No 4 (2016)

The issue represents the analysis of the fundamentals and world-wide best practices of controlling street dog population in Moscow and other global cities. Actions proposed to improve the strategy of managing free-ranging dogs in Moscow.Some reasons of increase in number of stray dogs and “pet overpopulation” ware studied. There are ecological types of stray dogs characterized the types of running wild of dogs and foraging (food procurement) strategy of animals.The analysis of the basic principles of management of the number of stray dogs of urban areas was carried out. The work on the field of stray dogs’ population regulation is directed to prophylaxisactions and prevention of the animals’ homelessness phenomenon, and also carrying out actions of catching and creation of a network of shelters for available homeless animals.The international experience and methods of successful practice of stray dogs’ population management program were studied. It is necessary for developing various programs for stray dogs’ population management in Moscow. The basic principles of “TNR” program and experience of its application in Moscow and other countries was studied.Actions for management of the number of stray dogs in Moscow were offered. There are two main directions of different measures: a creation of specialized professional structures for the number of homeless animals’ management of the city and an active involvement of animals’ owners to increase of responsibility and knowledge of the people.The main actions of these directions consist of neutering of healthy and nonaggressive animals, vaccination against dangerous diseases (plague, rage, leptospirosis, enteritis and others) with the return to their habitat, construction of shelters for street animals, euthanasia of terminally ill and aggressive, finding new owners for healthy and nonaggressive animals; improvement of the waste system, limiting breeding of dogs, stimulation of neutering of pets, registration and the recording of animals, installing chips in pets and tagging stray sterilized dogs, administrative sanctions against people for violation of the rules of pets keeping, developing in society of a responsible attitude to animals, education in the field of the treatment of animals and public service advertising to promote the idea of animals from shelters are necessary.

Presents results of a study of bird population of lake Kartma as part of the restoring of the ornithological complex of the Aral sea region. The information obtained in the course of this work, can serve as a starting point for monitoring community ornithocenosis lake systems of the Delta of the river Syrdarya. Was 49 species of birds of the 8 units. The total density is 1155,9 ind./km2. The majority of birds nesting on lake Kartma, belongs to the ecological group of limnophilic and trophic group - entomophages. Positive process taking place in the last decade and is associated with water-bearing role of the Syr Darya in the maintenance of coastal ecosystems to sposobstvuyuschyy unique objects of the Aral sea region. Lake systems of the Syrdarya Delta in 2012 is included in the list of wetlands of world importance, protected by the international Ramsar Convention. The studies were carried out to study ornithine lake Karma, the problem of the determination of the residence status of bird species in the area of recovery of the coastal strip. The lake is characterized by a comparatively small number of birds and low population density of waterfowl. The dominant density of habitation here are birds of wetlands. There were three species listed in the Red book of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Information are new for the studied object.

Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) is an active biogenic substance, synthesized in the organisms of plants, fungi, vertebrate animals and bacteria. GABA is used in food and drugs exhibiting antihypertensive, analgesic and antidepressant properties. GABA-producing strains can be considered as delivery vehicles of GABA to specific sites of the gut. Such strains are potential antidepressants promoting adaptation in the extreme north. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are considered the main producers of GABA among bacteria. GABA-producing Lactobacilli are isolated from food products such as cheese, yogurt, sourdough etc. and are the source of bioactive properties assigned to those foods. The ability of Human-derived Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria to synthesize GABA remains poorly characterized. In this paper, we screened our collection of 114 Human-derived Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium strains for their ability to produce GABA from its precursor monosodium glutamate (MSG). As a result 58 strains belonging to the species L.plantarum , L.brevis , B.adolescentis , B.angulatum , B.dentium were able to produce GABA. The most efficient GABA-producers were Bificobacterium strains (up to 6 g/L). We selected a GABA-producing strains that was further tested in Sprague-Dawley rats. Ingestion of L.plantarum 90sk strain increased GABA in the rats’ blood and decreased the rate of stress hormone prolactin.

Green areas have many functions in increasing and supporting the quality of urban environment. Thus, most factors of people’s welfare depend on and are defined by green areas’ preservation, especially in cities with their concentrated population and intensive anthropogenic impact that create increased ecological risk. A risk is a qualitative or quantitative estimation of a hazard linked to undesirable consequences and losses. Risk estimation consists of several stages: risk identification, risk analysis, risk assessment. The paper is based on long-term field studies of green areas in a dozen Russian cities. The field data were recorded in standard geobotanical descriptions and forms as well as in specially developed author’s ecological assessment charts and defect lists. The main reasons, tendencies and factors of degradation and destruction of green areas were analyzed. A green area’s inability to fulfill its functions was estimated as the main risk. In the structure of the main risk nine event groups or secondary risks were described: destruction and loss of species diversity, its substitution, simplification of vertical and horizontal structure, diseases, infliction of harm, inhibition and loss of decorative value. The authors propose a classification and estimation of the risks, describe the main factors that cause a green area’s inability to fulfill its ecological functions: construction works, works for housing and public utilities, car runovers, recreational activities, trampling down, damaging and littering. The calculation of probabilities for the risk factors was carried out and their patterns were defined.

The main ecological problem in each city is the atmospheric pollution and traffic noise. Since 1998 the city, after the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from Almaty to Astana,begun to grow rapidly. New buildings, entertainment and cultural centers are being built; the number of vehicles increases. Exhaust gases accumulate in the surface layer of the atmosphere, representing risk to human health. Currently, studies of roadside pollution in Astana are limited to heavy metals. While the need to consider other pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (about 150 priority pollutants), is becoming more popular. The aim of thesis is the identification and quantification of major volatile organic exhaust substances in the atmosphere of the city. Identification of contaminants in the air samples was carried out by gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Concentrations of substances increased in direct proportion to the intensity of vehicular traffic. The highest concentration of identified volatile organic compounds observed in central city areas. The received data analysis is the scientific basis for the practical recommendations in assortment of green spaces, resistant to exposure to toxic components of traffic fumes. Improvement of the capital air space will benefit the biomedical dimension of sustainable development.

The results of studies on the influence of ecologically unfavorable environment on the health of school children aged 7-14 years. A correlation was established between the health and the state of malnutrition, lack of sleep, stay in the fresh air and physical activity. Displaying equity risk factors involved in reducing the indicators of health of schoolboys.