Current distribution and conservation of Najas tenuissima (Hydrocharitaceae)

Non peer reviewe

IUCN guidelines using for assessment of plants from the Red Book of Russian Federation at regional level: a case study for the Republic of Mordovia (Russia)

There are 15 plant species included in the Russian Red Book, which occur in the Republic of Mordovia: Najas tenuissima, Koeleria sclerophylla, Stipa dasyphylla, S. pennata, S. pulcherrima, S. zalesskii, Fritillaria ruthenica, Iris aphylla, Cypripedium calceolus, Cephalanthera rubra, Epipogium aphyllum, Neottianthe cucullata, Orchis militaris, Neotinea ustulata, Thymus cimicinus. Of these, only C. calceolusis included in the Global Red List as Critically Endangered. Threat status for studied species in Mordovia was assessed, and their distribution dynamics in this region throughout 12 years was described. Recent floristic studies, inspections of herbariums and literature were used for searches all provided data. Grid mapping and IUCN criteria were used. Nine taxa were determined as Critically Endangered, three as Endangered, one as Vulnerable, one as Near Threatened and one as Data Deficient. The areas of occupancy and extent of occurrence inMordovia were assessed for each taxon. All studied species should be included in the next edition of the Mordovian Red Book. F. ruthenica, E. aphyllum, N. ustulata, T. cimicinus require additional studies to confirm earlier observations

ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ ДИНАМИКИ ТЕРРИТОРИАЛЬНОГО РАСПРОСТРАНЕНИЯ И ЭКОЛОГИИ РЕДКИХ МЛЕКОПИТАЮЩИХ ТАЕЖНОЙ ЕВРАЗИИ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ ЛЕТЯГИ PTEROMYS VOLANS, RODENTIA, PTEROMYIDAE) in English INVESTIGATION OF THE DYNAMICS OF REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY OF RARE MAMMALS TAIGA EURASIA (FOR EXAMPLE Letyago PTEROMYS VOLANS, RODENTIA, PTEROMYIDAE)

This study of the spatial distribution and ecology of the flying squirrel during the turn of the 20th century provides a description of new methods and techniques for detecting and accounting flying squirrels in the forest zone of Eurasia. The flying squirrel population area covers the territory of 61 regions of Russia, including Kamchatsky Krai and Chukotka Autonomous District. The number of flying squirrels in Karelia especially to the east – in the Arkhangelsk region and Western Siberia – significantly exceeds that of Finland, but considerable spatial variability in the number is obvious through all the regions: there are areas where this animal is quite abundant, or inhabits all the territory rather evenly, and there are areas where it is completely absent in vast territories even with seemingly favourable conditions. The flying squirrel is quite difficult to study and the reasons of its absence in obviously favourable areas are still to be explained. Some reasons are: the specificity of favourable landscape, forest coverage pattern, trophic relationships with predators and genetic aspect. A number of hypotheses are supposed to be tested in the nearest future. Key words: accounting, flying squirrel, forest zone, home range, spatial distribution.Peer reviewe

Mordovia State Nature Reserve's 80th anniversary

Brief physical-geographical characteristics, history of creation and development of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve territory are presented. We listed aims and objectives assigned for the Mordovia Reserve in different periods. During the first years of the Mordovia Reserve the forest conservation was aimed at reforestation of the southern area of the taiga zone; the investigation of harmful insect fauna to timely response on infection foci of trees; enriching of the fauna of the Reserve. At present, the Reserve should have an ecological-educational value in addition to the value of nature conservation. The article presents the modern period of scientific investigations and the development of the Mordovia Reserve territory. Also, it contains data on the species number of flora and fauna, including those listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Mordovia (2003, 2005) and of the Russian Federation (2001, 2008). Due to the geographical location on the border of three natural zones and a high degree of knowledge of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, there are noted 344 macromycetes (including 1 species listed in the Red Book of Russian Federation, 15 species included in the main list of the regional Red Data Book); 361 lichens (including 3 species included in the Red Book of Russia and 24 species from the main list of the regional Red Data Book); more than 100 mosses (including 7 species from the main list of the regional Red Data Book); 796 vascular plants (including 3 species from the IUCN list, 3 species included in the Red Book of Russian Federation and 46 species from the main list of the regional Red Data Book); more than 4500 insects (including 11 species from the IUCN list, 11 species from the Red Book of Russian Federation and 53 species from the main list of the regional Red Data Book); 32 fishes (including 1 species from the Red Book of Russian Federation and 11 species included in the main list of the regional Red Data Book); 11 amphibians (including 4 species from the main list of the Red Book of the Republic of Mordovia); 7 reptiles (including 3 species from the Red Book of the Republic of Mordovia); 222 birds (including 2 species from the IUCN list, 20 species included in the Red Book of Russia, and 69 species from the main list of the regional Red Data Book); 65 mammals (including 1 species from the Red Book of Russian Federation and 23 species included in the main list of the regional Red Data Book). We have indicated further problems and objectives for functioning and development of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve

Invasion of alien plants in fire-damaged forests at southern boundary of the taiga zone

Aim of study: Biological invasions are one of the most important areas of forest research. In this study, we revealed invasibility of fire-damaged forests at the southern boundary of the taiga zone. Area of study: The Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Central Russia). Material and Methods: Altogether, 11 square plots of each 100 ×100 m were established in different types of fire-damaged forests. To test plant invasion outside the established plots, field researches were carried out by route method in fire-damaged area of the Mordovia Reserve. Main Results: Six alien species (Erigeron canadensis, E. annuus, Oenothera biennis, Lactuca serriola, Sambucus racemosa, Viola arvensis) were registered within the established plots in 2011–2014. In addition, two alien invasive plants (Solidago canadensis and Bidens frondosa) were found outside these plots. No differences were detected in invasibility of the tested forest ecosystems. Research highlights: Among the revealed alien species, Erigeron canadensis, Lactuca serriola and Solidago canadensis are the most invasive plants in forest ecosystems. The first one was observed with a high occurrence frequency and abundance in all forest types tested. The second one has not been differed by abundance, but it characterized by a high competition as well as a large biomass and a large number of seeds. Solidago canadensis penetrated to natural forest ecosystem in a short time period due to closest location of its dispersal centers near the boundary of the Mordovia Reserve. These species are the most probable invaders of the forest ecosystems. Keywords: Invasive plants; invisibility; post-fire successions; Mordovia State Nature Reserve; wildfire; forest ecosystem

International scientific seminar «Chronicle of Nature – a common database for scientific analysis and joint planning of scientific publications»

Provides information about the results of the international scienti fic seminar «Сhronicle of Nature – a common database for scientific analysis and joint planning of scientific publications», held at Findland-Russian project «Linking environmental change to biodiversity change: large scale analysis оf Eurasia ecosystem»

Invasion of alien plants in fire-damaged forests at southern boundary of the taiga zone

Aim of study: Biological invasions are one of the most important areas of forest research. In this study, we revealed invasibility of fire-damaged forests at the southern boundary of the taiga zone.Area of study: The Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Central Russia).Material and Methods: Altogether, 11 square plots of each 100 ×100 m were established in different types of fire-damaged forests. To test plant invasion outside the established plots, field researches were carried out by route method in fire-damaged area of the Mordovia Reserve.Main Results: Six alien species (Erigeron canadensis, E. annuus, Oenothera biennis, Lactuca serriola, Sambucus racemosa, Viola arvensis) were registered within the established plots in 2011–2014. In addition, two alien invasive plants (Solidago canadensis and Bidens frondosa) were found outside these plots. No differences were detected in invasibility of the tested forest ecosystems.Research highlights: Among the revealed alien species, Erigeron canadensis, Lactuca serriola and Solidago canadensis are the most invasive plants in forest ecosystems. The first one was observed with a high occurrence frequency and abundance in all forest types tested. The second one has not been differed by abundance, but it characterized by a high competition as well as a large biomass and a large number of seeds. Solidago canadensis penetrated to natural forest ecosystem in a short time period due to closest location of its dispersal centers near the boundary of the Mordovia Reserve. These species are the most probable invaders of the forest ecosystems.Keywords: Invasive plants; invisibility; post-fire successions; Mordovia State Nature Reserve; wildfire; forest ecosystem

Estimation of taxa included in the first volume of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (Russia) using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria

The paper presents an estimation of taxa included in the first volume of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Each taxon is provided by a category and all criteria appropriate for it within the region. The paper contains the estimation results of 177 taxa of vascular plants, mosses and algae from the first volume Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (second edition). Of these, 137 are Threatened: 73 taxa are Critically Endangered (category CR), 41 taxa Endangered (category EN), 23 are Vulnerable (category VU), 31 taxa are Near Threatened (category NT). Nine taxa are in the category Data Deficient (DD), due to a lack of sufficient factual material needed for the evaluation. Another 59 taxa of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (35 macromycetes and 24 lichens) were not evaluated in the present study, also due to the lack of sufficient data needed for an evaluation. Therefore, these taxa are temporarily in the category Not Evaluated (NE). But they could be assigned to one of the threatened categories when evaluated in the future, according to the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria. This paper is considered as a base for establishing the Red List of plant taxa of the Republic of Mordovia in the future

Dynamics of regional distribution and ecology investigation of rare mammals of taiga Eurasia (case study of flying squirrel Pteromys volans, Rodentia, Pteromyidae)

This study of the spatial distribution and ecology of the flying squirrel during the turn of the 20th century provides a description of new methods and techniques for detecting and accounting flying squirrels in the forest zone of Eurasia. The flying squirrel population area covers the territory of 61 regions of Russia, including Kamchatsky Krai and Chukotka Autonomous District. The number of flying squirrels in Karelia especially to the east – in the Arkhangelsk region and Western Siberia – significantly exceeds that of Finland, but considerable spatial variability in the number is obvious through all the regions: there are areas where this animal is quite abundant, or inhabits all the territory rather evenly, and there are areas where it is completely absent in vast territories even with seemingly favourable conditions. The flying squirrel is quite difficult to study and the reasons of its absence in obviously favourable areas are still to be explained. Some reasons are: the specificity of favourable landscape, forest coverage pattern, trophic relationships with predators and genetic aspect. A number of hypotheses are supposed to be tested in the nearest future