Natural and medical sciences

The systematic and quantitative composition of Actinomyces (genus Streptomyces) in the soils of Kaliningrad was analysed according to the level of soil contamination. The authors proved the seasonal activity of Actinomyces in the soils of the city and identified the changes in the dependence between the number of Actinomyces and the temperature and pH of soil environment
throughout seasons. The article offers a preliminary systematic analysis of Actinomyces in the city soils.

This article analyses the level of antioxidants (water-soluble antioxidants, carotenoids, and anthocyanins) in plants under the conditions of environmental cadmium pollution. The authors emphasise excessive background concentration of cadmium in plant samples collected in Kaliningrad and note a positive correlation between cadmium concentration and traffic intensity. A negative
correlation between the Cd content and the antioxidatic status of plants and a positive one with the anthocyanin content were established in the course of research.

This article focuses on the features of corrosion of St. 3 steel in water-salt media containing sulfate-reducing bacteria. The authors emphasises the biocide and inhibitor role of a number of organic substances in the course of corrosion and hydrogen absorption of steel in presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria.

This article analyses the dynamics of sugar concentration in the nectar of Taraxacum officinale Wigg. in the arctic, boreal and temperate zones of Russia. The author arrives at the conclusion that the sugar productivity of flowers analysed changes throughout the day. The average sugar production in T. officinale flowers increases towards the North.

This article considers the morbidity of vector-borne infections in the Kaliningrad region against the background of regional climate change. The author points out the increasing prevalence of Lyme disease in 1995—2008 and emphasises the role of abnormal weather conditions in morbidity changes.

Upper limb injuries account for 50—70 % of orthopedic trauma incidents. The number of multisystem injuries is increasing. The author describes the frequency, structure, and extent of injuries to tendons and nerves on the basis of 400 cases. The article offers an analysis of the efficiency of pre-hospital surgical interventions. The statistical data obtained favour high-precision techniques of tendon and nerve treatment over the traditional ones. The author achieved relatively high positive results of treatment — 88,8 % of
patients were able to return to work.

This article traces the development of a specialised urban Woodpigeon population in the city of Kaliningrad and assesses its current condition. The author focuses on certain factors affecting the formation of urban populations.

This article analyses the 2009—2010 data on woodcock roding. The authors assess the impact of meteorological conditions, light level, food availability, and other factors on the duration and intensity of woodcock roding in the Kaliningrad region. A direct correlation was established between the duration of daylight hours and the basic parameters of woodcock roding. Other
environmental factors may also affect woodcock roding.

This paper offers a comparative characteristic of the blackbird nest materials of natural (n = 35) and antropogenic (n = 35) landscapes of the Kaliningrad region. The study did not reveal any considerable differences in the nest material composition in natural and antropogenic habitats. Most significant differences were identified in nest carcass materials. They are more diverse in
urban habitats; most frequent materials are phloem, bark, wood, grass shoots, flower buds, fruits, and antropogenic materials. The share of antropogenic materials on urban territories is 8,9 times higher than that in woodlands (t = 4,59, p < 0,001). The composition of nest lining is not that diverse. In woodlands, it consists predominantly of twigs and mosses.

This paper considers the dynamics of acoustical activity and the impact of hay harvesting and cattle grazing on the nesting of Corncrake Crex crex on three plots in the Ryazan, Vladimir, and Novgorod regions. Peak acoustic activity is achieved in June. The survival of nests and broods of up to 5-day old nestlings depends on the time span of hay harvesting (from 3 up to 68 %).
In total, from 48 to 88 % of nests and broods survived annually with the exception of 1999 on hay meadows. The survival rate of nests in pastures reached 86—91 %.

Anthropogenic environment, affecting various aspects of birds’ lives, triggers adaptive reactions to changeable conditions. These reactions develop on the basis of preadaptations that create prerequisites for new adaptations. The species that have adaptive abilities can adjust to urban environments. Anthropogenic landscapes are mainly inhabited by species with considerable
ecological flexibility, which ensures adaptations to new and changing conditions. Birds preserve their adaptive potential and, under certain conditions, are able to demonstrate latent adaptive effect.

There are few faunistic works on the region under consideration. Most sources offer scraps of information on individual groups of animals dating back to the end of the 19th — mid-20th century. E. Hoffman and L. P. Sabaneev's expedition reports are one of the first accessible sources. Valuable data are available in publications by F. A. Teplouhov, S. A. Reztsov, N. D. Mitrofanov,
P. V. Plessky, S. L. Ushkov, A. I. Dushin, P. G. Yefremov, А. Н. Formozov and S. A. Kuklin, Ye. М.Vorontsov, G. N. Simkin, S. P. Chashchin, M. I. Yeremchenko. The targeted exploration of the Upper Kama area began at the end of the 20th century.

This article offers the results of research on zoobenthos species composition in the Kaliningrad region. The authors estimate the ecological condition of lakes with the help of individual saprobity indices of bottom organisms.

This paper analyses the long-term dynamics of structure and abundance of bream (Abramis brama L.) population in the Vistula lagoon on the basis of 1959—2010 trawl surveys. The authors emphasise the positive long-term impact of fishing regulation. The current bream stock is estimated as sufficient.

The authors analyse the chironomid fauna of four water bodies in city of Kaliningrad: Lakes Penkovoe, Pond Isakovsky, Pond Shkolny and the Karasevka pond system. The article describes the species diversity, quantity characteristics, and seasonal dynamics of chronomid population and gives an assessment of water quality on the basis of the species diversity data obtained.

This article considers the impact of water temperature in the Vistula Lagoon of the Baltic Sea on Mysidacea ontogenesis, as well as their maturity rate, female fertility, reproductionrate and average energy cost of reproduction.

This article estimates the number of insect species on the territory of the Kaliningrad region by order. The authors estimate the number of species at 9—13,1 thousand. The article addresses the development of regional entomofauna and entomology studies. The current level of research on biodiversity in the region is considered as insufficient.

This article focuses on the endocrine function in flatworms. It is implemented with the help of two groups of hormones. Several centres of neurosecretory cell localisation were discovered in the nervous system of flatworms. The hormonal signal is transmitted with the help of adenylate cyclase system, which is peculiar to vertebrates. Endogenous steroids – sex steroids and glycocorticoids
— were detected in some flatworm species. These data suggest that flatworms have an endocrine system, whose structural organization is similar to that of vertebrates and higher invertebrates.

The classification presented covers 3 vegetation types, 14 formation classes, 35 formation groups, 64 formations (57 on the Aral Sea and 45 on the Caspian Sea coast). A comparative phytocoenotic diversity analysis showed close similarity (0,76). Most formations are formed by halophytes (45).

This article focuses on the lichens of the “Mikhailovskoye” A. S. Pushkin historical-literary and natural-landscape memorial museum (the Pskov region). The authors compiled a list of 154 lichen species of 63 genera and carried out a taxonomic analysis as well as an analysis of lichen life forms. The article also considers the distribution of lichens by substrates. 3 species are protected at the national level, 14 are rare in the Baltic region, and 30 of the listed species are new for the memorial estate.

This article analyses the organogenesis and flowering transition phases in Cerasus, Microcerasus, and Amygdalus. There are five phases identified for Cerasus fruticosa, C.vulgaris, C avium, Microcerasus tomentosa, and Amygdalus nana.

This article analyses the storage conditions for hybrid lily bulbs in the course of forcing. The authors come to the conclusion that taller plants are obtained after a three week storage at a constant low temperature. The time span between planting and flowering is 60—75 days. The optimal temperature for plant storage during forcing rages from 18 to 20 °С.

По многолетним данным представлен обзор гидрологических и гид­рохимических особенностей малых водотоков региона, подверженных интенсивному загрязнению. Приведены результаты расчета биогенной нагрузки от малых рек Калининградской области на Балтийское море. Информация может быть использована при организации и планирова­нии экологического мониторинга водотоков.

This article presents the results of the reconstruction of surface temperature above the northeast part of the Iceland basin (Northeast Atlantic) for the last 300,000 years with help of the M. S. Barash method, as well as the RAM, MAT and TFT methods on the basis of the planktonic foraminifera data. The M. S. Barash method helps calculate the mean annual sea surface temperature
changes, while the used nowadays MAT and RAM methods help calculate seasonal changes. The comparison of methods proves the use MAT and RAM methods appropriate in the middle latitudes.

This article considers a city as an ecosystem in terms of opportunities to satisfy natural and social human needs. The author addresses the problem of creating environmentally safe and aesthetically attractive conditions in a modern city..