Biological series Volume 108, Part 2 2003

CONTENTS

Shilova S.A., Shilov A.I. Some behavioural traits of Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) in Chukotka ... 3

Shekarova O.N., Krasnova E.D., Shcherbakov A.V., Savinetskaya L.E. About settlements of Spotted Souslik (Spermophilus suslicus) in southern Moscow Region ... 9

Arkhipov V.Yu., Rusanov G.M., van Steenis M. To the avifauna of the north-west of the Caspian Sea area: new records and revised status ... 17

Abaturov A.V., Kazantseva T.N. Contemporary dynamics and ancient history of Moscow suburb forests ... 25

Smirnova 0. V., Turubanova S.A. Formation and development of deciduous forests of Eastern Europe in the Holocene ... 32

Scientific communications

Nitsche K.-A. Beavers (Castor fiber) in the Federal Republic of Germany ... 41

Tilba P.A., Mnatsekanov R.A. Long-term number dynamics and spatial structure in Griffon

Vulture (Gyps fulvus) at the Western Caucasus ... 45

Majorov S.R., Kramina T.E. Notes on distribution of some Rosaceae Juss. in Eastern Europe ... 50

Elumeeva T.G.t Aksenova A.A., Onipchenko V.G. Competition study in alpine communities: experiments with species group removal in an alpine lichen heath in the Teberda Reserve, the Northwest Caucasus ... . 55

Doweid A.B. Diplosoeca, a new generic name in Craspedophyceae ... 59

Golikov K.A., Onipchenko V.G. The comparative anaiisis of alpine plant community demutations after local distubances in the Teberda Reserve, the Northwest Caucasus ... 60

Mirkin B.M., Romanov E.A., Naumova L.G., Govorov E.V. «Journal of Vegetation Science» in 1991-1999 (vol. 2-9) ... . . 66

New plant name and combination published in part 2:

Dydymoeca Doweld, nom. nov ... 60

Didymoeca costata (Valkanov) Doweld comb. nov ... 60

SOME BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS OF ARCTIC GROUND SQUIRREL (SPERMOPHILUS PARRYII) IN CHUKOTKA

S.A. Shilova, A.I. Shilov

Behaviour of Arctic Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus parryii) was studied in 1984-1986 in Cha-unsky District, northern'Chukotka Autonomous Area. Animals were marked with dye, and their movements, individual and social behaviour were recorded on permanently running tape recorder. In total 250 Arctic Ground Squirrel were fulfilled. Home ranges of adult males, females and young in June-July overlap broadly, and their mean size was 6,8 ha in adult males and 6,2 ha in adult females. Neutral-affiliative contacts predominate in social interactions (65,8%). Playing formed 32,4% of behavioural spectrum of young animals in July, but it was replaced by agonistic behaviour in mid August. No difference was found in behaviour of Arctic Ground Squirrel between Chukotka and North America.

ABOUT SETTLEMENTS OF SPOTTED SOUSLIK (SPERMOPHILUS SUSLICUS) IN SOUTHERN MOSCOW REGION

ON. Shekarova, ED. Krasnova, A.V. Shcherbakov, L.E. Savinetskaya

Five settlements of Spotted Souslik (Spermophilus suslicus (Guldenstaedt, 1770)) were found in 1999-2002 in Zaraisky District, southern Moscow Region, at northern limit of the species range. The settlements occupy areas of 0,5-120 ha and are spaced at about 5-14 km from each other in catchments of Osctr and Vozha rivers. The settlements are situated in short grass meadow vegetation with some steppe plants on well-drained places used as pastures. Such habitats has patchy distribution being isolated by human settlements, rivers or arable lands. Burrows of Spotted Sousliks were not found neither on arable lands, nor on recently lied fallow lands or north-facing declivities. It was found that Spotted Sousliks are able to survive flooding of several days. Burrows are distributed not uniformly in a settlement: average densities varied between 47,0 and 349,2 burrows per 1 ha, and density in aggregations could reach 453,3 burrows per 1 ha. Those settlements that are known to exist for at least several decades are the largest in size or consist of several small settlements of 1-2 ha in size. The species population in Moscow Region is declining because the occupied area and size of habitats in use are gradually decreasing. Spotted Souslik is currently included into the Red Data Book of Moscow Region.

TO THE AVIFAUNA OF THE NORTH-WEST OF THE CASPIAN SEA AREA: NEW RECORDS AND REVISED STATUS

V.Yu. Arkhipov, G.M. Rusanov, M. van Steenis

Observations of birds in the north-western part of the Caspian Sea area, Astrakhan* Region, Russia, were carried out in 1990-2002. New data on distribution of 25 species are presented, and

the status of 17 species is revised. Steppe Eagle (Aquila rapax (Temm.)), Demoiselle Crane (Anth-ropoides virgo (L.)) and Spanish Sparrow (Passer hispaniolensis (Temm.)) has become common breeders of steppe areas. Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni Nord.) was a common breeder around lakes, while Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus (Pall.)) in the Volga delta habitats. For both White-tailed Lapwing (Vanellochettusia leucura (Licht.)) and Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops superciliosus L.) first regional breeding records are presented. Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pte-rocles orientalis (L.)) and Black-headed Bunting (Ehtberiza melanocephala Scopoli) are probable rare breeders, Black Vulture (Aegypius monachus (L.)) and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus (Hablizl)) were found to be common non-breeding summering species of steppes. Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris feruginea (Pontopp.)) is a commoQ migrant, Grey Plover (Pluvialis squatarola (L.)) and Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus (Pall.)) rare migrants, Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria (L.)) and Dotterel (Eudromias morinellus (L.)) very rare migrants (first spring records). Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus Temm.) is a vagrant species recordes for the first time in the region. Observations are described, and literature review of regional status is given for each species.

CONTEMPORARY DYNAMICS AND ANCIENT HISTORY OF MOSCOW SUBURB FORESTS

A.V. Abaturov, T.N. Kazantseva

Natural dynamics of stands was determined by biological and ecological properties of forest trees. Anthropogenic factors, climatic changes disturbed the course of natural succession. As a result, we cannot explain a contemporary situation in the forests and forecast their future. For this reason it is very difficult to develop a stable forestry.

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF DECIDUOUS FORESTS OF EASTERN EUROPE IN THE HOLOCENE

O.V.Smirnova, S.A. Turubanova

The large amount of paleontological data was systematized in the Database including 3672 finds about plants from 314 sites. The maps of deciduous tree species and their group area were made with GIS technology in ArcView system. The change of these species area during Holocene was analyzed. The enlargement of area was going until Last Holocene. The recovery of deciduous forest was determined by the rate of plant invasions. The reduction of the deciduous species was last 2500 years. It was caused by the antropogcnic factor.

BEAVERS (CASTOR FIBER) IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

K-A. Nitsche

This paper presents brief overview of the historical development of the Beaver (Castor fiber) population in Germany. Thanks to conservation legislation and undertaken protection measures the post-war population of subspecies C. / albicus (Matsche, 1970) survived from extinction. That population has grown up afterwards to approximately 3,500 animals. Also reproduction projects arc described. The most successful one was carried out in Bavaria, southern Germany, with several subspecies involved (C. / fiber, C. f. vistulanus, C. / galliae). Currently the Beaver population in Bavaria is estimated at 2,500 to 2,800 animals. The total stock of Beavers (ca. 6,000) is the result of comprehensive management based on systematic research. Number of Beavers continues to grow up, but populations in suboptimal habitats cause now increasing conflicts with water supplies, agriculture and forestry. Ecological adaptations of Beavers admit them to live in areas developed and populated by humans.

LONG-TERM NUMBER DYNAMICS AND SPATIAL STRUCTURE IN GRIFFON VULTURE (GYPS FULVUS) AT THE WESTERN CAUCASUS

PA. Tilba, R.A. Mnatsekanov

During long-term studies in the Western Caucasus it was found that numbers of breeding Griffon Vultures do not fluctuatre markedly in their colonies. Cases if significant number decrease or increase are rare being not synchronized in different colonies. A colony consists of groups of 2-5 closely spaced nests. Such groups exist for many years in a row, and their number directly depends on the total number obreeding pairs in the colony. Colony structure can be stable for many years, however, sometimes redistribution of breeding pairs occurs when new groups of nests appear. Such redistribution may happen either in parallel with the total increase of bird number in the colony, or without any changes in numbers.

NOTES ON DISTRIBUTION OF SOME ROSACEAE JUSS. IN EASTERN EUROPE

S.R. Majorov, T.E. Kramina

The new date on distribution of native and alien species (Agrimonia proceraWallr., Cotone-aster niger (Wahlb.) Fries, Filipendula stepposa Juz., Geum urbanum L, Malus niedzwetzjcyana Dieck, Potentilla multifida L., Prunus pensylvanica L. fil., P. pumila L., P. thomentosa Thunb., Rubus cana-densis L., Rosa rubiginosa L.) are reported. Diagnostic characters of Agrimonia spp., Prunus punila and Rosa canadensis are discussed.

COMPETITION STUDY IN ALPINE COMMUNITIES: EXPERIMENTS WITH SPECIES GROUP REMOVAL IN AN ALPINE LICHEN HEATH IN THE TEBERDA RESERV, THE NORTHWEST CAUCASUS

T.G. Elumeeva, A.A. Aksenova, KG. Onipchenko

The importance of plant competition in stressful environment is widely discussed in the ecological literature. Alpine lichen heath was experimentally manipulated to study competitive interactions between plant species. Groups of dominants were removed in 1996 and the shoot number of every other species was counted during 6 years. The data of the experiment were analyzed with ANOVA. Six positive and 8 negative significant responses were noted. There were no significant responses of monocotyledon dominants (Festuca ovina and Carex spp.) on the removal of dicotyledon dominants. Forbs did not respond on graminoid removal except Anemone speciosa, which reduced its shoot number. Among other species, Campanula tridentata reduced its shoot number at all treatments though the number of juvenile plants increased. We concluded that both negative (competition) and positive relations between plants are important in determining community structure of the studied community.

DIPLOSOECA — A NEW GENERIC NAME IN CRASPEDOPHYCEAE

A.B. Doweld

Didymoeca Doweld nom. nov. — Diplotheca Valkanov, 1970, Zool. Anzeiger, 184, 3-4 : 274 non Hochs-tetter, 1846, Flora, 29, 38 : 595 [Magnoliophyta-Fa-baceae) nee Starbiick, 1893, Bot. Notiser, 1 : 30 [Asco-mycotu-Myriangaceae] non R. Kidston, 1903, Mem. UK Geol. Surv. Summ. Progr. 1902 : 131 [Pteridophyta Fossilia] nee (A. Zahlbruckner) Rasanen, 1943, Acta Bot. Fenn. 33 : 15, 54 [Lichenes].

Tun: Didymoeca costata (Valkanov) Doweld comb, nov. — Diplotheca costata Valkanov, 1970, Zool. Anzeiger, 184, 3-4 : 274.

THE COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ALPINE PLANT COMMUNITY

DEMUTATIONS AFTER LOCAL DISTURBANCES IN THE TEBERDA RESERVE, THE NORTHWEST CAUCASUS

K.A. Golikov, V. G. Onipchenko

The demutation of four alpine plant communities after experimental local disturbances was studied for eight years (1991-1998) on permanent plots. The study site was located in the alpine belt of the Mount Malaya Khatipara in the Teberda Reserve, the NW Caucasus (2650-2800 m a.s.L). Alpine lichen heath (ALH), Festuca varia dominated grasslands (FVG), Geranium gymnocaulon — Hedysarum caucasicum meadows (GHM) and snow bed communities (SBC) were the objects of our investigation. The recovery of the disturbed, patches was proceeding slowly: the cover of vascular plants and the average number of vascular plant species per plot was significantly lower than the control ones in all but ALH communities. The floristic composition of the disturbed plots was stable. No alien species appeared in studied communities. Population density of some abundant on the undisturbed plots species (Anemone speciosa, Eritrichium caucasicum — ALH; Festuca varia — FVG; Geranium gymnocaulon, Hedysarum caucasicum — GHM; Sibbaldia procumbens, Taraxacum stevenii — SBC) has strongly decreased in the experiment. On the contrary, the population density of species shown the «ruderal» strategy (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Euphrasia ossica — ALH; Ag-rostis vinealis, Minuartia aizoides, Catabrosella variegata — GHM and SBC) has been increasing constantly. The highest rate of the recovery corresponds to Geranium gymnocaulon — Hedysarum caucasicum meadows due to their relatively favorable ecological conditions, and the lowest — to the snow bed communities.