Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roman J. Dial, Colin T. Maher, Rebecca E. Hewitt, Patrick F. Sullivan
Summary: Through studying a population of white spruce in the Arctic region, it has been discovered that they are expanding at unprecedented rates in areas far from established treelines. This expansion is facilitated by surpassing temperature thresholds, winter winds for long-distance dispersal, deeper snowpack, and increased soil nutrient availability. These observations provide important insights for forecast modeling and understanding the conversion of biomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Linwei Wu, Felix Yang, Jiajie Feng, Xuanyu Tao, Qi Qi, Cong Wang, Edward A. G. Schuur, Rosvel Bracho, Yi Huang, James R. Cole, James M. Tiedje, Jizhong Zhou
Summary: Microorganisms in subsurface soils showed reduced metabolic capacities in response to warming, likely due to increased thaw depth and altered microbial community compositions and functional structures. Bacterial and fungal abundances decreased significantly in the deep organic layer with warming, while fungal community composition and microbial functional structure were impacted. Environmental factors such as water saturation, soil moisture, and soil thaw duration played a role in shaping microbial communities in the subsurface soil layers.
Article
Environmental Sciences
William J. Riley, Zelalem A. Mekonnen, Jinyun Tang, Qing Zhu, Nicholas J. Bouskill, Robert F. Grant
Summary: Plant growth and distribution in high-latitude tundra ecosystems are limited by nutrient availability, and the acquisition of nutrients by plants during the non-growing season significantly affects vegetation dynamics. Utilizing a mechanistic model, this study demonstrates that nutrient uptake during the non-growing season enhances shrub growth and expansion rates.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mariana Vargas Medrano, Vanessa L. Lougheed
Summary: The study revealed significant differences in environmental conditions and zooplankton communities between urban ponds and thermokarst ponds compared to relatively unimpacted regions.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Adrianna C. Foster, Jonathan A. Wang, Gerald Frost, Scott J. Davidson, Elizabeth Hoy, Kevin W. Turner, Oliver Sonnentag, Howard Epstein, Logan T. Berner, Amanda H. Armstrong, Mary Kang, Brendan M. Rogers, Elizabeth Campbell, Kimberley R. Miner, Kathleen M. Orndahl, Laura L. Bourgeau-Chavez, David A. Lutz, Nancy French, Dong Chen, Jinyang Du, Tatiana A. Shestakova, Jacquelyn K. Shuman, Ken Tape, Anna-Maria Virkkala, Christopher Potter, Scott Goetz
Summary: Ecosystems in the North American Arctic-Boreal Zone (ABZ) are experiencing increasing disturbances due to climate warming and human activity. However, many of these disturbances are understudied, leading to uncertainty in their impacts on vegetation dynamics and interactions between disturbance types. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge of ABZ disturbances and their impacts, as well as identifying gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Hedvig Kriszta Csapo, Michal Grabowski, Jan Marcin Weslawski
Summary: The Atlantification of the European Arctic is a complex phenomenon driven mainly by the changing properties of Atlantic water, leading to the alteration of local ecosystems towards a more temperate state and the appearance/range expansion of subarctic-boreal species at higher latitudes. This poses a threat to Arctic marine communities, with increasing biological complexity, (re)colonisation of boreal organisms, and the role of floating plastic debris in aiding the distribution of marine taxa as key factors.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Lorna I. Harris, David Olefeldt, Nicolas Pelletier, Christian Blodau, Klaus-Holger Knorr, Julie Talbot, Liam Heffernan, Merritt Turetsky
Summary: Rapid permafrost thaw in western Canada is causing net carbon loss and new carbon accumulation in peatlands. Although there are no significant changes to the quality and stability of deep peat following thaw, the exact mechanisms of carbon loss are still uncertain.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Melchior van Wessem, Michiel R. R. van den Broeke, Bert Wouters, Stef Lhermitte
Summary: The study estimates the temperature thresholds for melt ponding over Antarctic ice shelves and reveals that cold and dry ice shelves are more vulnerable than expected. The commonly used -5 degrees C temperature threshold may not be applicable to all Antarctic ice shelves. The warming thresholds for melt pond formation are found to be highly variable and dependent on snow accumulation, suggesting that many ice shelves, even cold ones, may reach these thresholds by the end of the century.
NATURE CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Louise M. Farquharson, Vladimir E. Romanovsky, Alexander Kholodov, Dmitry Nicolsky
Summary: Talik formation, a significant mechanism of permafrost degradation, has been poorly understood due to the lack of in situ observations. This study presents ground temperature measurements from undisturbed sites in Alaska's discontinuous permafrost zone, revealing that novel taliks formed at multiple locations, primarily due to higher air temperatures and above-average snowfall. Future projections indicate that talik formation will become widespread, affecting up to 70% of the discontinuous permafrost zone by 2030, irrespective of snow conditions. By 2090, taliks in certain ecosystems may reach a thickness of 12 m. The establishment of widespread sub-aerial taliks has significant implications for permafrost thaw, hydrological connectivity, carbon cycling, and engineering.
Article
Ecology
Maria H. Hallfors, Juha Poyry, Janne Heliola, Ilmari Kohonen, Mikko Kuussaari, Reima Leinonen, Reto Schmucki, Pasi Sihvonen, Marjo Saastamoinen
Summary: The study shows that a combination of advancing phenology and shifting range boundaries is the most viable strategy for boreal Lepidoptera to adapt to changing climate. This may divide species into winners and losers based on their ability to capitalize on this combination, potentially having significant consequences on future community composition.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Salvatore R. Curasi, Ned Fetcher, Rebecca E. Hewitt, Peter M. Lafleur, Michael M. Loranty, Michelle C. Mack, Jeremy L. May, Isla H. Myers-Smith, Susan M. Natali, Steven F. Oberbauer, Thomas C. Parker, Oliver Sonnentag, Sergio A. Vargas Zesati, Stan D. Wullschleger, Adrian Rocha
Summary: Foundation species, such as tussock sedges, play a disproportionately large role in shaping ecosystem structure and function. This study investigates the impact of climate change on the distribution and carbon stocks of tussock sedges in the Arctic region. The findings highlight the need to better understand and represent the role of tussock sedges in predicting future changes in Arctic carbon stocks.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Diane C. Huebner, Agata Buchwal, M. Syndonia Bret-Harte
Summary: Thermokarst disturbance in permafrost landscapes is likely to increase with climate warming, resulting in changes to topography, vegetation, and biogeochemical cycling. This study on shrub-thermokarst relationships in Alaska's North Slope found that thermokarst activity had strong successional effects on shrub growth, with shrubs in retrogressive thaw slumps (RTSs) showing wider growth rings compared to undisturbed areas. Climate effects on shrub growth varied across species and sites, but overall, a higher June temperature and increased September precipitation were associated with wider growth rings. This research highlights the importance of understanding the impacts of thermokarst activity on tundra shrubs and the potential contribution of retrogressive thaw slumps to tundra greening.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
McKenzie A. Kuhn, Ruth K. Varner, David Bastviken, Patrick Crill, Sally MacIntyre, Merritt Turetsky, Katey Walter Anthony, Anthony D. McGuire, David Olefeldt
Summary: Methane emissions from boreal and arctic regions are globally significant and highly sensitive to climate change. The study highlights the differences in estimates of methane fluxes using bottom-up and top-down approaches for high-latitude regions. The comprehensive dataset BAWLD-CH4 provides valuable information for future research opportunities and model validation in high-latitude ecosystems.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Chloe Morineau, Yan Boulanger, Philippe Gachon, Sabrina Plante, Martin-Hugues St-Laurent
Summary: The contraction of species range is a significant symptom of biodiversity loss. This study assesses the potential effects of recent climate change on the observed range contraction of boreal populations of woodland caribou in Quebec. The results suggest that the range recession of caribou in Quebec is mainly caused by anthropogenic drivers rather than climate change.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Yaping Chen, Feng S. Hu, Mark J. Lara
Summary: The study used high-resolution aerial and satellite imagery data to investigate the relationship between shrub-cover change in the Arctic tundra and key environmental drivers like climate change and fire disturbance. Results suggest that summer precipitation is the most important climatic driver for shrub expansion, and shrub expansion in the uplands is largely enhanced by wildfire.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anton A. Zharov, Andrey Tchabovsky, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: Analysis of Cladocera subfossil remains in lake sediments is important in paleolimnological studies, but the representation of skeletal components in the sediments differs from that in live individuals. Different methods of enumerating relative abundances of cladoceran remains yielded similar results, with carapaces being the most abundant component. The disproportionate preservation of skeletal components among cladoceran taxa does not compromise the results of paleoecological analyses, but should be considered when interpreting results.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dmitry P. Karabanov, Eugeniya I. Bekker, Dmitry D. Pavlov, Elena A. Borovikova, Yulia V. Kodukhova, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: Accurate species identification is crucial for the detection and monitoring of biological invasions. In this study, we proposed and evaluated the efficiency of newly developed primer sets for the genetic identification of non-indigenous fish species in the Volga basin. The primer sets demonstrated high amplification efficiency and specificity, and cost-effective protocols for DNA isolation and PCR product purification were suggested. The study also provided original data on the genetic polymorphism of invasive fish species in the region, showing the high efficiency of DNA identification compared to traditional monitoring methods.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Alexey A. Kotov, Kay Van Damme
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexey A. Kotov, Derek J. Taylor
Summary: The Daphnia longispina complex contains several key freshwater species, and this study identified a new species, Daphnia japonica sp. nov. Recognizing the local and subalpine diversity in this group is crucial due to ongoing anthropogenic disturbance and its potential impacts on introductions, local extirpations, and hybridization.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexey A. Kotov, Anna N. Neretina, Shamma Eisa Salem Al Neyadi, Dmitry P. Karabanov, Waleed Hamza
Summary: A study of water fleas in man-made lakes in the northeast UAE identified five species and reconstructed the phylogenies of two species groups based on mitochondrial gene sequences. The results suggest that water flea clades in the Arabian Peninsula are older than those in northern Eurasia.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Waleed Hamza, Khaled M. Hazzouri, Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari, Khaled M. A. Amiri, Anna N. Neretina, Shamma E. S. Al Neyadi, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: This study reports the complete genome of the water flea Daphnia arabica, which shows genetic differences from other Daphnia species and adaptation to arid environments. Further research will help identify the specific genes that contribute to this adaptation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna A. Gurina, Roman Y. Dudko, Alexander V. Ivanov, Alexey A. Kotov, Yuri E. Mikhailov, Alexander A. Prokin, Alexander S. Prosvirov, Alexey Y. Solodovnikov, Evgenii V. Zinovyev, Andrei A. Legalov
Summary: Subfossil remains of insects and branchiopods were found in late Pleistocene deposits in Novosibirsk, Russia. The deposits had calibrated radiocarbon dates corresponding to marine isotope stage 2. The insect assemblages were diverse, with a high number of beetle species, including some that were found for the first time in Western Siberia. The ecological composition was dominated by steppe and tundra-steppe species.
Article
Zoology
Petr G. Garibian, Lena V. Andreeva, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: This article describes the redescriptions of C. dubia s.l. species group and the description of a new species, which improves our understanding of this species group and challenges the current definitions of Ceriodaphnia species groups.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dmitry P. Karabanov, Alexey A. Kotov, Elena A. Borovikova, Yulia V. Kodukhova, Xiaowei Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to compare the efficiency of fifteen single-locus species delimitation methods using a fish species in Lake Plescheyevo, European Russia, as an example. The results showed that all methods only adequately separated genera, and the effectiveness of each method correlated with the number of matches based on Ctax and MatchRatio criteria. The most comparable and synchronous results were obtained from bGMYC, mPTP, STACEY, and ASAP. The high genetic diversity observed supports the usefulness of the polymorphic species concept in conserving biodiversity.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Elena S. Chertoptud, Dmitry G. Seleznev, Petr G. Garibian, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: The Far East of Russia is a region where boreal and tropical faunas mix, and it is also known for its unique cladoceran endemism. This study compared microcrustacean associations in three large lakes (Khanka, Bolon, and Chukchagir) in the Russian Far East. The associations were identified using the discrete hypergeometric distribution, revealing differences in taxa involved and not involved in species associations among geographic faunistic complexes. The rate of endemism was higher among taxa incorporated into associations. Additionally, the lakes showed distinct clusters of phytophilous and planktonic species.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ivan I. Krolenko, Petr G. Garibian, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: This study explores the colonization history of freshwater Cladocera in the Far East of Eurasia and its reflection in the proportions of endemic/boreal/tropical taxa among different habitat types. The results show a higher proportion of endemic taxa in plankton compared to littoral and benthic zones. In the northern sub-regions, boreal taxa were prevalent, while tropical taxa were prevalent in the southern sub-regions, with a distinct transition zone in between.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
L. V. Andreeva, D. G. Seleznev, P. G. Garibian, A. A. Kotov
Summary: The species composition and faunistic associations of water fleas in the water bodies near the Lena River in Yakutsk have been studied. The study identified distinct groups of taxa that represent the core species in different water bodies and biotopes. The results also show differences in species composition and associations between the water bodies in the Lena River valley and the watershed.
INLAND WATER BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Dmitry P. Karabanov, Dmitry D. Pavlov, Yury Y. Dgebuadze, Mikhail I. Bazarov, Elena A. Borovikova, Yuriy V. Gerasimov, Yulia V. Kodukhova, Pavel B. Mikheev, Eduard V. Nikitin, Tatyana L. Opaleva, Yuri A. Severov, Rimma Z. Sabitova, Alexey K. Smirnov, Yury I. Solomatin, Igor A. Stolbunov, Alexander I. Tsvetkov, Stanislav A. Vlasenko, Irina S. Voroshilova, Wenjun Zhong, Xiaowei Zhang, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: This study describes the diversity of non-indigenous and native fish species in the Volga and Kama Rivers in Russia. The dataset includes data from 2001 to 2021 and provides valuable information for studying the distribution of non-indigenous fish species.
Article
Entomology
Petr G. Garibian, Nadezhda A. Kirova, Alexey A. Kotov
Summary: This communication presents the first record of Pleuroxus pamirensis from the Russian Federation. It belongs to a unique pair of chydorid species with lateral horns on valves. It differs from the closest P. annandalei in several characteristics. The study highlights the potential of mountain regions as a source for new findings of cladocerans, even in well-studied countries.
ARTHROPODA SELECTA
(2022)