Experimental modeling of the microbiota of a biocontrol population of the predatory mite Neoseiulus californicus bred on the spider mite Tetranychus urticae was carried out to both eliminate bacterial pathogens and increase the viability of the mite line. We produced an isofemale line of N. californicus BioDefence2 and a derived line with an optimized microbiota BioDefence3. The microbiota was optimized by the sequential treatment of the mite line with tetracycline to eliminate pathogenic bacteria, followed by treatment with the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis to restore the viability of the mite line. The microbiotas of the BioDefence2 and BioDefence3 mite strains were compared using metagenomic 16S rRNA gene data. The metagenomic data were extracted from the hologenomes of the mite strains obtained through Oxford Nanopore long read sequencing. The bacterial species comprising the microbiotas of the original and optimized mite strains were identified. The saprophytic soil bacteria, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Acinetobacter johnsonii, and Enterobacter hormaechei, also known as opportunistic human pathogens, form the basis of the N. californicus microbiota. The optimization of the microbiota eliminates the intracellular bacterium Renibacterium salmoninarum, a well-known fish pathogen and the toxin-producing bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The effect of optimization of the mite microbiota on the viability of the biocontrol population of N. californicus is discussed. The results obtained may provide a basis for improving the technology of rearing N. californicus.

Two novel yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped and non-motile coryneform actinobacteria, strains VKM Ac-2596T and VKM Ac-2761, were isolated from a plant Tanacetum vulgare (Asteraceae) infested by foliar nematode Aphelenchoides sp. The strains exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Rathayibacter agropyri CA4T (99.71

Neoseiulus californicus is widely used as an effective biocontrol agent of spider mites. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of N. californicus was determined using Oxford Nanopore sequencing technology. The complete mitochondrial genome is 21,318 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal rRNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes. Its AT content is 78.4%. All start and stop codons of the protein-coding genes are canonical, except for the missing stop codon for the cox3 gene. The control region was polymorphic in length between the sublines of N. californicus due to variable number of direct repeats. The mitogenome presented in this paper contributes to the study of the genetic structure of N. californicus biocontrol populations.

Seven actinomycete strains assigned to seven new species of the genus Kribbella were isolated from soils of different regions in Russia. The strains exhibited 98.2–99.3

An assessment has been made of the correctness of using DS1922L-F5 automatic thermographs and DS1923-F5 thermohygrographs in monitoring air temperature and relative humidity in mountain–depression landscapes by comparing data obtained with loggers and standard psychrometric thermometers installed at the Tunka weather station (Republic of Buryatia). A comparative analysis is carried out using standard statistical methods. It is found that the differences in the readings of the instruments do not exceed the instrumental error of temperature measurement (0.1°C) in 75

Spatial and depth-profile variations in stable carbon isotopic composition of soil organic matter have been studied in the central part of the western coast of Lake Baikal. The contrasting landscape structure and significant climatic variability of the area strongly affect the soil stable carbon isotopic composition. The δ 13 С values of organic matter and litter vary in the range from –27.93 to –18.19‰ and indicate the predominance of C3-pathway vegetation. However, in the steppe landscapes, single representatives of plants with C4 and CAM photosynthesis types have been noted. The δ 13 С values increase in the direction from the forest soils of the foothills of the Primorsky Range to the steppe soils of the Olkhon Plateau. This trend reflects a decrease in humidity, the main limiting factor of the soil development in the Olkhon region. Insufficient moisture determines the stable carbon isotopic composition of soil organic matter through 13 C discrimination in plant tissues. Regardless of the soil-forming conditions, δ 13 С values increase with the depth in the soils of the studied area. However, the gradient rates are determined by local combinations of environmental factors. According to the differences in the slope coefficients of linear regressions (β) in the studied soils, more intensive carbon turnover is assumed in the soils of coastal landscapes, negative landforms, and the slopes of northwestern exposures. Under such conditions, air masses from Lake Baikal cause a significantly lower drying of the soil profile in summer and provide a more favorable water and temperature regime for microbiological activity. At the same time, β variations are not accompanied by significant fluctuations in C/N ratio and pH values, which may indicate an insignificant role of edaphic factors and overlapping of their influence by the effect of moisture deficiency on the carbon turnover intensity in the soils of the Olkhon region.

Assessing the main factors that control carbon dynamics in soils is an urgent problem in the context of modern climate change. The analysis of stable carbon isotope (δ 13 С) composition is one of the approaches to understanding this dynamics. The study was carried out in the landscapes of the southeastern slope and foothills of the Primorskii Range, characterized by contrasting physico-geographical conditions. Climatic parameters, spatial variations in the composition of stable carbon isotopes and their distribution in soil profiles, and soil physicochemical properties controlling carbon dynamics have been analyzed. The soil humus horizons formed in mountainous tundra and steppe landscapes manifest the highest δ 13 С values (–24.72 and –23.97…–24.75‰); whereas the lowest (–25.61…–27.18‰) values are registered in the mountainous taiga soils. Based on the calculation of linear dependence between δ 13 С values and the total carbon content in soil, which varies with the depth, the carbon turnover intensity was determined using the slope of linear regression. It was revealed that under the contrasting conditions of mountainous tundra and steppe landscapes, the climate (deficiency of heat and moisture) has a significant impact on the intensity of organic matter transformation, blocking the effect of edaphic (soil profile) factors. Under more favorable climatic conditions of mountainous taiga landscapes, the dynamics of organic matter in soils is controlled mainly by edaphic factors.

Automatic monitoring of air temperature and humidity in the mountain-depression landscapes of the Tunka depression has been organized. The results of the analysis of observation data for 10 years showed significant differences in the temperature regime in different landscapes. The sites can be divided into three groups – the slopes of the depression, pine- herbaceous landscapes, and the lacustrine-bog complex of the central part. The average annual air temperature at all sites is negative and vary in range -0.7 … -2.1°C. Vegetation has the greatest influence on microclimatic characteristics. The maximum contrasts in the temperature regime of the air throughout the year are observed in open areas with cloudless skies. In winter, this is explained by radiation cooling, and in summer – by the heating of the open surface in the daytime. In this case, not only the daily amplitude of air temperature in the open areas increases, but also the largest contrasts between the open and closed areas are observed.

Meteorological parameters measured over two months by two automatic weather stations on the Sygyktinsky glacier and its terminal moraine (Kodar ridge, South of Eastern Siberia, 56.9 degrees N, 117.4 degrees E) were used to study the physical processes controlling the summer ablation of the glacier. The meteorological regime of the glacial zone is conditioned by large-scale atmospheric circulation and characterized by steadily positive air temperatures (7.2 +/- 4.5 degrees C), high relative humidity (76 +/- 23%), significant cloud cover (66%), a predominance of low-intensity precipitation, and low wind speeds (1.0 +/- 0.8 m/s). It is found that the daily air temperatures on the glacier strongly correlate (r = 0.97) with those in the free atmosphere, so the ERA-Interim reanalysis data (at the level of 750 hPa) can be used to make longer the temperature series on the Kodar glaciers. We found significant statistical relationships between the daily ablation (29 mm day(-1) on average) and relative humidity as well as with incoming shortwave radiation and cloud cover. The short-wave radiation balance (91 W/m(2)) is the main source of energy for melting, which depends on the albedo (average value 0.41). On days with summer snowfalls, the increase in albedo reduces the short-wave balance by 2.5 times. Explicit and latent heat fluxes are the secondary sources of melting energy, while heat loss takes place mainly due to effective long-wave radiation (-15 W/m(2)). The absorbed short-wave radiation on the glacier was smaller than that on the moraine, but the radiation balance was comparable on both sites owing to smaller effective LW radiation on the glacier. The dominance of the radiation factor demonstrates the important role of the solar radiation regime (cloud cover and atmospheric transparency) in the surface ablation of the Kodar glaciers.

Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the type species of the genus Methylarcula, Methylarculamarina h1T was closely related to Paracoccus saliphilus DSM 18447T with high sequence similarity (97.8%). The genome of Methylarcula marina h1T was sequenced and its average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization with Paracoccus type strains were 72.6–88.2% and 19.1–36.3%, respectively. Genome comparison showed significant similarity between the genes of methylo-trophy of Methylarcula marina h1T and Paracoccus saliphilus DSM 18447T. Genome analysis of M. marina strain h1T revealed the presence of the genes involved in oxidation of methanol, formaldehyde, and methylamine, as well as of the genes of the N-methylglutamate and icl− serine pathways, but not the genes of functional ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase. According to the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genome-encoded traits of Methylarcula marina h1T, it should be transferred to the genus Paracoccus as a novel species, for which the name Paracoccus methylarcula nom. nov. (type strain h1T = VKM B-2159T = CCUG 72982T) is proposed.

Air temperature is one of the most important climate characteristics, which is used for climate research, investigation and modeling of vegetation, hydrological parameters and other landscape components as well as geosystems entirely. The use of a landscape approach greatly simplifies the process of visualizing meteorological parameters and allows you to take into account influencing factors, since they have already been taken into account when drawing up a landscape map. This article describes cartographic models of the air temperature field of the Tunka intermountain basin created using in-situ wide network of modern automatic measuring instruments and remote sensing methods that allow us to solve the problem of climate research at a local level, as well as a landscape-interpretation mapping method. The main advantages and disadvantages of these cartographic methods are assessed. It is shown that a joint analysis of the data from a dense network of field observations, remote sensing data, and a landscape map made it possible to analyze the dynamics of the spatiotemporal distribution of the air temperature field with a relatively high degree of accuracy.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Antarctica, Apenidiella antarctica from permafrost, Cladosporium fildesense from an unidentified marine sponge. Argentina, Geastrum wrightii on humus in mixed forest. Australia, Golovinomyces glandulariae on Glandularia aristigera, Neoanungitea eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis, Teratosphaeria corymbiicola on leaves of Corymbia ficifolia, Xylaria eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus radiata.Brazil, Bovista psammophila on soil, Fusarium awaxy on rotten stalks of Zea mays, Geastrum lanuginosum on leaf litter covered soil, Hermetothecium mikaniae-micranthae (incl. Hermetothecium gen. nov.) on Mikania micrantha, Penicillium reconvexovelosoi in soil, Stagonosporopsis vannaccii from pod of Glycine max.British Virgin Isles, Lactifluus guanensis on soil. Canada, Sorocybe oblongispora on resin of Picea rubens.Chile, Colletotrichum roseum on leaves of Lapageria rosea.China, Setophoma caverna from carbonatite in Karst cave. Colombia, Lareunionomyces eucalypticola on leaves of Eucalyptus grandis.Costa Rica, Psathyrella pivae on wood. Cyprus, Clavulina iris on calcareous substrate. France, Chromosera ambigua and Clavulina iris var. occidentalis on soil. French West Indies, Helminthosphaeria hispidissima on dead wood. Guatemala, Talaromyces guatemalensis in soil. Malaysia, Neotracylla pini (incl. Tracyllales ord. nov. and Neotracylla gen. nov.) and Vermiculariopsiella pini on needles of Pinus tecunumanii.New Zealand, Neoconiothyrium viticola on stems of Vitis vinifera, Parafenestella pittospori on Pittosporum tenuifolium, Pilidium novae-zelandiae on Phoenix sp. Pakistan, Russula quercus-floribundae on forest floor. Portugal, Trichoderma aestuarinum from saline water. Russia, Pluteus liliputianus on fallen branch of deciduous tree, Pluteus spurius on decaying deciduous wood or soil. South Africa, Alloconiothyrium encephalarti, Phyllosticta encephalarticola and Neothyrostroma encephalarti (incl. Neothyrostroma gen. nov.) on leaves of Encephalartos sp., Chalara eucalypticola on leaf spots of Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla, Clypeosphaeria oleae on leaves of Olea capensis, Cylindrocladiella postalofficium on leaf litter of Sideroxylon inerme, Cylindromonium eugeniicola (incl. Cylindromonium gen. nov.) on leaf litter of Eugenia capensis, Cyphellophora goniomatis on leaves of Gonioma kamassi, Nothodactylaria nephrolepidis (incl. Nothodactylaria gen. nov. and Nothodactylariaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Nephrolepis exaltata, Falcocladium eucalypti and Gyrothrix eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Gyrothrix oleae on leaves of Olea capensis subsp. macrocarpa, Harzia metrosideri on leaf litter of Metrosideros sp., Hippopotamyces phragmitis (incl. Hippopotamyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Phragmites australis, Lectera philenopterae on Philenoptera violacea, Leptosillia mayteni on leaves of Maytenus heterophylla, Lithohypha aloicola and Neoplatysporoides aloes on leaves of Aloe sp., Millesimomyces rhoicissi (incl. Millesimomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Rhoicissus digitata, Neodevriesia strelitziicola on leaf litter of Strelitzia nicolai, Neokirramyces syzygii (incl. Neokirramyces gen. nov.) on leaf spots of Syzygium sp., Nothoramichloridium perseae (incl. Nothoramichloridium gen. nov. and Anungitiomycetaceae fam. nov.) on leaves of Persea americana, Paramycosphaerella watsoniae on leaf spots of Watsonia sp., Penicillium cuddlyae from dog food, Podocarpomyces knysnanus (incl. Podocarpomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Podocarpus falcatus, Pseudocercospora heteropyxidicola on leaf spots of Heteropyxis natalensis, Pseudopenidiella podocarpi, Scolecobasidium podocarpi and Ceramothyrium podocarpicola on leaves of Podocarpus latifolius, Scolecobasidium blechni on leaves of Blechnum capense, Stomiopeltis syzygii on leaves of Syzygium chordatum, Strelitziomyces knysnanus (incl. Strelitziomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Strelitzia alba, Talaromyces clemensii from rotting wood in goldmine, Verrucocladosporium visseri on Carpobrotus edulis.Spain, Boletopsis mediterraneensis on soil, Calycina cortegadensisi on a living twig of Castanea sativa, Emmonsiellopsis tuberculata in fluvial sediments, Mollisia cortegadensis on dead attached twig of Quercus robur, Psathyrella ovispora on soil, Pseudobeltrania lauri on leaf litter of Laurus azorica, Terfezia dunensis in soil, Tuber lucentum in soil, Venturia submersa on submerged plant debris. Thailand, Cordyceps jakajanicola on cicada nymph, Cordyceps kuiburiensis on spider, Distoseptispora caricis on leaves of Carex sp., Ophiocordyceps khonkaenensis on cicada nymph. USA, Cytosporella juncicola and Davidiellomyces juncicola on culms of Juncus effusus, Monochaetia massachusettsianum from air sample, Neohelicomyces melaleucae and Periconia neobrittanica on leaves of Melaleuca styphelioides × lanceolata, Pseudocamarosporium eucalypti on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., Pseudogymnoascus lindneri from sediment in a mine, Pseudogymnoascus turneri from sediment in a railroad tunnel, Pulchroboletus sclerotiorum on soil, Zygosporium pseudomasonii on leaf of Serenoa repens.Vietnam, Boletus candidissimus and Veloporphyrellus vulpinus on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

The article presents data on continuous monitoring of the characteristics of the climate system with high spatial-temporal resolution. The study area is the Tunkinskaya rift system of depressions, in particular, the Tunkinskaya and the Mondinskaya depressions. Five cross sections characterizing the typical conditions of mountain-depression landscapes of the South Baikal region were selected. At each point of a cross section, a description of the landscape, laying of the soil section, its description, sampling for subsequent laboratory analyses to clarify the genesis and name were carried out. Meteorological parameters were monitored using stand-alone programmable thermographs. It was shown that the influence of individual and contrasting morphometric characteristics of depressions on the climate is reflected in the characteristics of the temperature and humidity regime as a whole, as well as in the features of the cold and warm period. There is a high spatial heterogeneity of temperatures and precipitation with a noticeable gradient between the peripheral and central parts of depressions. It is also shown that the territory is characterized by the high contrast of geological, geomorphological, phytocenotic and soil conditions, which creates a unique landscape diversity both between different depressions and within each depression.

At V.B. Sochava Institute of Geography SB RAS work is carried out on studying the climate of landscapes in the Tunkinskaya depression. Thermographs and thermohygrographs, such as Hygrochron Temperature / Humidity Logger iButton (Maxim Integrated Inc., USA), are used for monitoring of air temperature and humidity. The application of DS1922 thermographs and DS1923 thermohygrographs to climate monitoring is promising and allows us to describe the features of temperature and humidity regimes correctly taking into account the properties and form of the underlying surface. The reliability of the observation data obtained by using the electronic loggers is confirmed by statistical methods. The differences in the time and average daily values of temperature and relative humidity obtained by the loggers and standard meteorological equipment in most cases do not exceed the instrumental error declared by the manufacturer. The data obtained with the help of DS1922 thermographs and DS1923 thermohygrographs can significantly supplement the available information on meteorological conditions in mountain areas.

Environmental disturbance is an unpreventable consequence of human impact after exploration and research station management in Antarctica. Environmental pollution may directly influence Antarctic mycobiota. However, information about the effect of anthropogenic factors on microscopic fungi at extremely low temperatures is insufficient. This work compared the abundance and the species diversity of mycelial fungi from soils of six Russian research Antarctic stations—Bellingshausen, Progress-2, Druzhnaya-4, Molodezhnaya, Novolazarevskaya and Oasis−affected by various anthropogenic impacts (operation of tracked and wheeled vehicles, storage and use of petroleum products and petroleum leakage sites) with that from their background analogues. New data were obtained on the taxonomic diversity of mycelial fungi from Antarctic soils with different anthropogenic loads. Cultural, morphological and physiological studies of 142 isolated strains of mycelial fungi were supplemented by molecular–biological research into sterile mycelium strains and those with vague morphological characters. This contributed not only to the verification but also to a significant increase in the number of taxa of mycelial fungi isolated from low-temperature ecotopes. Leotiomycetes and Dothideomycetes were found to be the most dominant classes in the studied samples. It was shown that several ecological groups of micromycetes could be isolated among the mycobiota of the investigated habitats, the abundance and species composition of which changed differently under the influence of anthropogenic factors. The current results highlight that microbiota changes in human-affected soils can serve as an indicator of the state of low-temperature ecotopes in general.

Air temperature is one of the most important climate characteristics, which is used for climate research, investigation and modeling of vegetation, hydrological parameters and other landscape components as well as geosystems entirely. The goal of this research is investigation and mapping of the seasonal and daily air temperature regime of different landscapes of Mondy valley. For the research we use landscape map of the area on the level of group of facies as well as thermochron devices. For the analysis of air temperature regime of different landscapes we used year-round time air temperature data for 2013 from 12 key areas. For each class of facies of the landscape map monthly air temperature characteristics were calculated, and maps of mean monthly air temperature were made. According to the annual mean air temperature values landscapes of the bottom of the valley are colder than landscapes of slopes. Temperature regimes of landscapes in summer and in winter are different. In winter landscapes of the central part of the valley are characterized by the lowest values of air temperature, and the landscapes of the ridges – by the highest temperature due to winter temperature inversions.

The regional features of long-term changes in air temperature at the south-western Baikal region on the background of global climate changes were studied. To estimate changes in air temperature in the basins of the south-western Pribaikalie, the long-term series of air temperature were used for the Tunka weather station. The correlation coefficients between the series of air temperature at the Tunka weather station and the temperature averaged for the temperate latitudes, the Northern Hemisphere, and the Globe were analyzed. Analysis of the variations in the anomalies of the mean annual temperature averaged for different zones, have shown a pronounced increase in the growth rate of the annual air temperature since the beginning of the 1970s for all the series of data. To estimate the relationship between the change in the surface air temperature in south-western Pribaikalie and large-scale atmospheric circulation mechanisms, correlation coefficients between the series of temperature and the characteristics of the atmospheric circulation have been calculated. The results of the analysis showed that the closest relationship between air temperature in the basins of the south-western Pribaikalie exists with the Scandinavian index (SCAND), the western type of atmospheric circulation of Wangengeym-Girs (W) in winter, the pressure in the center of the Siberian High in December.

A haloalkaliphilic restricted facultative methylotroph, strain Bur 1, which used methanol, methylated amines, and fructose as carbon and energy sources, was isolated from the soda Lake Khilganta (Buryat Republic, Russia). The cells were gram-negative non-spore-forming, motile rods reproducing by binary fission. The organism was aerobic, reduced nitrates to nitrites. Growth occurred at temperatures from 4 to 37°C (optimum at 25–29°C), pH 7.5–10.5 (optimum at 8.5–9.5), and NaCl concentration in the medium from 0.05 to 10.0% NaCl (optimum at 3–4%). Ectoine, glutamate, and sucrose were accumulated as osmoprotectants. Activity of the enzymes of de novo ectoine biosynthesis were detected. The organism utilized C1 compounds via the KDPG variant of the ribulose monophosphate pathway. The DNA G + C content was 44.67 mol %. Based on the similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequences (94.7–99.1%) and the results of DNA–DNA hybridization (24–74%) with type strains of the neutrophilic and alkaliphilic Methylophaga species, the isolate was identified as Methylophaga muralis Bur 1 (VKM B-3046 = DSM 103617). The genome of M. muralis Bur 1 contained 2585 protein-encoding genes; 634 proteins with unidentified functions were predicted. Three rRNAs (5S, 16S, and 23S) and 38 tRNAs were identified. Apart from the mxaFJGIRSACKLDEH classical cluster of methanol oxidation genes, the xoxF gene was found. Methylamine was oxidized to formaldehyde by methylamine dehydrogenase and via the N-methylglutamate pathway. Orthologs of type III glutamine synthetases were revealed in the genome. The operons of ectoine and sucrose biosynthesis, ectRABC-ask and sps-spp-fruK-ams, were found. The genomes of M. muralis Bur 1 and M. lonarensis MPLT, unlike that of M. nitratireducenticrescens JAM1T, were found to contain the genes encoding the proteins of bicarbonate transport.