Search

Dissolved iron (dFe) in boreal rivers may play an important role in primary production in high-latitude oceans. However, iron behavior in soils and dFe discharge mechanism from soil to the rivers are poorly understood. To better understand iron dynamics on the watershed scale, we observed the seasonal changes in dFe and Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) concentrations in the river as well as dFe concentration in soil pore waters in permafrost watershed from May to October. During snowmelt season, high dFe production (1.38&ndash, 4.70 mg L&minus, 1) was observed in surface soil pore waters. Correspondingly, riverine dFe and DOC concentrations increased to 1.10 mg L&minus, 1 and 32.3 mg L&minus, 1, and both were the highest in the year. After spring floods, riverine dFe and DOC concentrations decreased to 0.15 mg L&minus, 1 and 7.62 mg L&minus, 1, and dFe concentration in surface soil pore waters also decreased to 0.20&ndash, 1.28 mg L&minus, 1. In late July, riverine dFe and DOC concentrations increased to 0.33 mg L&minus, 1 and 23.6 mg L&minus, 1 in response to heavy rainfall. In August and September, considerable increases in dFe concentrations (2.00&ndash, 6.90 mg L&minus, 1) were observed in subsurface soil pore waters, probably because infiltrated rainwater developed reducing conditions. This dFe production was confirmed widely in permafrost wetlands in valley areas. Overall, permafrost wetlands in valley areas are hotspots of dFe production and greatly contribute to dFe and DOC discharge to rivers, especially during snowmelt and rainy seasons.

In 1689, Russia and China signed the Treaty of Nerchinsk. The reason came from colonization they were developing the Russians on the Amur River, especially in the major tributaries. The Cossacks had established some strog (fort) to establish contact with Aboriginal people and for charging the tax. The Russians originated many problems and exhausted diplomacy, Kangxi Emperor sent troops to attack the Russians and evict the Amur River. In the strog of Nerchinsk the two delegations met to sign peace and Jesuit missionaries played a prominent role during the negotiations role and were responsible for drafting the document in Latin, translated the Manchu and help its development in Russian. En el año 1689, Rusia y China firmaron el tratado de Nerchinsk. El motivo procedía de la colonización que estaban desarrollando los rusos en el río Amur, especialmente en los afluentes más importantes. Los cosacos habían edificado algunos fuertes para establecer el contacto con las poblaciones aborígenes y para cobrarles el tributo. Los rusos originaron muchos problemas, agotando la vía diplomática. Como resultado el emperador manchú Kangxi envió tropas para atacar a los rusos y desalojarlos del río Amur. En el fuerte de Nerchinsk se reunieron las dos delegaciones para firmar la paz. Los misioneros jesuitas tuvieron un papel destacado en el curso de las negociaciones y fueron los encargados de redactar el documento en lengua latina, traducirlo al manchú y ayudar a su elaboración en ruso.

Water samples were collected from May to October in 2005-2008 to investigate the concentrations and fractions of dissolved iron in rivers, wetland and agricultural drainage in Sanjiang Plain, where land-use has been changing greatly since last fifty years although was formerly the largest concentrative distribution area of freshwater marshes in China. cross-flow technique was used to separate iron species by size fraction. The aim of this study is to reveal the iron fraction and to evaluate the effect of land-use change on transport and output flux of dissolved iron. The results show that marsh and marshy rivers exhibited higher concentrations of dissolved iron than in Amur River, Songhua River and Ussuri River and are the primary sources of dissolved iron for the rivers. Low molecular weight (LMW) iron was the major fraction of dissolved iron both in wetland and marshy streams, and 71% of LMW iron was in organic form in wetland. 73%-82% of dissolved iron was in the form of complexed iron in rivers. Ferrous iron accounted for 80.45% of dissolved iron in groundwater. The concentrations of high molecular weight and medium molecular weight iron (colloid iron) increased in paddy waters and ditch waters compared with in groundwater. Ferric and ferrous concentrations in Naoli River decreased between 1960’s and 2008. Land-use change in Sanjiang Plain reduces the output of dissolved iron, especially LMW iron and resulted in a great reduction of output flux of dissolved iron to Amur River.

В статті розглядається становлення та розвиток міжнародно-правового регулювання судноплавства по азійських відкритих ріках. Автор досліджує вплив європейської підсистеми міжнародного права на формування режиму проходу по внутрішніх водних шляхах цієї частини світу. Relationships of navigational usage of opened international rivers of Asia are constructed by the participants on the basis of recognition of waterways appurtenance to several states. That’s why riparian countries have the exceptional (sovereign) right to regulate this kind of relations. Such system of international relations in the area of river navigation was sanctioned by the Final Act of the Vienna Congress in 1815. Format of cooperation set by Final Act regarding the international river shipping was formed not only in Europe, but also in other parts of the world, particularly in Asia, where the colonies of European countries were located. The basic concept of territorial sovereignty and the idea of its implementation in solving the problem of regulating navigation on inland waterways were remained unchanged. It explains why such format of relations was saved in the Asian region in further periods. Scope of analyzed treaty practice confirms: notwithstanding the riparian states did not refer to the Act of 1815 in treaties on navigational usage of international rivers, approaches they have chosen for right of passage regulation didn’t differ fundamentally from those were reflected in treaties signed on the basis of the Vienna Act. The obtained results stimulate to further scientific research in order to identify common patterns in the progressive development of international-legal regulation of navigational usage of international rivers regardless of the continent on which they flow. This trend seems perspective because of the prevailing opinion among scientists about the pronounced regionalism of international river law.

Received: 16 May 2011 / Revised: 19 October 2011 / Accepted: 24 October 2011 / Published online: 20 December 2011, Russian Far East loaches of the genera Cobitis and Misgurnus are among members of the family Cobitidae with poorly understood systematics. In this study we present phylogenetic hypotheses based on mitochondrial (cytochrome b) and nuclear (RAG-1) sequences. All analyses recovered comparable topological phylogenies, and all data sets supported the non-monophyly of the genera Cobitis and Misgurnus. Both genera are represented by multiple lineages that in some cases do not correspond to the species described. We found some phylogenetic incongruities for the genus Misgurnus (M. mohoity and M. anguillicaudatus) that are explained by ancient hybridization, as was suggested previously for M. anguillicaudatus. The revealed phylogenetic relationships suggest that Paramisgurnus should be treated as a synonym of Misgurnus and M. bipartitus as a synonym of M. mohoity. All analyses recovered C. choii as a member of the genus Cobitis, confirming previous taxonomic conclusions. Most of the molecular lineages found follow currently recognized taxa with some exceptions, such as M. anguillicaudatus and C. lutheri. Phylogenetic relationships recover several unrelated lineages of M. anguillicaudatus and suggest additional studies to solve current taxonomic uncertainty. We found that C. lutheri is a nonnatural group that contains two unrelated lineages: specimens of C. lutheri from the Far East of Russia collected close to the type locality and a second lineage with specimens of C. lutheri from Korea, the identification of which must be revised. The study provides evidence of the presence of the Far East species M. nikolskyi in Sakhalin Island, but simultaneously shows conspicuous genetic distinctiveness between the island and the mainland populations., This study was partially supported by project ref. no. CGL2007-61010 of the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Spain)

Sturgeons are anadromous and potamodromous species inhabiting the northern hemisphere, which have been existing for almost 100 million years. These species have been caught and processed by human for the past 2500 years. The native habitats of the genus Acipenser include Eastern America, Adriatic - Ponto - Caspian region, Amur River, the Pacific Ocean and Siberia. Some members of this genus, which belong to 120 and 240 Chromosome Group and lack the monophyletic structure inhabit the brackish waters of Adriatic - Ponto - Caspian region. However this region is considered to be the richest and most ancient habitat of the Acipenser genus. The seven sub-genera with common characteristics living in this region can be identified as follows: Subgenus 1- A. Sturio 2- A. Gladostomus 3- A. Sterleta 4- A. Antaceus 5- A. Sinosturio 6- A. Parasinosturio 7- A. Dinectus Beside morphological, biological and ecological knowledge, conducting physiological studies as well as field studies would provide considerable assistance to study the systematic of sturgeons. Observations such as the difference in the structure of their bentophage stomach and existence of oocytes with average weight of 9-18 mg in species with 120 chromosomes and oocytes with average weight of 17-22 mg in species with 240 chromosomes living in the same region are among the valuable indicators. Based on the conducted research, the sturgeons can be classified as follows: 1) Family Acipenseridae including 5 genera (one fossil genus) and 26 species 2) Family Polyodontidae including 4 genera (two fossil genus) and 2 species 3) Family Chondrosteidae including 2 fossil genera In the present paper beside the phylogenetic path and systematic classification, exact scientific name, distribution and intraspecific forms (races) of the sturgeons have also been discussed.

Unusually severe weather is occurring more frequently due to global climate change. Heat waves, rainstorms, snowstorms, and droughts are becoming increasingly common all over the world, threatening human lives and property. Both temperature and precipitation are representative variables usually used to directly reflect and forecast the influences of climate change. In this study, daily data (from 1953 to 1995) and monthly data (from 1950 to 2010) of temperature and precipitation in five regions of the Amur River were examined. The significance of changes in temperature and precipitation was tested using the Mann-Kendall test method. The amplitudes were computed using the linear least-squares regression model, and the extreme temperature and precipitation were analyzed using hydrological statistical methods. The results show the following: the mean annual temperature increased significantly from 1950 to 2010 in the five regions, mainly due to the warming in spring and winter; the annual precipitation changed significantly from 1950 to 2010 only in the lower mainstream of the Amur River; the frequency of extremely low temperature events decreased from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River; the frequency of high temperature events increased from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River; and the frequency of extreme precipitation events did not change significantly from 1953 to 1995 in the mainstream of the Amur River. This study provides a valuable theoretical basis for settling disputes between China and Russia on sustainable development and utilization of water resources of the Amur River.

Planktobenthos was sampled in 1957-58 in the river Amur. A determination of the kind of organisms drifting in the mass of water of the Amur was carried out. Of special interest for the authors was the activity of drifting of benthic larvae. Translated from Russian into English