To attract attention of society to issues of environmental development, conservation of biological diversity and ensure environmental security of the Russian Federation, in 2017, Russia declared the Year of Ecology. Also, signed the Decree about carrying out in 2017 in the territory of the Republic of Dagestan Year of the Caspian Sea and other water bodies.

The article presents the philosophy and way of life of the woman and scientist who has spent whole life working and doing everything for the conservation of marine mammals, including the Caspian Seal - Lenie ‘t Hart (Godlieb Leentje).

Aim. The purpose of the work was to assess the activity of international organizations and determine theirs contribution to the preservation and rational use of water biological resources of the Caspian Sea and their inhabitant in the period after 1991.

Results. The work presents a high management level of the state of water-biological resources during the history of the fishery basin. The management level of stocks, carried out by one country, including protection measures and artificial reproduction, allows to quickly respond to the dangers till the end of the XX century. It is shown that the activity of many out-regional and (or) non-state international organizations, heightened during the last the last-day period, is limited to piece of information, comprised of data collection about basin and preparing of the base for the adoption of binding decisions in the international legal field , often there is in a negative context for the Russian Federation. It is noted the leading input of specialized state departments, institutes and organizations to the protection, reproduction, researching of water bio-resources and their inhabitant, the results of which were integrated in the frames of work of the Commission on water bio-resources of the Caspian Sea.

Main conclusions. The abstract presents suggestions on activity of designated global institution taking into account the beginning of the Agreement on protection and rational use of water biological resources of the Caspian Sea. The article presents proposals for the activity of international organizations at the Caspian basin. 

Objective. Analysis of environmental status Tyuleniy Island after a 25-year break in ecological and virological expeditions.

Discussion. The paper presents the first results of the ecological and virological expedition to the Tyuleniy Island in August 2015 – the first after a 25 year break. Species of colonial seabirds and pinnipeds are described as well as their population interactions with each other and with Ixodidae ticks Ixodes uriae, which parasite in breeding colonies of birds and are hosts and vectors of several arboviruses that pose a potential risk to mammals. Two strains were isolated from common murre cloaca swabs using chicken embryo biological model. Complete genome sequencing permitted to identify these strains as NDV/Uria aalge/Russia/Tyuleniy Island/109/2015 (GenBank ID: KU601398) and APMV-4/Uria aalge/Russia/Tyuleniy Island/115/2015 (GenBank ID: KU601399). Strain of new virus (Bunyaviridae, Nairovirus) was isolated from homogenate of I. uriae on the model of intracerebrally inoculated newborn mice and was identified by sequencing of the fragment (240 nucleotides) of the N-gene.

Conclusion. The Tyuleniy Island confirmed its importance as a reservoir of arboviruses. The ecological conditions of the Tyuleniy Island requires urgent action to clean up the island from the old buildings and giving it the status of the reserve. 

Aim. For the purpose of the assessment of golden mullet reproduction scientists have studied golden mullet fish distribution in the Western part of the Caspian Sea and determined biological indexes of spawners and the state of gonads before spawning.

Methods. Collection and processing of ichtyological data was carried out according with the “Guide on materials collection and pre-processing of water biological bio-resources of the Caspian basin and their habitat”. Histological preparations of ovaries at the VI-th mature stage were fixed in Buena’s mixture; microscopic sections of gonads were colored by sour rosein with the Mallory’s method.

Results. The researches have shown, that during the period 2009-2013 the golden mullet fish migration to the Russian part of the Caspian Sea was started in spring. In 2012-2013 spawners with higher biological indexes than in preceding year were the basis of sexually mature of the population. The terms of the golden mullet fish reproduction were different every year. The results of the histhological researcher noted to the partial resorption of oocytes in ovaries of females.

Main conclusions. The golden mullet females aged 4-10 years (with the central group aged 6-8 years) with high linearweighting characteristics and fatness participated in spawning in 2012-2013. Pronounced changes of the oogenesis were observed in 2012. In 2013 the mass reproduction of the golden mullet was started earlier, but frequency of occurrence of the females with the caviar resorption was decreased. The comparative analysis indicated about the heightened reproductive capacity of the golden mullet fish population in 2013. 

Aim. It is hardly possible to predict the continued stability of the watercourse ecosystems without the study of biological characteristics and composition of organisms inhabiting them. In the last 35-40 years, environmental conditions of the Mingachevir reservoir are determined by the stationary anthropogenic pressure. It was found that such components of plankton as algae, bacteria and fungi play a leading role in the transformation and migration of pollutants. The role of the three groups of organisms is very important in maintaining the water quality by elimination of pollutants. Among the organisms inhabiting the Mingachevir Reservoir, micromycetes have not yet been studied. Therefore, the study of the species composition and seasonal dynamics, peculiarities of their growth and development in the environment with the presence of some of the pollutants should be considered to date.

Methods. In order to determine the role of micromycetes-migrants in the mineralization of organic substrates, as an active participant of self-purification process, we used water samples from the bottom sediments as well as decaying and skeletonized stalks of cane, reeds, algae, macrophytes, exuvia of insects and fish remains submerged in water.

Findings. For the first time, we obtained the data on the quality and quantity of microscopic mycelial fungi in freshwater bodies on the example of the Mingachevir water reservoir; we also studied the possibilities for oxygenating the autochthonous organic matter of allochthonous origin with micromycetes-migrants.

Conclusions. It was found that the seasonal development of micromycetes-migrants within the Mingachevir reservoir is characterized by an increase in the number of species in the summer and a gradual reduction in species diversity in the fall. 

Aim. The aim is to give a current and retrospective assessment of the state of water resources in the South of Russia and identify key problems in their use.

Methods. Based on the analysis of dynamic and territorial series of data presented in government reports and the Central Statistical Database of the Federal State Statistics Service, we conducted diagnostic studies of the current and dynamic state of water resources use in the sub-federal units of the Russian Federation.

Findings. The key problems in the functioning of the water sector in the southern regions are: natural water scarcity, large-scale transfers and artificial regulation of the river flows, significant loss of water during transport, large-scale discharge of contaminated sewage and poor quality of water. A significant interregional asymmetry in the water sector of the South of Russia is being tested.

Conclusions. The key water-related contradiction in the South of the Russian Federation lies in the high water intensity of the meta-regional economy due to agricultural specialization, limited opportunities for the use of circulating systems, as well as significant losses of water during transportation in conditions of naturally caused scarcity and poor quality of potable waters. 

Aim. Advanced technologies are crucial for widespread use of geothermal energy to ensure its competitiveness with conventional forms of energy. To date, the basis for the development of geothermal energy is the technology of extracting the heat transfer fluids from the subsoil. There are the following ways to extract the coolant: freeflow; pumping and circular methods. Of greatest interest is the technology to harness the geothermal energy based on geothermal circulatory system (GCS). There is the problem of the right choice of technological parameters for geothermal systems to ensure their effective functioning.

Methods. We consider the development of geothermal energy technology based on geothermal circulatory system, as this technology solves the dumping of the waste water containing environmentally harmful substances. In addition to the environmental issues, this technology makes it possible to intensify the process of production and the degree of extraction of thermal resources, which significantly increases the potential for geothermal heat resources in terms of the fuel and energy balance.

Findings. Were carried out optimization calculations for Ternairsky deposits of thermal waters. In the calculations, was taken into account the temperature dependence of important characteristics, such as the density and heat capacity of the coolant.

Conclusions. There is the critical temperature of the coolant injected, depending on the flow rate and the diameter of the well, ensuring the effective functioning of the geothermal circulatory systems. 

Aim. The main aim of the research is to show the groundlessness of critical remarks and their bias, shortcomings and misconceptions in the study of Sarikum, ways to address the origin of the Sarykum dunes.

Methods. Critical analysis of publications, own analytical studies of the carbonate crust material and a system analysis of the proposed solutions are used as basic methods for the present study.

Findings. Analysis and processing of additional analytical data confirmed earlier conclusions about the endogenous origin of the carbonate crusts of Sarikum. Thus, the study showed the prospects of using geochemical studies of carbonate and gypsum veinlets.

Conclusion. Two approaches are shown in solving the problems of the origin of the Sarykum eolian bodies. The most promising approach is the recognition of the Late Cenozoic volcanism in the valleys of watercourses from the south of Sarykum and the antecedent development of the river valleys of the Eastern Caucasus and, in particular, the valleys cutting the Narat-Tube ridge. 

Aim. The aim of the study is to reveal the relationship between the collection of pollen, nectar and seasonal brooding dynamics of the bees of the gray mountain Caucasian family; to study their behavior when changing the floristic composition, and also the honey production of honey plants.

Methods. Using the frame-grid method, we succeeded to calculate the number of eggs laid by the queen bee. Also, the study allowed comparing the collection of nectar and pollen from each species of honey plants; the species composition of plants and honey content were studied as well.

Results. We identified the number of bees that bring pollen and nectar to the hive. The activity of pollen gatherers is associated with the pulse of the queen bee to lay eggs and a large number of sealed brood in the hives. Were also determined the duration of flowering, the potential of honey-yielding plants and the dynamics of the collection of nectar and pollen for the season of 2013.

Conclusion. The findings obtained make it possible to present a more specific picture of species diversity, honey production, ecology and the distribution of the melliferous resources of the studied area. The analysis of the obtained findings allows concluding that the daily dynamics of pollen gatherers increases in the spring period by May and June, and the queen bee lays eggs more effectively during this period. 

Aim of the present work was evaluation of factors affecting interregional variability of the human selenium status.

Discussion. Essentiality of selenium to human beings determines the priority of the selenium status evaluation in different regions of the world. At the same time interregional variability of the human selenium status biomarkers are often underestimated. Among factors affecting the human selenium status geochemical characteristic of soils and anthropogenic influence are proved to be the most significant. The importance of seas and oceans are emphasized as important sources of the element. Examples of great interregional variability of the human selenium status are indicated and the importance of complex approach for evaluation of ecological risks connected with inadequate selenium consumption are emphasized. Such an approach should combine the data of selenium distribution in soils, levels of selenium bio concentration by different plants species, selenium content in water, food products and in human biological fluids and tissues. Difficulties in the human selenium status optimization are shown to be typical in regions with significant geochemical variations and intensive anthropogenic loading.

Conclusions. High interregional variability of the human selenium status determines the necessity of complex approach in revealing ecological risks connected with selenium deficiency of excess in the environment both in regions with high utilization of local food products and in large industrial regions and towns and also in conditions of separate specific industrial production. 

Aim. The aim of this study is to develop a prognostic flowchart for the clinical outcome of acute coronary syndrome into progressive stenocardia at the hospital stage.

Materials and methods. The studies were carried out basing on the results of the survey of 68 patients admitted to the infarction department of the Republican Clinical Hospital of the Center for Special Emergency Medical Care in Makhachkala in 2015 which correspond to the basic principles of the Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects as amended in 2000. The severity of acute heart failure by Killip, electrocardiography (ECG) and EchoCG studies were conducted according to generally accepted standards.

Findings. The research allowed developing the model of the prognostic block diagram. All indicators of relative risk (RR) for the studied indicators were reliable. Calculations of the values of RR were carried out according to the most frequent ranges of concentration of indicators of the number of patients. The greatest statistical power was possessed by concentration ranges for cardiac markers - TP-I from 0.6 to 1.1 ng / ml and BNP-32 from 60 to 110 pg / ml; For inflammation markers - IL-1β from 1.4 to 2.4 pg / ml and TNF-α from 2.6 to 3.6 pg / ml; For endothelial dysfunction markers - NO from 10 to 15 μmol / l and ET from 3.3 to 4.3 fmol / ml; For immunomarkers, cardiolipin antibodies (CA) from 1 to 3 U / ml and NP from 17 to 26 nmol / l. Measurement of these parameters at the initial stage of admission of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to the hospital (the starting point of reference) and the statement of positive results (the point of separation) made it possible to predict the outcome of ACS into the progressive stenocardia (end point) with high probability.

Conclusion. In the calculation of relative risk, were taken into account the concentration ranges that were most frequently encountered among the number of patients. This methodological approach allowed to significantly increase the reliability of the prognosis, thus we reasonably recommend the use of the proposed flowchart in the clinical practice.

The aim is to determine the possibility of organizing the architectural environment as a system based on the fundamental principle of a single criterion helps to avoid errors arising from the integrated multi-factor approach to the problem under study.

Methods. Architectural tourism and recreation system (ATRS) is a part of demoekosystem and has all its inherent properties.

Results. Applying systematic approach to construction of architectural tourism and recreation system helps to identify the main factors that affect the system and form its boundaries. The identified properties and principles of interaction between the elements allow to build the ontological (essential), functional and mathematical models.

Main conclusions. System approach allows to solve such important economic problems as tourism development in the Russian Federation. 

Aim. The aim of the research is to identify the specifics of the attractiveness of the recreational space of resort areas for the sub-federal units of different levels.

Methods. In the research of approaches to the organization of recreation and structural features of the territorial space, we applied systematic and analytical comparativegeographical methods of analysis on the example of the Republic of Crimea.

Findings. The urgency of integration of the compensatory mechanism into the reproduction processes determines the importance of not only the allocation of recreational space, but also the organization of purposeful activities to ensure and maintain its attractiveness. Since the resort areas have been adopted as a research object, it is necessary to rank the components of the natural resource potential on the basis of their participation in building recreation. A wide range of forms of manifestation of recreational interest determines the positioning of the basic and complementary types of recreation. The attractiveness of the latter takes various forms depending on the subject-carrier of interest.

Conclusion. In the formation of a recreational space, it is necessary to define the "profiling" of the territory in terms of identifying the most significant component that is the basis for organizing recreational activities, identifying the related areas, thus it provides a greater coverage of the preferences of the sub-federal units. As a result, it gives the recreation a systematic property based on the integrated and maximally full use of the potential of the territory. Recreational space is studied in terms of the formation of the structure of the actual recreation ("recreation pyramid") and infrastructure, hence only their compilation provides the attractiveness of the recreation. Has been proved the existence of various forms of attractiveness of recreational space for economic entities of different levels. These conditions, examined on the example of the Republic of Crimea, can be used to assess the attractiveness of other recreational spaces as well, both the analogous profile and other areas of recreation. 

Aim. The aim of this study is to create and represent the tourist routes in the places of the traditional folk arts and crafts in the Republic of Dagestan.

Research Methodology. In the first stage of the study, according to the register and public materials we identified and studied traditional places of folk arts and crafts; carried out monitoring of existing tourist routes and programs. Developed routes are included in the tourist route map.

Findings and discussion. We developed five radial exit routes from the city of Makhachkala, characteristics of which are presented below. Folk arts and crafts of Dagestan are a unique part of the artistic culture and at the same time, it is a branch of industry with a high level of tourist attractiveness. Today, Dagestan is one of the few areas in the modern world where traditional folk art is naturally a part of a contemporary social life having the rights of the dominant cultural unity due to the peculiarities of its historical development. Archaeological studies show that due to the geographical position, in Dagestan, there has been an interaction of significant aspects of cultural phenomena relating to the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean, Western, Central and Eastern Europe, on the one hand, and the development of cultures of different regions of Asia, on the other hand. Coupled with the traditions of the ancient population of the Caucasus, they formed complex and varied artistic conglomerate.

Conclusion. The study revealed the basic centers of traditional arts and crafts of the Republic of Dagestan, hiving a high tourism potential. On this basis, we developed five tourist-excursion routes. These routes are included in the information booklet, which has a marketing and information value. 

Aim. The central aim is to consider the highly complex problem of interdependence of ecology and religion; determine the possibility of finding ways to revive nature protection traditions rooted in different religious systems; demonstrate the possibility of formation of ecological consciousness, ecological ethics as a prerequisite for sustainable development of the modern society.

Methods. We used the method of socio-cultural and socio-natural approach based on humanistic philosophical ideas which laid the basis for understanding the person as a subject of nature, history and culture.

Findings. Were analyzed the environmental ideas of the religious teachings of various faiths, which should contribute to the development of environmental ethics and culture, the notion of a human as part of nature, and the impossibility of human survival without conservation of the nature. It is necessary to use different forms of cooperation between the state and religious organizations.

Conclusion. The results can be recommended to be included in the school curriculums, starting with elementary grades, as well as in specialized secondary schools and higher educational institutions. The ways the priorities of the environmental aspects of the nature in various faiths are expressed are not the same, but the presence of the humanistic component in all religions contributes to greater environmental consciousness of the people of the earth, so this perspective deserves a multifaceted discussion and analysis. 

The aim is to generalize the scientific researches on the species composition of Hemiptera within the Caucasus and possible ways of its formation.

Materials and methods. As research materials we used the collections of Hemiptera of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan as well as own collections and analysis of the available literature data. As the basic tool, we used the method of zoogeographical and ecological analysis of capsid bugs of the Caucasus. We also studied the hemipterofauna of the Mirid bugs of the individual regions of the Caucasus.

Findings. The paper presents an analysis of the representation and relation of zoogeographical complexes of Hemiptera insects of Miridae (Heteroptera) family in the vast territories of the North Caucasus and Transcaucasia. The analysis confirmed the major conventional views on the possible ways of forming a complex of Mirid bugs in the Caucasus, although so far the issue has not been studied completely.

Conclusion. Based on the analysis of faunal and taxonomic studies, we studied the main features of the zoogeographic structure of the most numerous family of Hemiptera in the region. The hemipterofauna of the Western Transcaucasia is dominated by the boreal complex, and the Transcaucasia is dominated by the Mediterranean complex with a significant part of the Iran-Turan. Currently, this family consists of around 600 species. Among Mirid bugs, cosmopolitans in this region are rare. In the North Caucasus, there are almost no endemic species, while in the South Caucasus, they account for about 5% of the total. The role of human factor in the formation of certain complexes is quite high. 

Aim. The central aim of the article is to study the phenological dates of activity of culicidae mosquitoes in Dagestan during the season and seasonal density dynamics taking into account the changes of climatic conditions.

Methods. We used netting and the standard five-minute method of sampling of adult mosquitoes at roost sites every four days throughout the season. Preimaginal phases of mosquitoes were examined in the test reservoirs of different types using fotokyuvet.

Findings. The analysis of the study showed that the studied area is inhabited by 19 species of mosquitoes, including Anopheles maculipennis and Culex pipiens pipiens are most widespread. At the same time, the seasonal timing of activity is extending.

Conclusion. In Dagestan, there are three conditions, lifting the number of mosquitoes during the spring-summer season: during the last ten days of May, the end of the second ten days of June and the beginning of the first decade of September. The first rise in the number is associated with the spring rains and the rivers flood, the second with the spills of irrigation systems, and the third with autumn floods and favorable weather conditions. 

The aim of our research is to study the endemics of the xerophilous flora of the Russian Caucasus in connection with the matter of knowing the genesis.

Methods. The study is based on the field research expeditions.

Findings. The presence of endemic species in flora is an indicator of its originality, and the degree of originality is determined by the extent of the endemic species. In general, according to our geographic analysis, the number of endemic species in xerophilous flora of the Russian Caucasus accounts for 32% (326 species), of which 25% of all endemic species have natural habitats within entire Caucasus, 66% are widespread in the Greater Caucasus, and 9% in the Pre-Caucasian region.

Conclusion. Endemic species of xerophytes of the flora, in their overwhelming majority, are euxerophytes, and most steno-endemics also belong to this group of xerophytes. In a systematic aspect, the leading family, containing the largest number of endemic species, is Asteraceae (in percentage terms - Lamiaceae) and Jurinea is a leading genus (in percentage terms - Psephellus). In relation to the substrate, calcixerophytes are the dominants and most saturated endemics in quantitative terms are the belt of mountain xerophytes. The predominant biomes are hemicryptophytes; as compared with the number of biomorphes, among chamaephytes there is the biggest quantity of endemics. 

RETRACTED ARTICLE DUE TO EXCESSIVE SELF-CITATION:

Khalilov M.B., Zhuk A.F., Aytemirov A.A., Gayrabekova R.K. TAKING VARIOUS AGROTECHNICAL MEASURES FOR THE PRESERVATION AND ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE. South of Russia: ecology, development. 2016;11(2):152-159. (In Russ.) DOI:10.18470/1992- 1098-2016-2-152-159