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The fishery on winter-spring accumulations of saffron cod in the area of northern Kuril Islands has a long history with varying intensity, though this species is not abundant both in the Pacific and Okhotsk Sea waters of this area. The annual catch ranged from 1.8 to 167.4 t in 2003–2022, on average 40.8 t/yr. The fish with length of 24–56 cm were presented in commercial catches of Danish seine, with prevalence of the 36–48 cm size group. The average length of saffron cod in the catches was changed from 35.4 cm in summer to 43.2 cm in winter that coincided with the fishing depth increasing in winter. The main commercial concentrations of the species had formed between the islands of Paramushir and Shumshu and in the area of the First Kuril Strait.

The paper presents a map of Volga Bolgaria sites in Zakamye (Trans-Kama region) of Tatarstan, compiled as a result of digitalization of available data. The map of archeological sites of Volga-Kama Bolgaria (X – fi rst half of XV century) by Fakhrutdinov R.G., 4 volumes of archeological maps of TASSR, "Code of archaeological sites of the Republic of Tatarstan", order of the Ministry of Culture of Tatarstan from 22.11.2000 No 267 and data on newly identifi ed monuments for 2015–2018 according to the materials of the Committee of RT for the Protection of Cultural Heritage objects were used. The geo-information system, used as a platform for creating the database, allowed us to collect information about Bolgar sites in a single repository. The GIS-analysis clearly demonstrated the density of settling in the pre-Mongol and Golden Horde periods. The presented scientific research is the first stage in the formation of a complete database of all sites belonging to the Volga Bolgaria in order to provide in the future the possibility of large-scale spatial analysis.

In 2018, a total of 45–57 zooplankton and 23–81 benthos taxa, as well as 0–6 alien zooplankton and 3–7 invasive zoobenthos species were found in different parts of the water area of the Gulf of Finland adjacent to St. Petersburg. From 2014 to 2018, aboriginal zooplankton and zoobenthos communities in the studied area remained relatively unchanged, while the populations of invasive species changed significantly. The range of some alien planktonic species extended to the east, i.e. to the Neva Bay, which could be due to their transfer from the adjacent areas of the Gulf of Finland. As compared to 2014, in 2018, a smaller number of invasive species in zoobenthos (only 10 species versus 14), as well as a significant reduction in the range or abundance of some invasive benthic species were recorded.

Structure and functional characteristics of zooplankton and feeding of the most abundant nekton species (pollock, herring and salmons) are analyzed using the data of ecosystem survey in the western Bering Sea in 2020 and compared with the structural indices for 2015−2019. The main patterns of composition and distribution of zooplankton and production of organic matter by zooplankton are determined. High values and turnover rate of production are noted for the non-predatory zooplankton (mainly copepods and euphausiids) in the eastern Anadyr Bay, the area at Cape Navarin, the shelf of Koryak coast, and the continental slope of Olyutorsky Bay. High production of predatory zooplankton (mainly hyperiids) is found on the slope of Karaginsky Bay, presumably because of these species transport from the southern areas with later stage of the seasonal succession. In autumn 2020, walleye pollock and pacific herring consumed from 15 to 55 % of the copepod, euphausiid and hyperiid production. This level of consumption did not affect their food supply because of very high turnover rate of these taxonomic groups of plankton. In the deep-water areas, salmons did not use more than 3 % of their food resource. Thus, the survey data indicate a good food supply for the most abundant nekton species in the western Bering Sea in the fall season.

In March 2019, we studied the taxonomic composition, vertical and horizontal distribution of under-ice zooplankton in Lake Pleshcheyevo and revealed that its quantity (abundance 11.5–13.8 thous.ind./m3, biomass

. This study is dedicated to the nest placement peculiarities of four species of the Corvidae family: the Jackdaw, Rook, Hooded Crow, and Eurasian Magpie – in the urbanized environmental components on the territory of the Kirovsky district of Saratov. The following methods were used in the work: route and areal accounting, cartographic modelling, plotting isolines based on cartographic data, assessing the reliability of diff erences in the number of corvid nests using Pearson’s chi-squared test, determining the rate of urbanization of various areas of the model area based on the method used by E. L. Lykov, assessing the dependence of the number of nests on the rate of the territory urbanization using Spearman’s correlation coeffi cient. The distribution of 652 nests according to the biotopes was analyzed, the assessment of the corvid nesting density in various urban environmental habitats was carried out. The nest placement density reaches its maximum in the areas with abundant green places, a large number of nesting sites, both of natural and anthropogenic origin and low rate of human disturbance, being in the areas with low-rise buildings, in the forest belts, in the natural park “ Kumysnaya polyana”and in the old Voskresenskoe cemetery. The Jackdaw and the Rook are the most selective for breeding sites species, their nests being located in human buildings and on closely placed tall trees. The Hooded Crow nests most evenly and successfully occupied the habitats of Saratov. The Magpie’s nesting areas are more associated to large groups of woody vegetation, the highest density of its nest placement was observed in the natural and natural-anthropogenic components of the urban environment. The negative relation between the quantity of nests of the two species – the Hooded Crow and the Magpie – and the rate of the territory urbanization was revealed. The nesting of the Jackdaw and the Rook are aff ected mostly not by the urbanization rate, but the availability of breeding sites.

The relevance. Currently, industrial activity, which processes lead to the deterioration of environmental conditions, is becoming increasingly large. Therefore, projects and measures are needed to reduce environmental damage and restore disturbed lands, which are based on preliminary studies of soil properties, the content and distribution of trace elements and heavy metals in the conditions of technogenesis. The main aim: to determine the regularities of the spatial distribution of microelements and the sources of their entry into the surface layer of soils on the territory of the industrial site of the Udachny Mining and Processing Division using the tools of multivariate statistical analysis. Objects: dominant soil types of the north-taiga landscapes of northwestern Yakutia. Methods: potentiometric, colorimetric, atomic absorption, statistical methods (descriptive, normal distribution analysis, principal component method, spatial analysis). Results. The coefficients of variation of trace elements in the upper soil layer of the study area are distributed in the following descending order: Zn˃Ni˃Mn˃Cr˃Co˃Pb˃Cd˃As. The concentrations of the elements Pb, Ni, Cd, Co, Cr, Zn, and As in the surface soil layer of the study area do not have a normal distribution, with the exception of Mn. Three factors have been identified that explain the dispersion of the content of trace elements and heavy metals in the soils of the territory of the north-taiga landscapes of North-Western Yakutia. The first factor noticeably affects the distribution of Co, Cr, Ni, and Zn; the second – Cd; and the third – As and Mn. The main sources of pollution were identified. The content of Co, Cr and Ni in the surface layer of the soil is affected by the Udachny kimberlite pipe quarry and tailing dump no. 1, Zn – by the residential area of Udachny, As – by the polygon of highly mineralized brines.

Aim. This research aims to study the Great Tit breeding density, depending on the distance from preferred wintering sites with all other things being equal.Material and Methods. 36 route counts were carried out in 22 locations ranging up to 95 km away from the preferred wintering sites. The data was collected in the same weather and climatic zone. The route counts were carried out in the wintering season (January) and in the breeding season (16 April – 15 May) in 2014‐2018. To consider the influence of small settlements, where a smaller number of tits spends winter in comparison with a large city, sample sites were characterized by the population of people living within a radius of 25 km around the sample site.Results. Most Great Tits prefer to minimise the distance from their wintering sites to their nesting sites. The most preferred distance of seasonal movement is 10‐20 km from a large city, the main wintering place for this species.Conclusions. The density of the Great Tit population during the nesting period increases exponentially with the proximity of wintering sites. When more than 20 km from wintering sites, the density of the species during the nesting period does not change reliably. The maximum immanent density during the nesting period is achieved in places of favourable wintering of the species, that is, in a metropolis with agglomeration.

Biology, spatial distribution, migrations, and stock dynamics are considered for arctic cod in the Russian sector of the Chukchi Sea and adjacent waters of the northern Bering Sea on the data of trawl surveys conducted by Pacific Res. Inst. of Fisheries and Oceanography (TINRO) in 1971–2020, fishery statistics and cited data. Active fishery of arctic cod occurred in late 1960s — early 1970s and in 1980s, when annual catch of this species reached 24,500 t. Mean size of arctic cod in trawl catches increased southward with decreasing of the underyearlings portion; the mean size was larger in catches of bottom trawl than in catches of midwater trawl because of the same reason. The females became adult from the size 11–12 cm, the males — from the size 8–9 cm. Diet of arctic cod included benthos and plankton, as well as juvenile fish. Spawning of arctic cod in the Chukchi Sea in summer-autumn was never observed, but some fish ready to spawn were found in the Bering Strait in this season. Arctic cod aggregated in the coastal zone of the southern Chukchi Sea in August, then partially migrated to the Bering Sea through the Bering Strait in September-November. The portion of the Chukchi Sea stock involved into this migration depended on fall oceanographic conditions — it was considerably larger in cold years with early freezing of the sea. Back migration from the Bering Sea to Chukchi Sea depended on spring environments — only a part of the fish of Chukchi Sea origin returned back in cold years with late ice melting and the rest spawned in the Bering Sea, whereas almost all the fish returned to the Chukchi Sea for spawning in warm years with early melting. The stock of arctic cod in the western Chukchi Sea varied in 1971–2020 between 3.5–396.5 . 103 t, on average 80.6 . 103 t in the bottom layer, and between 4.0–329.2 . 103 t, on average 150.6 . 103 t in the upper layer.

Metroxylon sagu Rottb is a plant species of wetland that can produce carbohydrates. South Kalimantan is the 4th largest sago producer in Indonesia. Banjar district is one of the areas where covered by M.sagu forest. This study aims to analyze the spatial distribution and potential of M.sagu forest in Banjar district, South Kalimantan. The method of data collection was done by square plot. The 20 m x 20 m plots consist of at least 3 locations as samples of M.sagu forest. The 20 × 20 m quadrats were used to record trees with diameter=20 cm. The vegetation parameters measured were number of individuals, diameter and height. Spatial data was collected from secondary data. Spatial distribution of M.sagu forest analyzed by using ArcGIS software. The potential of sago forest is analyzed by calculating the diameter, height and volume of trees. The area covered by M.sagu forest in Banjar Regency is 401.62 ha. There are 2 subdistricts that have the largest M.sagu forest in Banjar district, namely Sungai Tabuk sub district and Astambul sub district. M.sagu forest area is 0.09% of the total area of Banjar district. The potential of M.sagu forest with a diameter > 20 cm is 119 trees/ha. The number of individual mature trees of M.sagu (diameter > 50 cm) reaches 48 stems/ha. The total potential production of wet starch from M.sagu forest in Banjar district is 3,855 tons. Banjar district is an area that has potential high M.sagu starch production in South Kalimantan.

During long-term observations, the Borok and College Geophysical Observatories have registered ultralow-frequency (ULF) electromagnetic signals from remote earthquakes. We have analysed the characteristics of such signals that occur several minutes before a seismic event. Our analysis shows that the dynamic spectra of the signals from earthquakes that occurred in different regions are similar, although the earthquakes differ in magnitude and focal depth. We investigate and discuss daily and seasonal probabilities for the occurrence of ULF electromagnetic pulses. Attention is given to the uneven distribution of their sources (i.e. earthquakes) on the earth’s surface. Our study shows that the ULF electromagnetic signals are clustered in separate zones and cells. When mapped, these clusters mark seismic electromagnetically active regions. In the northern hemisphere, a maximum cluster is found at latitudes 30–45°. In the longitudinal direction, two maximum clusters are located in the western sector. They are considered as the major and additional peaks (latitudes 120–150° and 0–30°, respectively). Examples are given to illustrate earthquake precursors in various regions. Based on the analysis results, we conclude that the occurrence of ULF electromagnetic pulses before earthquakes is universal. These pulses need to be investigated in a more detail to clarify if an upcoming earthquake is detectable from such signals a few minutes before its occurrence, and whether it is possible, in principle, to use this information for safety alerts before seismic shaking arrives.

Distribution and biological parameters are considered for eggs and adults of two flatfish species on the data of annual surveys conducted on the shelf of southeastern Kamchatka in summer of 2011–2014 and 2016–2019. The eggs of Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus were sampled mostly at the stage of a germinal strip forming, whereas the eggs of Hippoglossoides elassodon were mostly at the stage of embryo cleavage. The main congestions of the eggs were found in the Kronotsky Bay and northern Avachinsky Bay. The adults of both species concentrated mainly in the northern Kronotsky Bay, at Cape Povorotny. Old age groups prevailed in aggregations of P. quadrituberculatus, but middle-age and young fish — in the aggregations of H. elassodon.

The influence of snow cover on the dynamics of soil temperature in the modern climatic conditions of the Eurasian Subarctic was investigated through a quantitative assessment of the features of the seasonal and long-term variation of parameters. Seasonal and long-term values of soil temperature for stable snow period decrease from west to east: a decrease of snow thickness and air temperature from west to east of Eurasia leads to a weakening of the heat-insulating properties of the snow cover with a significant decrease in regional air temperatures. With the emergence of a stable snow cover, the soil temperature seasonal and long-term standard deviation sharply decreases compared to the autumn and spring periods. With the appearance of snow cover, the soil temperature standard deviation drops sharply compared to the autumn and spring periods. An exception is the northeast of Siberia: here, a relatively small thickness of snow determines a noticeable dependence of the course of soil temperature on the dynamics of surface air temperature. There are no significant long-term trends in soil temperature due to its low variability during winter period. Analysis of the course of the studied characteristics anomalies showed an insignificant and non-systematic number of their coincidences. Currently, we have not found similar research results for large regions. The revealed patterns can be used in the analysis of the results of monitoring the state of the land surface, in the development of remote sensing algorithms, in the refinement of predictive scenarios of environmental changes.

Stocks of demersal and pelagic fish species are assessed for the bottom layer over the outer shelf and upper continental slope between Cape Olyutorsky and Cape Navarin (northwestern Bering Sea) on the data of bottom trawl survey conducted aboard RV Professor Levanidov over the isobaths 20-400 m in the summer of 2019. The total biomass of demersal fish in the surveyed polygon was estimated as 682,262 t; the portion of pacific cod was 51.50 %, arrowtooth flounder — 9.80 %, great sculpin — 9.64 %, rock sole — 4.60 %, alaska skate — 4.57 %, flathead flounders — 2.56 %, yellow irish lord — 2.30 %, and < 2 % for other species. The total biomass of pelagic fish species in the bottom layer was estimated as 759,639 t (species-specific coefficients of catchability were used); the portion of adult walleye pollock was 85.12 %, its juveniles — 9.94 %, pacific herring — 4.67 %, and other pelagic species — 0.27 % in sum. Mean ratios of the species stock between the surveyed polygon and other areas of the northwestern Bering Sea, as the Gulf of Anadyr and the deeper continental slope (below 400 m), were evaluated using the data of bottom trawl surveys conducted in 2005-2017. Some species as yellow irish lord, saffron cod, pacific halibut, arrowtooth flounder, great sculpin, kamchatka flounder, rock sole, and aleutian skate distributed mostly within the polygon and their mean biomass in the outside areas varied from 0.5 % to 69.2 % relative to the biomass in the polygon surveyed in 2019. On the contrary, the portions of pacific cod, greenland halibut, alaska skate, and walleye pollock were larger outside the polygon — from 102.9 to 190.4 %, and almost entire stocks were in the outside areas for alaska plaice, flathead flounders, and pacific herring — from 533.4 % to 1380.5 % relative to the biomass accounted within the polygon. The stocks assessed in 2019 reflected both the state of populations and their spatial and bathymetric redistribution, mostly because of the St. Lawrence Cold Water Pool shrinkage at the bottom of the Gulf of Anadyr. The stocks fluctuations are reasoned mainly by natural factors, rather than fishery impact.

Trawl fishery of shrimps Sclerocrangon salebrosa and Argis lar in the Sakhalin Bay of the Okhotsk Sea has started in 2014 and develops rapidly. Meanwhile, spatial distribution of these species is not known well and their biology and stock dynamics are not studied. State of the fishery and distribution patterns of S. salebrosa and A. lar in the northwestern Okhotsk Sea are investigated on the data collected by the authors aboaed commercial fishing vessels and in the accounting trawl survey conducted aboard RV Dmitry Peskov in summer of 2019, as well as some features of their biology are considered. In total, 542 commercial trawl catches collected in 2015–2019 with horizontal opening 36 m from the depth of 39–140 m and 147 trawl catches collected during the survey with horizontal opening 16 m from the depth of 11–321 m are analyzed; 21,590 shrimp specimens caught within the period from June 23 to November 2 are examined. During 2014–2019, the number of shrimp fishing vessels in the Sakhalin Bay has increased from 1 to 6, their annual landing — from 78.7 to 642.0 t (376 t of S. salebrosa and 266 t of A. lar in 2019). Their mean catch per unit effort varied from 48 to 108 kg/hr of trawling for S. salebrosa and from 40 to 87 kg/hr for A. lar, with the average catch per trawling 379 and 346 kg, and average daily catch 1380 and 1144 kg, respectively. Night catches of S. salebrosa were in 2.7 times higher than the daily catches, on average (104.7 ± 45.7 kg/hr vs 39.1 ± 31.8 kg/hr); night catches of A. lar were in 2.0 times higher than the daily catches (80.2 ± 39.0 kg/hr vs 39.6 ± 34.2 kg/hr). Portion of A. lar in the summary catches of two species varied from 4 to 88 %, on average 48 %; besides, by-catch of fish (flounders, saffron cod, pollock, cod, sculpins, herring) and humpy shrimp Pandalus goniurus was considerable. So, the portion of the most valuable species (sculptured shrimp S. salebrosa) did not exceed ⅓ of the total catch, on average. The actual annual catches exceeded significantly the recommended volumes in 2017–2019, up to 164 % for S. salebrosa and 156 % for A. lar. According to results of the trawl survey in 2019, spatial distribution patterns for S. salebrosa and A. lar coincide in details in the northern Okhotsk Sea: both species are distributed at the depth between 20–145 m, with the densest aggregations (> 60 % of both stocks) located between Bolshoi Shantar Island and the northern tip of Sakhalin, southward from 55о 30′ N, where their biomasses reach 434 kg/km2 for S. salebrosa and 68 kg/km2 for A. lar. Total commercial stocks of these species within the North Okhotsk Sea fishery district were assessed in 2019 as 16.0 . 103 t for S. salebrosa and 3.8 . 103 t for A. lar. Reproductive cycles of S. salebrosa and A. lar females in the Okhotsk Sea are fundamentally the same as the cycle of former species in Peter the Great Bay (Japan Sea), with their total duration of 48 months including 24 months for the gonads development until spawning and 24 months from the spawning to hatching of larvae. In the Okhotsk Sea, spawning of S. salebrosa and A. lar occurs most likely in spring; mass hatching of their larvae — in summer.

The paper regards tendencies in PRC transport complex from the moment the state was founded until present day. To general processes of economic development at certain key periods the authors relate development of spatial parameters of motor roads and railways, port infrastructure facilities and the operation scale of certain kinds of transport (freight turnover, volume of cargo transported, average length of transportation). The economic justification for post-war recovery, industrialization and transfer to the policy of openness and reform are also observed. There are changes shown as to indicators for freight and passenger transportation. The terms for a boost in the PRC sea and port infrastructure under the policy of openness and reform are outlined. This policy shapes the model of export-oriented economy. Rising living standards and orientation at promoting domestic demand were incentivized by high-speed railways and air traffic. The shift in the role of the PRC transport complex has been demonstrated: from the tertiary (service) sector of economy to the self-sustained entity of economic processes generating technologies, carrying out a transfer of innovations and participating in launching new export niches on the national and global markets. The importance of the transport complex as a tool of the PRC stabilization policy in the period of economic crises of 2008 and 2015 is presented. Investments into the transportation infrastructure in the periods of recession had a meaningful multiplicative effect and generated new jobs, secured a demand for the related industries (metallurgy, construction materials, transport engineering), brought down the cost of shipment, improved the environment of transportation and promoted domestic demand

The article considers the features of the spatial distribution of educational and scientific organizations in Russia as an important component of digital society. Based on the extensive sociological and statistical data, the article explains the need to revise the existing approach to the organizational structure of the higher education system taking into account the “5-100” projects and the creation of supporting and federal universities aimed at strengthening the system of higher professional education in the regions. The authors analyze national programs, in particular the national projects “Education” and “Science”, in terms of the new approaches to their territorial organization. The article aims at analyzing the regional accessibility of the main levels of education, and defines as its indicator the educational services of all levels provided in the region. The article is based on the hypothesis that an increase in the spatial accessibility of basic levels of education makes an important contribution to sustainability and accelerates social development. The authors note that all adopted programs and relatively new structural elements of higher education imply an increase in budgetary funding. Given the size of this funding, the gap between regional systems grows and the inclusion of new participants (universities) in the circle of the strongest educational institutions becomes more problematic. Meanwhile, it is the system of higher education and related scientific organizations that is one of the main drivers of the regional development, which determines its human potential and place in the country’s economy.

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is one of the most important indicators of soil quality and agricultural productivity. This paper presents the application of Regression Kriging (RK), geographically weighted regression (GWR) and Geographically Weighted Regression Kriging (GWRK) for prediction of topsoil organic carbon stock in Tarialan. A total of 25 topsoil (0-30 cm) samples were collected from Tarialan soum of Khuvsgul aimag in Mongolia. In this study, seven independent variables were used including normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), normalised difference moisture index (NDMI), land surface temperature (LST) and terrain factors (DEM, Slope, Aspect). We used root-mean-square error (RMSE), mean error (ME) and determination coefficient (R2) to evaluate the performance of these methods. Validation results showed that performance of the GWRK, GWR, and RK approaches were good with not only low values of root-mean-square error (1.38 kg/m2, 1.48 kg/m2, 0.69 kg/m2), mean error (0.28 kg/m2, -0.22 kg/m2, 0.17 kg/m2) but also high values of R2 (0.76, 0.72, 0.94). The estimated SOC stock values ranged from 0.28-16.26 kg/m2, 0.72–15.24 kg/m2, 0.16–15.83 kg/m2 using GWRK, GWR, RK approaches in the study area. The highest average SOC stock value was in the wetland (6.47 kg/m2, 6.08 kg/m2, 6.44 kg/m2) and the lowest was in cropland (1.63 kg/m2, 1.48 kg/m2, 1.80 kg/m2) using these approaches. According to the validation, GWRK, GWR, and RK approaches produced satisfactory results for estimating and mapping SOC stock. However, Regression Kriging was the best model, followed by GWRK and GWR to predict topsoil organic carbon stock in Tarialan.

The morphology of dried blood plasma from patients with oncopathology has been studied. The structural features characteristic for the dried drops of blood plasma from the patients with diagnosed carcinoma of the prostate have been revealed. Semiquantitative estimates of the spatial distribution of calcium over the surface of the dried drops of biological fluids have been obtained using laser atomic-emission spectrometry. Owing to the use of this method, one can have quantitative estimates of changes in the protein centers. The possibility for making more accurate diagnoses by means of attribution of the tumor to the types Т2 and Т3 or Т4 is demonstrated. The obtained experimental results may form the basis for the development of early cancer diagnostication techniques.

The study was carried out during the 84th expedition of RV “Professor Vodyanitsky” in the coastal waters of the Black and Azov Seas from 19 to 26 April 2016. The goal of the study was to assess the abundance and species composition of the “spring” micrometazooplankton (MMZP), providing previously unavailable data. A total of 59 samples were collected at 20 stations within the upper 50-m layer of water. The average MMZP abundance in the surface layer of the Black Sea waters was 14.8 ± 5.8 thousand ind. m-3. The greatest number (up to 35 thousand ind. m-3) was observed in the coastal waters of Kalamitsky and Karkinitsky bays and the smallest (1-13 thousand ind. m-3) in the waters of the south coast of Crimea. In the Azov Sea, MMZP abundance was almost one order of magnitude higher and ranged from 52.4 to 198.6 thousand ind. m-3 in the surface layer and from 39.0 to 89.0 thousand ind. m-3 in the bottom layer. The species composition of the MMZP in the Black Sea waters was characterized by the predominance of the crustacean fraction with copepods as its major part (81.9 and 77.4% of the total abundance, respectively). In the Azov Sea, meroplanktonic larvae of barnacles dominated, constituting over 65%; larvae of polychaetes, bivalve veligers, and rotifers were also abundant. The vertical distribution patterns were determined by the biotope and predominant composition of MMZP. The abundance maxima in the middle and lower layers of the water column in the shallow-water zones were associated with veligers of mollusks while copepods were responsible for the local maxima in different layers of deeper habitats, where they dominated

Creative industries characterized by subsectors of architecture, design, and advertising represent an important segment in im-plementation of post-Fordist economy principles. Hence, the governments and scholars are devoted to quantitative mapping of crea-tive industries. The results of this mapping provide insight into number, structure and spatial distribution in a given area for subse-quent identification of smart specialization of cities and regions. Furthermore, they serve as a basis for strategic planning of regional innovation systems. Finally yet importantly, this mapping is the basis for following qualitative mapping through research methods such as focus groups and the Delphi method among key actors of the particular creative ecosystem. Unique feature of this paper is mainly in the methodology, which is detached from the traditional static view on the quantita-tive mapping of creative industries dealing with cross-sectional data solely. Therefore, this paper develops their use to spatial map-ping of creative industries by the dynamic component concerning new approaches to Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis. This com-ponent is based on unbalanced panel dataset by using the differential local Moran’s I. The results indicate a dynamic development of design and advertising enterprises at the municipal level in the Czech Repub-lic, with options for internationalization of market, uniqueness of products and continual digitalization. On the contrary, subsector of architecture was identified as stagnant in terms of development, in relation to demand for these services that are affected by limited national real estate market, continual concentration of developers. Furthermore, the results revealed links between their spatial diffu-sion with process of residential suburbanization and strengthening of existing centres through the agglomeration and urbanization economies. Thus, those specifics underline a call for appropriate smart specialization policies along with policies concerning creative class retention in regional centres and rural areas.

Spatial distribution and reproductive ability of the pacifc oyster Crassostrea gigas aggregations in the northern Amur Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Japan Sea) are investigated using the data of direct and remote accounts. Totally 772 oyster banks and reefs are detected with the summary area of 284.6 hectares that is signifcantly larger than earlier assessments. The 35 giant beds (> 1 ha) occupy 53.2 % of the summary area, but 79.8 % of mollusks gather in medium and large aggregations which occupy 45.5 % of the summary area. Majority of the aggregations (> 95 %) are located on shallows with the depth less than 5 m. The oyster matur-ing is completed when it reaches the size of 50 mm. The ratio of males to females is 1.0 : 1.5, on average, that indicates indirectly favorable habitat conditions for C. gigas. Males prevail among the small-sized individuals, but females prevail among the large-sized ones that corresponds to reproductive strategy of pacifc oyster and type of its reproduction. The males to females ratio changes from year to year. Portion of young mollusks is rather high (13.9–56.2 %), portion of the main reproductive groups changes from 40.6 to 88.9 % that indicates active processes of natural reproduction and the oyster reefs forming. Mollusks with high reproductive rate prevail among the main reproductive group with the size 70–130 mm (58.2 %). The largest number of such individuals is observed in the largest aggregations of oysters at Rechnoy Island (85.0 %) and at Skrebtsov Island (60.7 %). Spatial variations of the shells shape and ratio of size-physiological groups in the aggregations reflect patterns of the habitat conditions. Generally, the state of native oyster aggregations in the northern Amur Bay is stable with a tendency to their population increasing.

Abstract. Background. Small rivers of the Lower Volga are the main type of watercourses that represent its river system. High importance of these rivers for preserving the biodiversity of natural complexes in the Volga basin is relevant. Macrozoobenthos is an important faunal component of rivers of aquatic organisms including mollusks. These organisms make a significant contribution to the overall diversity of invertebrates in inland water bodies. However, they are still poorly understood in water bodies. The purpose of our work is to identify patterns of distribution, environmental and biological features of Viviparus (Viviparus) Viviparus in the Samara river. Materials and methods. We explored the Samara river in the summer of 2017. 17 stations were explored from the source to the river mouth. The collected material was determined and the density and biomass at the stations were calculated. Morphometric measurements of the shells of all individuals were made. Statistical processing of the species data was performed to establish the dependence in different abiotic and biotic characteristics of the river. Results. In the river, there are significant fluctuations in the flow rate that lead to different areas of vegetation and types of bottom sediments. In terms of water quality, the river is classified as "very polluted", with the main pollutants being copper and nitrite nitrogen. The results of the analysis of the occurrence, density and biomass of mollusk individuals showed the preference of the species to certain biotopes of the river. Morphometric characteristics of mollusk shells are statistically distinguishable in different sections of the river. The habitat of V. (V.) viviparus depends on local abiotic and biotic factors. Their influence on the distribution of mollusks is complex. Conclusions. The results obtained enrich the accumulated information on the biology and ecology of the V. (V.) viviparus species. The available data on the species biotopic preference in rivers and the factors that determine it are expanded. This data will allow us to better assess the state of aquatic ecosystems with similar environmental conditions.

The purpose of this study was to survey the seasonal variation of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and determine spatial distribution in Darkhan city. Air pollution research and reports have been few and far between in most of parts in Mongolia, especially in Darkhan with respect to quantitative aerosol particle concentration. In this study, we utilized “PM2.5sensor” to measure spatial and seasonal variation of particulate matter concentrations in the study area. The monitoring points were chosen by basing on their specific features and set up directly at ambience outdoor. In each season, we carried out measurement at 3 points, which covered the ger district and apartment district areas for one day. Whereas, at one point the ger district was sampled for 4 days in summer. Fine particulate matter concentrations were the highest in the ger district area because there are many households that use coal for their daily heating and cooking, and at the bared surface. As for seasonal variation, in winter pollution reached 400 times higher than other seasons. Furthermore, at the ger district area, PM2.5 concentration was as much as 20 times greater than other points and it was observed that this too had its impact on the apartment district as well. As regards the air quality index, the level of particulate matter in the ger district area is extremely unhealthy to hazardous in winter. While, good and moderate indexes were mostly identified at monitoring points during the springtime.

The features of spatial distribution of some heavy metals (Pb, Hg, As) in the system "suspended substance – bottom sediments" in the mouth area of the Red River (Vietnam) have been studied. The studies have been carried out during the main hydrological seasons of the years 2014–2016 (during the flood and low-water periods). Spatial analysis of the amount of heavy metals (HM) in the suspended form and in the bottom sediments has been carried out using the interpolation model in ArcGIS 10.2.2. Distribution of Pb, Hg, As concentration in the suspended form and bottom sediment phases in the estuary area of the Red River is characterized by a maximum in the mouths of the arms and a general decreasing gradient towards the sea. The maximum concentrations of Pb, Hg in suspended forms are observed in the water surface layer at the river – sea barrier. The content of Hg and As in the estuary region of the Red River has been observed in the following order: SSsurf < SSbott < BS; and content of Pb – SS > BS. By the values of the average enrichment coefficient of KSS/BS, heavy metals are located in the following decreasing series: Pb > Hg > As. Being on the river and sea boundaries of saline and fresh waters mixing zone, bottom sediments mark the local barriers within the mouth area at a distance of 20 to 30 km from the shore. Intense sedimentations and accumulations of HM in bottom sediments take place at these local barriers as a result of successive changes in the hydrodynamic and hydrochemical conditions in the mouth area of the Red River.

This study was carried out to assess the content of toxic heavy metals (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn), determine pollution and spatial distribution of topsoil in Darkhan city which is one of the largest cities in Mongolia, to determine pollution and spatial distribution. The selected study area of Darkhan city was divided into 3 zones (industrial zones, ger districts or livestock breeding zones and private apartments or residential district zones) representing settlement’s characteristics, and 14 points were sampled from topsoil. In order to estimate the level of pollution, the contamination factor, the degree of contamination, pollution load index, and enrichment factor that were formulated by Hakanson, Tomlison, Selvaraj were used in our study. The results were come out by comparing the heavy metal concentration of the topsoil with it`s background concentration. In terms of spatial distribution of heavy metals in the topsoil, heavy metals concentration in ger district and industrial areas is relatively high, but pollution assessment is not very high. As a result of the enrichment factor which was used for assessment of contamination source, the average concentration of 8 elements (As, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) at 13 points presented that was derived from natural sources.

Bottom substrates and structure and distribution of macrobenthos in the sublittoral zone of the Vladimir Bay (northwestern Japan Sea) were surveyed in July 2012 and 2014. The substrates were identified and their spatial patterns were described. Organic matter content was determined for the soft sediments that occupied the major part of the bay. Taxonomic composition of macrobenthos was identified in the upper sublittoral zone (depth of 2–40 m) and the species richness was evaluated. In total, 63 species of macrobenthos inhabit the sublittoral zone of the Vladimir Bay including 45 species of invertebrates and 18 plant species. The high species diversity is conditioned by influence of terrestrial discharge, in particularly organics. Quantitative characteristics of the bottom communities are compared with other areas of southern Primorye.

Introduction. Oncological diseases is a serious medico-social problem of modern society. The article presents the analysis of prostate cancer morbidity with consideration of regional health level differences.Objective. To conduct spatial-temporal analysis of prostate cancer incidence in Rostov region; to identify areas with a statistically significant increase in the incidence of prostate cancer; to identify regional differences (environmental determinism) in the development of cancer in the southern Federal district.Materials and methods. We’ve analysed incidence of prostate cancer in the Rostov region for the period of 2001-2016. The analysis has been performed using tools spatio-temporal statistics on software ArcGis 10 *.Results. Areas and cities of Rostov region with a statistically significant increase in prostate cancer incidence were identified. It has been shown that in the regions and cities of the Rostov region with a low level of medical-ecological safety had a statistically significant increase in prostate cancer incidenceConclusions. The results can serve as a basis for the directional analysis of factors causing increased risk of cancer and development on this basis strategies for monitoring and prevention of cancer diseases in the Rostov region.

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The main objective of the research was to assess a nature of contingency in the seasonal course between char‑ acteristics of the soil thermal regime, surface air temperature, and snow cover, as well as to determine typical situations of their interaction. The investigation was based on results of the three‑year field observations per‑ formed in the Central part of the East European Plain. A degree of influence of different woody vegetation on the snow cover distribution under local homogeneity of the air temperature has been found as the following: maximal values of snow storages in the larch forests exceed similar ones on open sites and in the pine forests by 11‑25%. Inter‑annual changes of the soil temperature in areas with different vegetation were revealed to be very similar: differences in the temperature at depths of 10‑40 cm did not exceed 0.5‑1.0 °С. Phases of the soil temperature seasonal variations were isolated, and they were found to be closely related to changes in the sur‑ face air temperature and snow depths. During the period when the snow cover is steady (in winters), the soil temperature at a depth of 10‑40 cm becomes stable almost everywhere within the range from +1.0 to −1.0 °C. This suggests that in this period it does not depend on the landscape conditions, changes in the snow depth, and fluctuations in the surface air temperature. Thus, we make a conclusion that trends in multi‑year course of the soil temperature are primarily determined by variability of the surface air temperature during autumn and spring periods that may be also true for winters similar to mean ones in the center of the East European Plain.

The article discusses the role of small towns in the spatial structure of the regional population. The purpose for the study is to assess the irregularity of spatial distribution of urban population in the Sverdlovsk Oblast and substantiate the prospects for regional distribution system dynamics by using the methods of mathematical modeling. The author analyzes various domestic and foreign theoretical and methodological approaches to analyzing spatial disparities in deployment of economic potential and human capital throughout regions and countries. The author’s approach is to apply the methodological tools of Zipf’s law, which proved its effectiveness during the study of urban population dynamics in the works of both foreign and domestic scholars, to study trends and prospects for demographic development in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. The research has helped reveal actual and ideal Zipf’s distribution for towns of the Sverdlovsk Oblast during 1989–2015. Based on the methodology the author calculates the values of optimal population in the towns of the Sverdlovsk Oblast in each period and concludes that over the past 25 years the deviation of actual distribution from Zipf’s distribution has decreased. It has been revealed that the largest city of the region – Yekaterinburg, has already exhausted the opportunities for increasing the number of its residents. It has also been proved that small towns are population donors for the growth of medium and large towns in the Sverdlovsk Oblast not only in the current period, but also in the future. The specified role of small towns in the spatial distribution of urban population in the region is one of the factors generating intense intraregional migration flows. The author concludes that the regional policy of attracting population to medium and large towns of the region and restraining of the expansion of Yekaterinburg considering continuous depopulation of small towns. The obtained results may be used by the experts for justifying measures on management of the region’s socio-demographic and spatial development

The article presents the analysis of morbidity from prostate cancer with consideration of regional differences in the level of the health and environmental safety. Analysis was conducted of the level of incidence of prostate cancer in the Voronezh region for the period 2001 to 2015. The Model of conditionality of distribution of oncological diseases has provided a number of results, significantly expanding the scope and use of medical and environmental monitoring. The incidence of cancer of the prostate in the Voronezh region remained high for the past decade. The use of space-time statistics in conjunction with traditional statistical methods reveals the territorial medical and environmental contrast (group of regions with a different rating, the quality of public health), the territorial heterogeneity of incidence of prostate cancer, and the presence of "hot spots" of disease. The results can serve as a basis for the directional analysis of factors causing increase risk of cancer and development on these basis strategies for monitoring and prevention of cancer diseases in the Voronezh region.

Stocks of demersal fishes on the depths of 20-200 m in the northwestern Bering Sea are considered, excluding walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma , on the data of 10 bottom trawl surveys conducted in the summer-fall of 1985-2015. The mean total biomass of demersal fish in two parts of this area (Western Bering Sea zone and Chukchi zone) in this period was 747.78. 103 and 119.83. 103 t, with almost equal density distribution: 5757 and 5709 kg/km2, respectively. The biomass had some redistributions in recent times: the assessments were 832.97. 103 and 69.88. 103 t in 2012, and 946.31. 103 and 141.40. 103 t in 2015, respectively. Pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus is usually the dominant species in the Western Bering Sea zone (up to 57 % of the total biomass in 2015) followed by subdominant species as alaska plaice Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus , flathead sole Hippoglossoides spp., alaska skate Bathyraja parmifera , and great sculpin Myoxocephalus polyacanthocephalus with portions of each species between 5-13 %. Generally, the ichthyocenosis of both zones was monodominant; the polydominant structure was observed in the Western Bering Sea zone only in 2001 and 2005, in conditions of abnormally low cod abundance. The total stock of demersal fish is determined mostly by state of the cod stock. It was very high in the middle 1980s, then had a significant decline in the late 1990s - early 2000s, but rises again since the middle 2000s. A considerable part of the mass demersal species migrate in summer from the Western Bering Sea to the Chukchi zone for feeding that is the background for significant fluctuations of their biomass assessments, which depend on the environments variability. The densest aggregations of the mass demersal fish form mainly in the area between Cape Olyutorsky and Cape Navarin and in the Anadyr Bay in the waters of the Navarin Current.

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.

Abundance and biomass of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma in the Bering Sea exceeded the mean values in 2015 owing to the high-abundant year-classes of 2008 and 2012 and several medium-abundant year-classes (of 2006, 2009-2011, 2013, and 2014). In contrast to rather stable distribution on its spawning grounds, distribution of feeding pollock in the northern Bering Sea is very variable and depends on both biomass of the population and long-term and short-term variations of environments, as water temperature and zooplankton abundance. In some years including recent times (2005-2007 and 2010-2014), the pollock migrated earlier and faster into the northwestern Bering Sea and returned back to the eastern shelf also early: in late summer - early autumn. This scenario is supposedly conditioned by low zooplankton abundance over the Bering Sea that forces pollock to active feeding migrations, particularly a deficit of preferable food (large-sized zooplankton) on the north-western feeding grounds could be a reason for its leaving this area in late summer. Strength of pollock year-classes is highly variable, too, and depends mostly on young-of-the-year fish survival in winter. As usual, favorable conditions for reproduction and progeny survival, when strong year-classes appear, are observed in the years or short periods of transition from one state of marine environments to another, whereas long periods of either «warm» or «cold» regime are not favorable for forming of high-abundant year-classes of the Bering Sea pollock.

Spatial distribution of depth and water properties (temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen content) are considered in detail for cores of the Okhotsk Sea water masses: subsurface, intermediate, and deep, on the base of the most comprehensive oceanographic data set.

Disturbances such as forest fires, industrial pollution, etc. are almost always heterogeneous, leaving less disturbed patches within the boundaries of disturbances. In addition to the traditionally considered source of soil invertebrates’ restoration by immigration from the surrounding unchanged biotopes, the role of locally undisturbed areas within the impact zones is shown. The presence of perfugia within the impact areas of various origin is revealed. Perfugia are locally less disturbed or undisturbed areas within a disturbed ecosystem where specimens or remnants of soil biota communities survive a disturbance. They are characterized by higher diversity and abundance of soil fauna in comparison to the main disturbed area. The heterogeneity of soil environment, the heterogeneity of its disturbance and the presence of perfugia serve as one of the factors in the recovery of soil fauna after the disturbances.

Quantitative information on the bottom macrofauna of the continental shelf and slope down to the depth 2025 m is generalized for the Far East of Russia and the adjacent waters of North Korea and Japan (in total 32,700 bottom trawls obtained in 224 expeditions over the area about 2 million km2 in 1977-2010). The total mean biomass of macrofauna is estimated as 38.64 million tons including 21.8 · 106 t of fish and cyclostomes and 16.9 · 106 t of invertebrates: 22.5 · 106 t in the Okhotsk Sea, 8.2 · 106 t in the Bering Sea, 3.7 · 106 t in the Pacific waters of Kamchatka, 2.8 · 106 t in the Pacific waters of Kuril Islands, and 1.4 · 106 t in the Japan Sea. The Okhotsk and Bering Seas have the higher biomass mainly because of their vast areas, but the density of macrofauna is ranked in other order: the Pacific waters of Kamchatka (64.5 t/km2, without jellyfishes - 18.7 t/km2) - Pacific waters of Kuril Islands (27.1 t/km2) - Bering Sea (24.5 t/km2) - Okhotsk Sea (16.5 t/km2) - Japan Sea (11.7 t/km2). The total biomass of fish and cephalopods at the sea bottom is the following: 13.8 · 106 t in the Okhotsk Sea, 4.6 · 106 t in the Bering Sea, 2.7 · 106 t in the Pacific waters of Kuril Islands, 1.4 · 106 t in the Pacific waters of Kamchatka, and 0.9 · 106 t in the Japan Sea, and their density is: 26.5 t/km2 in the Pacific waters of Kuril Islands, 23.6 t/km2 in the Pacific waters of Kamchatka, 13.9 /km2 in the Bering Sea, 10.1 t/km2 in the Okhotsk Sea, and 7.4 t/km2 in the Japan Sea. The areas with narrow shelves and sharp slopes, steep and patchy relief, are usually denser populated. However, the Japan Sea has the lowest biomass and density of benthic macrofauna, possibly because of lower productivity.

Species structure, abundance and biomass of zooplankton, its seasonal and interannual dynamics are considered on the data of plankton surveys conducted in Peter the Great Bay in 2002-2013. All zooplankton species dwelling in the northwestern Japan Sea are presented in the fauna of Peter the Great Bay. Small-sized fraction of zooplankton prevais everywhere in the Bay (> 80 % of total number of animals). The zooplankton concentration in spring-summer (1280 mg/m3 on average) is in 1.4 times higher than in fall-winter. Both abundance and biomass of zooplankton are higher in the neritic zone in all seasons: the mean annual values are 53.17 thousand ind./m3 and 1370 mg/m3, respectively. The highest values are observed in the secondary bays, as the Amur Bay and Ussuri Bay (1455 mg/m3 on average). The Amur Bay is distinguished by high abundance of meroplankton, as well, in particular in its northern shallow area; its annual mean value is 3.65 thousand ind./m3 (twice higher than in the Ussuri Bay), the peaks are observed in summer and autumn. Abundance and biomass of zooplankton decrease gradually with the distance from the coast to the minimum values in the deep-water zone: 3.43 thousand ind./m3 and 485 mg/m3 on average, respectively. The total stock of zooplankton in Peter the Great Bay is estimated as 428. 103 t in spring and 636. 103 t in summer. Both seasonal and interannual dynamics of zooplankton abundance are more significant in the coastal areas, as the Amur and Ussuri Bays, where the changes are either similar (as in 2008, 2010-2013) or not (as in 2007, 2009). For example, low abundance of P. newmani but extremally high abundance of warm-water copepods (10 times higher than usually) and Bivalvia larvae were recorded in both bays in 2013. Fluctuations of large-sized oceanic species abundance have no essential impact on the total biomass of zooplankton in Peter the Great Bay. In general, the zooplankton abundance increased in 1.2-2.5 times during the decade, up to the maximum in 2010-2012, mainly because of Pseudocalanus newmani stock growth, but this species abundance decreased sharply in 2013 that caused 20 % reduction of the total zooplankton biomass.

This paper describes the development of an approach to the simulation of prokaryotic community activity and evolution and the software package «Haploid evolutionary constructor» (http://evol-constructor.bionet.nsc.ru). The initial model with ideal mixing (0D) is expanded to a spatially distributed model (1D). The 0D and 1D poisoner–prey prokaryotic community models are compared. It is shown that the community stability is influenced by the spatial distribution of substrates and prokaryotic cells.

The article presents data on the content and nature of the spatial distribution of heavy metals (Co, Zn, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu) in the waters of the Agrakhanskiy Gulf.

Zooplankton composition and structure in Kharbeyskie Lakes system of Bolshezemelskaya tundra were investigated in July, August of 2009, 2010 and 2012. In total, 87 species and forms were found and more than half of them belonged to rotifers (Rotifera). Plankton fauna of the studied lakes was typical for southern tundra and presented by azonal taxa. Composition and abundance of zooplankton of Bolshoy Kharbey Lake and adjacent lakes were different and correspond to trophic conditions in ecosystems. Inter-annual dynamics of plankton communities in the lakes was determined by weather conditions. In Bolshoy Kharbey Lake four euplanktonic species of rotifers and crustaceans (Cladocera and Copepoda) dominated in terms of abundance and nine species dominated in terms of biomass. Inter-annual changes in dominant species composition were insignificant. In Bolshoy Kharbey Lake the number of dominant species were more than in the adjacent lakes. Differences in the abundance of zooplankton between littoral and prophundal zones of the main lake were not significant. Spatial distribution of species was determined by the morphology of the lakes. Depression of plankton copepods in the main and adjacent Kharbeyskie Lakes was observed in 2012 and proportion of dead individuals in crustacean communities was high. Probably it was related with mass infection of dominant species Heterocope appendiculata (Copepoda) by microparasites

Abundance and species composition are investigated for demersal fish at the oceanic side of southern Kuril Islands on the data of the bottom trawl survey in the depth range 100-1400 m conducted in the spring of 2009 (for the first time at the continental slope). The total biomass of demersal fish within the surveyed area is estimated as 296.5 thousand tons; besides, 24.15 th. t of walleye pollock Theragra chalcogramma (pelagic species) is accounted at the sea bottom. Three groupings of demersal fishes are identified with different species composition: the upper one at 100-400 m (53.97 th. t, mainly pacific cod Gadus macrocephalus (50.3 %), purplegray sculpin Gymnacanthus detrisus , Steller smallmouth Glyptocephalus stelleri , barred snailfish Crystallias matsushimae , salmon snailfish Careproctus rastrinus , and longjaw rockfish Sebastes alutus ); the medium one at 400-800 m (39.27 th. t, mainly asiatic arrowtooth Atheresthes evermanni (36.6 %), eelpout zesta Bothrocara zestum (19.6 %), aleutian skate Bathyraja aleutica , giant grenadier Albatrossia pectoralis , Matsubara skate B. matsubarai , and alaska skate B. parmifera ); and the most abundant deep one at 800-1400 m (203.34 th. t, basically grenadiers, as giant grenadier (80.5 %), popeye grenadier Coryphaenoides cinereus , and roughscale grenadier C. acrolepis ). Spatial distribution of the mass species is determined by bathymetric range of their habitat: the shelf species concentrate near the shores, and the slope species - in the deep-water trough southeastward from Urup Island. Active spawning is not registered for the demersal species and pollock, possibly because of permanent removing of fish eggs from the upper layer of the surveyed area by the Oyashio Current.

The spatial distribution of quantitative variables of phytoplankton in the water area of the Balkhash Lake were studied in summer of 2004 in respect of the depth, transparency, temperature, pH of water, and overgrowth by hard and soft macrophytes. Statistical analysis and three-dimensional graphs (3d Surface Plots) have shown the important role of water temperature and macrophytes for the distribution of plankton algae. An increase in the abundance of algal communities in the zone of soft and hard macrophytes testified to the absence of a pronounced competition for nutrients between the both groups of primary producers. Differences in the patterns of formation of biotic communities in water bodies of the humid and arid zones were revealed as a mediated influence of the main regional climatic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the local dynamics of a solutions spatially distributed logistic equation in the case of a two-dimensional spatial variable. Two distribution functions important for applications are considered. It is shown, that the critical cases in the problem of equilibrium stability have an infinite dimention. For each critical case a special replacement is built, which reduces the original problem to a system of parabolic equations — a quasinormal form, the solutions behavior of which defines the local dynamics. Some of the parameters in the quasi-normal form depend on a small parameter via a discontinuous function Θ(ε), which takes an infinite number of times all the values in the interval [0, 1) for ε → 0. This gives infinite alternation of forward and backward bifurcations in the initial boundary value problem. The obtained results are compared with those for the case of a one-dimensional spatial variable. New bifurcation phenomena which occur only in the case of a two-dimensional spatial variable are revealed.

The spatial distribution and abundance of Corvidae species in Zhytomyr region was studied in terms of the urban-rural gradient. We selected Rook (Corvus frugilegus L.), Eurasian Jackdaw (C. monedula L.), Hooded Crow (C. cornix L.), Common Raven (C. corax L.), Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica L.) and Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius L.) for our observations during 2009–2012. Some 38 survey routes totaling more than 8000 km were surveyed in 21 settlements in Zhytomyr region. Among them 13 routes were in Zhytomyr city. The average density of Rooks was 55.9 birds/km2. We found a strong correlation between Rook density and rural-urban gradient and observed that the numbers of wintering Rooks in cities significantly increased due to the influx from villages. The peak number of Rooks in villages was registered in the breeding and post-breeding seasons while in the cities it was high in winter and during the spring migration. The average density of Eurasian Magpies in the study area was 8.7 birds/km2 and we registered weak correlation with the urban-rural gradient. Their maximum density in urban habitats was in the winter period whereas the highest density in rural habitats was fixed in the summer months. The density of Magpies varied insignificantly within a narrow range during the three years of research, which suggests the species has successfully adjusted to the transformed landscapes. Average density of Hooded Crows in towns was 6.6 birds/km2. The linear relationship between the urban-rural gradient and the density of this species was rather weak. In the breeding period, the birds’ density was considerably higher in urban habitats. We also registered that the average density of Hooded Crows changed insignificantly but gradually increased during the study period. The average density of Eurasian Jackdaws was 9.7 birds/km2 and had high annual dynamics. It also changed significantly during the three years of research. The average density of Eurasian Jays was 2.4 birds/km2 and varied significantly in different settlements, although the fluctuation range was small (0.1–9.3 birds/km2). We registered an expansion in the breeding distribution of Eurasian Jays in recent years i.e. the birds began to nest in old urban neighborhoods and small central parks of large cities. However, the number of birds naturally decreased along the gradient of landscape transformation. The impact of urban-rural gradient on Eurasian Jay density was significant but the correlation was weak and negative. The density of this species was highest in small villages (4.9 birds/km2) and the lowest in medium-sized cities (1.5 birds/km2). The seasonal density of Jays varied significantly and the greatest value was registered in the post-breeding period. In urban areas the birds’ density was much higher in winter compared to the nesting period, and in villages we observed the reverse situation. The number of Eurasian Jays remained almost stable in all the settlements during the study period indicating the stability of the local populations. The average density of the Common Raven was 1.3 birds/km2 and the highest density was registered in small villages (2.2 birds/km2), the lowest – in the townships (small urban type settlements) (0.6 birds/km2). The urban-rural gradient significantly affected the spatial distribution of Common Ravens, but we cannot claim an increase or decrease in their numbers along the gradient of urbanization, since the value of this indicator also depended on habitat conditions in each specific settlement. The spatial distribution of Common Ravens varied seasonally and the highest density was typical in winter due to food migrations towards human settlements.

Corvids in Zhytomyr city reach maximum density in the winter period. Rooks and Eurasian Jackdaws were the most abundant species in winter, usually feeding in multispecies flocks and forming collective roosts.Suburban green areas (buffer zones) were characterized by a considerably high diversity of Corvidae species: this habitat was occupied by all six species. We also registered the highest density of Eurasian Jays and Hooded Crows in this habitat. The green areas in the city center were also characterized by significant corvid density, especially during the breeding season. The maximum breeding density of Rooks was in these habitats, which held 6 of 12 identified urban colonies in Zhytomyr. We found that the European Magpies, Eurasian Jays, and Hooded Crows also had high breeding success here. Eurasian Jackdaws occurred here only in autumn and winter, when they fed together with Rooks on lawns, gardens, and parks. With stable snow cover the Rook density in habitats of the green areas decreased due to the depletion of food resources.The individual buildings zone of the city were characterized by the lowest density of all corvid species, except for European Magpies and Eurasian Jays. The number of common species (Rooks, Eurasian Jackdaws, and Hooded Crows) was low because of shortage of food resources, lack of sites for large roosting flocks and shortage of suitable nesting sites. However, Eurasian Magpies reached one of their highest densities in this habitat (12.8 birds/km2). This species was registered in habitats around private buildings all the year round, successfully nesting in the yards of private houses and on trees in the streets. Its breeding density was 11.2 birds/km2.During three years of research (2009–2012) the density of all corvids except for European Magpie, practically did not change, although we determined a slight positive trend for all the species. The strong increase in the number of Eurasian Jackdaws could be explained by the increasing density of wintering populations or due to the increasing number of migrants from more northern regions.