Птицы озерных котловин южной части хребта Черского.

New data and analysis of the avifauna and bird species abundance are given for the lake systems of the southern part of the Chersky mountain ridge. In August - October of 2018 and in June and August of 2021, bird studies of lake basins of Ui, Momontay, Malyk, Darpir and Urultun lakes, situated at altitudes of 818-1234 meters above the sea level, were performed. 81 bird species were registered, of which 69 were recorded during breeding season, including 56 species referred to breeding and 13, to summering species. In comparison to the bird fauna of neighboring mountain areas, the avifauna of the studied lake systems is characterized by low species diversity, low percentage of widely-distributed species, and high percentage of boreal-hypoartcic and hypoarctic types of zonal- landscape distribution with clearly dominating species of the Siberian origin. Species content of the studied area is similar to that of the subalpine belt of Yakutia's northern mountains in the presence of Long-toed Stint, Red-throated Pipit and Pallas' Reed Bunting as well as, contrary to the subalpine belt of the Kolyma Highland, in the absence such species as Pine Grosbeak, Siberian Rubythroat, Pallas' Leaf Warbler, and Arctic Warbler on these elevations. On the other hand, the presence of such species as Ringed Plover and Dusky Warbler and the absence of Bluethroat is similar to the bird fauna of the Kolyma Highland subalpine belt. High abundance of both Beringian and Green-headed Yellow Wagtails sharing their habitats appeared to be a unique feature of the studied area. Confirmed breeding of Fieldfare on the elevations over 1000 m above the sea level significantly increases the knowledge on the distribution and ecology of this species.

Quarter of a century of forest fertilization and liming research at the Department of Silviculture in Prague, Czech Republic

Fertilization and liming began to be used in forestry at the beginning of the 20th century in order to increase growth, for improvement of health status or higher resistance to biotic and abiotic factors. The review summarizes results of 48 studies of forest fertilization, nutrition and liming published in scientific journals by authors of Department of Silviculture in Prague over the past more than 20 years. They deal mainly with monitoring of the effect of fertilization and liming applied during planting or shortly after planting of 18 tree species. Moreover, the results of fertilization in older stands are presented. Separate chapters deal with enhancing substrates (soil conditioners and phytohormones). All forest vegetation ranges are covered, from lowland forests to the subalpine belt of grass vegetation in 11 Natural Forest Areas. Forest fertilizing and liming proved beneficial according to most of the studies. The use of fertilizers can be detected in soils after decades. On the other hand, only in a minority of cases was fertilization reflected in the chemistry of the assimilation apparatus and other parts of the trees for a longer period. The main positive effect of fertilization and liming was increase of tree growth and foliation and decrease of mortality and yellowing symptoms. Inconsistent results were documented in some cases, especially for brassinosteroids and alginite compared to good results in slow release fertilizer done by spot-application. The type of product, concentration, time and method of application play an important role in the appropriate use of fertilization and liming.

Mountain agro-ecosystems long-term trajectories in the North Western Alps

<div> <p><span>Past trajectories of alpine agro-ecosystems are legacies that we should consider in the context of current global changes. By integrating archaeology, history and multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental records including lake sediment DNA, we reconstructed the precise nature of agro-pastoral activities and their interactions with the landscape evolution (erosion and vegetation) in the Northwestern Alps, across an altitudinal gradient ranging from 880 and 2440 m a.s.l. We demonstrate that the origins of current vegetation cover in the “Alpages” date to the Mid to Late Bronze Age. However, at the lower limit of the subalpine belt and below this zone, the first significant plant cover changes date to a later period, from the Early to High Middle Ages. From the Bronze Age, we see also anthropogenic disturbances of the natural erosion cycle, especially on some sites in the subalpine belt. This erosion became generalized across all sites during the Roman period. Then, decreasing anthropogenic impacts on the erosion are recorded everywhere, which suggests the beginning of efficient soil management strategies, with protection of the soil resource. This important tipping point arose from the High to Late Middle Ages, when activities and practices are changing. </span></p> </div>

Halophytes of Tersko-kumsk Lowland Area, Their Protection and Rational Use

Article provides a brief analytical review of studies of halophilic flora species of Tersko- Kumsk lowland area. The most important representatives are indicated, the adaptive properties of different halophyte groups are considered. Their resource value is noted (fodder, medicinal, melliferous, tannic, etc.). In the systematic aspect, the halophilic flora exhibits Mediterranean features, dicotyledons dominate in it, club-moss and horsetails are completely absent, ferns are minimally present. In the edaphic relation, most species of halophytes are obligate, confined to one type of substrate, and the vast majority of halophytes are confined to the steppe belt, the subalpine belt, the belt of upland xerophytes and the alpine belt are in descending order, least of all halophytes in the forest belt, individual species live in subnival belt.The question of the protection of solonchak vegetation and solonchak steppes as a peculiar ecosystems, with a distinctive landscape and original flora containing a highly specialized ecological group of plants, which testifies to the relationship of the nature of plants with the environment. Halophilic cenoses can serve as indicators of the soil, chemical composition and depth of groundwater.