Integrated red data book of natural resources

The current status and prospects for the development of the Red Data Book of Russian Soils are discussed. It is argued that this book should become a part of a more general document encompassing not only soils but also other natural resources. The work on the Red Data Book of Natural Resources should include biological, soil, hydrological, geological, landscape, and noospheric objects, as all of them are tightly interrelated and have to be taken into account in the elaboration of the environmental conservation strategy. The noospheric direction implies the study and conservation of cultural objects in their integrity with the environment.     

Red Data Book of Eurasian Soils: Russia and contiguous countries

The development of the Red Data Book of Eurasian Soils is a challenge necessitated by the intensive and exhaustive use of soil resources. The long-term strategy of interaction between humans and the environment should be directed towards the creation of favorable conditions for the development of society and saving of nature via application of new legislative norms aimed at preservation of pedodiversity and especially valuable soils. It is important to develop pedology as a fundamental science and to harmonize the relation-ships between humans and nature. The 30-year-long experience of Russia in the development of the Red Data Books of Soils is analyzed, and several conclusions aimed at improving the efficiency of special protection of soils in Russia and contiguous countries are made.     

Principles of selecting reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils

The meaning of the term “etalon” (reference, standard) in natural sciences and, particularly, in soil science is discussed. The need to preserve natural landscapes and soils as reference objects for comparison with their anthropogenically transformed analogues and as a basis for sustaining the natural diversity of plants and animals is demonstrated. The principles and criteria for the choice of reference soils for the Red Data Book of Russian Soils are suggested. The choice of reference soils should be made with due account for the provinces of the soil-geographical (or soil-ecological) zonation as territories characterized by similar environmental conditions and typical soil cover patterns.     

Geographical and genetic aspects of the Red Book of Russian Soils

An overview of soil objects from different regions and of different categories that are listed in the Red Book of Russian Soils is presented. Most of these objects are soils that support the existence of rare plant and animal species; the number of reference and zonal soils is almost equal and sufficient attention has been paid to soils that are used for scientific and training purposes. Semidesert soils are represented best; less focus is given to steppe soils; podzols and podzolic soils of Siberia have been given fairly limited consideration. To describe Russian soils in their real diversity makes it necessary to include new reference (cryozems and svetlozems) and rare (granuzem and cryoaridic) soils in the Red Book.     

Correction of a large-scale soil map with the use of the new classification system of Russian soils

A large-scale soil map of one of the farms in the south of Karelia has been analyzed. This map was initially compiled in 1979 on the basis of the official Classification and Diagnostics of Soils of the Soviet Union (1977). We have corrected it with the use of the new Classification and Diagnostics of Russian Soils. Both the names of the map units and the particular delineations on the map have been changed. These changes are related to differences in the principles of soil diagnostics in the old and new classification systems and to real changes in the soil cover that have taken place after the map’s compilation. In particular, large areas of peat bogs have been drained, and the cultivated peat soils have been subjected to accelerated mineralization. Surface planing works after digging drainage channels have also changed the soil cover pattern. The revised large-scale soil map developed on the basis of the new classification system gives more adequate information about the real soil cover.     

Theoretical and Methodological Approaches to Compiling the Red Data Soil Book of Kirov Oblast

Eurasian Soil Science - The importance of the Red Data Book of Soils compilation is substantiated. The idea is based on some fundamental principles interpreted for the regional level:...     

Pedogenetic diversity and the red data soil book for Volgograd oblast

The indices of soil quality have been studied in Volgograd oblast, and the reasons for the worsening quality have been identified for different groups of soils. It is suggested that information on the genetic diversity of soils, their properties, and the character of soil management should be specially collected and systematized in order to make strategic decisions aimed at soil conservation. Information should be separately collected for the soils of agricultural lands, the soils of specially protected natural territories (including the soils listed in the Red Data Book of Russian Soils), and the soils that are used for nonagricultural purposes.     

Principles of soil mapping of a megalopolis with St. Petersburg as an example

For the first time, a soil map of St. Petersburg has been developed on a scale of 1 : 50000 using MicroStation V8i software. The legend to this map contains more than 60 mapping units. The classification of urban soils and information on the soil cover patterns are principally new elements of this legend. New concepts of the urbanized soil space and urbopedocombinations have been suggested for soil mapping of urban territories. The typification of urbopedocombinations in St. Petersburg has been performed on the basis of data on the geometry and composition of the polygons of soils and nonsoil formations. The ratio between the areas of soils and nonsoil formations and their spatial distribution patterns have been used to distinguish between six types of the urbanized soil space. The principles of classification of the soils of urban territories have been specified, and a separate order of pedo-allochthonous soils has been suggested for inclusion into the Classification and Diagnostic System of Russian Soils (2004). Six types of pedo-allochthonous soils have been distinguished on the basis of data on their humus and organic horizons and the character of the underlying mineral substrate.     

Books on Soil Science recently received

Book reviews in this article: Arora , D. K., Rai , B., Mukerji , K. G. & Knudsen , G. R. (eds) Handbook of Applied Mycology: Vol. I, Soils and Plants. Bullock , P. & Gregory , P. J., (eds) Soils in the Urban Environment. Buol , S. W., Hole , F. D. & Mccracken , R. J. Soil Genesis and Classification. Duchaufour , P. Pédologie: Sol, végétation, environnement. Abrégés. Follett , R. F., Keeney , D. R. & Cruse , R. M., (eds) Managing Nitrogen for Groundwater Quality and Farm Profitability. Groot , J. J. R., De Willingen , P. & Verberne , E. L. J., (eds) Nitrogen Turnover in the Soil-Crop System. Jury , W. A., Gardner , W. R. & Gardner , W. M. Soil Physics. Kienitz , G., Milly , P. C. D., Van Genuchten , M. T., Rosbjerg , D. & Shuttleworth , W. J. (eds). Hydrological Interactions Between Atmosphere, Soil and Vegetation. Klausner , Y. Fundamentals of Continuum Mechanics of Soils. Landon , J. R., (ed.) Booker Tropical Soil Manual. Last , F. T. & Watling , R., (eds) Acidic Deposition: Its Nature and Impacts. Mc Michael , B. L. & Person , H., (eds) Plant Roots and Their Environment. Merian , E., (ed) Metals and their Compounds in the Environment: Occurrence, Analysis and Biological Relevance. Møberg , J. P. & Breuning Madsen , H., (eds) Soil Research in Denmark. Nahon , D. B. Introduction to the Petrology of Soils and Chemical Weathering. Nettleton , W. D., (ed.) Occurrence, Characteristics and Genesis of Carbonate, Gypsum, and Silica Accumulations in Soils. Roth , K., Flühler , H., Jury , W. A. & Parker , J. C., (eds) Field-Scale Water and Solute Flux in Soils. Ulrich , B & Sumner , M. E., (eds) Soil Acidity. Wilson , W. S., (ed.) Advances in Soil Organic Matter Research: The Impact on Agriculture and the Environment. OTHER BOOKS RECEIVED Mason , C. F. Biology of Freshwater Pollution. Midgley , D. & Torrance , K. Potentiometric Water Analysis. Sleper , D. A., Barker , T. C. & Bramel -Cox , P. J., (eds) Plant Breeding and Sustainable Agriculture: Considerations for Objectives and Methods. Undersander , D. et al. Alfalfa Management Guide.     

A survey of the southern river otter Lutra provocax Thomas in Nahuel Huapi National Park,Argentina

A survey of the huillin or southern river otter Lutra provocax distribution in Nahuel Huapi National Park was made. This amphibious mustelid is included in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Red Data Book, and as endangered in the Argentine National Wildlife List.One hundred sites were visited for signs of activity, particularly scats. Twenty-eight sites were positive, all of them in Nahuel Huapi Lake system and tributary water-bodies, where they represent 48·3% of 58 sites. No positive sites were found in the Rio Manso basin, where 13 sites with signs of American mink Mustela vison were recorded. However, it seems improbable that there is significant competitive interference between mink and otter.Although the huillin is not common, there is an apparently viable population in the Nahuel Huapi Lake system, where a high density of signs was found in several places.No significant relation was found between the otter's presence and frequency of human visitors, human settlements, domestic dogs or occurrence of introduced salmonids.Special protection areas and a monitoring programme of otter populations in the National Park are proposed.     

The distribution of three uncommon freshwater gastropods in the drainage ditches of British grazing marshes

Marshland drainage channels (=ditches) in the UK are relicts of a once extensive habitat whose management requires quantitative information on the ecology of marshland organisms. Three freshwater gastropods in the UK Red Data Book (RDB), Segmentina nitida, Anisus vorticulus and Valvata macrostoma, are particularly poorly known, and we examined their macro-distribution across 106 ditches on four grazing marshes in SE England. Distribution reflected natural water quality, vegetation and anthropogenic factors. S. nitida occupied shallow calcareous ditches with dense emergent vegetation while A. vorticulus occupied less calcareous ditches with high plant diversity. Ditches with V. macrostoma were dominated by floating plants and slightly elevated chloride. S. nitida and V. macrostoma were absent from otherwise suitable ditches that had elevated nitrate and nitrite indicating effects from eutrophication. Conservation of these three gastropods at the regional scale requires reductions in catchment fertiliser use and also the protection of enough sites to provide the required range of natural factors (e.g., Cl and Ca). At the marsh scale, we suggest that quasi-traditional and rotational ditch clearance can provide the vegetation dynamics and diverse ditch network to ensure suitable habitat for all three species. Better information is required about dispersal, about the effectiveness of reintroduction, and about the most sensitive methods of ditch management.     

Soils and landscapes of the Kzyladyr karst field in the Southern Urals

The specificity of soil and landscape conditions in the area of the Kzyladyr karst field in the western folding zone of the Southern Urals is discussed. Unique karst landscapes and soils developing from hard gypsum rocks, gypsiferous weathered mantles, and gypsiferous saline rocks are characterized. These soils strongly differ from the background soils on silicate rocks in their morphology and physicochemical properties. At present, the territory under study is subjected to considerable anthropogenic loads and requires special protection measures. It is suggested that it should be included in the system of specially protected territories. The relic, rare, and unique soils of the karst field should be included in the Red Data soil book.     

Uptake of fluoride and aluminum by plants grown in contaminated soils

Soils collected from areas at different distances from an aluminum smelter were studied to determine the soluble and labile F and soluble Al contents and availabilities to selected plants. Red maple seedlings (Acer rubrum L.) and orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were grown in pots containing the soils and after 3 mo foliar tissues were sampled and analyzed for the two elements. The soluble and labile contents of soil F as predictors of foliar F were compared. Significant decreases in soluble and labile F and soluble Al in soils were found with increasing distance from the smelter. As F levels in the soils increased, the F in the foliage of both orchard grass and maple increased. As Al in the soil increased, Al in maple foliage increased. Overall, F concentrations in plant foliage were below those considered as background. The results imply that, at least in the soils studied, the soil F content is not an important source of F to plants and therefore to herbivores in the area. Labile F values in the soils were significantly greater than soluble F at all sites, but, contrary to previous studies, soluble F was a better predictor of foliar F than was labile F.     

At which spatial and temporal scales does landscape context affect local density of Red Data Book and Indicator species?

The landscape context is crucial for forest conservation in regions where the natural forest is fragmented. The focus of practical conservation is currently shifting from local stands to a landscape perspective, but few studies have tested the relative effect of different spatial and temporal scales for occurrence and persistence of species of conservation concern. We studied Red Data Book and Indicator species (the latter proposed to indicate presence of Red Data Book species) of vascular plants, lichens, bryophytes and wood-inhabiting fungi in 22 old temperate broadleaved forests in southern Sweden. We analysed at which scales these species respond to habitat proportion in surrounding landscape. The proportion of suitable habitat was measured at two temporal scales (present-day and historic) and at two spatial scales (about 0-1 km and 1-5 km of study sites). Local density of Red Data Book species increased with increasing proportion of suitable habitat in the current landscape (within 1-5 km of study sites) while Indicator species were unaffected. The response to landscape differed between organism groups. Vascular plants (near significantly) and wood-inhabiting fungi showed a time delay of 120 years in their response, indicating a possible regional extinction debt. An appropriate minimum landscape scale for conservation of Red Data Book species in temperate broadleaved forests in Sweden seems to be about 5 km (radius), but smaller landscapes may be important for vascular plants and wood-inhabiting fungi of conservation concern. In addition, restoration is urgent to counteract the effect of time delays in species responses to recent habitat loss.     

Factors affecting the nutrient status of forest sites in a mountain watershed in Nepal

Soil and foliage samples were collected from 136 sample sites in forested areas of the Dhulikhel Watershed, Nepal. Analyses showed that the soils have small values for pH, base saturation, total nitrogen, carbon and available phosphorus. Sample sites were stratified on the basis of aspect and elevation, soil type, forest type and management and the strata were compared to determine the influence of site factors on forest soil fertility. Soils on south-facing slopes at low elevation contained significantly less total nitrogen and organic carbon compared with soils from north-facing slopes at high elevation. Foliage of both sal (Shorea robusta Gaertn.) and chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sargent) growing on red soils (Rhodustults and Haplustults) contained significantly less phosphorus compared with non-red soils (Ustochrepts and Dystrochrepts). Soils under stands of sal have the poorest soil fertility levels in comparison with chir pine and hardwood sites. The continuous removal of base-rich litter from sal sites may account for the poor fertility conditions. Soil fertility levels are greater on sites which have been protected from biomass removal for at least 15 years relative to sites which have come under protection in the past 7 years.     

Habitat selective factors influencing the structural composition and functional capacity of microbial communities in agricultural soils

Key physicochemical factors associated with microbial community composition and functions in Australian agricultural soils were identified. Soils from seven field sites, with varying long-term agricultural management regimes, were characterised physicochemically, on the basis of their bacterial and fungal community structures (using PCR-DGGE), and by assessing potential catabolic functions (MicroResp?). Soil type, rather than agricultural management practice, was the key determinant of microbial community structure and catabolic function (P<0.05). Following multivariate analysis, soil pH was identified as the key habitat-selective physicochemical soil property associated with variation in biological diversity and profiles of organic substrate utilisation. In particular, the capacity of soils to catabolise different C-substrates was closely correlated (ρ=0.604, P=0.001) to pH. With decreasing pH, the catabolism of common low molecular weight organic compounds (especially cysteine and aspartic acid) declined, however catabolism of two others (lysine and arginine) increased. Shifts in the capacity of soil microbiota to cycle common organic compounds have implications for overall geochemical cycling of C and N in acidifying soils. The genetic structure of the bacterial communities in soil strongly correlated with pH (ρ=0.722; P=0.001) and that of soil fungi with pH and % sand (ρ=0.323; P=0.006). Catabolic function was more closely associated with the structure of the bacterial than fungal communities. This work has shown that soil pH is a primary driver of microbial diversity and function in soil. Agricultural management practices thereby act to selectively shift populations and functions against this background.     

Soil evolution on basalt and basic pyroclastic materials in the Golan Heights

The soils of the Golan basaltic plateau were surveyed and analyzed. Soils on uneroded plateaus range from montmorillonitic calcareous Reddish Brown Grumusols in the semi-arid areas through noncalcareous Brown Grumusols in the sub-humid areas to Brown and Red Mediterranean Soils with typical argillic horizons and dominance of kaolinitic clay in the humid parts of this region. Protogrumusols and basaltic Lithosols are found in eroded places. Volcanic cone soils in the humid Golan parts range from tuffic Regosols on the youngest cones and most eroded areas through tuffic Red Mediterrranean silty clay loam and silty loam on less eroded areas to tuffic Red Mediterranean clays on the older volcanic eruption sites and comparatively stable slopes.The weathering of the basalt is comparatively very slow, especially in the drier upland areas of the southern Golan. The weathering of the pyroclastic materials, on the other hand is fast, due to the great internal surface of this parent material.The various soils exhibit different leaching stages. A gradual disappearance of lime, decrease in pH values, increase in exchangeable H⁺ and a shift from montmorillonite clay dominance to kaolinite and similar clay types expresses the increase in the leaching degree from the dry areas to the moist ones.The textural profile of Golan soils depend on clay content and type. A soil sequence commencing with self-mulching Grumusols through various intermediate types to typical ABC Red and Brown Mediterranean Soils may be distinguished along climatic, time and drainage gradients.     

Digital map of salt-affected soils of Khakassia

A new methodological approach aimed at the creation and correction of digital soil maps on the basis of systematized and georeferenced available cartographic and attribute information arranged into a GIS project has been tested. The particular stages and methods of the creation of a digital map of salt-affected soils of Khakassia with the use of GIS technologies in the ArcInfo format are described. All the available cartographic materials, including the Soils of Russia GIS project, digital elevation models, remote sensing data, and analytical data on 82 soil pits (including the authors?? materials and previously published data), have been used for the creation of this new map.