Larisa G. Kolesnichenko

Thermokarst lakes of Western Siberia: a complex biogeochemical multidisciplinary approach

Western Siberia’s thermokarst lakes are highly dynamic hydrochemical systems that receive chemical elements from the surrounding peat soil and exchange greenhouse gases with the atmosphere, delivering dissolved carbon and metals to adjacent hydrological systems. Climate warming is likely to intensify the magnitude of these processes, thus seriously affecting the biogeochemical fluxes both on land and in the coastal zone of the Arctic Ocean. In this work, we review biogeochemical and morphological features of thermokarst water bodies comprising frozen palsa depressions up to large, kilometre-size lakes and drained lakes. Based on a compilation of more than a hundred analyses of these water bodies, we discuss the average concentration of organic carbon, as well as the major and trace elements, and predict the development of their chemical composition, CO2 and CH4 exchange with the atmosphere and effect on the riverine fluxes from the land to the ocean under the climate-warming scenario. The accelerating permafrost thaw and rising water temperatures in this region will probably shorten the life cycle of the thermokarst thaw water bodies, increase the fluxes of both CO2 and CH4 into the atmosphere, increase the concentration and delivery of dissolved organic carbon and related trace metals to the hydrological network and increase the potential bioavailability of micronutrients. Thus, the impact of permafrost thaw in Western Siberia on the global plantery processes, via the retroactive link between climate change and the thermokarst lakes’ geochemical activity, may be more significant than is currently expected.

Russian–EU collaboration via the mega-transect approach for large-scale projects: cases of RF Federal target Programme and SIWA JPI Climate EU Programme

Abstract The mega-transect approach is a unique infrastructure which was developed in Tomsk State University for environmental monitoring and landscape-ecological research. The approach can be followed in all seasons, for field sampling, ground-based research on the field stations in combination with remote sensing and ecosystem manipulations. The mega-transect was established as a framework for the concept of Western Siberia as a natural mega-facility, a kind of natural equivalent to CERN’s Large Hadron Collider, to attract leading international research groups. The paper describes cases of Russian Federation Federal target Programme and Siberian Inland Waters Joint Programming Initiative Climate EU Programme as examples of the large-scale international projects which are now resulting.

Rare and endangered plants of specially protected areas of West Siberian boreal coniferous forests (inside Tomsk oblast)

Abstract The article deals with various types of specially protected territories participating in preservation of biological diversity of boreal coniferous forests of the West Siberian Plain. Data are presented on species diversity of certain territories of Tomsk oblast established in various landscape and geographical conditions and under various conditions including areas within the Great Vasyugan Mire and the outskirts of Tomsk. The article reviews species of dominant plant families of rivers and lakes of the Polto system in the basin of the Tym river; and the condition of certain species of Orchidaceae, Empetraceae, Cupressaceae, Tiliaceae and Lamiaceae in other parts of the Tomsk region. There is also some analysis of species along with description of sites where 6 plant species were discovered (Orchis militaris, Orchis fuchsii, Juniperus communis, Empetrum nigrum, Tilia cordata, Stachys silvatica) that are protected in the area of study.

The concentration of Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, B, Sr, Cd and Pb in alluvial soils of the Ob River (forest-steppe, southern taiga and central taiga)

Three areas of the Ob River floodplain (forest-steppe, southern taiga and central taiga) were investigated. The total amount of Mn, Cu, Zn, Co, B, Sr, Cd and Pb was identified. The same elements were identified in ammonium acetate buffer extract, 1N HCl extraction and Tamm’s and Grimm’s soil extracts. The basic amount of trace elements in the soils is in the potentially unstable form, in Tamm’s and 1N HCl extracts (up to 74% of the total amount). The geochemical spectra of the investigated elements’ concentration in the soils and meadow vegetation are given. The Ob floodplain is not polluted as it has not been affected by industry, and that is why natural mechanisms of these soils can be easily detected. The content reduction regularity of most of the trace elements and their unstable forms in the soils from the south to the north of the Ob floodplain is observed. The same regularity concerns plants in which Co, Mo, B, Sr and Cd contraction and Mn, Zn and Cu increase are detected.