1.5.15. Экология

The article analyzes the effect of plastoquinone derivative - SkQ3 on the growth and development of maize plants based on the results of greenhouse experiments and field tests. It is shown that with a decrease in soil moisture from 70% to 35%, both the height and dry weight of 40-day-old plants decrease by 1.5 and 3 times, respectively. However, with a single treatment of seeds with SkQ3 solutions at concentrations of 2.5 nM and 7.5 nM, the height of the treated plants exceeded the control height by 9.5% and 10.6%, and the dry weight - 14.8% and 15.8%, respectively. In field tests conducted at the Donskoy Scientific and Research Center under conditions of moisture deficiency during the corn growing season, pre-sowing seed treatment with aqueous solutions of SkQ3 in the studied concentrations increased seed germination by 8–10%, the number of plants in the emergence phase and before harvesting by 8–14%, plant height by 15–17%, and the number of cobs by 10%.

The article is a review of studies of the effect of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants SkQ on plants exposed to adverse abiotic factors. The article considers the protective mechanisms of antioxidants during excessive accumulation of ROS caused by extreme environmental factors such as drought, pollution and flooding. Information is provided on the chemical structure and properties of plastoquinone derivatives SkQ and their effect on plants at the cellular, tissue, and organism levels. Based on the studies considered in the review, it can be concluded that the study and use of SkQ compounds opens up good prospects for studying the mechanisms of action of antioxidant substances in the formation of crop resistance to stress factors. At the same time, due to the effect of concentrating lipophilic cations in mitochondria, their effective concentrations are orders of magnitude lower than those for other compounds with similar properties. This circumstance provides economic advantages for the mass use of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants in agriculture.

The study has been conducted on the analysis of long-term research on the impact of anthropogenic factors on the soil biological activity in Southern Russia. Special attention was paid to reviewing the use of dehydrogenase activity as an indicator of soil ecological status. Dehydrogenase activity is widely used as an indicator for assessing the condition of soil and has shown different levels of sensitivity and information to various anthropogenic impacts. The following types of anthropogenic impacts were analyzed: agricultural use (plowing), oil and petroleum product pollution, heavy metal contamination, antibiotic pollution, waterlogging and deforestation, exposure to different types of electromagnetic radiation, fire and logging. A method based on considering the sensitivity and specificity of the indicator's response to exposure was proposed. Sensitivity was evaluated in points, which were assigned based on changes in enzyme activity at different exposure levels (minimum, medium, and high factor doses) compared to control or background. Studies have shown that most types of human-induced stressors decrease dehydrogenase activity in soil. The value of this decrease depends on the type and intensity of impact, the type of soil, and environmental factors. An increase in dehydrogenase activity was observed under the influence of increased moisture. This indicator is definitely recommended for diagnosing soil degradation processes and anthropogenic impacts monitoring. A number of impacts on the soils of Southern Russia have been identified in descending order of their impact on dehydrogenase activity, which is used to assess the consequences of these impacts. The rank of impact were antibiotic pollution ≥ fires > chromium and copper pollution > agricultural use (plowing) > fuel oil and gasoline pollution ≥ gamma radiation > logging ≥ oil pollution ≥ waterlogging > diesel pollution ≥ nickel and chromium pollution ≥ exposure magnetic fields > microwave radiation.

Identification of woody plant species is a priority for remote monitoring of tree plantations, regardless of their objectives. Recently, there has been an increasing number of studies on the identification of woody plants using spectral phenotyping methods. However, the identification of woody plants based on their spectral characteristics remains a challenge. One approach to increase the accuracy of remote identification of plants is to take into account their phenological differences. The aim of this study was to identify Acer platanoides, A. campestre, A. negundo, A. saccharinum and A. ibericum using spectral characteristics of their leaves, representing a detailed time series during the vegetation period, and to determine the optimal period in their phenological cycle for identification. The study was conducted under laboratory conditions using a Cubert UHD-185 hyperspectral camera. Maple species identification was performed using a pixel-based random forest (RF) algorithm. Vegetation indices (VIs) were used as independent variables in the RF model. The presence of differences in species phenology was found to be an important requirement for successful species identification. The highest accuracy of species identification was achieved during the periods of spring development and autumn leaf senescence. The out-of-bag (OOB) error of the RF model for these periods was 2.1-6.1% and 4.3-6.7%, respectively. A group of non-collinear VIs were identified for machine learning maple species classification. They are ARI, Boochs, CCI, CI, CRI1, D1, D2, Datt3, Datt4, DDn, DPI, DWSI4, EVI, Gitelson, Gitelson2, LSINorm, LSIRed, MCARI, MCARI2, modPRI, MPRI, NDVI, PARS, PRI, PRI_CI2, PRI_norm, PSND, PSSR, SR4, SR5, TCARI2, TCARI2_OSAVI2 and TGI. The following VIs were the most informative for the RF classification of maples according to their contribution to the change in OOB error value and Gini index: CCI, MPRI, DWSI4, Datt4, CRI1, DDn.

In 2018, a serious walnut pest, Garella musculana (Erschov, 1874), was noted in the Rostov Region. After several years of no records, the pest's activity has increased noticeably. Since 2022, adult individuals began to fly actively and almost regularly in light traps; not only non-specific damage, but also damaged branches and fruits with pest caterpillars inside began to be registered at monitoring sites. In 2023, the activity of the Asian walnut moth in the Rostov Region decreased, probably due to local weather fluctuations. Meanwhile, in recent years, the pest has been observed in the Donbass and Krasnodar Krai. Now, one can observe the establishment of the Asian walnut moth in a new territory and the expansion of its range in the south of the European part of Russia.

Currently, one of the most well-developed and simple conceptual methods for predicting surface runoff is the (SCS-CN) method, i.e. the numbered curves method of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Soil Conservation Service. The CN method was developed to calculate a single torrential rain event, however, it was further extended to individual territories of water basins. The simplicity and great possibilities of documenting the results have led to the widespread use of this method, which allows estimating surface runoff with a single indicator CN. The purpose of the study is to improve the SCS-CN method designed for modeling surface runoff in water-saturated landscapes. A method for calculating the resulting value of the CN index for various water-saturated sites by geometric averaging is proposed. For the resulting assessment of surface runoff in a water basin, it is necessary to have information about the resulting CN value, the potential indicator of water retention (S); the initial value of rain flows I_A=0.2S; the previous value of the CN indicator. It is determined that in the presence of a certain functional dependence between the area of the site and its CN indicator, the direct water flow indicator for all considered sections of the water-saturated landscape can be calculated taking into account the maximum possible value of CN calculated for all sections by geometric averaging, as well as a normalization indicator designed to correct the previously obtained result of direct water flow.

The article provides original data on the gross concentration of mercury in typical soils of steppe and forest-steppe regions of the north-west of the Altai Region. The average content of the element for all studied soils is at the level of the indicator for the soils of the Earth and can be used in geoecological and geochemical studies as background. Features of the distribution of mercury concentrations in soil profiles were revealed depending on the particle size distribution, pH value, electrical conductivity and magnetic susceptibility. In the studied soils, the mercury content in the near-surface part (10-15 cm) of the profile increases with a decrease in the soil fraction. Throughout the entire depth of the soil column, the maximum Hg concentrations occur in the finest fraction (coarse dust). Mercury content decreases with increasing electrical conductivity and under more alkaline conditions. An increase in the proportion of sand in the soil composition reduces the magnetic susceptibility and electrical conductivity of the soil extract. As the magnetic susceptibility increases, the concentrations of the element increase. The mercury content in profiles is associated with the presence of clay particles and increases with a shift in the reaction of soil extract towards oxidation. The forms of mercury in soil profiles have been determined: the largest share of the element is in forms that evaporate in the temperature range of 170-4000C, i.e. highly volatile low molecular weight organomercury compounds, HgCH3, Hg(CH3)2, HgCl2, alkyl radicals HgS, aryl radicals, and also as part of organocomplexes. These forms are the most accessible and toxic for living organisms; the proportion of inaccessible and inert forms is minimal. Low-temperature mercury compounds prevail in the surface component of all studied soils. With depth, the ratio of forms changes towards an increase in the proportion of the element associated with organic matter, as well as chemically sorbed.

Based on the results of laboratory modeling of contamination of ordinary chernozem with antibiotics (oxytetracycline, ampicillin, streptomycin, tylosin) in concentrations of 1, 10, 100 and 1000 mg/kg of soil, ecologically safe concentrations of antibiotics in ordinary chernozem were developed according to the degree of disturbance of its ecosystem (biogeocenotic) functions on the basis of analysis of changes in the integral indicator of biological state of soils (IIBS). The indices of total bacterial abundance, abundance of Azotobacter bacteria, activity of enzymes of oxidoreductase class (catalase, dehydrogenases), hydrolases (invertase), radish root length. Based on the results of the analysis of biological indicators, regression equations characterizing the relationship between IPBS and antibiotic content in soil were constructed. With their help, the concentrations of antibiotics leading to the violation of ecosystem (biogeocenotic) functions were calculated. Based on the obtained data, a scheme of regional ecological rationing of antibiotic contamination of ordinary chernozem is proposed. Ecologically safe concentrations of oxytetracycline in common chernozem are 0.33 mg/kg, ampicillin 0.37 mg/kg, streptomycin 0.75 mg/kg, tylosin 0.54 mg/kg.

Air pollution occurs not only as a result of man-made processes, but also natural phenomena play an important role here. Mass flowering plants saturate the air with small particles that cause serious health problems in people prone to allergic reactions. All over the world there is a constant increase in the number of allergic pathologies. For 2022, according to the World Health Organization, up to 35% of the population suffers from allergies, in Russia, according to epidemiological studies conducted at the State Research Center for Immunology Institute of the Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, the incidence fluctuations in the regions range from 17.5 to 30%. For 2020, according to the Federal sociological survey, the Volgograd region was in 6th place in terms of the incidence of allergies among 20 large regions of Russia. Pollen allergies predominantly affect people between the ages of 10 and 30. A special risk group is made up of people whose professional activities are associated with constant contact with active plant allergens. Based on a survey of university students in natural science areas of training, it was found that 90% of students are constantly in contact with plant allergens as part of the educational process. Most of the respondents (65%) have allergic diseases, the most common type of allergen is plant pollen (in 53.80% of cases). Studied are the lifestyle factors of students that can affect the development of an allergic reaction: smoking, drinking alcohol, unbalanced nutrition, active outdoor sports. A list of plants that are characteristic allergens for the conditions of the Lower Volga region is presented on the example of the Volgograd region. A number of measures are proposed, aimed primarily at reducing the impact of plant allergens on students in the natural science areas of university training, including measures to organize the educational process.

The territory of the estuary area of the Don River and the coast of the Taganrog Bay is characterized by extremely favorable natural conditions and is unique in its productivity. In addition, the coast of the Taganrog Bay of the Azov Sea is an important recreational resource of the Rostov Region, the role of which is increasing every year. However, at present, this territory is subject to active technogenic pressure. One of the main pollutants of the territory under consideration are heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Studies have been carried out to identify the resistance of natural populations of hydrophilic species of vegetation of the genus Typha L. to chemical pollutants in the coastal zone of the Don River Delta. Structural changes were found at the morphological and anatomical level in the generative and aboveground vegetation organs. When comparing the adaptive potentials of two species of cattails to chemical soil pollution, a greater resistance of Laxmann's cattail (Typha laxmannii Lepech) was noted.

The paper continues a series of research articles devoted to the description of the taxonomic diversity and cataloging of animals presented in the collections of the Zoological Museum of Southern Federal University. The paper provides an annotated catalog of Hesperiidae, containing information on 16 species from 9 genera in four tribes and three subfamilies. The Subfamilia Hesperiinae is represented by 5 species: Hesperia comma, Ochlodes sylvanus, O. venata, Thymelicus lineola, T. sylvestris. The Subfamilia Heteropterinae is represented by 2 species: Heteropterus Morpheus, Carterocephalus palaemon. The Subfamilia Pyrginae is represented by 9 species: Carcharodus alceae, C. lavatherae, Muschampia tessellum, Erynnis tages, Pyrgus alveus, P. armoricanus, P. malvae, P. serratulae, P. sidae. The collection of Hesperiidae of the Department of Zoology includes species from the Russian Federation, the Republic of Abkhazia and Ukraine. The catalog is accompanied by color tables with images of representatives of each specified species. The generalized data on the contents of the collection can serve to assess the biological diversity and the state of natural communities in the regions where the specimens recorded in the catalog were collected.

The paper presents the first part of the catalog of the ant’s collection (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), stored in the fund of the Zoological Museum of the Southern Federal University. Data on 67 species from 22 genera and 4 subfamilies are given.

We studied self-overgrowing logging areas of different age and degree of degradation in the middle mountains of the Northwestern Caucasus on rendzik. A change in the flora of the control beech-fir forest to high grass meadow and herbaceous-shrub vegetation was established. Vegetation diversity, tiering, herbage height, and projective cover of the herbaceous layer depend on the age of felling and the degree of disturbance of the soil and vegetation cover during logging. Minimal diversity and projective cover was revealed for the logging of 2 years age. Diversity of flora at the sites of medium and severe disturbance of 10-year old logging decreases by 20% relative to the control site. On the peripheral area of weak disturbance grass-bush vegetation with increased flora diversity by 17 % is formed.

Abstract In the Russian crop production winter and spring wheat occupy a leading position in the structure of grain crop areas. More than 70% of grain crops are heavily and moderately clogged, so the need for weed control is obvious. The study of the floral diversity of segetal vegetation is a prerequisite for assessing the state of agrocenoses and measures to protect them Satya is devoted to an urgent problem-the description of the floral composition of the segetal vegetation of the agrocenoses of winter wheat and spring barley of the Northern Azov region. The article analyzes the floristic diversity of the segetal vegetation of the agrocenoses of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) and spring barley (Hordeum vulgare) of the Northern Azov region. Taxonomic and biomorphological analyses are given. Classification of life forms of segetal vegetation according to I.G.Serebryakov and K. Raunkier was carried out. The research was carried out on winter wheat and spring barley crops within the Myasnikovsky, Neklinovsky and Aksai districts of the Rostov region. In total, 1106 geobotanical descriptions were performed (1082 descriptions on winter wheat agrocenoses and 24 descriptions on spring barley agrocenoses). It was revealed that despite the significant difference between the number of weed species in the agrocenoses of winter wheat and spring barley, the typological composition of the weed component is largely similar. The ratio of life forms revealed the predominance of spring annuals according to I.G. Serebryakov (38.5% for winter wheat agrocenoses and 45% for spring barley agrocenoses) and K. Raunkier terophytes in both crops (42.3% for winter wheat agrocenoses and 50% for spring barley agrocenoses).

The estuaries of the Kuban’s delta are a unique and highly productive ecosystem. This complex of reservoirs played a significant role in the formation of fish productivity of such valuable commercial species as pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) and taran’ (Rutilus heckelii). Despite a number of negative changes in the bioecological conditions in the modern period, they still retain a fairly large productive area of natural spawning grounds. In the bayous of estuaries and in the estuaries themselves, studies of juvenile pike-perch and taran’ were carried out. No juveniles of the studied fish were found in the catches of the Soloviev duct. Pike-perch was found only on the Peresypsky and Kulikovsky ducts in single copies. Taran’s juveniles were present in the catches at each station. The minimum values of length and mass were observed in juvenile rams caught in the Peresypsky duct, the maximum values were noted in the Kulikovo duct. A noticeable difference in values can be explained by the extended spawning and, accordingly, by the different-time hatching of larvae. The juveniles of the pike-perch and taran’, coming out to sea from the Azov estuaries of the Krasnodar Territory in 2021, had good length and mass indicators, indicating favorable conditions for its development. The survival rate of such juveniles in the sea is higher. The intensity of its descent during the observation period was low, which may indicate not entirely favorable conditions for the survival of juveniles in the coastal part of the sea. Since the increasing salinity of the Sea of Azov has a negative impact on the condition and slope of juvenile pike-perch and taran’. The supply of fresh water in the right time and in sufficient quantity can improve the situation, but in the current climatic situation this is unlikely.

In previous studies, we demonstrated for the first time the biodegradation of white phosphorus by the molds Aspergillus Niger. However, studying the mechanisms of resistance of the fungus to such a toxic substance is essential. There may be several such mechanisms, of which two are most likely. The cell wall of the fungus is a barrier to the penetration of white phosphorus into the cell. In such a case, an increase in cell wall thickness should be observed in response to exposure to the toxicant. The second mechanism is associated with the expression of stress genes and the production of proteins by the fungus involved in the neutralization of toxicants, including white phosphorus. The microscopic and proteomic studies carried out in the present work have shown that both resistance mechanisms take place. In addition, white phosphorus causes a general activation of metabolism, accompanied by an increase in the number of mitochondria in the cells. It was shown that white phosphorus has little effect on the ratio of living and dead cells in the colonies of fungi, i.e. resistance to it is very high.

The paper attempted to use a hyperspectral camera under controlled conditions of a laboratory experiment to obtain unique curves of seasonal dynamics of NDVI values, allowing to identify the maple species. The objects of study were samples of Acer campestre L., Acer negundo L. and Acer saccharinum L. The maple leaf was surveyed in the laboratory using a Cubert UHD-185 hyperspectral camera under artificial light. To monitor the results, the content of chlorophyll was determined by a spectrophotometric method. Studies were conducted during the growing season of maples from the phenological phase of "full leaf unfolding" to the phenological phase of "the beginning of autumn leaf coloring. It is established that the seasonal dynamics of the NDVI value is similar to the dynamics of chlorophyll a, calculated by the spectrometric method. Empirical NDVI regression lines in all three maple species are synchronous at most survey times, especially in the maximum and minimum zones. However, the difference between NDVI maple species is not as drastic as in chlorophyll a, although in most survey periods the NDVI value of A. campestre is higher than that of the other two species of maples. We assume that the NDVI signature cannot be used to separate species of the genus Acer. However, to identify genera that vary significantly in phenology, the use of NDVI signature is quite possible.

The features of the metabolic processes of transformation of the organic and mineral components of the soil are determined mainly by the complex of soil enzymes, the abundance and qualitative composition of the microbiocenosis. The activity of soil enzymes is an additional diagnostic indicator of soil fertility and its changes under anthropogenic impact. Studies of the activity of soil enzymes in various zones of the city of Sumgait - a large industrial center in which the petrochemical and oil refining industries are concentrated. The results of field studies showed that the activity of soil enzymes was not the same in different zones of the city of Sumgait. Significant differences in the catalase activity of soils of roadside and industrial zones and soils under parks have been established. With technogenic pollution, the functional activity of soil microorganisms is significantly reduced. In comparative terms, the activity of all soil enzymes is most suppressed in industrial zones, and to the least extent in park zones. The analysis shows that the technologically polluted soils of the industrial city of Sumgayit are characterized by weak stability of soil enzymes. These indicators reflect the specificity of pollutants, the degree of contamination, the nature and intensity of biological processes in soil affected by industrial impacts - industrial and transport emissions. The research results can be part of the database for an objective assessment of the soil cover of urban landscapes in Sumgait, to prevent the deterioration of their environmental functions, for the development of the scientific basis for the use of microorganisms in technologies for cleaning and increasing the fertility of urban soils.  

The aim of this work is to investigate features of physical properties of ordinary calcareous chernozems of the Rostov region. Amendments to methods for studying the soil bulk density and porosity of the investigated soils are proposed. To determine the hydrological constants, such as the capillary moisture capacity  and the full water capacity of ordinary calcareous chernozem, are proposed using the calculate-analytical method developed by I.V. Morozov. The principle of the method is based on the relationship between hydrological constants and the physical and mechanical properties of the soil.  

On the biological degradation of white phosphorus On the biological degradation of white phosphorus   1 Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry named after A.E. Arbuzov. Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Arbuzov St., 8. Kazan, 420088. Republic of Tatarstan. Russia. E-mail: mindubaev-az@yandex.ru 2 Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University. University St., 18. Kazan, 420008. Republic of Tatarstan. Russia. Abstract For the first time different taxonomic groups of microorganisms (fungi, Streptomyces and bacteria) are inoculated on culture medium containing white phosphorus as the single source of phosphorus. On these media microorganisms grew and have not experienced phosphorus starvation. It is the world's first example of the inclusion of white phosphorus in the biosphere cycle of elemental phosphorus. The highest concentration corresponds to 5000 times excess of MPC of white phosphorus in wastewater. The comparison of the sequences of ribosomal genes of the fungus, steadily metabolizing the white phosphorus, with sequences of the GenBank database, allowed us to identify this microorganism as a new strain of Aspergillus niger, to which we have assigned the number A. niger AM1. Inoculation of A. niger AM1 in medium containing just two sources of phosphorus (phosphate and white phosphorus) demonstrated that P4 does not exhibit toxic properties in relation to this microorganism. In the presence of white phosphorus it grows at the same rate as in the absence thereof. This is the only example of the lack of white phosphorus toxicity to a living organism. Our previous studies have demonstrated the absence of white phosphorus toxicity for Aspergillus niger AM1. However, the toxic properties of the substances are of different nature. It is of great interest to study the genotoxicity – a possible source of mutations. In the present work SOS-lux test has demonstrated genotoxicity of white phosphorus. This result is obtained for the first time – all the available literature sources reported no genotoxic properties of white phosphorus. Allium test showed the mitotoxic effect of white phosphorus on eukaryotic cells. A very interesting and unexpected result was the discovery of a mutant Aspergillus niger AM1. In comparison with an ancestral strain this mutant possesses an unusual morphology and grows more intensively in culture medium with white phosphorus. Three strains of A. niger, sent from the All-Russian collection of microorganisms, also showed much higher resistance to white phosphorus than bacteria. According to preliminary data, resistance to white phosphorus the A. niger is fixed in the genome.