 the mean height of the delta surface has increased by 0.8 m as a result of an accumulation of alluvial deposits in the central part; the periphery of the delta continues to be inundated in the Sredneus tyevskii sector to a depth of 0.5 to 1.5 m. The rate of erosion-accumulation processes is characterized on the basis of experimen tal observations. In the main delta arms, the rate of bank erosion is estimated as moderate: up to 3 m/year in the central part. The area at the head of the delta showed a high rate intensity of bank caving, 10 m/year or more. A reconfiguration of the channel network and formation of new bifurcation nodes and delta branches are taking place to date.

We examine the ecological-economic problems of using the territory and the prospects for a further development of the social and communal infrastructure as well as the economic activities in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural terri tory (within the boundaries of the Barguzinskii, Pribaikal’skii, Kabanskii and Severobaikal’skii districts, and of the city of Severobaikal’sk). An analysis is made of the economic activities carried out on the territory by enterprises and organizations. We highlight the main issues of socioeconomic development of territories related to the latest changes in the sphere of normative-legal regulation of nature management in the central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory. It is shown that to resolve the identified problems requires a successful implementation of the measures foreseen by strategic programs of socioeconomic development of municipal formations as well as the measures for ecologization of the economic activities.

We investigate the private entrepreneurship of the population living in Irkutsk oblast’s administrative districts adjacent to the shores of Baikal. Three categories of sectors have been identified, which would be appropriate for further development on this territory, including in the settlements of the central ecological zone: nondestructive kinds of nature management, handling of waste, and reproduction of natural resources. The Ol’khоnskii district holds the lead in the level of business activities owing to agriculture, and to the rendering touristic services, with a minimal contribution from industrial production. The ecologically oriented kinds of activity of private entrepreneurship are dominated by consumption types of nature management, such as tourism, fisheries and gathering; however, products are not processed, and the only fish processing plant was shut down. Private businesses do almost not participate in activities related to restoration of the natural environment, including waste disposal. Private entrepreneurship has reached the highest level of development in the key settlements for tourism in the central ecological zone: Listvyanka, Sakhyurta, Baikal’sk, and Slyudyanka. Small settlements sustain their living conditions mainly through agriculture. State-level regulation of the economic activities of the central ecological zone is currently dominated by a prohibitive approach, which narrows the possibilities of raising the living standards of the local population. There is a need to promote the development of the sectors engaged in reproduction of the natural wealth, including forest-growing and fish breeding, with the involvement of the local population, which can be achieved through the management system for specially protected areas. Part of activity on waste gathering and disposal can also be transferred by state bodies to the private sector for outsourcing. For the central ecological zone it is necessary to have a separate program of development based on the principles of a “green” economy.

The central ecological zone of the Baikal natural territory includes Baikal with its islands, the water protection zone adja cent to the lake as well as specially protected natural areas. Ten specially protected natural areas are adjacent to Baikal’s shores: three zapovedniks, two national parks, and five zakazniks; therefore, environmental restrictions are imposed on the economic activities carried out there. In the central ecological zone, most of agricultural production is concentrated on the territory of the districts of Irkutsk oblast and the Republic of Buryatia. The leading sectors of agricultural activity are livestock husbandry, and the production of grain crops and vegetables. Plant-growing is mainly an auxiliary activity intended to meet the needs for forage reserves and internal consumption. Agricultural production in the study region is shown in the context of administrative districts (municipal formations) forming part of the central ecological zone; in Irkutsk oblast: the Irkutskii, Slyudyanskii and Ol’khonskii districts, and in the Republic of Buryatia: the Barguzinskii, Kabanskii, Severobaikal’skii and Pribaikal’skii districts. The ter ritorial differentiation of agricultural development in the districts is considered, and the peculiarities of its sectoral structure are highlighted. An analysis is made of the structure of sown areas as well as of the gross harvest of grain and leguminous crops, potatoes and vegetables cultivated on open ground in enterprises of all categories for the time interval from 1990 to 2014. The characteristics of development of typical sectors of livestock husbandry for Irkutsk oblast and the Republic of Buryatia, such as cattle raising, sheep-breeding and horse-breeding.