On the ancestry of woodrats

We evaluated the fossil record of extinct and extant woodrats, and generated a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis of woodrat origins and relationships based on these data. The galushamyinin cricetines are redefined and reclassified as a subtribe of the Neotomini, including Repomys, Miotomodon, Galushamys, Nelsonia, and a new extinct genus with two new species. The geographic distribution of Nelsonia, restricted to montane coniferous forests of western Mexico, suggests that this subtribe was mostly confined to western coniferous ecosystems or similar ecosystems at lower elevation during glacial advances. A second subtribe of the Neotomini includes a new archaic genus and species, Neotoma, Hodomys, and Xenomys. Lindsaymys, a possible neotominin from the late Clarendonian (late Miocene) of California, demonstrates an occlusal morphology consistent with ancestry for the Neotomini, but the presence of a fourth root on M1 is problematic and may preclude the known populations from filling that role. Molars identified as Neotoma sp. from the Hemphillian (latest Miocene or early Pliocene) Rancho el Ocote assemblage of Guanajuato, Mexico, may represent the earliest Xenomys. Extant Neotoma species with a bilobed m3 appear to have originated subsequent to about 2.0 Ma, whereas Hodomys alleni and Xenomys nelsoni likely originated earlier from one or more extinct ancestors with an S-shaped m3.

Assessment of the ecological and economic damage to forest use caused by the invasion of the four-eyed bark beetle into dark coniferous ecosystems in Siberia

В статье представлен методический инструментарий к оценке эколого- экономического ущерба лесопользованию от гибели и деградации пихтовых лесов в результате инвазии в Сибирь дальневосточного короеда – уссурийского полиграфа Polygrapus proximus Blandf. С учетом существующих отечественных и зарубежных научно-методологических подходов, применяемых в сфере лесного хозяйства для оценки ущерба от неблагоприятных антропогенных и природных факторов, разработана методика расчета комплексного ущерба от потерь древесины, второстепенных древесных ресурсов и утраты экологических функций леса в связи с деятельностью инвайдера. Предложены формулы для расчета прямого фактического и потенциального ущерба от потери древесины, пихтовой живицы, пихтовой лапы и новогодних пихт, а также косвенного ущерба от нарушения углерододепонирующей, кислородопродуцирующей и водоохранной функций насаждений. Апробация методики осуществлялась с использованием данных мониторинга на тестовых участках – 6 пробных площадях в темнохвойных насаждениях юга Томской области, где велись регулярные наблюдения за состоянием пихтовых древостоев в течение 2011–2017 гг. Показаны особенности проведения расчета различных компонентов ущерба в зависимости от таксационных характеристик и санитарного состояния насаждений. В среднем по всем тестовым участкам величина прямых потерь, исходя из минимальных ставок платы за древесину на корню, составила около 22 тыс. руб./га, косвенного ущерба – 25 тыс. руб./га. Рассчитанная по предлагаемой методике величина ущерба лесопользованию в пихтачах юга Томской области, наиболее пострадавших от уссурийского полиграфа, оценена в 92,14 млн руб., в том числе прямого ущерба – 44 млн руб., косвенного – 48,14 млн руб. The article presents a methodological toolkit for assessing the ecological and economic damage to forest use from the death and degradation of fir forests as a result of the invasion of the Far Eastern bark beetle Polygrapus proximus in Siberia. Taking into account existing domestic and foreign scientific and methodological approaches used in the field of forestry to assess damage from adverse anthropogenic and natural factors, a methodology has been developed for calculating the integrated damage from loss of wood, secondary wood resources and of ecological functions of the forest due with activity of the invader. Formulas are proposed for calculating the direct actual and potential damage from the loss of wood, fir resin, fir paw and New Year fir, as well as indirect damage from the disturbance of the carbon-depositing, oxygen-producing and water protection functions of the stands. Approbation of the method was carried out using monitoring data on 6 test sites in dark coniferous forests in the south of the Tomsk Oblast. On average for all test sites, the amount of direct losses, based on the minimum rates of payment for wood at the root, was about 22 thousand rubles / ha, indirect damage – 25 thousand rubles / ha. The amount of damage to forest use in the fir forests in the south of the Tomsk Oblast, most affected by P. proximus, calculated according to the proposed methodology, was estimated at 92.14 million rubles, including direct damage of 44 million rubles, and indirect losses of 48.14 million rubles.

PRODUCTIVITY OF STANDS AND EVALUATION OF NATURAL RESTORATION IN COASTAL FORESTS

Taxation characteristics of stands of coastal forest ecosystem of the Volga region of the Republic of Tatarstan. The generally accepted methods of a research in forest taxation, constant and the temporary trial areas. The researched forest formations: oak, lime, birch, maple, willow, pine, larch. High productivity of pine (Ia-I quality class) and larch (Ia-I), lime (I-II) and birch (Ia-II) plantings. Age of forest stands of a pine - 50-80 years, larches - 48-54 years, lindens - 43-90 years, birches - 33-60 years. Distribution of trees of the prevailing breeds on thickness steps. Statistics of distribution of trees. Differentiation of trees in forest stands (V=19-37%). In plantings a frequent subgrowth of a pine and maple. The insufficient number of subgrowth in the coastal woods. Reasons of weak natural reforestation: the initial stage of forest regeneration process in young plantings; quite powerful forest laying in coniferous ecosystems; distribution of developed heavy sod in birch forests; insufficient amount of light under bed lime phytocenosis, the use of seeds of forest forming breeds by forest fauna; pasturage of the cattle in plantings, adjacent to settlements; the raised recreational load of forest ecosystems; the adverse climatic factors in a forest-steppe zone influencing development of shoots of tree species.

Response of wildlife to forest herbicide applications in northern coniferous ecosystems

Reviewed studies of the effects of forest herbicide applications on wildlife often lacked replication, pretreatment information, and (or) were conducted for only one or two growing seasons after treatment. Because of these problems, as well as the use of dissimilar sampling techniques, study conclusions have sometimes been contradictory. A review of eight studies of the effects of herbicide treatments on northern songbird populations in regenerating clearcuts indicates that total songbird populations are seldom reduced during the growing season after treatment. Densities of species that use early successional brushy, deciduous cover are sometimes reduced, while densities of species which commonly use more open areas, sometimes increase. A review of 14 studies of the effects of herbicide treatments on small mammals indicates that like songbirds, small mammal responses are species specific. Some species are unaffected, while some select and others avoid herbicide-treated areas. Only studies that use kill or removal trapping to study small mammal responses show density reductions associated with herbicide treatment. It seems that some small mammal species may be reluctant to venture into disturbed areas, although residents in those areas are apparently not affected by the disturbance. Fourteen relevant studies examined the effects of conifer release treatments on moose and deer foods and habitat use. Conifer release treatments reduce the availability of moose browse for as long as four growing seasons after treatment. The degree of reduction during the growing season after treatment varies with the herbicide and rate used. Deer use of treated areas remains unchanged or increases during the first growing season after treatment. Eight years after treating a naturally regenerated spruce–fir stand browse was three to seven times more abundant on treated than on control plots (depending on the chemical and rate used). Forage quality (nitrogen, ash, and moisture) of crop trees increased one growing season after the soil-active herbicide simazine was applied to control competition around outplanted 3-year-old balsam fir seedlings.