The paper highlights the results of long-term studies of insect of protective forest plantations and landscaping of common use in small towns of Volgograd region. This problem is considered to be important and relevant due to regional environmental conditions and insufficient studying. Green plantings of different functional purposes are seen as new biocenoses with high buffer capacity. These biocenoses combine introduced wood plants and aboriginal ones; and natural factors are combined with the features of anthropogenic influence. The most important component of these biocenoses is entomofauna. The paper aims at exploring the diversity of insects in green spaces of different categories, specifying their typical species, analyzing communities and showing the number of significant differences among them. The authors highlight direct relation between quantitative abundance and the structure of the insect population and the type/category, range, design parameters and age of plantings, microclimate conditions and soil acidity. The species diversity and density of harmful insects in protective forest plantings is much higher than in recreational and landscaping plantings. The authors found out that among the forest strips of different design parameters, higher number of pests is typical for narrow (2-3 rows) plantings of the blown structure, which indicates faster weakening and less resistance of trees in comparison with multi-row (6-10 rows) dense plantings. The most important leaf-eating pests inhabit mainly on the trees of the edge rows of protective plantings, while dangerous needle-eating insects inhabit mainly on the trees inside the plantings. The authors found out that species and quantitative abundance of stem pests in hardwoods depend on the range and design parameters; species and quantitative abundance of stem pests in coniferous plantings depend on the density of growing stock and plot microrelief . The obtained data can be used in forest management and environmental monitoring of green plantings.

The main features of the typical chernozem of the Uymon basin and dark chestnut soils of Kansk basin are found: these are a light granulometric composition with a high content of coarse soil, a sharp decrease of humus content and cation exchange capacity down the profile, slightly alkaline reaction of medium, and perfect structural state of horizons А and B. By density of the humus horizon, the soils of hayland and pasture belong to the soils rich in organic matter. The density of arable horizon on arable land correspond to typical values for a cultivated or a new-ploughed arable land. With the depth of the soil profile, this ratio increases, but it is lower than typical values for the subsurface horizons. The density of the solid phase varies slightly. In the upper organogenic horizons of the hayland and pasture, it is low due to the occurrence of organic matter. In the lower horizons, it is slightly higher and corresponds to the density of the solid phase for mineral soils. The porosity of the studied soils is in inverse proportion to density. The porosity of the upper horizons is perfect, and the horizons correspond to the cultural-arable layer. The porosity of the lower horizons is satisfactory. The hygroscopic moisture content of the soils under study varies in the wide range (0-9.9 %). The maximum hygroscopicity in the sandy loam horizons is low (2-4 %) and it is higher in loamy horizons (4-7 %). The permanent wilting point ranges from 12.4 to 14.1 %, and total water capacity - from 34.4 to 50.3 %. The infiltration properties of typical chernozem on arable land of the Uymon basin are high or too high that can lead to the loss of moisture. In terms of the typical chernozem on haylands, they are satisfactory. In the dark chestnut soils of the Kansk basin, the infiltration properties vary from the best to satisfactory. The infiltration capacity depends mainly on the granulometric composition, density and the structural state of soil.

Forage value and yield of green mass per unit of acreage are the key points in selection of forage crops. Corn is considered to be one of these plants. Its grain and green mass have good forage properties and are widely used when feeding cattle and poultry. Eastern hamagrass (Tripsacum dactyloides) is a wild corn counterpart. It is widespread on the hollows of North and South America. In recent decades, it has been recognized by livestock farmers h as a pasture and forage crop. More than 10 commercial varieties are sold in the USA. Hamagrass is highly productive and nutritional for the hay obtained from it. The paper evaluates forage properties of apomictic corn-tripsacum hybrids, when two corn genomes from the lines participating in hybrid breeding for producing F1 seeds were added to 36 hamagrass chromosomes. The authors compared forage properties of the hybrids received and assessed their potential yield on green mass. The results have shown, that the hybrid samples, two corn genomes from the lines participating in hybrid breeding for producing F1 seeds were added to 36 hamagrass chromosomes, surpass the indexes of plants when 20 chromosomes from one of the forms of corn were added for hybridization. The authors’ theoretical estimation of green mass yield of corn-tripsacum hybrids pro a hectare is about 700 centners.

The authors speak about relevance of creation and application of new generation of glumaceous and huskless spring barley varieties with high, stable yields in Western Siberian region. Barley productivity in the steppe regions of Siberia remains low and unstable due to insufficient and unstable precipitations. The researchers used the research results received in 2011 - 2016 and calculated and analyzed the parameters of plasticity, stability and ultrastability of barley varieties. The objects of research were 7 varieties of glumaceous and 2 forms of huskless spring barley bred in Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture, recommended for cultivation in the region. The average crop yield was 3.3 t/ha, which exceeded the standard crop yield of Sasha and Omskiy 100 varieties on 13.3 and 11.3%. For complete assessment of varieties adaptability, it is necessary to use a combination of indicators: regression coefficient (bi), stability variants (Ϭ2d), stability indicator of the variety (PUSS), ultrastability (Nom), adaptability coefficient (KA). When several methods are applied, the assessment is carried out by means of the total ranks obtained by each method. The paper highlights the varieties that were the highest and lowest on the ranks; the most adaptive ones are Sasha (the total rank is 8.0), Omsk 100 (14.0), Omsk 95 (20.0) and Siberian avangard (20.0).

The paper highlights the results of complex ichthyological research for many-years period. The authors consider the factors that influence the age and size composition and reproduction of aquabiological resources on the example of common pike (Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758) and silver carp (Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758)). The paper calculates possible fish yield. The authors found out that sport fishing and IUU fishing in water basins changes the structure of ichthyofauna. Low-value species are rapidly increasing the number of commercial herds. The number of valuable fish species is not stable as it is determined by withdrawal and abiotic factors. The researchers didn’t observe the cases of infection by opisthorchiasis and difillobotrioz in the explored water basins. The concentration of heavy metals in the muscle tissue of fish is mostly low, lower or substantially lower than permissible concentrations of heavy metals in fresh fish products in Russia. However, there is a number of exceptions. The authors investigated the Sandy lake and observed high concentration of lead in the tissues of the fish. The concentration of cadmium and mercury in the Ob within the boundaries of the Kamenka district is relatively high (but not higher than permissible concentration level).

The paper explores 11 lakelets in order to design the recommendations on stocking them with certain types of fish. Zooplanktone is represented by 32 species from three systematic groups. Zooplankton species diversity varies from 5 to 16. The dominant complex of species is very different.. In some lakes, the leading role belongs to the cladocerans. In other lakes, different species of copepods play a dominant role. The rotifiers dominate in two lakes. The quantitative indicators of zooplankton in the lakes differ significantly from each other. The highest number of zooplanktone is 1312,7, the minimum-26,7 thousands units / m3. The maximum zooplankton biomass was observed in the most saline lake where its value reached 70,7 g/m3. The least biomass was 0.1 g / m3. The zoobenthos contained 29 species from 11 large taxonomic groups. The most numerous group (19 species, 65.5% of the total number of taxonomic composition of benthic animals) consisted of chironomids, oligochaetes (3) and biting midges (2). Other groups consisted of one specie. The number of species in the lakes varied from 2 to 15. The highest parameters of the number was 973 samples/m2, biomass - 7.33 g/m2; the lowest parameters for the number and biomass were 26 samples/m2 and 0.16 g/m2 . According to zooplankton biomass and capacities for breeding fish lake planktophagous, 2 lakes out of 11 refer to those which have insufficient nutrients; other lakes refer to average lakes with sufficient nutrients to extremely nutrient lakes. Taking into account regional standards, equal to 50 kg/ha when breeding Peled, the authors recommend the Ploskoe lake, the Bogatikha, the Gorbunechnoe and the Sladkoe for commercial fish breeding. Considering development of zoobenthos, 7 lakes out of 11 belong to those which have insufficient nutrients. The Ploskoe lake, the Kamennoe, the Kalach and the Sladkoe are average lakes with sufficient nutrients and extremely nutrient ones. The authors recommend them for breeding carp and common carp.

Negative anthropogenic impacts on the ecosystem of the Caspian sea and its inhabitants, which took place in the late twentieth - early 21st centuries, have led to the fact that to date the number and stocks of sturgeon fish in the sea have dreamed up to critical values. There was a question about the preservation of the gene pool of these fish in the Caspian sea. Sturgeon are a transboundary species of the five Caspian States. On this basis, each state carries out research in its Maritime sector according to a programme, methodology and a grid of stations agreed by all five States. The results of the research are subsequently presented at the Meetings of the Commission on the conservation, rational use of aquatic bioresources of the Caspian sea and management of their shared reserves. This article presents the results of research in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian sea (KSCS). According to the results of the trawl surveys and netting catches the data on the distribution and qualitative composition of sturgeons (Beluga, stellate and Russian sturgeon) in the summer of 2016, Low number of some species of sturgeons in the catches, and the complete absence of other (Persian sturgeon) indicates a critical state of the populations of these fish in the Kazakhstan sector of the Caspian sea.

The paper explores the influence of hydrological regime in non-regulated part of the Volga River on the sloping migration of blackback shads larvae in different water years (2016-2017). The authors make the regression model in order to determine the effect of water discharge in non-regulated part of the Volga River on the concentration of blackback shads larvae during the migration period. The relation between water discharge amount and larval concentration in the years is calculated and approximated by means of the power equation with the determination coefficient. The model, built on the data of 2016, has a determination coefficient R2=0.87, which indicates the high quality of the regression model and the data used in its making. The model of 2017 with the determination coefficient R2=0.14 is a regression model of low quality and shows the discrepancy of the data used. The authors show changes in the daily and seasonal dynamics of the larval slope . In 2017, the authors observed less young fish in June. The number of young fish was 30.5 % of the total population, which is 2 times lower than that in 2016. The authors observed breaches in daily dynamics. In previous years, the part of larvae in the daytime was lower than in the night. This change is caused by peculiarities of hydrological regime in the Volga river during the migration of larvae, high flow rates and amount of water in 2017. The paper shows age groups of larvae which participate in the slope migration. Prolarvae prevailed in the slope in the research period in 2017. The number of prolarvae was 60 %, their part was 1.5 times higher than in 2016. The article estimates the conditions and efficiency of natural reproduction, the influence of changes in water discharges on the main indicators of blackback shads slope intensity.

The paper aims at characterizing dissemination and seasonal and age features of marals’ infection by strongylata helminthes on the territory of the Altai Republic. The research on exploring marals’ infection by strongylata helminthes was conducted in 5 administrative districts of the Republic, which are located in 3 areas: Northern area (Maima district), Central (Shebalinsk, Ongudai and Ust-Koksinsk districts), and Western (Ust-Kan) Altai. The authors didn’t observe significant changes in animals’ invasion by strongylata helminthes on the territory of Central, Northern and Western Altai. Marals’ infection was about 62-65,and 41-47 0,0%, respectively. The marals inhabiting in the Northern Altai were mostly infected by strongylata helminthes with esophagostomy in the structure of helminthics. The marals inhabiting in Western and Central Altai are 2 times less infected by strongylata helminthes. The authors observed nematodes in the marals inhabiting in Central Altai, where their infection index is 1.0%. The young animals born this year has the lowest invasion by strongylata helminthes in the digestive system (12.2 % ), and the maximum invasion by protostrongylid - 96.8%. The infection rate of young animals aged 1-2 digestive tract, as well as maral males and females, by strongylata helminthes was 34.9 -40,8%; the infection rate by protostrongylids was 76,1; 41,4; 71,4% respectively. Seasonal dynamics of marals invasion by protostrongylids is characterized by maximal invasion in winter and minimum invasion in summer. Digestion strongylata helminthes’ peak of invasion occurs in the period from August to October and caused by dominance of hemangini nematodes in helminths.

The paper highlights the effect of 40% alcohol extract of large bee- moth (Galleria mellonella) on the organs of mice. The researchers used white mice, arranged in groups of 5. The control group consisted of mice that did not receive the extract. The researchers applied the specimen in mice of groups 1, 2 and 3, when the specimen was applied during 21 days dozed 6, 12, 24 ml per 100 ml (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9%), respectively. The authors found out that in histological examination of the myocardium in all experimental groups, the structure of the endocardium, myocardium and epicardium corresponded to physiological parameters. The authors observed the tendency to increase the size of renal bodies and a slight increase in urinary space in the kidney tissues of all experimental animals. This may indicate some increase in renal filtration. The authors observed less thickness of the glomerular zone of the adrenal cortex in the animals of the 2nd and 3rd experimental groups. Higher thickness of the beam zone was observed only in animals of the 1st experimental group, which could indicate stress effects. This lower index was observed in other experimental groups of mice, which could be caused by depletion of compensatory mechanisms. After applying the extract dozed 0.3 %, the authors found out an increase in the thickness of the adrenal brain zone, while 0.6 and 0.9% dozes led to the decrease of the index. Changes in the liver certify the impact of ethyl alcohol on hepatocytes. The authors observed higher number of dual-core hepatocytes and vacuolazed ones in proportion to higher concentration of the extract in the experimental animals. Studying the spleen, the researchers found an increase in the area of the white pulp and signs of blast transformation in the animals of the 2nd experimental group. Thus, oral application of G. mellonella extract in different dosage provokes histological changes that characterize compensatory reactions, severity of which was determined by specimen doze. The authors didn’t prove specimen toxicity. The specimen dozed 0.3 % has a frank adaptogenic effect on the internal organs of mice.

The article provides data on calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P) and magnesium (Mg) content in the individual components, as well as in total mixed ration (TMR) for cows at first and second phases of dry period. The ration for the first phase of the dry period contains forage amounting to 77 % concentrates amounting to 23 %. The ration of the second contains excessive amount of concentrates (13,2 % excess versus 30 % recommended), the forages amounted to 56,8 %. Ca in lucerne haylage amounts to 6,9 g/kg of natural substance, what is less than a mean Ca content of the region (7,3 g/kg). Content of P and Mg in Lucerne haylage within average figures per region (1,2 and 1,1 g/kg respectively). Concentration of Ca in the maize silage is significantly lower than average figure per region (1,0 g/kg vs 1,9-2,1 g/kg). P and Mg content levels the average region figures (0,6 g/kg and 0,5 g-kg respectively). Ratio between Ca, P and Mg in the ration for the first phase of the dry period is 3,7:1:1,5 what does not match with the recommended ratio of 0,6:1:1. Analysis of the ration for the second phase of the dry period revealed the Ca: P: Mg ratio does not comply with the norm as well and amounts to 2,4:1:0,7 and 2,5:1:1,5. Biochemical blood test revealed Ca and P ratio distortion in 45 % of animals at dry period. Basing on the research the farm was given practical recommendations to improve the animals feeding at dry period.

The paper shows the impact of mineralized peat as an unconventional power source in mixed fodder for quails on their livability and growth rate. The value of peat is in its rich chemical composition, where calcium, phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper and zinc prevail. The authors highlight the effective dose of mineralized peat application in the diets of quails during the period of growth. The highest parameters were obtained when the poultry had free access to peat in separate feeders. Peat consumption was 13.8% of the total consumed feed. This allowed to increase the body weight gain of quails on 6.2%, young poultry livability on 6.0%; to reduce feed costs per unit of production on 10.0% in comparison with the control group.