SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH IN THE VISIM NATURE RESERVE: FROM THE VISIM RESERVE TO THE BIOSPHERE RESERVE

This article presents a historical analysis of human impact and further step-by-step nature reserve creation within the territory of the current Visimsky State Biosphere Reserve. From the end of XVII to the middle of XX centuries the ecosystem of low-mountain southern taiga forests in the Middle Ural region was strongly exploited by a local mining and metallurgical industry. The establishment of the Visim State Reserve in 1946 did not provide sustainable results but initiated research studies that laid a foundation for a subsequent preservation and the studies of the endemic taiga forests of the Middle Ural in the framework of the modern Visimsky State Biosphere Reserve. Since 1975 the science department of the reserve has conducted regular observations of the nature processes. The reserve has established long-term and efficient collaboration with the Institute of Ecology of Animals and Plants, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The joint research findings are used in practical solutions of the nature preservation in the region. This collaboration is also focused on the monitoring of the recreational pressure caused by the educational tourism.

Recreational Pressure on Changes of Soil Density of the Protected Area

Recreational use of the resource potential of protected areas is associated with anthropogenic impact on the components of the ecosystem, which at its high level can lead to negative consequences. The purpose of the article is to assess the transformation of soil properties depending on the recreational load and their genesis. The relevance of this work is due to the high anthropogenic load on suburban forest ecosystems. The object of research is the protected area “Rock Zerkalo”.

Karyological and cytogenetic features of conifers in arboretums and parklands

Aim. The study of karyological and cytogenetic features of conifers growing under conditions of introduction and increased recreational pressure, to identify biodiversity and solve the problems of population and environmental genetics of representatives of this group of plants. Methods. Classical chromosome research methods with staining with acetohematoxylin were used. Results. In species, forms, and cultivars of conifers from the Pinaceae and Cupressaceae families growing in arboretums and parklands, as well as being components of green spaces in settlements of different geographical regions, variability of chromosome numbers (mixoploidy), the appearance of B chromosomes, high occurrence, and a wide range of chromosomal and meiotic anomalies are discovered. Conclusions. Karyological and cytogenetic studies have shown the presence of karyotypic polymorphism and an increase in the number of various disorders of mitosis and meiosis in conifers when introduced under growing conditions in recreational areas. Keywords: conifers, introduction, chromosome number, chromosomal rearrangements, meiosis disorders.

Features of heavy metals and metalloids accumulation in soils of Samara and Syzran large recreational zones

The paper discusses the results of ecological and geochemical studies of soils in the Sokolii Mountains located near Samara and in a specially protected natural area Monastyrskaya Mountain located within the borders of Syzran, Samara Region. These territories are of great interest in connection with their active use for urban recreation. The studied parts of the Sokolii Mountains (northeastern, eastern and southeastern surroundings of the Kuznetsov Mountain) are natural forests, the protected area Monastyrskaya Mountain is an artificially created forest stand. The territories under comparison differ in their origin, typological characteristics of soils, including their granulometric composition and humus content, as well as in the degree of recreational pressure. It has been established that heavy metals and metalloids accumulate more actively (2,05,5 times) in the soils of the upper layer in the vicinity of the Kuznetsov Mountain than in the sandy and loamy soils of the Monastyrskaya Mountain, which are characterized by a more significant geochemical heterogeneity. In both territories, the average concentrations of chemical elements do not exceed regional clarks and maximum permissible concentrations. An analysis of the geochemical indices of the studied soils revealed the predominance of the scattering of heavy metals and metalloids over the concentration processes in them. According to the magnitude of concentration clarks and scattering for both recreational territories, an association of accumulating elements was revealed; it included only Se and Cd while the association of scattering elements included Sr, Rb, Cr, V, As, Pb, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Mn. In the soils of the Monastyrskaya Mountain dispersal processes are more presented while in the soils of the Kuznetsov Mountain surroundings accumulation processes are more presented. In general, the northeastern, eastern and southeastern environments of the Kuznetsov Mountain and the Monastyrskaya Mountain are characterized by a relatively low level of heavy metals and metalloids pollution, which makes it possible to consider these territories as environmentally sustainable, but requiring the development of a scientifically-based mode of recreational use.

Tick infestation probability increases with human recreational pressure and exploratory behaviour in wild great tits (Parus major)

Ticks are parasites that feed on the blood of various vertebrate hosts, including many species of bird. Birds can disperse ticks over short and long distances, therefore impacting tick population dynamics. The likelihood that birds attract ticks should depend on their behaviour and the environment. We studied various key ecological variables (breeding density, human disturbance) and phenotypic traits (exploratory behaviour; body condition) proposed to predict tick burden in great tits (Parus major). Our study spanned over three years and 12 human-recreated plots, equipped with nest-boxes in southern Germany. Adult breeders were assessed for exploratory behaviour, tick burden, and body condition. For each plot, human disturbance was quantified as a human recreational pressure index during biweekly nest box inspections by scoring the number of recreants using the plots. Infestation probability but not tick burden increased with exploratory behaviour. We also found moderate support for a positive effect of recreational pressure on infestation probability. Further, body condition negatively predicted tick burden. Individuals were repeatable in tick burden across years. Our study implies that infestation probability and tick burden are governed by distinct ecological and phenotypic drivers. Our findings also highlight the importance of incorporating ecological and individual variation in host phenotypes to predict spatiotemporal distributions of ticks in nature.

Identifying the Risks Impacting on the Sustainable Development of a Tourism Area

The sustainable development of most tourism areas is accompanied with ever-increasing recreational pressure and the ever¬growing threat of depletion of their natural and recreational resources. All efforts at strategic planning or long-term forecasting may be baffled if there is insufficient understanding of where the risks are coming from and what impact they may have on the environment. It is of utmost significance for tourism areas to keep track of all risks attendant upon their path to sustainable development, which is about achieving balanced recreational pressure and a number of positive socio-economic effects. On balance, there is a need to identify the entire set of risks that may face an area as a result of tourism activity in it. This paper explores some of the key threats to the sustainable development of tourism areas, identifies some of the key risks inherent to the process, and proposes a method for rank-ordering the risks based on their gravity.

Concept of soil Red book of the Ukrainian Carpathians

The system and method of selection and documentation of soils that need to be included in the Red Book on the basis of research on natural and anthropogenic soils of the Ukrainian Carpathians were developed. Six categories of soil of the Red Book such as standards of typical, rare, endangered, cultivated and anthropogenic soils, unique soils have been proposed. Natural soils (typical, rare, endangered, unique) must functioned as soil etalons for changes evaluation that occur under the influence of forest management and recreational pressure, as well as protection of soil diversity. Etalons of cultivated soils play the role of models for agricultural lands; etalons of anthropogenic soils are used to determine the condition of land of urbo- and technocomplexes.

The assessment of the Kyiv urban ecotopes comfort as a birds' habitat

The city is one of the most specific ecosystems of the modern biosphere. The combination of natural and artificial components and elements of the city have made it a complex system of ecotopes with various levels of anthropogenic transformation. Still the structure of urban ecosystems includes some patches of undisturbed or minimally disturbed landscapes, which may be considered the home for the most abundant part of urban biocenosis – the urban avifauna. Therefore, in this research the concept and features of urban zoocenosis in specific application to avifauna of the Kyiv urban system have been considered. A modern city if found to offer a range of benefits for birds, including food, shelter, and higher temperatures over the year and lower predator pressure and competition. However, the level of food quality as well as the condition of environment components are low and impose real health threats. Physical pollution, in particular noise and electro-magnetic impacts are also serious disturbing factors. Considering these factors, the ecotopes most suitable for birds have been defined among the parks, forests, lakes and cemeteries of the city – total 59 objects. In order to assess their comfort for birds, the specific ranking scale has been developed. The parameters taken into consideration in the course of assessment are as follows: general spatial characteristics (size and fragmentation of the territory), vegetation quality (covered territory, height and age of trees), forage availability and diversity, hydrographic situation (access to water bodies), environment quality (level of water and air pollution, noise pollution, non-organic wastes directly at the site), human pressure (density of people moving, area with artificial covers, level of anthropization), bird supporting elements and activity, and also predation pressure. According to the obtained result the forests around and its residuals inside Kyiv are the least transformed and consequently the most comfortable for the support of birds diversity. They are followed by cultivated semi-natural areas, which comfort declines as the levels of recreational pressure, human presence and proximity to the city center increases. Finally, the last in the list are small parks or cemeteries, cut off from water bodies or water bodies lacking dense vegetation. An important issue, showed by personal visual observations, is that the activity of humans aimed at support of birds communities within area of any status is proved to be more important as compared to obvious disadvantages seen at certain areas.

Dolgaya Spit: Tourism on the Azov Seacoast

The Krasnodar region is one of Russia’s four leaders in terms of tourism development. The number of tourists who visit the Krasnodar region has been rising year after year. Specially protected natural areas, which attract a lot of tourists, come under pressure. Nowadays, natural monuments turned into travel destinations, as a rule, of short-term trips (the so-called weekend journeys). The Dolgaya Spit area is an example of extensive use of natural monuments. It can be expected that tourist flow might exceed the current level, maybe by several times, on the back of rising popularity, the development of transport infrastructure and improved beach quality. To date, the failure to resolve the current problems for a long time has led to unfavorable consequences, with the natural monument degrading rapidly amid growing recreational pressure. The situation is quite complicated. On the one hand, the area’s economic prospects as a resort are unquestionable, although, on the other hand, the Dolgaya Spit needs protection because it is now under the influence of constantly rising anthropogenic factors.