Articles. No.4, 2023

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE CREATION AND OPERATION OF RESERVOIRS IN THE STEPPE ZONE

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Danilov-Danilyan V.I., Novikova N.M., Nazarenko O.G. Environmental Consequences of the Creation and Operation of Reservoirs in the Steppe Zone // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 5-28. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

 

Water reservoirs are so common worldwide that the changing they bring have reached a planetary scale. Water regimes are changing in the basins and on the shores of reservoirs, along the rivers and all the way to river deltas and receiving water bodies. Ecological consequences, i.e. a response of ecosystems and their components to changes in the water regime, are expressed in the increase or decrease of water availability, depend on the landscape and have zonal specificity.

Our research explores the largest reservoirs in the steppe zone of the European part of Russia, in the deltas of the Volga and Amu Darya rivers, and the Aral Sea Region. Additionally, we have analyzed an extensive list of scientific literature for the article.

In modern steppe landscapes, reservoirs are an important factor transforming the natural environment. Under the influence of changes in the regime of river runoff, the hydrogenic transformation of landscapes came to its end on the shores of reservoirs, i.e. natural complexes that are adapted to annual flooding have been formed on their shores. Meanwhile, their exposed bottoms become overgrown with pioneer communities, the long-term dynamics of which depends on annual water level fluctuations.

Artificial reservoirs are the reason for formation of hydromorphic biotopes in arid conditions of the steppe zone that are rarely found in natural conditions, and also for a maintained natural biodiversity of soils, vegetation and animals.

Negative ecological consequences in the lower pools of reservoirs in the steppe zone are especially strong in the river deltas and receiving water bodies. They are caused by changes in water regime and increasing irretrievable and partial withdrawal of river runoff due to cascades that have appeared on the rivers after an arid warming in the river basins.

Environmental protection activities to mitigate or completely eliminate these negative consequences are based on the management of the volume, regime and quality of river runoff directed to the lower pools of hydrosystems. For Russia, schemes of integrated use and protection of water bodies, as well as norms of permissible impact of economic and other activities on water bodies, including permissible irretrievable withdrawal of runoff, environmental flow and water releases, have been developed. However, our studies showed that ecological runoff (including release of water) is not carried out in most river basins which worsens the condition of aquatic and floodplain ecosystems. There are water protection zones on the shores of reservoirs, up to 200 m wide on the largest reservoirs. We found out that this protection zone is smaller than the influence zone of reservoirs on the shores, which manifests itself in backwater and groundwater dilution: zone of the Krasnodar reservoir is from 25 to 560 m, about 300 m on the Tsimlyansk reservoir, up to 540 m on the Veselovsk reservoir, and 13 to 107 m on the Proletarsk reservoir. It is practical to set the width of the protection zone along the boundary of direct impact of the reservoir.

At the same time, the natural complexes forming on the coasts become biomeliorants, i.e. they prevent pollution, siltation and depletion of water bodies. These complexes hinder erosion, maintain stable hydrochemical regime and biodiversity of coastal aquatic ecosystems, which are limited in the steppe zone.

Keywords: water reservoir, upper and lower pools of the hydroelectric system, river deltas, receiving water bodies, water regime, runoff volume reduction, water factor, hydromorphic soil indices, vegetation, animals, evaluation criteria, ecological consequences, salinization, environmental protection measures, steppe zone.

Funding. This work was carried out as part of the state task No. FMWZ-2022-0002 for the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Studies of Geo-Ecological Processes in Hydrological Systems of the Land, Formation of Surface Water and Groundwater Quality, Problems of Water Resources and Water Use Management under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impact”.

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-5-28

EDN: XWGHVM

WATER RESOURCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KALMYKIA: THEIR CURRENT STATE AND USAGE

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Ulanova S.S. Water Resources of the Republic of Kalmykia: Their Current State and Usage // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 29-58. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

 

The Republic of Kalmykia is the driest region in the south-east of the European part of Russia. It has the lowest water resources among the other subjects of Russia. In this paper, we characterize its water resources, their distribution over the territory through the natural and artificial hydrographic network of channels and irrigation systems, and we also consider the use of artificial river runoff and their water quality. The framework for this research is the database to the “Water Management Map of the Republic of Kalmykia” (2003) that the author of this article has compiled and continues to update with the materials of remote sensing and statistical books on Russian water resources and water management (2000-2019), as well as with the long-term geo-ecological monitoring of key water bodies of Kalmykia, carried out in the Department of Environmental Studies of the Kalmykian Institute for Complex Studies of Arid Territories.

Analysis of the Water Management Map revealed that the hydrographic network of the republic that consists of 137 rivers with a total length of 4007.9 km and a density of 0.05 km/km2 is poorly developed. They are part of the basins of Azov and Caspian Seas, and most of them are low rivers (0.5-1.0 l/s), belonging to the drainless areas of the West Caspian basin. The total area of the drainless territory is 49.2 thousand km². As of now, there are 314 water bodies in Kalmykia, of which 256 are artificially created (121 ponds, 135 reservoirs), 43 are small rivers and 15 are lakes. The artificial origin of most water bodies can be explained by the need for seasonal and long-term regulation of the river runoff for agricultural use. Although each water body has its own unique features, all of them suffer under instability of hydrological and hydrochemical regimes, sharp changes in water salinity due to the amount of incoming runoff every year/season, severe siltation, poor flora and fauna.

Depending on their geographical location, artificial water bodies can be divided into 3 groups: group in the Caspian Lowland, in the Yergeni Upland, and in the Kumo-Manych Depression. The reservoirs with the smallest water table (0.011 to 5.84 km2) are located in the Yergeni Upland, while in the Caspian Lowland, their size varies from 0.087 to 51.54 km2. The largest artificial reservoirs are located in the Kumo-Manych Depression, with the maximum values equal to 782.99 km2 and the minimum values reaching 0.02 km2.

Qualitative analysis showed that water of almost every Kalmykian water body is either salty or very salty, and average long-term values of surface water mineralization varies from 1.7 to 10.5 g/l. Regarding their hydrological regime, for the most part they suffer due to unstable water volume, water table, water level and mineralization, as well as high evaporation, slow water exchange, poor flowage and, as a result of hot climate conditions, high accumulation of chemical and toxic substances.

Taking into account the limited and unstable, still forming water resources of Kalmykia, our calculations showed that the average annual runoff volume is 1.64 km3/year, while the potential water supply of one resident is 5.61 thousand m3/year. The local surface water is available, but is far from being suitable for water supply; the local groundwater is highly mineralized for the most part, and people use it for drinking and cooking without any additional treatment. To date, the existing capacities and technologies of water treatment facilities in the republic cannot provide a so much needed protection from water pollution, which is constantly growing, while the adequate measures for water treatment remain insufficient and lacking. Annual water consumption from private sources reaches 50 million m3. The water shortage in the Kalmykian economy is somewhat covered by the outside sources: 700-750 million m3/year of drinking water for people, livestock and irrigation are brought into the republic from the neighboring territories and the basins of the Volga, Kuma and Terek rivers.

In order to provide water for production, agricultural and social needs and to prevent its negative effects, Kalmykia had been constructing a water management complex from 1937 to 1972, which now includes:

  • 3 pasture pipelines with a total length of 1,200 km;
  • Chograi reservoir and Chograi discharge canal;
  • protective dam guarding the town of Lagan;
  • more than 300 ponds and small reservoirs for utilization of local runoff, which were built mainly by economic means;
  • more than 2,000 groundwater wells;
  • 5 irrigation systems that cover 124.5 thousand ha of land.

We analyzed some literary sources (Borodychev et al., 2016; Ovchinnikov et al., 2015, 2016; Shumova, 2021) to find out that the total length of the main irrigation network in Kalmykia is 1,137 km, and the length of the discharge network is 633 km. From 2010 to 2018, the area of irrigated agricultural lands there remained unchanged, equal to 48.3 thousand ha. However, their condition over 2005-2018 was assessed as good in 2-4% of cases, as satisfactory in 24-29%, and as unsatisfactory in 68-73%. The level of water mineralization in the irrigation and drainage systems varies from 0.3 to 2.0 g/l depending on the chemical composition. The total annual fresh water withdrawal limits are 1253.5 million m3, but at present only 600 million m3 is actually being withdrawn. In the mid-1990s, up to 60% of this volume was used for irrigation in the total area of 170 thousand ha; these days, the irrigated area has decreased to 42 thousand, which, in its turn, lowered water consumption from 700 to 150-200 million m3.

A major fault of the existing network of water canals is its unprotected riverbed that was formed in the bare ground which causes significant water losses, especially when the riverbed is formed on light soils. In addition, it provokes a secondary salinization, alkalinization, flooding and waterlogging. Moreover, conditions of strong evaporation cause even more losses during transportation; e.g., in 2020 it amounted to 106.19 million m3. At the same time, modern technologies in water use are barely applied in the republic: the volume of water in the recycling and re-sequential systems is insignificant, amounting to 0.17 million m3.

The main problem of irrigation and amelioration of Kalmykian pastures is technical deterioration of the overall systems that haven’t been rebuilt since their launch in 1960-1980s, as well as the lack of sufficient financial support to cover electricity of the pumping stations. Therefore, we present the following solutions as the priority measures for water supply and economic development of the Republic of Kalmykia. These solutions should be carried out step by step, systematically and differently depending on the peculiarities of each region of Kalmykia. For example, to ameliorate its northern regions, such as Oktyabrsky, Maloderbetovsky and Ketchenerovsky Administrative Districts, it is necessary to resume water supply from the Volga River using waterways. However, to make it possible, the dam near Charlakta settlement must be restored since it was completely destroyed in violation of all laws during construction of the gas pipeline between Evdyk and Tsagan-Nur settlements. This would fill the southern part of Sarpinsky reservoirs, i.e. the Sarpa Reservoir. In the south-east, it is possible to use the North-West Caspian Sea, the low mineralization of which can be treated to supply water to the Lagansky and Chernozemelsky Districts.  In the south, it is necessary to finally complete the slacking reconstruction of the Levokumsk Hydraulic System and the repair of the dam, and then fill the Chograi Reservoir and launch the Chernozemelsk Irrigation System.

It is also necessary to reconstruct irrigation systems in order to reduce water losses during its transportation and use on fields. The large-scale geological exploration of groundwater (searches, explorations and reserves re-evaluation) should be resumed as well within the North Caspian and the Yergeni groundwater basins in order to restore the operation of groundwater wells.

Keywords: surface water, groundwater, irrigation system, Republic of Kalmykia, water reserves, water volume, water quality, current state of water resources, water management.

Funding. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, grant No. 23-27-10017 “Geo-ecological Assessment of Water Bodies of the Republic of Kalmykia and Adjacent Territories.”

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-29-58

EDN: JPJWCD

CURRENT STATE, GROWING CONDITIONS AND RESTORATION OF RAVINE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE LAKE ELTON BIOSPHERE RESERVE (VOLGOGRAD REGION)

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Bykov A.V., Kolesnikov A.V., Nukhimovskaya Yu.D., Varlamov Ye.B. Current State, Growing Conditions and Restoration of Ravine Plant Communities in the Lake Elton Biosphere Reserve (Volgograd Region) // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 86-110. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

In this paper, we have summarized the available data on the habitats of the lost ravine forests of the Elton Region, the current state of their derivatives, the polydominant shrub communities, as well as the soil and vegetation conditions surrounding their growth. We have also examined the negative factors affecting these communities. It was discovered that significant altitudinal differences, along with a developed river and gully system provides a variety of natural conditions for the growth of ravine trees and shrubs communities in the lake depressions in general and at the northern shore of Lake Elton in particular. As expected, destruction of ravine forests leads to the disappearance of these communities. By now, the total area of polydominant shrub communities is extremely small and continues to decrease rapidly, while climate conditions of the last decades leave no room for hope that their natural seed regeneration and spatial distribution will intensify sometime soon. This problem becomes more urgent the more the area covered by polydominant communities decreases, the more the negative impact of grazing and frequent fires grows, and the longer the issue of their economic and ecological value and possibilities for their protection remain unresolved. Nevertheless, a vast number of habitats that are potentially suitable for the natural plantations of such type allows us to expect their successful restoration; while a vast number of habitats that are occupied by communities directly sourcing from ravine forests makes it possible to reintroduce them to the nature later.

We identified the most significant factors that determine the current state of the polydominant communities; e.g. issues with seed regeneration of cenosis-forming species, cattle grazing and wild fires. We found out that in the overwhelming majority of cases the groundwater level in the gullies of the Elton Lake Depression is high and has low salinity, which makes these gullies suitable for the formation of polydominant shrub communities. We also discovered that there is a certain potential for these communities to persist and develop; however, it is only true to their current habitats, since their seeds are unable to spread to other potentially suitable habitats.

With such a significant number of habitats potentially available for ravine trees and shrubs in most of the Elton gullies, we believe that there is a possibility to restore polydominant tree stands, and a positive prospect for experiments to re-establish lost ravine forests to the larger gullies where they were present before. We offer recommendations for the restoration of polydominant communities and the reintroduction of such lost species of ravine forests as poplar and willow.

Keyword: Caspian Depression, Volga-Ural Interfluve, Elton Lake, polydominant tree and shrub communities, systems of ravines and gullies, ravine forests, forest restoration.

Funding. This work was carried out for the Institute of Forest Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Factors and Mechanisms of Sustainability of Natural and Artificial Forest Biogeocenoses of the Forest-Steppe Zone and Arid Regions of European Russia under Natural and Anthropogenic Transformations ” (state task No. 0121-2019-0003) and for the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Ecology and Biodiversity of Terrestrial Communities” (state task No. 0109-2019-0006), as well as for the Collaboration Agreement between the Institute of Forest Science and “Elton” Nature Park.

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-86-110

EDN: TGBPOM

ADAPTIVENESS OF SPRING WHEAT BASED ON SOME PARAMETERS OF GRAIN QUALITY OF THE NEW VARIETIES FROM THE FAR EASTERN BREED

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Terekhin N.M., Mishchenko L.N., Terekhin M.V. Adaptiveness of Spring Wheat Based on Some Parameters of Grain Quality of the New Varieties from the Far Eastern Breed // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 126-139. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

 

In this article we present the results of long-term wheat breeding aimed at creating varieties of spring soft wheat that can adapt to the specific environment of the Amur Region which is located in the area of risky agriculture. We conducted a comparative analysis of grain quality and adaptiveness properties (compensatory ability and stress tolerance) of 30 new varieties of spring wheat from the competition nursery. Experiments were conducted from 2020 to 2022, according to the standard method in the Research Laboratory of Grain Breeding of the Far Eastern State Agrarian University (Rus. “Dalnevostochny GAU” or “DalGAU”). It was revealed that the variety from the combination Long 98-4723 x Altayskaya 530 was the most valuable by the complex of its technological properties. The variety from the combination Krasa x DalGAU 1 had the best compensatory ability. The variety from Altayskaya 325 x Amurskaya 1495 had a good stress tolerance by all its properties. For the last two combinations the pollinators were from Amur breed. We have also identified the most promising regions of origin of varieties for their potential use as parental forms in hybridization. Chinese and Siberian varieties offer the best grain quality parameters for the Amur Region, and the majority of promising samples were created with these two varieties. Chinese varieties give a good compensatory ability to the next generations in vitreousness, grain unit and gluten content, but a low stress tolerance in gluten content. The Altai varieties produce generations with high gluten content, good compensatory ability and high stress tolerance.

Keywords: variety, 1000 grain weight, grain unit, grain vitreousness, gluten, α-Amylase, Hagberg falling number.

Funding. This work was carried out as part of the state task “Creation and Study of Spring Soft Wheat Source Material in Environmental Conditions of Amur Region for Obtaining High-Yielding Food Varieties”.

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-126-139

EDN: DOEXJR

ORNITHOCOMPLEXES OF ARTIFICIAL RESERVOIRS IN THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN RUSSIA UNDER THE CHANGES IN ANTHROPOGENIC AND CLIMATIC IMPACTS

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Shapovalova I.B. Ornithocomplexes of Artificial Reservoirs in the Central and Southern Russia under the Changes in Anthropogenic and Climatic Impacts // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 140-176. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

 

In this paper we have analyzed the state of ornithocomplexes in the swamp and wetland ecosystems of regulated sections of small rivers and artificial storage reservoirs in the central and southern regions of Russia. The analysis was carried out according to the developed methodology of transformation of coastal ecosystems in intrazonal conditions. We have characterized floodplain ornithocomplexes in different natural zones of the European part of Russia, such as mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppes, steppes and semi-deserts. Data of seasonal and annual dynamics are provided for the main indicators of transformation, such as species diversity and species abundance. Changes in birds’ species composition and abundance in the swamp and wetland complex were studied in connection with the changing anthropogenic (water management) and climatic impacts.

Keywords: Ivanovo Region, Tula Region, monitoring, dynamics, assessment, impact factor, steppe zone, zone of mixed and broad-leaved forests, forest-steppe zone, floodplain ecosystems, river floodplain, artificial reservoir, anthropogenic impact, intrazonal landscape, aridization, hydrological regime, climate, precipitation, humidity, species composition, population number, population density, species abundance, ornithocomplexes, bird population, rare species, Red Data Book, swamp and wetland complex.

Funding. This work was carried out as part of the fundamental research No. FMWZ-2022-0002 of the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences planned for 2022-2024 “Studies of Geo-Ecological Processes in Land Hydrological Systems, Formation of Surface and Groundwater Quality, Problems of Water Resources Management and Water Use under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impact”, state registration No. AAAA-A18-118022090104-8.

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-140-176

EDN: DQYCCB

ECOLOGICAL AND LITERARY TRAILS OF THE NORTHERN MOSCOW REGION

Ecology and dynamics Опубликовано автором

Grinchenko O.S. Ecological and Literary Trails of the Northern Moscow Region // Ecosystems: ecology and dynamics. No 4. 2023. P. 177-198. | Abstract | PDF | Reference

 

 

In the north of the Moscow region there is a state natural reserve “Crane Homeland”, named after the M.M. Prishvin’s story of the same name. In combines interesting natural and barely disturbed landscapes, where the habitats of common cranes, bogs and forests, the floodplain of the Dubna River and Lake Zabolotskoye are preserved. Ecological and literary tours take place there, offering trips along the trails of M.M. Prishvin and S.A. Klychkov, teaching about ‘bagovnik’ (Marsh Labrador tea) and ‘gonobobel’ (bog blueberry), showing wild cranes in the distance and offering immersion in the era of Sergius of Radonezh.

In 2023, ecological-literary trails in Russia are only at the initial stage of their development. To date, we have created 3 trails in the Northern Moscow Region: 1) “At Chertukhinsky Balakir” (that goes through the places of S.A. Klychkov), 2) Prishvin’s trail at Tugolyan Lakes, 3) Prishvin’s places along the Vytravka River and at the Shavykina Pustyn (wasteland). The tours along them highlight both the rich flora and fauna of the region, and the stages of literary work of Russian writers and religious figures who visited these places. Additionally, the prepared materials tell about modern trends in climate change and related changes in the hydrological regime of bogs and small river basins of the Upper Volga River.

Keywords: the reserve “Crane Homeland”, ecological and literary tourist trail, ecological and literary excursions, Lake Zabolotsk, Tugolyansky lakes, Vytravka River, Prishvinsky places, Knyazhiy Island, Shavykina Pustyn, flora and fauna of the Northern Moscow Region.

Funding. This article and analysis of all materials were made for the project No. FMWZ-2022-0002 for the Water Problems Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences “Studying Geo-Ecological Processes in Hydrological Land Systems, Formation of Surface Water and Groundwater Quality, Problems of Water Resources Management and Water Use under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Impacts”.

DOI: 10.24412/2542-2006-2023-4-177-198

EDN: GHIRNG