Journal articles on the topic 'Amur River Valley (China and Russia)'

Introduction. Oirats of China, Mongolia and Kalmyks of Russia live in three different countries — but share common ethnic ancestry. Oirats of China primarily reside in Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and Hara-Muren (Amur River valley). In Mongolia, Oirats traditionally inhabit western provinces, such as Uvs, Khovd, Bayan-Ölgii, Zavkhan, and Khӧvsgӧl. In Russia, Kalmyks live in the Republic of Kalmykia and Astrakhan Oblast. Some minor Oirat and Kalmyk groups reside in Kyrgyzstan, Europe, and America. Despite being separated by historical eras, state borders and differing cultural-economic conditions, Oirats and Kalmyks still preserve the common vivid tradition of oral poetry largely represented by folk songs. In Russia and Europe, the earliest recordings of Oirat and Kalmyk folk songs were made 260 years ago. Those divide into lingering and short ones: the former serve to celebrate remarkable events, such as rituals, festivities and holidays; the former are usually sung by young people during regular household activities. Goals. The paper seeks to review the history of recording, investigating and publishing Oirat and Kalmyk folk songs. Results. The article analyzes folk songs of Oirats and Kalmyks, setting forth a coherent historical paradigm of theirs in Russia and European countries throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.

Purpose. The article presents a historiographical review of the problems of research of ancient ceramics from archaeological sites of East Asia in the chronological interval from 20,000–18,000 to 9,000 years ago. Results. The subject of discussion is the periodization of monuments with early ceramics, the problems of socio-economic conditions of the emergence of pottery technology, its functional role in ancient societies, reconstruction of technological skills and technical levels of pottery, morphology and decor. There are a lot of controversial issues and “blind spots” in this direction. However, the opening of sites with ancient ceramics in East Asia showed that here, on the Pacific (eastern) outskirts of the Eurasian continent, pottery making technology first appeared about 10,000 years earlier than in the Middle East. The invention of ceramics in this region of the world at the turn of the Pleistocene and Holocene should be considered as a result of a combination of natural and social factors. The example of East Asia shows that the relationship between the appearance of ceramic vessels and the development of agriculture, as a technology for food production, is universally, not a mandatory factor. Conclusion. The article discusses certain regional differences in the formation of skills in making the most ancient ceramic vessels of East Asia. It is assumed that the development of ceramic technology in the Japanese archipelago and in the mainland areas of East Asia took place independently. For the Amur region, there are two local cultural traditions – Osipovskaya and Gromatukhinskaya. According to materials from Northern China, there is a version of the existence of a common line in the development of ancient ceramics in the Valley of the Nonny River. There are similarities between the early ceramics of Northeast China, and the Gromatukhinskaya and Osipovskaya cultures of Amur. For the ceramics of South Korea also note similarities with the materials of the Russian Far East, Japanese and Chinese dishes.

In the result of investigation of new findings, the variability of leaf shape and epidermal characters of Ginkgo pilifera Samyl. were studied. Geographical and stratigraphic ranges of this species were analyzed on the base of new material and earlier published data. This species was described by Samylina (1967) from the upper part of the Timmerdyakh Formation exposed in the Lena-Vilyui depression in Eastern Siberia. After that many new occurrences of this species were reported. G. pilifera was widely distributed from late Albian to Maastrichtian in Asian part of the Siberian-Canadian paleogeographical region. The earliest occurrence was documented from the late Albian-lower Turonian deposits of the Krivorechenskaya Formation, Grebenka River basin, Northeastern Russia. Approximately in the same time (in the Cenomanian) remains of G. pilifera appeared in the lower part of the Timmerdyakh Formation in the Lena-Vilyui depression. In Western Siberia in the late Albian and Cenomanian other species of Ginkgo were found: G. sertensis N. Nosova et Golovn. and G. chlonoviae N. Nosova et Golovn. were described from the Kiya Formation and G. ragosinii N. Nosova et Golovn. and G. tjukansis Kiritch. were described from the Simonovo Formation. In the Turonian and Coniacian G. pilifera was discovered in the upper part of the Timmerdyakh Formation, in the Valizhgen Formation of Yelistratov peninsula in Penzhina Bay area, in volcanogenic deposits of the Kolyma River basin and in the Derevyannye Gory Formation of New Siberia Island. In the Santonian-Campanian this species was reported from the Arkagala Formation of the Kolyma River basin and from two localities in the Amur River basin: from upper part of the Kundur Formation in Russia and from the Taipinglinchang Formation in China. The last occurrence is the most southern finding of this species. In Maastrichtian G. pilifera penetrated in Western Siberia, that significantly increased its area in western direction. The most variable character in G. pilifera morphology is the leaf shape. Leaves change from entire to deep-dissected into several wide lobes with rounded or truncate apices. Dissected forms occured from late Albian to Coniacian and predominated in the Krivorechenskaya (late Albian-lower Turonian) and the Valizhgen (Turonian-Coniacian) Formations Northeastern Russia.During Santonian-Maastrichtian only entire forms were distributed. The variability of epidermal characters is insignificant. The most variable characters are degree of undulation of the anticlinal cell walls, degree of development of cuticular thickenings and number of stomata on adaxial epidermises and number of trichomes on of abaxial and adaxial epidermises. The specific diagnosis of this species was emended. Remains of G. pilifera occur in allochtonous taphocenosis together with other plants characteristic to riparian habitats. Probably, this species was confined to river valleys and was not connected with swamp environments.Paleoecological implication of great number of papillae and trichomes is steel unclear. Emended diagnosis. Leaves broadly fan-shaped, entire with undulate upper margin with several shallow incisions, or, more rarely, dissected into several wide lobes with rounded or truncate apices. Leaves amphistomatic. Anticlinal cell walls of adaxial epidermis sinuous with amplitude up to 2–3 μm; in costal zones sometimes slightly sinuous or straight. Periclinal walls with cuticular dome-shaped thickenings and rare trichomes. Number and development of cuticular thickenings vary in different areas of leaf lamina and in different leaves. Weak development of thickenings usually correlates with increased number of trichomes. Stomata at abaxial epidermis rare; the papillae of subsidiary cells do not cover the stoma completely. Anticlinal cell walls of abaxial epidermis slightly sinuous or straight. Periclinal walls usually with papillae (12-20 μm long), more rarely, smooth. Trichomes (up to 60–100 μm long) occur rather often. Big trichomes usually consist of 2-3 cells. Stomata at adaxial epidermis orientated irregularly, without formation of regular rows, surrounded by five to seven subsidiary cells. Each subsidiary cell bears a proximal papilla up to 15–25 μm long. These papillae completely cover the stoma.

The purpose of the article is to analyze the significance of the Amur River transport activity in the 1990s for interregional Russian-Chinese cross-border coopera-tion in the Far East. Using the materials in Chinese as well as archival documents, the author examines the process of border ties resumption between Russia and China in the Far East after the normalization of rela-tions between the countries. The peculiarities of the river fleet functioning on the Amur during the period of socio-economic reforms of the last decade of the 20th century in Russia are studied. The characteristic of the Amur River transport potential is presented. The prob-lems of the Amur River transport in the development of cooperation between the Russian Amur Region and the Chinese province of Heilongjiang in the context of Rus-sian-Chinese relations at the interstate and interregion-al levels are structured.

Abstract. Results of flood modelling for three cities located in different parts of Russia: (1) Veliky Ustyug at the Northern Dvina river (Europe); (2) Mezhdurechensk at the Tom river (Siberia); and (3) Blagoveschensk at the Amur river (Far East) are presented. The two-dimensional hydrodynamic model of flow in channels and on floodplain STREAM_2D on the basis of the numerical solution of two-dimensional Saint–Venant equations on a hybrid curvilinear quadrangular and rectangular mesh was used for the simulations. Verification of the model through a comparison of simulated inundated areas with outlines of flooded zones from satellite images for known hydrologic situations demonstrate close correspondence (relative errors of 7–12% in terms of the area for peaks of the analysed floods). Analyses of embankment influence of large-scale levees on the water flow demonstrate that, in some cases, water levels could rise by more than 1 m and the patterns of the flooding zones could significantly differ.

Pseudosida szalayi Daday, 1898 is redescribed on the basis on type material from Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and other materials from India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, East and South China, and Far East of Russia (Lower Amur River basin). The investigation of intraand interpopulational morphological variability has allowed coming to the conclusion about the conspecificity of specimens from different regions and occurrence of the only species, P. szalayi, in East and South Asia. The male of the species is described in detail for the first time. The first discovered northernmost localities of the species in the Lower Amur River basin are far separated from others and may have a relict status. While probably, only one species of the genus occurs in East and South Asia, the taxonomic status of African pseudosidas known under the names “P. szalayi” and “P. bidentata” remains uncertain.

New species, Leptodora richardi sp. nov., is described from some large lakes and other water bodies of the Lower Amur River basin. It differs from L. kindtii Focke, the only species known in this genus until now, by a smaller body size and proportions of some body parts, namely a comparatively longer head and shorter abdomen, and by presence of fine setules on the end of anterior distal seta of second segment of thoracic limbs of first pair. Small differences in male features require further elucidation. Among the investigated populations of L. kindtii, one of them from the Volga Delta was analyzed in more detail due to the unusually small size of their adults, comparable with those of L. richardi sp. nov., but had body proportions characteristic of the former species and probably represented its extreme morpho-ecological variation. L. kindtii is widely distributed in Palearctic, while L. richardi sp. nov. seems to be an endemic of East Asia probably distributed from the Lower Amur River in the Far East of Russia to Eastern China and Japan (Honshu Island) in the south.

Actual research revealed definite differences in the condition of somatic health of the population of the transboundary regions of Russia and China in the Amur River region. The conducted interdisciplinary research provides opportunities for a deeper understanding of the causes and mechanisms of develop-ment of mental disabilities against the background of general morbidity. The use of ethnocultural ap-proaches makes it possible to increase the effectiveness of diagnostics, treatment, rehabilitation and pre-vention of somatic, mental and behavioural disabilities. A model of the organisation of therapeutic and psychiatric care in transboundary regions is proposed, which will increase the level of social and indi-vidual somatic and mental health.

SummaryBased on surveys during 2000–2012 and best available knowledge, we estimate the global population size of the Endangered Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus to be c.1,940 pairs (or c.4,660 birds prior to reproduction). In Russia, surveys identified the breeding range in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range and the area adjoining the lower Amur River. Particular effort was made to define the edge of the range. Breeding densities in the Sikhote-Alin were applied to un-surveyed rivers within the range to estimate overall numbers. The breeding range comprises c.7,800 km of 120 rivers: 6,800 km in Russia, 600 in China and 400 in DPR Korea. In Russia it comprises 88 rivers of both the western and eastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Range, and two small isolated areas, one in central Khabarovsk and the other in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. All known and potential breeding areas were surveyed in China, where the breeding range comprises the western slope of the Changbai Mountains, and one isolated river system in the Lesser Xingan Mountains. Scaly-sided Mergansers are also assumed to breed on the eastern slope of the Changbai Mountains in DPR Korea. No recent surveys have been made there but numbers were estimated by applying densities from China to rivers with apparently suitable habitat. Detailed examination of past records suggests that an earlier claim of breeding Scaly-sided Mergansers on the Dep River was erroneous and we conclude that the breeding range never extended as far west as has been portrayed in most literature. The lack of comparable surveys previously precludes an assessment of change in population range or size, though it seems inevitable that habitat loss in China is likely to have resulted in some loss of range and numbers, particularly in Heilongjiang Province, in recent decades.

AbstractIn the present study, phylogenetic relationships of European and Far Eastern representatives of the genus Aspidogaster Baer, 1827 were analysed: A. conchicola Baer, 1827, A. limacoides Diesing, 1834, A. ijimai Kawamura, 1915 and A. chongqingensis Wei, Huang & Dai, 2001. Based on ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 rDNA sequence data, an obvious differentiation was seen between specimens of A. limacoides sensu stricto from the European part of Russia and A. limacoides sensu Chen et al., 2010 from China (13.7%); the latter parasites were recognized as A. chongqingensis. Aspidogaster chongqingensis was more closely related to A. ijimai than to A. limacoides s. str. Specimens of A. ijimai from the Amur River, Khanka Lake (Russian Far East) and China were grouped into a single clade with low intra specific molecular differentiation (d = 0–0.3%). Specimens of A. conchicola from the European part of Russia, the Russian Far East and China also formed a single distinct clade. Genetic differentiation between European and Chinese samples of this species was two times lower (d = 0.45%) than between Russian Far East and European or Chinese samples (d = 0.96%), suggesting a long-term separate existence of A. conchicola in the Russian Far East.

Hydropower development causes a multitude of negative effects on freshwater ecosystems, and to prevent and minimize possible damage, environmental impact assessments must be conducted and optimal management scenarios designed. This paper examines the impacts of both existing and proposed hydropower development on the transboundary Amur River basin shared by Russia, China, and Mongolia, including the effectiveness of different tools and measures to minimize damage. It demonstrates that the application of various assessment and conservation tools at the proper time and in the proper sequence is the key factor in mitigating and minimizing the environmental impacts of dams. The tools considered include basin-wide assessments of hydropower impacts, the creation of protected areas on rivers threatened by dam construction, and environmental flows. The results of this work show how the initial avoidance and mitigation of hydropower impacts at early planning stages are more productive than the application of any measures during and after dam construction, that the assessment of hydropower impacts must be performed at a basin level rather than be limited to a project implementation site, and that the full spectrum of possible development scenarios should be considered. In addition, this project demonstrates that stakeholder analysis and robust public engagement are as crucial for the success of environmental assessments as scientific research is for the protection of river basins.

New collections of Teratoscincus from China and reexamination of type specimens in the Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia, reveal that T. roborowskii Bedriaga, «1905» (1906), is a valid species. The type locality given by Bedriaga is in error and is here corrected to the Turpan Depression, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China where the species is endemic. Two additional species inhabit China, T. przewalskii (in the Taklimakan Desert, Hami Depression, Junggar Depression, and part of the Gobi Desert of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and adjacent provinces) and T. scincus (in the Ili River Valley of extreme western Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region).

The genus Sinohaplotropis Cao et Yin, 2008 is a valid genus and not a synonym of Haplotropis Saussur, 1888. A new species Sinohaplotropis amurensis sp. nov. is described in this paper from Russia. The new species is similar to Sinohaplotropis erenchuanensis Cao et Yin, 2008, but differs from latter by subgenital plate of male triangular, with large bifurcate apex in dorsal view, pronotum longer reaching first abdominal tergite, top of Kraus` organ narrow and interspace of mesosternum straight in the middle. Type specimen is deposited in the Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei, China.

Transbaikalia is the vast region in Southern Siberia withnumerous mountain ridges within the upper basins of the three big rivers, the Amur (Pacific Ocean basin), the Yenisei and the Lena (Arctic Ocean basin). The most part of Transbaikalia territory is covered by woodlands, however, the steppes are an inherent component in the southern part of the region. Steppe communities occur throughout the broad range of habitats varying in humidity, edaphic conditions, and anthropogenic disturbance. The main aims of presented study are: (1) to develop a phytosociological classification of transbaikalian steppes and to characterize the syntaxa distinguished, (2) to reveal principal ecological factors that have an influence on regional syntaxonomical patterns of the steppe vegetation. From 2005 to 2013, the field studies were carried out in the territory of the Republic of Buryatia. During this period we collected the data set of 829 steppe relevйs. Supplementary characteristics were followed by every relevй: geographical coordinates (measured by GPS); altitude; inclination and exposition; rock outcrops, large stone and debris cover; sand content in the soil. For each relevй climatic parameters from the WorldClim web-database were determined. Plant species indicator values for southern Siberia have been applied (Korolyuk, 2006); the average indicator value for moisture at every relevй was calculated. The data set was stored and managed in the IBIS 6.2 software. To analyze the data structure, a canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was used. As a result 11 associations were distinguished, all of them belong to the class Cleistogenetea squarrosae Mirkin et al. ex Korotkov et al. 1991. The class represents main dry grassland diversity of the East Siberian–Central Asian sector of Palaearctic (Korolyuk, 2002). The continuous range coincides with the steppe and forest-steppe zones and mountain belts, encompassing Southern Siberia in Russia, as well as the significant part of People’s Republic of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia province in China. Under conditions of the ultracontinental climate, the steppe communities penetrate far to the North in North-Eastern Asia. This class consists of two orders: Stipetalia krylovii (typical bunchgrass steppes of the steppe zone and mountain steppe belt) and Helictotrichetalia sсhelliani (meadow steppes and rich-in-species bunchgrass steppes of mountain forest-steppe). The order Stipetalia krylovii Kononov, Gogoleva et Mironova 1985 represents the central order of the class. It comprises typical steppes predominated by bunch grasses as usual. The order is diagnosed by the same species like those of the class. N. Ermakov (2012) attempted to narrow this order. In his understanding (see below underlined), the order combines typical steppes of Yakutia and is characterized by following features. Communities are extremely poor — 4–9 species per 100 м2. I think that this statement is incorrect. In original publication (Mirkin et al., 1985), wh ere the new association Stipetum krylovii has been described, authors plotted the releve at the size of 1 м2 only. Therefore I can assume that species richness of these steppe communities has been wrongly estimated in regard of 100 м2 plots. According to my own data from the Lena River valley in vicinities of the city of Yakutsk the richness of 20 species (in average) per 100 м2 plot is typical for xerophytic steppes. Yakutian steppes of Stipetalia krylovii are differentiated by meadow steppe species (mesoxerophytes): Artemisia commutata, Festuca lenensis, Poa transbaicalica with a high constancy and many species with a low constancy. From my data, in Transbaikalia such species as Artemisia commutata and Festuca lenensis are common in petrophytic steppes both typical and meadow. In Yakutia, Poa botryoides is typical (d. s. Stipetalia krylovii) instead of Poa transbaicalica. Participation of numerous mesoxerophytes with the low constancy is common for typical steppes from different regions of Southern Siberia and Mongolia (Hilbig, 1995; Namzalov, 2015; Makunina, 2016). Yakutian steppes of Stipetalia krylovii are differentiated by halotolerant plants, namely Saussurea amara and Puccinellia tenuiflora. According to results of my studies as well as literature data, presence of the both species is characteristic for steppe communities in the alases only. Alases are formed as shallow depressions among the taiga landscapes in Central Yakutia, maded by thermokarst, and covered by the meadow or steppe vegetation (Troeva et al., 2010). In such landscapes steppes are spatially patterned into combination with halophytic communities. In well-drained landscapes halotolerant plants are absent. In the definition of Stipetalia krylovii N. Ermakov (2012) based on publications devoted to alases, when steppes from drained terrains were omitted. Thus, none of the three criteria suggested by N. Ermakov (2012) and mentioned above is not acceptable for distinguishing typical steppes of Yakutia from analogue communities of Southern Siberia, including Transbaikalia. This means that the attempt to validate the order Cleistogenetalia squarrosae Mirkin et al. ex Ermakov 2012 was superfluous (Art. 29c, ICPN). Consequently, this order is a synonym of Stipetalia krylovii. Also, the alliance Poo attenuatae–Cleistogenion squarrosae Mirkin et al. ex Ermakov 2012 is to be re­cognized as a synonym of the alliance Stipion krylovii. The alliance Stipion krylovii Kononov, Gogoleva et Mironova 1985 is the central alliance of the order Stipetalia krylovii. It includes non-petrophytic steppes which are common mainly in the mountain steppe belt and the steppe zone. In Western Transbaikalia the alliance is represented by two associations: Cymbario dahuricae–Stipetum krylovii Hilbig (1987) 1990 (the central association of the alliance) and Cleistogeno squarrosae–Festucetum dahuricae Dulepova et Korolyuk 2015 (sandy steppes). Alliance Thymion gobici Mirkin et al. ex Hilbig 2000 comprises xerophytic petrophyte steppes of Transbaikalia, Central and Eastern Mongolia, the Inner Mongola province (China). In Buryatia it is represented by three associations. Ass. Eremogone capillaris–Festucetum lenensis Mirkin et al. 1988 — the central association of the alliance. Petrophytic communities are common both on convex windswept slopes and ridge tops in the forest-steppe and steppe belts. Physiognomy of communities is determined by small cushion-forming species and dwarf semishrubs. Communities of the ass. Selaginelletum rupestris–sanguinolentae ass. nov. are often confined to ridge-top parts of north-facing slopes with outcrops or screes in the Selenga river basin. Community physiognomy is determined by predomination of the low-growing trailing perennial Selaginella sanguinolenta which makes communities noticeably darker as compared to the surrounding steppes. Ass. Selaginello rupestris–Artemisietum subviscosae ass. nov. — the endemic association found in the Barguzin depression. The communities occur on fine gravel soils on river terraces, deluvial foreslopes and convex slopes in the mountain lower belt. Order Helictotrichetalia schelliani Hilbig 2000 comprises meso-xerophytic grasslands, mainly meadow steppes of East Siberian–Central Asian sector of Palaearctic. It unites the most widespread non-forest plant communities of forest-steppe landscapes. The area of the order extends considerably to the north in comparison with the order Stipetalia krylovii. In Transbaikalia, the meso-xerophytic grasslands predominate in the mountain forest-steppe belt up to the heights of 900–1000 m a. s. l. Alliance Helictotrichion schelliani Hilbig 2000 — the central alliance distributed in Altai-Sayan mountains, Western Transbaikalia, northern mountains of Central and Western Mongolia. In the study area we distinguished two suballiances. Suballiance Stipenion baicalensis suball. nov. — the central suballiance representing meadow steppes on fine soils. Communities are found at gentle straight slopes, sometimes occupying slightly concave sites of mountain ridge slopes. The suballiance consists of three associations. The central association is Veronico incanae–Stipetum baicalensis Peterson ex Hilbig 2000. It occurs in the steppe and forest-steppe belts, occupying gentle slopes and piedmont foreslopes. Ass. Carici pediformis–Spiraeetum aquilegifoliae ass. nov. represents meadow steppes with well developed shrub layer. The communities usually occupy steep south-exposed slopes with large stones or outcrops, often of concave shape. By their physiognomy and species composition, the described communities look like the association Amygdalo pedunculatae–Spiraeetum aquilegifoliae, which substituted by them in more humid forest-steppe landscapes. Ass. Thalictro foetidi–Koelerietum cristatae ass. nov. unites the more moist type of the suballiance. The communities are found in the forest-steppe landscapes, usually along gentle straight or concave slopes. Often they occupy steeper parts of slopes along the edges of larch and birch forests. Suballiance Thymenion baicalensis represents petrophyte meadow steppes of Western Transbaikalia. The communities are common in the forest-steppe and steppe landscapes on stony, often convex slopes, ridge tops, sometimes on screes. Ass. Potentillo acaulis–Thymetum baicalensis Chytry et al. 1993 — one of the most widespread steppe plant communities. Ass. Sela­ginello rupestris–Artemisietum monostachyae ass. nov. comprises rich meadow petrophytic steppes. The communities are found in forest-steppe landscapes in the Uda and the Barguzin rivers basins. Ass. Sedo aizoi–Festucetum lenensis ass. nov. includes the more moist variants of meadow petrophytic steppes. The communities are rich and polydominant, mainly with predomination of mesoxerophytic meadow steppe species. They are confined to stony slopes and ridge tops, usually at the forest margins in the Selenga river basin. Strong ecological gradients have been revealed by the numerical analysis of associations. The first axis of CCA-ordination is correlated with humidity which is determined by precipitation, and the soil moisture that depends on landform features as well. The second axis represents edaphic conditions — stones and sand content in the soil. The third axis is the most likely of complex character, however it is especially related with temperature and solar radiation. Due to interlacement of various environmental gradients a high variability of habitats and consequent complicated vegetation patterns within the studied region occured. Further development of the dry grassland syntaxonomy of Inner Asia could be advanced by the involvement of the data from the territories of Eastern Transbaikalia, People’s Republic of Mongolia (Outer Mongolia) and the province of Inner Mongolia in China. This will allow to delineate the distribution of syntaxa, as well as to make a general revision of the class Cleistogenetea squarrosae all over its area of distribution.

Goldfish (Carassius aurautus), which is a middle size cyprinid, widely distribute throughout Eurasia. Phylogeographic studies using mtDNA markers have revealed several divergent lineages within goldfish. In this study, mtDNA variations were determined to elucidate the phylogeographical pattern and genetic structure of goldfish in Northeast Asia. A total of 1054 individuals from Amur river basin were analyzed, which including five newly collected populations and four previously reported populations. Three distinct mtDNA lineages were identified in those samples, two of which corresponded to two known lineages C2 and C6, respectively. The third lineage referred to as C7, following six known lineages of goldfish in mainland Eurasia. AMOVA results suggested that most of the genetic variations were among lineages, rather than among populations or twice samplings. We noted that the control region (CR) and cytochrome b (cytb) sequences of lineage C7 have been reported in previous studies, respectively. However, the evolutionary position and distribution pattern of this lineage was not discussed in the context of the species. Our results showed that “odd” CR and “hidden” cytb sequences from Central Asia represent the same mtDNA lineage of goldfish. The known samples of C7 lineage were collected from Central Asia (Eastern Kazakhstan and Western Mongolia) to East Asia (Northeast China and Far East Russia), which suggested that it had a wider distribution, rather than limit in Central Asia.

AbstractThis study applies the maximum temperatures at more than 2000 Chinese stations to investigate the dominant modes of China summer heat waves (HWs). The first empirical orthogonal function (EOF) mode of the HW days reflects an increased frequency of HWs in northern China (NC), while the second and third modes represent two distinct interannual modes, with key regions over the Yangtze River valley (YRV) and southern China (SC), respectively. The NC HWs are possibly associated with the Atlantic–Eurasian teleconnection, showing zonally propagating wave trains over the North Atlantic and Eurasian continent. The YRV HWs are proposed to be linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation, which may trigger a southeastward-propagating wave train over northern Russia and East Asia that results in a high pressure anomaly over the YRV. The SC HWs are obviously dominated by the Indian Ocean and northwest Pacific warm SSTs owing to the transition from the preceding El Niño to La Niña, which excites above-normal highs over SC. The anomalously high pressures over NC, the YRV, and SC are usually accompanied by descending air motions, clear skies, decreased precipitation, and increased solar radiation, which jointly cause a drier and hotter soil condition that favors the emergence of HWs. The GFDL HiRAM experiments are able to reproduce the historical evolution of NC and SC HWs, but fail to capture the YRV HWs. The correlation coefficient between model PC1 (PC2) and observed PC1 (PC3) for the period of 1979–2008 is 0.65 (0.38), which significantly exceeds the 95% (90%) confidence level, indicating that this model has a more faithful representation for the SST-forced HWs.

Modern botanical studies revealing patterns of plant species distribution are based on analysis of big datasets. Despite publishing many maps of diversity and species richness on the global scale and for huge biogeographic regions of the world, the territories of Northern and Central Asia remain poorly studied. We elaborated a special database, including distribution of 19 Oxytropis species of the section Xerobia with 1353 localitites (See Fig. 1). For all species, we analyzed their whole distribution range, including data from Kazakhstan, Mongolia and China. Species distribution was detected according to the main foreign and Russian herbaria, online databases, field data and relevés. Species distribution modeling was performed using Maxent 3.3.3k with MIROC-ESM model in resolution of 2.5 arc-minutes. 19 BIOCLIM and 18 ENVIREM variables were analyzed. Past climate change was evaluated using ENVIREM variables for the Mid-Holocene (ca. 6.000 yr. BP) and the Last Glacial Maximum (ca. 22.000 yr. BP). Future distribution modeling was carried out basing on different climatic scenarios, according to IPCC AR5: RCP8.5, RCP2.6 and RCP6.0. Species distribution from the section Xerobia mostly occupied the territory of Central Asia (See Fig. 1). Few species, such as Oxytropis grandiflora (Pall.) DC. and O. leptophylla (Pall.) DC., were mostly found in the western part of Xerobia section distribution on the territory of Zabaykal’skiy region of Russia, Eastern province of Mongolia and Inner Mongolia province of China. The most part of Xerobia species have isolated distribution and often occupy specific habitats. In such case, using SDM with only bioclimatic variables for local endemic species is pointless. So, we chose species Oxytropis ampullata (Pall.) Pers. (See Fig. 2) with Central Asian distribution and O. grandiflora with Manchuro-Dahurian distribution for modeling (See Fig. 3A). The selected species differ in their ecology: O. ampullata is a mountainous species, whereas most habitats for O. grandiflora are river valleys and mid-mountainous regions. Our analysis showed that ENVIREM variables provide more correct modeling results than BIOCLIM variables (See Fig. 2). Predictive maps on the basis of BIOCLIM variables showed wide potential distribution for O. ampullata, which does not correspond well to the species ecology. The main habitats for this species are such mountainous regions as the Khangai mountains, the Russian and the Mongolian Altai mountains, the Dzhungarian mountains, and the Tarbagatai ridge. Additionally, modeling showed potential distribution for the species in the Selenga river valley. Modern distribution of O. grandiflora was studied quite well; suitable habitats with new localities for the species can be found in the Khentii mountains (See Fig. 3A). The determinants for O. ampullata are mean annual temperature, isothermality and potential evapotranspiration (PET) of the driest and coldest quarter (See Table 1). PET parameters in the driest and the coldest time of the year have the key meaning because in arid conditions plants receive the main portion of moisture in the colder period when the evaporation is not intense, also it is important to conserve the moisture during the dry season. Distribution of O. grandiflora is limited by temperature and precipitation seasonality, temperature annual range, PET seasonality, and PET of the driest quarter (See Table 1). Determinants for the species with Central-Asian distribution O. ampullata are connected with temperature variables, whereas for Manchuro-Daurian species O. grandiflora precipitation matters (See Table 1 and Fig. 3A). The key factors for modern distribution of the studied Xerobia species are mean monthly potential evapotranspiration of the driest quarter, continentality index and climatic moisture index (See Fig. 3B). All these variables were determinants for the mid-Holocene and the Last Glacial Maximum (See Table 2 and Fig. 4), which might give evidence of relatively stable environmental conditions in the studied region. Central Asia has not been severely affected by glaciation as more northern latitudes and climate conditions on that territory were relatively stable during a long period. Modeling for the past climate showed a wider distribution for Xerobia species in the north-west during the Last Glacial Maximum and future shrinking during the Mid-Holocene till modern time (See Fig. 4). The north-eastern territories, such as Zabaykal’skiy region of Russia and, partially, the central part of Siberia, are characterized by a wider distribution under modern climate conditions. Species habitats of that territory are mostly confined with mountains. It is consistent with previous studies that described Southern Siberia as one of the centers of speciation for the genus Oxytropis. This region has now high Oxytropis species richness with a great number of endemics.Predictive maps for different climate scenarios reveal insignificant changes in distribution of the section Xerobia, even for the maximum climate warming (RCP8.5 scenario) (See Fig.5). Under predicted climate change, potential habitats in the southwest and in the north-east of Xerobia distribution, as well as a slight shrinking in the south-east can be observed in the future.

The Greater Hinggan Forest was the world’s largest stand of evergreens, along the Black Dragon River (also known as Amur), which forms the border between Chinese Manchuria and Soviet Siberia. Black Dragon fire ranks as one of the worst environmental disasters of the 20th century and it burned about 18 million acres of conifer forest. In the 2nd week of May, 1987, we observe more than 10K rise in brightness temperature over a wide region in the China-Russia border. The weekly mean NDVI data shows the changes in greenness after the forest fire broke out. The NDVI value is positive with persistent greenness and vegetation in the Amur River valley, but from the 2nd week of May onwards the reddish patch appears to spread over the entire region, indicates the burned areas. In addition, we observe the impact of Black Dragon forest fire on tropospheric ozone concentration, aerosol index away from the location over North Pacific Ocean. A clear increase in atmospheric pollutants can be noticed after the forest fire event and the long range transports are confirmed with 72 hours NOAA HYSPLIT forward trajectory analysis.

This article addresses population movements across the Amur and the Ussuri River borders between Russia and China. It analyses the history of border crossing in this region from Russia’s acquisition of the Amur and Maritime provinces from the Qing Empire in 1860 to the present time, with a focus on the 1920s and 1930s. The article’s first part demonstrates that the movement of people (settlers, work migrants, refugees) across the two river borders went in both directions. The second part asks when the formerly porous river borders became sealed through strengthened military control. By analysing the mechanics of border crossing, such as the clandestine passages of Mennonites, a Russian–German Protestant sect, from Soviet territory into Chinese Manchuria over the Amur in 1929 and 1930, as well as the escape stories of other refugees from the Soviet Union, the article shows in its third part that the ‘sealed’ borders could nonetheless be transgressed.

Spatial spreading of problem sites within the boundaries of the river segment of the state border between Russia and People’s Republic of China have been characterized in accordance with the results of studies conducted in 2009–2011. Criteria for assessment of hazard of the bed transformations taking part at the Amur basin rivers have been proposed. Main approaches to the solution of issues connected with stabilization of the bed positions within the problem sites of the Russian-Chinese river border have been considered.

Based on literature analysis and museum collections, the range of Mimela holosericea (Fabricius, 1787) is defined. Outside of Russia, M. holosericea is distributed in Kazakhstan, Mongolia, some northern provinces of China, the Korean peninsula and Japan. Within the Russian Federation, the species is recorded in 30 administrative regions (the Far East, Eastern, Western and Southern Siberia, the Urals, Volga River basin and Central Russia). It is most abundant and most frequently recorded at the Far East: the Jewish Autonomous Region, Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsky Krai, Amur and Sakhalin Regions. In the western part of its range - Volga River basin and Central Russia - the species is sporadically distributed, though the number of specimen records here has increased in recent years. The main habitats are sparse pine forests (on glades, roadsides, fringes) and floodplain cenoses.

In this article, we report artefacts found at the valley of Tsagaan Turuut River in the Khangai Mountain ranges in Central Mongolia. The artefacts were identified based upon core morphology, tool types and retouch. Regarding the core reduction techniques, single striking platform and single reduction platform cores are dominant. Although the tools on flake blanks predominant, tools such as points and knives with massive blades also occur. Side scraper, point, borer, combination tool, and borers are types that are less represented within the collection. This tool collection is highly similar to several IUP and EUP sites (Chikhen-2; Tolbor-4, 15 and 16) in Mongolia in terms of its reduction techniques and tool morphology. On a larger scale, it is similar to those of Early Upper Paleolithic sites in Trans-Baikal and Altai Mountains in Russia and North China.

From the 13th century, a large part of Asia was ruled by descendants from the great Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan. The European continent was considered the territory of this great empire, starting from Rome to China. During this period, along with the expansion of trade relations between East and West, artists and ideas about art began to flow to the West. Many of Genghis Khan’s successors in West Asia converted to Islam. These were the Golden Horde in Southern Russia, the Chagatai in Khwarazm, and the İlkhanats (Hulagus) in Azerbaijan. The territories of the İlkhanate state stretched from the Iranian bridge to Derbent and from the Amur River to Egypt. The most important country was Azerbaijan. As a result of the relocation of the capital of the İlkhanats state to Tabriz and the implementation of a number of reforms by Kazan khan, the planning of cities was expanded. Monumental buildings were erected to show the grandeur of the İlkhanats period. New architectural types and constructions were created in the monumental buildings, continuing the local traditions of the past. Juicy bricks and colored tiles were preferred as facing materials in the construction. Writing patterns began to dominate the decorations of the buildings.