Vol 10, No 6 (2017)

For the first time nuclear DNA polymorphisms were studied in Kodar snow sheep (Ovis nivicola kodarensis, KOD). KOD is a representative of a small isolated population of Asian snow sheep (Ovis nivicola Eschscholtz, 1829) inhabiting the Kodar Ridge (Irkutsk oblast, Transbaikal krai). We compared KOD with the geographically closest Yakut subspecies (Ovis nivicola lydekkeri). Genome-wide study of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was performed using the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip (Illumina, United States). The final set of markers for analysis included 1030 SNPs. We found that Kodar snow sheep had almost 10 times lower level of genetic diversity evaluated by multilocus heterozygosity—MLH (0.027 for KOD vs 0.215–0.270 for individuals of Yakut subspecies) and standardized MLH—stMLH (0.116 against 0.910–1.147). The results of multidimensional scaling (MDS), Nei distances calculations (D_N) and STRUCTURE analysis showed a clear genetic differentiation of Kodar snow sheep from Yakut subspecies. Our data is the first step to understanding the demographic history of the original Kodar population of snow sheep.

The ranges of three alien fish species (rotan Perccottus glenii, sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus, and bleak Alburnus alburnus) in the Ob River basin, West Siberia, have expanded. Our data prove the expansion of rotan and sunbleak ranges to the north. In particular, for the first time, populations of rotan are reported from the lower section of the Ob. We also present new data about range expansion of the studied fish species southward. All three species have probably reached the southern limits of their possible distribution in the Upper Ob system, entering the potamon/rhithron transition zone, because the species under study prefer lowland waters. The spatio-temporal dynamics of their expansion reveals the role of the Ob River as the main invasion corridor, enhancing their distribution mostly in meridional direction. In the system of the Upper Ob, rotan and sunbleak were found by us in isolated ponds and lakes, as well as in floodplain systems. This is in agreement with the concept of two invasion vectors: the translocation of fish by humans between water bodies and self-distribution along the river courses.

The effect of common carp and bream on hydrochemical parameters, abundance, and structure of phyto-, zooplankton, and macrozoobenthos has been studied in semienclosed mesocosms installed in the littoral zone of a mesotrophic lake. Significant differences in the biomass of different algal groups in mesocosms with fish in respect to the control were established only for diatoms and were not found for other phytoplankton groups. Common carp had a greater effect on the abundance of large zooplankton species (Diaphanosoma brachyurum) compared to bream. The abundance of the small Bosmina longirostris increased in mesocosms both with bream and common carp. The macrozoobenthos biomass reduced at higher rates in mesocosms with common carp than in those with bream, with the strongest effect of common carp on mayfly larvae. The differences between the consumption of chironomid and oligochaete larvae were not established in mesocosms with common carp. Bream mainly affected the larvae of mayflies and oligochaetes and, to a lesser degree, the chironomid larvae.

The results of a study of the taxonomic, ecological, and phytocenotic structure of plant communities formed in the early stages of overgrowth of the anthropogenic sandy outcrops within the forest-tundra zone and northern taiga forest subzone of Western Siberia are presented. In the early stages of vegetativecover restoration, there are from 2 to 11 species growing into sparse communities of the classes Loiseleurio-Vaccinietea, Artemisietea vulgaris, and Koelerio-Corynephoretea. The participation of some meso-xerophytic forest-tundra, meadow-margin, and weed herbaceous plant and dwarf shrubs species, mostly with ruderal and stress-tolerant eco-phytocenotic strategies, as well as with secondary strategies—violent-ruderal and ruderal–stress-tolerant—in the secondary succession on the sandy outcrops have been shown. The primary succession begins at the bottom and slopes of the pit ditches, as well on the surface of the sand dunes, and proceeds at an accelerated scenario. Hygro-, meso- and xerophilous species, predominantly oligo-mesotrophic rhizome and densely firm-bunch grasses and shrubs of the native flora, as well as ground lichens, participate in the early stages of succession.

This paper presents the results of a study of the ontogenesis and structural and morphological features of various life forms of Nepeta pulchella Pojark. (Lamiaceae). The environmental and coenotic features of the species habitats within the Aksu-Zhabagly State Nature Reserve have been described. It is found that N. pulchella inhabits areas from the middle part of the mountains to the subalpine belt. The status of coenopopulations in two types of plant communities has been examined. Depending on various ecological and coenotic conditions, N. pulchella individuals develop two life forms: taprooted caudex and short-rhizomatous–taprooted ones. Individuals belonging to these biomorphs go through complete sophisticated ontogenesis. The following morphogenetic phases have been described for the first biomorph: primary shoot → main axis → primary bush → clone; for the second one: primary shoot → main axis → primary bush → tillering particle → nontillering particle. The studied coenopopulations were normal, transitional to mature, resistant, and incomplete. The ecocoenotic and structural–morphological analyses made it possible to identify in the N. pulchella morphogenesis a number of features determined by phylogenetic ties with closely related taxa.

This paper presents new data on small mammal communities in the industrial area of Pavlodar (Kazakhstan) for the first time. We have analyzed and compared diversity characteristics of small mammal communities found in a reference area and in an area of anthropogenic disturbance. The total abundance has been shown to increase with distance to the sources of pollution. A depauperate composition and single-dominance structure of species characterize the communities of small mammals in significantly disturbed areas. With a moderately intense level of anthropogenic stressors, species diversity increases, but the number of individual species decreases due to the fragmentation of habitats.