Volume 7, Nº 1 (2016)

In the article the question of the possibility of using a unique group of diatoms in the diagnosis of environmental conditions.DiscussedcontroversialviewsontheconceptsofBacillariophytaasphytoliths.Forexample,literature data and own research presents diagnostic possibilities of diatoms: Marking soil formation processes, particularly the process of development of primary substrates, the geographical distribution of diatoms in soils. In particular, the features of the taxonomic composition of diatoms in bogs ecosystems, steppe, taiga and some others. The possibility of using diatoms as biological indicators of current conditions and the reconstruction of paleoecological environment. Includingspecial attention given to the possibilities of diagnostic spaleoecological conditions through modern representatives Bacillariophyta. However, there is still a lot of questions. It is important to accumulate data on the ecological spectrum of species of diatoms, especially environmental preferendum each of them to reliably diagnose the conditions of modern systems and reconstruct paleosoils conditions. What kind of phytocenotic indicators should be used to characterize the type (incidence, activity, ecol-cenotic significance) using the known formulas in the soil algology. To what extent correct this extrapolation? For now are dominated questions, but the prospects of this direction of research question remains.

The study of soil algae and their impact on various environmental factors is one of the current trends in algology. In the course of algological research of paleosol we found 13 species of algae belonging to 3 divisions, 4 orders, 4 classes, 6 families and 10 genera. The greatest number of taxa of different ranks was observed in the division Chlorophyta, accounting for more than half of the entire flora. The ratio of life forms, environmental groups and morphotypes, which are the main characteristics of the spectrum of algal groups, provides an informative image of the phytocoenotic organization. The discovered species of algae аre typical primarily for forest ecosystems.

The article describes the history of the phytolith method in Russia. It is shown that the method began to be used to address fundamental issues of evolution of Сhernozems since 1850, i.e. more than 160 years ago. It is noteworthy that this is one of the first examples of phytolith analysis used for research purposes in the world. Moreover, it is in Russia that this analysis was first used to solve the genetic problems of pedology, back in the days when "soil science" itself was not yet acknowledged as a separate branch of science. Over the past almost 170 years, the development of phytolithology in our country passed through three stages: from isolated research works published at considerable intervals (mid-XIX - first half of the XX century) to regular research of individual scientists (second half of the XX century) and eventually to the formation of research teams in different regions of the country with a large number of publications in all areas of phytolithology (XXI century).

The pedocomplex with modern and 4 buried soils was studied in the southern taiga zone using the soil properties and microbiomorfological analysis. The pedocomplex is located in the wide valley of the brook Kireeva, which separates sandy-loam terrace of river Ob and loamy interfluvial plain. The terrace is occupied by pine forests with herb cover. The plain is overgrown with birch forests with admixture of conifers (pine, and rare spruce) and tall-herb cover. The herb-grass meadow with dominating of meadow grasses ( Elytrigia repens, Phleum pratense , etc.) developes in the valley. Soil texture, soil properties and composition of humus were determined in the horizons of modern and buried soils. Microbiomorfological analysis was carried out for humus horizons. Radiocarbon dating (14C) was made using humic acids and calibrated. Investigated modern and buried soils were formed in different landscape-climatic conditions. Each cycle of denudation started with active sedimentation phase, then the burial of the existing soil profile and ended with the phase of quiet sedimentation with low speeds corresponding to the new climatic conditions of soil formation. The main indicator of differentiation between cycles of lithogenesis is soil texture. The composition of humus characterizes the conditions of soil formation, and phytolith complexes - plant communities. The upper (modern) soil (45 cm) is formed in stratified loamy-sandy loam sediment. The age of the humus layer is 840 years. Smooth elongates and trichomes are dominated in phytolith complex with small amount of polylobates. Such a set corresponds to the modern meadow with dicotyledonous herbs and meadow grasses. The phytoliths of conifers in small quantities seem to be imported from the terrace. Also fan-shaped and bulliforms are found together with shells of diatoms and few spicules of sponges, that indicate increased hydration. The soil texture of the first (I) buried soil (45-88 cm) changes on clay-loam. Humus-accumulation is well-developed (the humus content 8.0%). The composition of organic matter is humic (Cha/Cfa 1.8-2.2). The minimum age for burial of this soil amounts to 1170 years. The concentration of phytoliths is several times higher than modern. Bilobates and polylobates share increases, also spiny elongates and rondels appear. All signs are characteristic of more southern meadow with participation of steppe grasses. Found fan-shaped and bulliforms indicate wet conditions. The deposits, and then the second (II) buried soil (88-142 cm, the minimum burial age 3150 years) were also formed in conditions of quiet sedimentation. The soil texture is clay-loam, with a humus content 1.5-2.88%. The composition of organic matter of the whole selected profile is fulvic-humic (C ha/Cfa 1.48-1.55). The phytolith complex is very similar to modern. A slight increase in the share of conifer phytoliths and the trichomes characteristic of forest grasses may indicate greater forest area. Microbiomorfs - indicators of increased moisture are absent. The features of phytoliths comlex, fulvic-humic humus composition and signs of podzol process along with soddy process indicate dry and relatively cold conditions of soil formation. The profile of the third buried soil (142-174 cm) was formed in deposits with different soil texture -sandy-loam bottom, that typical for sediments of high speed flows, and clay-loam above, reflecting conditions of quiet sedimentation. The humus content is high (2.24-2.34%), humus composition is fulvic-humic (Cha/Cfa 1.5-1.7). The soil is gleyed. Radiocarbon age of pedorelicts 5900 years. The microbiomorf content is very low (minimal). Smooth elongates and trichomes are dominated. Grass phytoliths (polylobates) are rare. Fan-shaped, bulliforms and few spicules of sponges are found. The number of conifer phytoliths, considering the small total phytoliths number, is close to the modern and does not allow us to diagnose confidently wood conditions. All signs show that marshy measow (possibly forest) was developed. Soil texture of the fourth paleosoil (IV) at the depth 174 cm is clay; humus content - 3.3%), the soil is also gleyed. The humic acids are dominated in organic matter composition (Cha/Cfa 2.12-2.34). The phytolith complex is similar to the complex of the third buried soil and allows to recognize marshy meadow. The phytoliths of conifers and forest grasses could be brought from the terrace. The soil waterlogging seems to be associated with ground water at the higher than modern basis of erosion. Thus, wetland meadow, forest with herb cover, wet meadow with steppe elements and modern herb-grass meadow were developed in the formation stages of pedocomplex, fixed in buried humic horizons. Each of the plant communities were formed in climate conditions, corresponding to different subzones of the modern vegetative cover of West Siberia - from southern taiga up to forest-steppe.

The authors use palynological method in order to refine chronostratigraphy on multilayered archeological site Os’kino Boloto (forest-steppe Tobol basin). Pollen data of the settlement profile were compared with the samples taken under Tashkovo’s vessel (early Bronze Age) and under Koptyaki’s vessel (middle Bronze Age). The results show that different cultures can be stratified with the help of the palynological analysis - however, the research also highlighted some complications of correlating the data, obtained from the profile and the probe results. In the early Bronze Age, the birch and pine forests were very common with a, diverse range of herbaceous species. In middle Bronze Age, the birch became dominated and herbaceous got less various. In general, the results, obtained from pollen analysis matched previous studies, in the Tobol basin territory. Considering analysis of samples under the vesses, pollen spectra from Tashkovo’s vessel didn’t match the profile pollen spectra. Dominance of pine pollen might be related to pine branches, stored in a dwelling. The data obtained from under Koptyaki’s vessel match the settlement profile results.

The authors introduced the results of studying the deposits of peatland "Kuskun" in the floodplain of the Esaulovka River (Kansk forest- steppe). Peatlands are an important natural archive for past climatic changes, primarily due to their sensitivity to changes in the water balance and the dating possibilities of peat sediments. Climatic changes throughout the Holocene have been reconstructed from peat, using a wide array of biological and other proxies. Many different proxy-indicators can be derived from peat cores. Peat-based climatic and environmental reconstructions are currently available from many sites in Yenisei Siberia, mainly for its northern territories. The purpose of this research is to study some features of peatland's development and environmental reconstructions from the Holocene period in the south part of Yenisei Siberia (Kansk forest-steppe zone).The main method of the research is macrofossils analysis of peat. The analyses of plant macrofossils can be used to reconstruct the development of the local vegetation and surface wetness on peatlands, and thus to elucidate successional processes. To interpret these proxies by macrofossils analysis, the current botanical composition of the bog and the ecological behavior of different plant species were used. The analysis of plant macrofossils in the peat, based on the study of the flora and vegetation in a particular place over a period of time, has allowed the reconstruction of environmental changes that have occurred since the Late Glacial. Macrofossil types were identified with Kac and Kac Atlas. The reconstruction of the bog surface wetness was performed on the basis of the analysis of plant macrofossils. After that, we used the ecological scales of moisture and reconstructed surface wetness for the entire period of the peatland formation. Radiocarbon dating was carried out at Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk .We assessed humidity conditions during the whole period of peat accumulation and marked different phases in the development of peatland,we described their vegetation. We concluded that peatlands in Esaulovka River basin formed about 5000 years ago. It was found that all peatbogs are at the eutrophical phase. The peatlands formed as a result of overgrown oxbow lakes, floodplains and water logging of terrace lows. This research allowed determining the age of the peat deposits and the average rate of peat accumulation was 0.45 mm/ year.

In this article, complex results of phytolith and pollen analyses are presented. All investigations were conducted in the settlement and burial site of Schurovo, with profiles covering the interval of I millennium AD. Such works were carried out in the study area for the first time. Results of the analysis allow reconstructing the environmental dynamics and human impact in the area. It must be stressed that data on phytoliths and pollen analysis reveal different details, however, these data coincide well.

This article describes the phytoliths spectra of meadow and steppe phytocenoses from Altai region. The soil was taken from the three meadow plant communities and two steppe plant communities. Meadow plant communities were included upland meadows and abandoned field. Steppe plant communities were presented various options of fescue steppes. Soil samples were processed using the maceration method. Forms phytolites were counted using a light microscope. Quantity phytoliths from various samples was estimated to 200 pieces. We called phytolites according to international code of nomenclature phytoliths. The species composition of dominant plant was described for every plant formation. Plant species: Bromopsis inermis, Elytrigia repens and genera Festuca are found in most phytocenoses. The phytoliths of different plant taxa are of diverse specificity. 17 forms of phytoliths were allocated. Morphological types of phytoliths in various spectra from 13 and till 17 forms. Different morphotypes of grass phytoliths are important diagnostic factors in soil analysis due to their ecological-phytocenotic specificity. Trapeziform short cells, trapeziform sinuates, bilobate short cells, trapeziform polylobates, trichomes, rondels are found in all phytocenosises. Grasses are produced these phytolites. Phytoliths spectra from soils of the Altai region were compared with the composition of phytoliths in soil of the European part of Russia which were published Gol'eva AA. We identified correspondence with between phytolith spectra of upland meadows from the Altai region and phytolith spectra of dry meadows from the European part of Russia. Phytoliths spectra upland meadow communities had many phytoliths in the form: rondel, trichomes and long cells. Trapeziform polylobates are often founding. Phytoliths spectra steppe communities had many phytoliths in the form: trapeziform short cells, rondel. Trapeziform polylobates, trichomes found less often. Perforated rods are more likely to occur long cells as in the steppe and the meadow plant communities. The basic result is correlation between phytocenoses and phytoliths spectra. The difference phytoliths spectra of meadows and steppes was found. The morphotypes of grass phytoliths of the south of Western Siberia are marked by specific eco-coenotic features. The research may be useful for scientists in the field: archeology, ecology and paleoecology, paleobotany, pedology and paleo soil science, paleoclimatology. The article has supporting data, for example, plant phytoliths photos, graphics of phytoliths spectra.

C-N isotopic composition of paleontological bone of Coelodonta antiquitatis from the Late Pleistocene (MIS4 and MIS3) archeological Khotyk and Kamenka sites of the Western Transbaikalia are presented in the paper. It is shown that the diet Transbaikalian rhinos were C4-type plants, which testifies to the semi-arid and / or arid climate. It is shown that grazing Transbaikalian rhinos covered different hypsometric levels of midlands: its lowlands were water reservoirs and its slopes and watersheds were dry and /or semi-desert steppes.