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Background In the present study, we aim to provide an inventory of digenetic trematodes (Platyhelminthes, Trematoda, Digenea) from Georgia including records from the freshwater, marine and terrestrial realms. The checklist is based on a critical review of data from 109 papers, 11 monographs and four Ph.D. theses published between 1935 and 2019 and our new records. The checklist includes information on synonymy, the host species, site of infection, geographical distribution and bibliographical references. The present data will serve as a baseline for further studies on trematodes from Georgia focused on integrative taxonomy, life-cycle elucidation, parasite ecology and epidemiology. New information We compiled data on the digenean trematode fauna of Georgia, which is represented by 186 species (of these 173 identified to species level) belonging to 108 genera, 47 families and 17 superfamilies. This is the first checklist of the digeneans of Georgia. The majority of digenean species were recorded as adults (160 species), only a small fraction being found as cercariae (33 species) or metacercariae (24 species), in their first or second intermediate hosts, respectively. Predominantly, records of trematodes (62 species) from birds were found, followed by those parasitising fish (50 species, i.e. 32 species as adults and 18 as metacercariae), mammals (33 species) and amphibians (25 species, i.e. 23 species as adults and 2 as metacercariae), with the least number of species reported from reptiles (12 species, i.e. 9 species as adults and 3 as metacercariae). Adult digeneans recorded together with another life-cycle stage (metacercariae and/or cercariae) comprised 28 species, i.e. for 15% of the total trematode species number, a part of their life-cycle is known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present a seasonally resolved accumulation record spanning from 1750 to 2009 Common Era (CE), based on a 181.8 m ice core obtained from the Elbrus Western Plateau in the Caucasus. We implemented various methods to account for uncertainties associated with glacier flow, layer thinning, and dating. Additionally, we applied a novel approach to calculate a seasonal calendar for meteorological data, enabling comparison with ice core records. The reconstructed accumulation data were compared with available meteorological data, gridded precipitation records, and paleo-reanalysis data. Reconstructed accumulation is representative for a large region south of the Eastern European plain and Black Sea region with summer precipitation being the primary driver of precipitation variability. We identified a statistically significant relationship between changes in regional precipitation and fluctuations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) index, which is, however, not stable over the entire period covered by the ice core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the framework of a comprehensive study of arthropods taking part in the primary successions of the periglacial landscapes in the North Caucasus, spiders were collected from ten sites of different ages (ranging from one to 170 years) in the upper reaches of the Tsei Gorge at altitudes of 2071 to 2336 m a.s.l. As the glacier retreats, meadow communities are formed at the site of bare near-glacial areas, these being first replaced by shrubs in areas 10–14 years old, and then by forest communities on 30- to 35-year-old surfaces. Spiders appear almost immediately after the retreat of the glacier, and representatives of at least three families are found already in an area that was freed from ice just a year ago. This pioneer complex consists not only of representatives of the alpine fauna, but it also includes species without pronounced altitudinal preferences. However, the primary assemblage is short-lived, being completely replaced in 10–15 years, especially acute rearrangements of the spider populations being noted during the transition from meadow to the forest stage of succession. In 30–35 years following the retreat of the glacier, the spider complexes reach a level of diversity that is quite comparable with that in developed communities of the mountain forest belt. A comparison of the periglacial assemblages of Caucasian spiders with those formed under similar conditions in the southern and northern mountains of Western Europe indicates a profound regional specificity not only at the level of species, but even at the level of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Archaeological excavations at the site of Raevskoe (northwestern Caucasus) have revealed numerous traces of seismic deformations in building structures erected in ancient times. Although only the foundation parts of the buildings and the lower rows of masonry have been preserved, tilts and collapses, extensions and reversals, and ruptures of ancient building structures are clearly visible in archaeological excavations. The most important identified deformation is the horizontal sublatitudinal displacement of the eastern city wall by 1.4 m near the southern tower. The cause for this displacement was movement along a seismogenic fault: a right-hand fault th+at came to the surface within the site at the turn of the 2nd–1st centuries BC as a result of an earthquake with M = 6.8–7.2. The second strong earthquake occurred in the middle of the 1st century AD. In buildings of Roman age destroyed by the second earthquake, besides seismic inertial deformations, there are also small submeridional horizontal breaks in the foundation parts of the masonry: right-hand shifts with an amplitude of the first tens of centimeters. The cause of the second seismic event could be also movements along the seismogenic fault, which is expressed by an erosion–tectonic scarp with a steepness of up to 40° on the left side of the Muskaga River valley and is traced through the settlement. The data can be used to adjust the seismotectonic model and clarify the seismic hazard of the northwestern Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of contamination in glacial-origin rivers in the Central Caucasus are presented, highlighting trends in the variability of pollutants in water bodies over the past two years. The main pollutants in the Uruch and Malka rivers are identified, and an assessment of the contamination of river ecosystems is provided based on ecological classes of surface water quality and quality standards for water bodies of fisheries significance, including maximum allowable concentrations of harmful substances. Year-round studies during the period of 2021–2022 revealed differences and peculiarities in glacial rivers, particularly variations in contamination levels with inorganic nitrogen compounds. Observation results are presented in tabular form. River waters, flowing through high-altitude areas where centralized water supply is currently unavailable, can be utilized for various purposes, including drinking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution, abundance and range change of the Eastern steppe viper (Vipera renardi (Christoph 1861)) are updated for the Republic of Azerbaijan. The range of this species in Azerbaijan, based on information dating back to the 1970s–1980s, mainly covered the vicinity of the city of Shamakhi of the northern Greater Caucasus within Azerbaijan. To clarify the current range and population density, individuals were counted en route, new locations identified, and the numbers determined. The modern range of the species has somewhat shifted and expanded in the northwesterly and northeasterly directions along the southern macro slopes of the Greater Caucasus, presently also covering the higher parts of the distribution area, up to 1870 m a.s.l. The reasons for the change seem to lie in the increased anthropogenic pressure, which has led to a change in habitat conditions at the lower range limits. Our study shows that, in Azerbaijan, the numbers of Vipera renardi have decreased. In the vicinity of Shamakhi, it averages 0.05 ± 0.02 ind./ha. In the elevated areas of the northwestern and northeastern macro slopes, the density is relatively higher and averages 0.1–0.2 ind./ha. However, closer to the lower limits of the range (650–700 m a.s.l. elevations), the density decreases to 0.06 ind./ha. Vipera renardi, a rare species with a limited distribution, is recommended to be included in the Red Data Book of the Azerbaijan Republic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic and morphological variability of the southern form of the European chromosomal variety of the Ural field mouse Apodemus (Sylvaemus) uralensis (Pallas, 1811) in the North Caucasus was studied. The results of the sequence analysis of the cytochrome b gene fragment from nine geographical samples from the western, central, and eastern parts of the North Caucasus indicate a low degree of their genetic isolation with a relatively high diversity of haplotypes. Analysis of the morphological variability revealed high variety: three morphological groups were identified. Representatives of all three or two groups were found in the same geographical samples, but their distribution did not conform to the hypothesis of random occurrence. Based on indirect evidence, hypotheses about possible causes of the observed features of regional Ural field mouse biodiversity are formulated, which require verification in the course of future studies. In particular, we hypothesized that in the Late Pleistocene (130 000–11 700 cal years BP) there were several isolated populations in the region that could have been sources of species diversity in the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variability and evenness (diversity) of the system of red blood cell parameters was assessed for the first time using multivariate and information analysis methods in the synanthropic M. musculus and the hemisynanthropic A. (S.) uralensis in the Central Caucasus Mountains (Elbrus region). This paper introduces the concept of the actual or realized "niche" of the red blood cell parameters system in the multidimensional space of the descriptive model. The niches of A. (S.) uralensis and M. musculus were clearly differentiated, the niche volume of A. (S.) uralensis significantly exceeding that of M. musculus. This paper describes interspecific differences in the seasonal regulation of blood parameters, which was more complex in A. (S.) uralensis and clearly cyclical from "winter" to "autumn." The results allowed us to conclude that, compared to M. musculus, A. (S.) uralensis implements a more flexible adaptation strategy to seasonal changes in the environment. The tested methodology of data analysis allows us to consider the results of particular studies on mammalian hematopoietic regulation in the broader context of problems of biodiversity and the dynamics and self-organization of biological systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ti–Zr placers of the Ergeni Plateau belong to the potential Ergeni placer region in the structure of the Cis-Caucasus placer province. The Ergeni placer region contains the Umantsevo–Malye Derbety, Sadovy–Obilnoe, Balkovskii–Kegulta, Remontnoe, and Buratinskoe placer fields. The vertical section of the Ergeni sediments is subdivided into three parts based on lithological–mineralogical, facies, and structural–textural features. The most productive upper part of the section is composed of fine-to-small-grained sands, which consist of 0.10- to 0.25-mm grains (60–70%) with up to 3–5% of the heavy fraction in some section parts. The analysis of paleomorphological schemes of the eastern part of the Ergeni placer region showed that the areas of occurrence of large linear erosion–tectonic depressions, which are inherited by local redeepened depressions within stable morphostructures, can be considered rather favorable for burial and exposure at the pre-Quaternary stage. The results of study of the mineral spectrum of the heavy fraction of the Sadovy–Obilnoe placer field and its comparison with known Ti–Zr deposits including adjacent territories are provided. The recommendations on the comprehensive use of the Ergeni sands and directions for further studies are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the information obtained on organic carbon content in soils and remote sensing data, a mapping model reflecting the spatial variation of organic carbon content in the upper horizons (0–20 cm) of soils in Central Caucasus was created using digital soil modelling and mapping technology. For modelling we applied a multifunctional approach involving a combination of actual data on the organic carbon content (training set) with data derived from external sources of information (remote sensing data) that was processed using a stepwise discriminant analysis. The necessity of creating a model of organic carbon distribution in soils separately for artificial (agrocenoses) and natural biogeocenoses was established using statistical methods of analysis. As a result of combining two hypothetical models, a verified model reflecting the real picture of changes in the organic carbon content in soils of Central Caucasus was obtained. The reliability of the model was 68%. It contains actual data on organic carbon content in natural and agrogenic soils of Central Caucasus. This model is a necessary tool for making decisions to maintain or increase current soil carbon stocks under conditions of climate change and increasing anthropogenic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The awareness of representing an ancient culture, as well as a tradition of resistance to the various powers that have invaded that space from time to time, probably constitute the main resource of the Armenian community today. An element of identity that means for the country the awareness of continuously risking for its survival in a context such as that of the Caucasus exposed to tensions that have repercussions on a very large scale. In these circumstances, Armenian territory appears as a "buffer" between great powers, former superpowers in phases of decline, and new regional powers on the rise, which often use geopolitical expedients - including the so-called "corridor approach" - to reaffirm some power positions. A situation in which the millenary survival of the country, and its extraordinary culture, appear something heroic: a fact which deserves the attention of all humanity. An even more important fact considering that the country manages to maintain a democratic system, albeit amidst various contradictions, and a policy of international integration and collaboration on wide range. The latest evolutions, with the "invasion" by the side of Azerbaijan of the Nagorno Karabakh, with the consequent exodus of the local Armenian population, however, bring back to actual reality the memory of a past of nightmares, that seemed to be overcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contribution of Italian explorers, geographers and scholars made possible, at the dawn of the 20th century, to expand the geographical, physical, and anthropic knowledge of the territories of Asia Minor and the southern Caucasus area. Behind the scientific interests lay, as with many technical-scientific works of the time, special geopolitical concerns that aimed at extending Italian political and economic interests in strategic areas. The aim of this contribution is to highlight the contributions that responded to interests of a geo-strategic nature, which derived from Italy's pressing colonialist drive determined to confront the great powers of the time and nationalist aspirations for control of the Eastern Mediterranean. In the scientific ferment of the time, combined with the dynamism of the western powers on the colonial expansion front, the Italian Geographical Society also played an important role, within which figures from different backgrounds and institutional positions worked. The work of the scholars and explorers followed the trajectory of Italian interest, starting with Lamberto Vannutelli's missions, passing through the exploratory missions in Asia Minor of the Salesian Giuseppe Capra, up to Vittorio Novarese's contribution to the Italian missions in the Caucasus after World War I. This article aims at providing an interpretation of the work of these figures in the light of the broader context of Italian foreign policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the jubilee of Nikolai Ivanovich Pirogov's stay in the Caucasus. Based on a wide range of literature and the first-time archival sources introduced into scientific circulation, the authors gave a brief outline of the development of anesthesia in world medical practice. The variants and cases of etheric anesthesia in the Caucasus in the field are described in detail. The article also reflects the difficulties that Nikolai Pirogov encountered when introducing etheric anesthesia into medical practice. The authors point to the criticism that sounded towards Nikolai Pirogov and his methods both from the lips of medical colleagues and ordinary military men. Particular attention is paid to innovative proposals in the field of medical care in military field conditions. One of Nikolay Pirogov's earlier notes on the organization of medical aid on the battlefield is analyzed, in which the surgeon describes a fundamentally important and new method for sorting the wounded. It was thanks to the tireless work of the great surgeon in the Caucasus that ethereal anesthesia began to be introduced throughout the Russian Empire, which greatly facilitated both the work of doctors and the fate of patients. At the same time, he points out those restrictions, which, according to N. İ. Pirogov had to be observed during the application of anesthesia in the military field: this is a closer monitoring of patients, as well as the uninterrupted supply of medical services to medicines. The result of N. İ. Pirogov in the Caucasus was the lifting of restrictions on the use of inhalation anesthesia in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the variability of the Chaffinch's (Fringilla coelebs) song and rain calls in 20 populations localized along a transect of about 3,000 km, crossing the territory of European Russia between the White Sea, Crimean Peninsula and the Caucasus Mountains. Three subspecies of Chaffinch inhabit this area: European (F. c. coelebs), Caucasian (F. c. caucasicus), and Crimean (F. c. solomkoi). The results of cluster analysis based on song show that the populations of Crimea and southeastern Dagestan stand out the most. All other populations fall clearly into two clusters corresponding to the European and Caucasian subspecies. In most of the European subspecies vast range in Russia, the "buzzing" dialect of the rain call is widespread. Only in the extreme northwest of Russia, it is replaced by a whistling dialect. In most of the Caucasus and in the Ciscaucasia, Chaffinches also emit exclusively whistling sounds, but of a completely different structure. In the Western Caucasus, Chaffinches perform also a whistling call having a unique two-syllable structure. The Crimean peninsula is inhabited by whistling Chaffinches as well, although the frequency modulation of its call is different from that of Caucasian subspecies. We discuss the spatial distribution of song types and of rain calls dialects within the ranges of subspecies and in the contact zones between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we determine the location of the hypocenter and the magnitude of the earthquake of September 11/23, 1888 based on macroseismic data published in the Russian periodic in Russian, Armenian, and Georgian languages. Calculations showed that the magnitude of the earthquake was previously significantly underestimated, due to which it was not included in the catalog of strong earthquakes in the Caucasus test region (Shebalin and Tatevossian, 1997). The accuracy of the location of the hypocenter makes it possible to identify the active fault, with which the source of the 1888 earthquake is associated. The earthquake with Mw = 6.6 that occurred almost 100 years later confirms the long-term activity of the Western branch of the East Anatolian fault zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative analysis of the morphological features of horizons affected by paleoearthquakes revealed significant difference of seismites from lithologically different deposits. Powerful earthquakes determine not only the destruction of the sedimentary structure of near-surface deposits and their chaotic mixing, but also actively affect the underlying layers to a depth of several tens of meters; since the degree of diagenetic lithification of rocks in different horizons varies with depth, the nature of their seismogenic transformations also changes. It was found that major seismic events were associated with the time intervals of tectonic and paleogeographic restructuring of sedimentation basins, which consisted in the intensification of the basin floor subsidence and changes in the composition of sediments accumulated in the paleobasin. A special type of seismites was formed during the impact of earthquakes on siliceous deposits, which have been spanned by the diagenetic redistribution of authigenic mineral matter in a gel state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the frame of the DAMAST (Dams and Seismicity) project, we deployed a dense high-fidelity seismological real-time network to investigate in detail the spatio-temporal seismicity distribution around the Enguri high dam, situated in the greater Caucasus in western Georgia. We aim at recording the weak seismicity in a 10 km distance around the dam structure. To lower the detection threshold by reducing the ambient background noise, we installed four seismic stations in shallow (ca. 20 m) and deep boreholes. From these stations, KIT1 with a depth of ca. 250 m is the deepest seismological station in Georgia. In this paper, we characterize the seismicity recorded by the local seismic network from October 2020 to July 2022. To have a better historical picture of the seismic activity, especially since the dam construction and initial operations, re-processing of the old seismological catalogs was carried out. This required digitizing the paper-only catalog copies prior to relocation. We finally obtain a uniform catalog for the Enguri region to characterize the seismicity and start investigating its possible relationship with the exploitation of the dam reservoirs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several large "shepherd" or livestock guardian dog (LGD) breeds were historically selectively bred to protect sheep and goat flocks in the Balkans, Anatolia, and the Caucasus regions. Although these breeds exhibit similar behavior, their morphology is different. Yet, the fine characterization of the phenotypic differences remains to be analyzed. The aim of this study is to characterize cranial morphology in the specific Balkan and West Asian LGD breeds. We use a 3D geometric morphometric in order to assess morphological differences regarding both shape and size between LGD breeds and compare this phenotypic diversity to close relative wild canids. Our results indicate that Balkan and Anatolian LGDs form a distinct cluster within a relatively large dog cranial size and shape diversity. Most LGDs display a cranial morphology that could be described as intermediate to the mastiff breeds and large herding dogs, except for the Romanian Mioritic shepherd which has a more brachycephalic cranium strongly resembling the bully‐type dog cranial morphotype. Although often considered to represent an ancient type of dog, the Balkan–West Asian LGDs are clearly distinguishable from wolves, dingoes, and most other primitive and spitz‐type dogs and this group displays a surprising cranial diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores disappearing vernacular architecture in the Karachay region (Karachay-Cherkessk Republic, Russian Federation). Recent research at the University of West Bohemia in cooperation with Karachay-Cherkessk University focused on the last preserved examples of block buildings in the mountain villages of Greater Karachay in the central Caucasus. Such buildings mostly disappeared in the late twentieth century due to both the Stalinist deportation of the Karachay people and modern development. Dendrochronological evidence has helped to date the surviving vernacular buildings to the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Interviews with local inhabitants revealed the cultural context of the traditional housing and attitudes towards it. Possibilities for tracing cultural links and elucidating the historical context of this neglected building culture are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persimmon (Diospyros kaki) is a worldwide fruit cultivated mainly in the East Asia, Mediterranean, Caucasus, Latin America, and Oceania regions. This fruit contains abundant proanthocyanidins (PAs, also called condensed tannins), whose biosynthesis is the main cause of fruit astringency. As the original centre and top producing country, China has discovered a unique type with desirable natural deastringency, the Chinese pollination-constant non-astringent (C-PCNA) persimmon. Studies have revealed that the C-PCNA trait is controlled by a single and dominant locus, which differs from that of another type, the Japanese PCNA type, with recessive loci. In the C-PCNA type, accumulating evidence has shown that the astringency removal process involves two pathways ("dilution effect" and "coagulation effect"). Moreover, molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS) for the natural deastringency trait locus in C-PCNA has been used to test the non-astringency/astringency trait of hybrid offspring at the seedling stage. Importantly, persimmon can bear male flowers, female flowers, and perfect flowers, but sex-linked MAS has been developed for female-only persimmon. This sex-linked MAS, together with astringency-linked MAS and embryo rescue technology, may even shorten the conventional cross-breeding period of about 2–3 years. In addition, recently studies have established a stable genetic transformation system for persimmon transgenic improvement. Despite these efforts, how synthetic PAs and metabolism pathways lead to a deastringent trait remains unclear for persimmon. Thus, our review summarizes the latest research progress on the natural deastringency mechanism in C-PCNA, and we provide a new viewpoint for the genetic improvement of persimmon breeding in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human impact on natural ecosystems has significantly increased in recent decades. As a result, the structure and functioning of ecosystems are seriously altered. This in turn affects regional weather and climate conditions through changes in the radiation, water, and carbon balance of ecosystems. Investigating the process of natural ecosystem restoration after disturbances is an important issue in the context of climate change. During monitoring observations of greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes in a reforestation area in the Chechen Republic, new experimental data on their seasonal variability were obtained, and their sensitivity to changes in environmental conditions was assessed. Forest restoration and land reclamation are essential components of the low-carbon development and decarbonization strategy of the world economy. Observations of GHG fluxes were conducted in the reclaimed area, which was planted with tree seedlings. One year of eddy covariance flux measurements (May 2022–June 2023) demonstrated that CO2 uptake by the reforestation area in a humid continental climate with hot summers and cold winters is determined by the moisture conditions of the growing season. The cumulative net ecosystem exchange (NEE) for the entire measurement period at the carbon farm was 613.7 gC·m−2. The uptake of CO2 by the reforestation area was observed only due to active seedling growth during periods of sufficient soil moisture (May 2023). During this time, total NEE uptake was 48.7 gC·m−2. Sensible and latent heat fluxes were also dependent on weather conditions, primarily on incoming solar radiation and moisture conditions. For the successful implementation of climate projects aimed at the creation of artificial forest ecosystems with high CO2 uptake capacity, it is essential to develop appropriate hydro-meliorative measures that ensure a sufficient amount of available soil moisture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mountain forests of the Northwestern Caucasus represent unique refugia for the native biodiversity of flora and fauna. Endemic species are also preserved among soil invertebrates, including the group of earthworms, which are important ecosystem engineers. This study assesses the spatial distribution of the endemic anecic species of earthworms Dendrobaena nassonovi nassonovi Kulagin, 1889 in deciduous, coniferous–deciduous, small-leaved, and conifer forests of the Northwestern Caucasus (a total of 1028 geographical points were surveyed, of which the species was found in 185 points) based on our own field data by modeling the current potential areas using the Maxent software. The D. n. nassonovi potential area maps show a high probability of the species inhabiting mid- and high-mountain forests of the Northwestern Caucasus and being confined to mixed coniferous–deciduous and beech forests. The optimum soil and climatic parameters, as well as a lack of large-scale business operations in the mid- and high-mountain forests, make it possible for these ecosystems to remain suitable refugia, in particular for the endemic anecic species of Caucasus earthworms D. n. nassonovi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic composition of 5797 white oaks assigned in forest inventories as Quercus robur (3342), Quercus petraea (2090), Quercus pubescens (170), or as unspecified Quercus. spp. (195) sampled all over Europe were genotyped at 355 nuclear SNPs and 28 maternally inherited SNPs of the chloroplast and mitochondria. The sampling had a focus on Central and Eastern Europe, as well as the Black Sea and Caucasus region. Using a sparse nonnegative matrix factorization (snmf) algorithm, the nuclear genetic information was best represented by K = 4 different genetic clusters, whereas a principal component analysis visualized three different groups. The snmf run with K = 3 corresponded, for most individuals with the assignment in the forest inventories, to the three different species. The majority of the samples (88%) had an admixture coefficient q > 0.8 for one of the three species clusters, underlining the species integrity with a minor level of admixture. In contrast to Q. petraea, Q. robur and Q. pubescens showed a clear geographic genetic substructure. These large-scale within-species genetic structures were correlated to regionally variable levels of introgression between the species. For Q. petraea, introgression from Q. robur and Q. pubescens was less focused to particular regions, and this widespread inter-specific gene flow reduced the geographic genetic differentiation. The genetic variation at the maternally inherited SNPs led to 12 different haplotypes with a clear cross-species geographic pattern, further supporting the observation of significant hybridization and introgression among the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krista A. Goff's book "Nested Nationalism: Making and Unmaking Nations in the Soviet Caucasus" explores the nationalities policy of the Soviet Union, specifically focusing on the relations between majority and minority groups within the republics, particularly in Azerbaijan. Goff's research is based on archival materials from five former Soviet republics and over 120 oral history interviews conducted in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and the Netherlands. The book highlights the overlooked perspectives of non-titular nations and the impact of government-generated documentation in shaping narratives surrounding Soviet republics. Goff also challenges the portrayal of non-Russian groups as uniformly marginalized victims, emphasizing the complexities of power dynamics within the Soviet republics. The book provides valuable insights into the historical legacy of the Soviet nationalities policy and its relevance to contemporary post-Soviet transformations. [Extracted from the article]

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Current climate change, habitat degradation, and road network development contribute to the invasion of alien plant species in areas of more northern latitudes and higher altitudes. Using the maximum entropy method (Maxent), we built spatial distribution models of Ambrosia artemisiifolia, considering abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors and accessibility to the area. Maps of the species current distribution in the Caucasus and its range dynamics according to the climate change scenarios were constructed. The most important variables determining A. artemisiifolia spatial localization in the region were as follows: distance to roads (not more than 0–5 m), terrain roughness (gentle areas), and humidity (climate from semiarid to perhumid). The distance of 0–5 m is also characterized by the area accessibility factor (species dispersal capacity), which contributed about 47% to the final model. Species dispersal beyond roadsides was hindered by forests and meadows with the probability of A. artemisiifolia occurrence not exceeding 0.01%. The species core ranges were predicted in foothills and low mountains of the Western and Central Caucasus, Western and Central Transcaucasia, the northwestern Lesser Caucasus, and the Caspian Sea coast. The species invasion in highlands could occur along the gentle river valleys that concentrate the main mountain roads. According to the pessimistic and optimistic climate change scenarios, by 2100, the decline in optimal A. artemisiifolia habitats will be 87 and 27%, respectively, and will affect mainly the plain areas of the currently most humid regions. The main core ranges were predicted in the middle mountains and highlands of the Caucasus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Black Sea / Karadeniz is the property of Black Sea / Karadeniz and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A list of 179 weevil species collected from 1996 to 2019 at an isolated steppe site in plain northwestern part of Stavropol Territory in southeastern European Russia is given and compared with the weevil assemblage at Ina Village in the Barguzinskaya Depression, Buryatia. Characteristic taxonomic and ecological features of the both weevil assemblages are discussed; the ratio of the higher plants to weevil species diversity is about 1.4 : 1 in Stavropol Territory, and almost 6 : 1 in Buryatia. The distribution of the genus Mononychus along the steppe zone is shown, Mononychus ireos is recorded for the first time for Mongolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study estimates fiscal multipliers and assesses fiscal policy effectiveness in the Caucasus and Central Asia economies over the medium-term. Using (Jordà, Am Econ Rev 95:161–182, 2005) local projection model, the study finds that fiscal multipliers are indeed state-dependent and that fiscal policy is more effective and has stronger effects during recession than expansion. The study indicates that the timing and type of fiscal shock matter in assessing the effects on output growth. Also, the study finds that although fiscal sustainability holds during recession, it is not the case in oil importing Caucasus and Central Asia economies as a rise in public debt ratio in fact deteriorates fiscal balance of these economies by approximately 0.001–1.6 percent. The study shows that fiscal shocks during recessions heterogeneously affect output growth at different horizons. While the study finds that fiscal balance tends to effective during recession, a timely fiscal intervention across the Caucasus and Central Asia with an optimal mix of government consumption and investment needs to be policy priority in order to stimulate the output growth during the economic downturn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This brief examines the latest developments in Russian imports on the basis of mirror statistics. We focus particularly on technology products subject to export restrictions imposed by sanctioning coalition countries. While most Russian imports of technology products subject to sanctions fell considerably between the first half of 2021 and the first half of 2023, our analysis reveals that the value of certain imported technology products also increased substantially. Exports of these products grew dramatically particularly from Central Asia and Caucasus, but the share of these countries in Russian imports is still moderate. China was by far the most important provider of technology products to Russia in absolute terms during the observation period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To elucidate the population history of the Caucasus, we conducted a survey of genetic diversity in Samegrelo (Mingrelia), western Georgia. We collected DNA samples and genealogical information from 485 individuals residing in 30 different locations, the vast majority of whom being Mingrelian speaking. From these DNA samples, we generated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences for all 485 participants (female and male), Y-short tandem repeat haplotypes for the 372 male participants, and analyzed all samples at nearly 590,000 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) plus around 33,000 on the sex chromosomes, with 27,000 SNP removed for missingness, using the GenoChip 2.0+ microarray. The resulting data were compared with those from populations from Anatolia, the Caucasus, the Near East, and Europe. Overall, Mingrelians exhibited considerable mtDNA haplogroup diversity, having high frequencies of common West Eurasian haplogroups (H, HV, I, J, K, N1, R1, R2, T, U, and W. X2) and low frequencies of East Eurasian haplogroups (A, C, D, F, and G). From a Y-chromosome standpoint, Mingrelians possessed a variety of haplogroups, including E1b1b, G2a, I2, J1, J2, L, Q, R1a, and R1b. Analysis of autosomal SNP data further revealed that Mingrelians are genetically homogeneous and cluster with other modern-day South Caucasus populations. When compared with ancient DNA samples from Bronze Age archaeological contexts in the broader region, these data indicate that the Mingrelian gene pool began taking its current form at least by this period, probably in conjunction with the formation of a distinct linguistic community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the influence of modern climate changes on the precipitation and temperature regime in the southern and southeastern regions of the Great Caucasus natural region. Also, determining the multi-year trends of the temperature and precipitation regime in 1991-2020 and investigating their change regularities is the goal. At the same time, in the article, the variability of monthly, seasonal and annual indicators was studied in the multi-year period. The impact of global climate changes on the perennial precipitation regime in the southern part of the Greater Caucasus region was studied. In the analysis, the precipitation observation data of 8 meteorological stations during the years 1991-2020 were used. Multi-year (1991-2020) various indicators of precipitation were compared with the base quantities. In the study, the multi-year period was considered for 2 periods (1991-2005, 2006-2020) and the monthly, seasonal and annual trends of precipitation were compared. The study found that the multi-year average temperature in the province for the last 30 years was 11-140C in the lowlands and 6-70C in the mid-mountains. However, compared to 1961-1990, the perennial temperature has increased by 1.00C. The amount of annual precipitation was in the interval of 300-1300 mm, depending on the stations. A decrease in the amount of precipitation has been recorded for many years, and in some places this amount has even increased to 27%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the problem of climate change on Earth, and in particular in the Caucasus. The main trends in climate change are traced during the Holocene epoch of the Quaternary period. Attention is focused on the most noticeable periods of cooling and warming - the medieval warming period, the Little Ice Age, the newest warming period, which began at the end of the 19th century. The issue of global warming is also touched upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the evolution of the image of the snake in the architectural decoration of the Christian churches in Caucasus during the medieval period. The origins of the image in the more ancient cultures of the Mesopotamia and of the Mediterranean world are studied. An attempt is made to trace the continuity in the image and meaning of the snake from ancient times up to the present day (according to ethnography and folk art). A rare iconographic type of a snake was revealed, which appears in the Middle Byzantine period in the remote mountainous regions of the Caucasus (the upper reaches of the Ksani and Liakhvi rivers, Racha, Svaneti, Upper Kartli). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive species are a significant challenge for freshwater ecosystems on a global scale. They can cause serious ecological and economic damage. The aim of our research was to document the range expansion of freshwater invasive fishes in Georgia. Fish studies were conducted during the years from 2019 to 2022 using standard methodologies. A DNA barcoding approach was also employed to validate our findings. During the course of the study, invasive Sharpbelly - Hemiculter leucisculus from different locations of eastern Georgia has been detected, which is the first case of the existence of this species in the country. In addition, we document a significant range expansion of two other non-native species in Georgia. Amur goby, Rhinogobius lindbergi, was collected in western Georgia, which was previously known only from eastern Georgia, and the occurrence of mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, was confirmed in east Georgia for the first time. It is expected that the rapid expansion of the range of the mentioned species may lead to a decrease in local and endemic species populations in Georgia. With the development of aquacultural activities in the country, these risks will also increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2008, after the war against Georgia, Russia decided to recognize the sovereignty of the secessionist Georgian regions of Abkhazia and south Ossetia, which are de facto independent since the early 1990’s. This war, unleashed by the action of he Georgian president M. Saakashvili, was a consequence of a clash between contrasting geopolitical goals in Caucasus. This article adopts a multi-scale approach to explain the war, analyzing its various dimensions, starting with the Abkhazian and Ossetian separatisms and the Georgian policy, aimed at “unifying” and modernizing the country, but dealing as well with the complex relationship between Russia and Georgia and finally with the wider international geopolitical rivalries playing out in the Caucasus.

Introduction: The Koraga tribe are an isolated endogamous tribal group found in the southwest coastal region of India. The Koraga language shares inherited grammatical features with North Dravidian languages. To seek a possible genetic basis for this exceptionality and understand the maternal lineage pattern, we have aimed to reconstruct the inter-population and intra-population relationships of the Koraga tribal population by using mtDNA markers for the hypervariable regions along with a partial coding region sequence analysis.Methods and Results: Amongst the 96 individuals studied, we observe 11 haplogroups, of which a few are shared and others are unique to the clans Soppu, Oṇṭi and Kuṇṭu. In addition to several deep rooted Indian-specific lineages of macrohaplogroups M and U, we observe a high frequency of the U1 lineage (∼38%), unique to the Koraga. A Bayesian analysis of the U1 clade shows that the Koraga tribe share their maternal lineage with ancestral populations of the Caucasus at the cusp of the Last Glacial Maximum.Discussion: Our study suggests that the U1 lineage found in the Indian subcontinent represents a remnant of a post-glacial dispersal. The presence of West Asian U1 when viewed along with historical linguistics leads us to hypothesise that Koraga represents a mother tongue retained by a vanquished population group that fled southward at the demise of the Indus civilisation as opposed to a father tongue, associated with a particular paternal lineage.

В ходе спасательных раскопок 2014 года в Дербенте выявлен мусульманский ритуально-культовый комплекс, располагавшийся вне средневекового шахристана, рядом с северной городской оборонительной стеной. Связанный с системой водоснабжения, этот комплекс служил, очевидно, для ритуальных омовений и очищений. Помимо многочисленных и разнообразных находок, найдено 57 монет, что, очевидно, обусловлено характером места, где монеты оставляли в качестве приношений во исполнение обетов. Абсолютное большинство определенных монет (48 экз.) делится на две хронологические группы. Ранняя хронологическая группа (12 экз.) включает омейядские и аббасидские фельсы VIII в., в т.ч. чекана Баб ал-абваба (Дербента) и фельсы типа выпусков наместника Аррана Хасана б. Кахтабы (770—775). Большинство монет (10 экз.) группы обнаружено на небольшом участке (ок. 2 кв. м) в одной стратиграфической позиции, фиксируя уровень древней дневной поверхности. Поздняя хронологическая группа (36 экз.) включает медные дирхамы маликов Суламидов Баб ал-абваба в основном середины — конца XII в. (13 экз.), малика Ахара Махмуда б. Пишкина (1211—1226) (7 экз.), Ильдегизидов времени правления халифа ан-Насира (1180—1225) (8 экз.) и Аксункуридов (1189—1207) (8 экз.), в т.ч. монета с именем Ильдегизида атабека Кызыл Арслана (1186—1191). 18 монет поздней группы также обнаружены на небольшом участке (ок. 4 кв. м) в той же стратиграфической позиции, что упомянутые 10 монет ранней группы. Комплекс археологических находок, включая монеты, позволяет поставить прекращение функционирования данного культово-ритуального объекта в прямую связь с вторжением монголов под предводительством Джебэ и Субэдэя, последующим вторжением хорезмшаха Джалал ад-Дина на Кавказ и завоеванием Дербента полководцем Менгу-хана Букдаем в 1239 г.

The taxonomic position of some species and subspecies of the genus Pedinus Latreille, 1796 is revised. Two subspecies of the species Pedinus cimmerius G.S. Medvedev, 1968, occuring on the Lower Dnieper sands and sandy sea coasts of the Caucasus, are assigned to the species Pedinus femoralis (Linnaeus, 1767): P. femoralis caucasicus G.S. Medvedev, 1968 and P. femoralis znoikoi G.S. Medvedev, 1968. Pedinus cimmerius is well distinguished from all subspecies of P. femoralis by the structure of the male mesotibiae, which are characterized by the sharp angular emargination in the proximal third of the inner side, as well as strongly curved (from the extensor position) male metatibiae in the proximal third. The psammophilic form of Pedinus femoralis femoralis forma psammophila Nabozhenko, nov. is characterized. It includes a number of isolated populations from sands of the Don River basin and differs from the forma typica of the nominative subspecies in the absence of a longitudinal median fold and the presence of a hair brush on the inner surface of the hind tibiae of the male. A new key is compiled for the Pedinus species of the European part of Russia

The article describes a series of helmets of a type that probably spread across Asia and Eastern Europe in the middle to the second half of the VI century AD. These helmets are characterised by a very particular construction: they have a bowl hammered from a single piece of iron, with an additional band in the lower part, connected to the inside or outside edge of the helmet. Additionally, a chainmail collar was attached to the lower part of the helmet. The attached chainmail provides additional protection around the entire circumference including the forehead above the eyes. This characteristic would remain unpopular in European armaments for quite a long period and was only popularised in central and eastern Europe around the XVI century AD [1: 130]. This article analyses a possible Iranian provenance of the helmets of this type as well as hypothesizes about the possible reason for the spread of these helmets on the territory of Eastern Europe and Asia.

Located at the crossroads of two continents and at the southeastern edge of the Mediterranean Basin, Anatolia was one of the most important Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Western Palaearctic. As part of the Irano-Anatolian, Caucasus and Mediterranean Basin biodiversity hotspots, this region is also home to a rich avian community including nearly 400 breeding species. Nevertheless, research addressing the genetic structure and diversity of local bird populations is limited, and information on glacial refugia in this region is still scant, especially when compared to other large Mediterranean peninsulas, namely the Balkan, Italian and Iberian ones. In this study, we contribute to filling this gap by addressing the biogeographic pattern of four common resident songbirds—the Eurasian blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus), the great tit (Parus major), the Eurasian chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs) and the Eurasian blackbird (Turdus merula)—and one endemic species—the Krüper’s nuthatch (Sitta krueperi)—by amplifying two mitochondrial DNA genes in individuals from Anatolia (n = 329) and comparing their sequences to those of conspecifics from the rest of their distribution range across the western Palaearctic (n = 357) deposited in public databases. The overall genetic structure of these species is consistent with a scenario of isolation for multiple populations in different refugia across Anatolia and subsequent secondary contact in the wake of ice retreat, which makes this region a hotspot of genetic diversity for both widespread and endemic avian species.