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A mathematical model of predator – prey microecosystem with lower critical population number of prey is considered. The predator – prey system is assumed to be under harvesting. Harvesting intensity variations generate changes in two model parameters which are considered as controllable. Bifurcation diagram in control-lable parameters plane is constructed and corresponding phase portraits are represented.

In the paper the statistical relationships between the size and production characteristics of phytoplankton and zooplankton of the Vistula and Curonian lagoons, the Baltic Sea, were investigated. Research phytoplankton and zooplankton within the Russian part of the area of the Vistula and the Curonian lagoon was carried out on the monthly basis (from April to November) within the framework of long-term monitoring program on evaluating of ecological status of the lagoons. The size structure of plankton is the basis for understanding of the development of production processes, mechanisms of formation of the plankton species diversity and functioning of the lagoon ecosystems. As results of the work it was found that the maximum rate of photosynthesis and the integral value of the primary production with a change in cell volume of phytoplankton are changed according to a power law. The result shows that the smaller the size of algal cells in phytoplankton communities the more actively occur metabolism and the more effective they assimilate the solar energy. It is shown that the formation of plankton species diversity in ecosystems of lagoons is closely linked with the size structure of plankton communities and with features of development of the production processes. It is proposed the structure of a spatially homogenous mathematical model of the plankton food chain for the lagoon ecosystems taking into account the size spectrum and the characteristics of phytoplankton and zooplankton. The model parameters are the sizedependent indicators allometrically linked with average volumes of cells and organisms in different ranges of their sizes. In the model the algorithm for changes over time the coefficients of food preferences in the diet of zooplankton was proposed. Developed the size-dependent mathematical model of aquatic ecosystems allows to consider the impact of turbulent exchange on the size structure and temporal dynamics of the plankton food chain of the Vistula and Curonian lagoons. The model can be used to study the different regimes of dynamic behavior of plankton systems depending on the changes in the values of its parameters and external influences, as well as to quantify the redistribution of matter flows in ecosystems of the lagoons.

A model of the phytoplankton abundance dynamics depending on changes in the content of chlorophyll in phytoplankton under the influence of changing environmental conditions is proposed. The model takes into account the dependence of biomass growth on environmental conditions, as well as on photosynthetic chlorophyll activity. The light and dark stages of photosynthesis have been identified. The processes of chlorophyll consumption during photosynthesis in the light and the growth of chlorophyll mass together with phytoplankton biomass are described. The model takes into account environmental conditions such as mineral nutrients, illumination and water temperature. The model is spatially distributed, the spatial variable corresponds to mass fraction of chlorophyll in phytoplankton. Thereby possible spreads of the chlorophyll contents in phytoplankton are taken into consideration. The model calculates the density distribution of phytoplankton by the proportion of chlorophyll in it. In addition, the rate of production of new phytoplankton biomass is calculated. In parallel, point analogs of the distributed model are considered. The diurnal and seasonal (during the year) dynamics of phytoplankton distribution by chlorophyll fraction are demonstrated. The characteristics of the rate of primary production in daily or seasonally changing environmental conditions are indicated. Model characteristics of the dynamics of phytoplankton biomass growth show that in the light this growth is about twice as large as in the dark. It shows, that illumination significantly affects the rate of production. Seasonal dynamics demonstrates an accelerated growth of biomass in spring and autumn. The spring maximum is associated with warming under the conditions of biogenic substances accumulated in winter, and the autumn, slightly smaller maximum, with the accumulation of nutrients during the summer decline in phytoplankton biomass. And the biomass in summer decreases, again due to a deficiency of nutrients. Thus, in the presence of light, mineral nutrition plays the main role in phytoplankton dynamics.

In general, the model demonstrates the dynamics of phytoplankton biomass, qualitatively similar to classical concepts, under daily and seasonal changes in the environment. The model seems to be suitable for assessing the bioproductivity of aquatic ecosystems. It can be supplemented with equations and terms of equations for a more detailed description of complex processes of photosynthesis. The introduction of variables in the physical habitat space and the conjunction of the model with satellite information on the surface of the reservoir leads to model estimates of the bioproductivity of vast marine areas. Introduction of physical space variables habitat and the interface of the model with satellite information about the surface of the basin leads to model estimates of the bioproductivity of vast marine areas.

Investigation of logical deterministic cellular automata models of population dynamics allows to reveal detailed individual-based mechanisms. The search for such mechanisms is important in connection with ecological problems caused by overexploitation of natural resources, environmental pollution and climate change. Classical models of population dynamics have the phenomenological nature, as they are “black boxes”. Phenomenological models fundamentally complicate research of detailed mechanisms of ecosystem functioning. We have investigated the role of fecundity and duration of resources regeneration in mechanisms of population growth using four models of ecosystem with one species. These models are logical deterministic cellular automata and are based on physical axiomatics of excitable medium with regeneration. We have modeled catastrophic death of population arising from increasing of resources regeneration duration. It has been shown that greater fecundity accelerates population extinction. The investigated mechanisms are important for understanding mechanisms of sustainability of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation. Prospects of the presented modeling approach as a method of transparent multilevel modeling of complex systems are discussed.

The article reports the findings of an investigation into pollution migration processes at the municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill located in the water protection zone of Lake Seliger (Tver Region). The distribution of pollutants is investigated and migration parameters are determined in field and laboratory conditions at the landfill site. A mathematical model describing physical and chemical processes of substance migration in soil strata is constructed. Pollutant migration is found to be due to a variety of factors. The major ones, having a significant impact on the migration of MSW ingredients and taken into account mathematically, include convective transport, diffusion and sorption processes. A modified mathematical model differs from its conventional counterparts by considering a number of parameters reflecting the decrease in the concentration of ammonium and nitrate nitrogen ions in ground water (transpiration by plant roots, dilution with infiltration waters, etc.). An analytical solution to assess the pollutant spread from the landfill is presented. The mathematical model provides a set of simulation models helping to obtain a computational solution of specific problems, vertical and horizontal migration of substances in the underground flow. Numerical experiments, analytical solutions, as well as field and laboratory data was studied the dynamics of pollutant distribution in the object under study up to the lake. A long-term forecast for the spread of landfill pollution is made. Simulation experiments showed that some zones of clean groundwater interact with those of contaminated groundwater during the pollution migration from the landfill, each characterized by a different pollutant content. The data of a computational experiments and analytical calculations are consistent with the findings of field and laboratory investigations of the object and give grounds to recommend the proposed models for predicting pollution migration from a landfill. The analysis of the pollution migration simulation allows to substantiate the numerical estimates of the increase in $NH_4^+$ and $NO_3^-$ ion concentration with the landfill operation time. It is found that, after 100 years following the landfill opening, toxic filtrate components will fill the entire pore space from the landfill to the lake resulting in a significant deterioration of the ecosystem of Lake Seliger.

Population dynamics is considered in a modified chemostat model including diffusion, chemotaxis, and nonlocal competitive losses. To account for influence of the external environment on the population of the ecosystem, a random parameter is included into the model equations. Computer simulations reveal three dynamic modes depending on system parameters: the transition from initial state to a spatially homogeneous steady state, to a spatially inhomogeneous distribution of population density, and elimination of population density.

The article presents the results of computer simulations aimed to assess the influence of tree spatial locations (planting schemes) on the productivity and the dynamics of soil fertility in forest plantations. The growth of aspen (Populus tremula L.) in plantations with short rotation (30 years) was simulated in the EFIMOD system of models with the soil and climatic data matching forested lands in the Mari El Republic. The outcome reveals that higher biomass rates, increase in soil organic matter stocks, and the minimal loss of soil nitrogen can be obtained when the distance between trees in the row equals 1–4 m and 4–6 м in aisles.

Calcium is a major nutrient regulating metabolism in a plant. Deficiency of calcium results in a growth decline of plant tissues. Ca may be lost from forest soils due to acidic atmospheric deposition and tree harvesting. Plant-available calcium compounds are in the soil cation exchange complex and soil waters. Model of soil calcium dynamics linking it with the model of soil organic matter dynamics ROMUL in forest ecosystems is developed. ROMUL describes the mineralization and humification of the fraction of fresh litter which is further transformed into complex of partially humified substance (CHS) and then to stable humus (H) in dependence on temperature, soil moisture and chemical composition of the fraction (nitrogen, lignin and ash contents, pH). Rates of decomposition and humification being coefficients in the system of ordinary differential equations are evaluated using laboratory experiments and verified on a set of field experiments. Model of soil calcium dynamics describes calcium flows between pools of soil organic matter. Outputs are plant nutrition, leaching, synthesis of secondary minerals. The model describes transformation and mineralization of forest floor in detail. Experimental data for calibration model was used from spruсe forest of Bulgaria.

The data of episodic field measurements of carbon dioxide balance components (soil respiration — R_soil, ecosystem respiration — R_eco, net ecosystem exchange — NEE) of hayfields under use and abandoned one are interpreted by modelling. The field measurements were carried within five field campaigns in 2018 and 2019 on the drained part of the Dubna Peatland in Taldom District, Moscow Oblast, Russia. The territory is within humid continental climate zone. Peatland drainage was done out for milled peat extraction. After extraction was stopped, the residual peat deposit (1–1.5 m) was ploughed and grassed (Poa pratensis L.) for hay production. The current ground water level (GWL) varies from 0.3–0.5 m below the surface during wet and up to 1.0 m during dry periods. Daily dynamics of CO2 fluxes was measured using dynamic chamber method in 2018 (August) and 2019 (May, June, August) for abandoned ditch spacing only with sanitary mowing once in 5 years and the ditch spacing with annual mowing. NEE and Reco were measured on the sites with original vegetation, and Rsoil — after vegetation removal. To model a seasonal dynamics of NEE, the dependence of its components (Reco, Rsoil, and Gross ecosystematmosphere exchange of carbon dioxide — GEE) from soil and air temperature, GWL, photosynthetically active radiation, underground and aboveground plant biomass were used. The parametrization of the models has been carried out considering the stability of coefficients estimated by the bootstrap method. R2 (α = 0.05) between simulated and measured Reco was 0.44 (p < 0.0003) on abandoned and 0.59 (p < 0.04) on under use hayfield, and GEE was 0.57 (p < 0.0002) and 0.77 (p < 0.00001), respectively. Numerical experiments were carried out to assess the influence of different haymaking regime on NEE. It was found that NEE for the season (May 15 – September 30) did not differ much between the hayfield without mowing (4.5±1.0 tC·ha–1·season–1) and the abandoned one (6.2±1.4). Single mowing during the season leads to increase of NEE up to 6.5±0.9, and double mowing — up to 7.5±1.4 tC·ha–1·season–1. This means increase of carbon losses and CO2 emission into the atmosphere. Carbon loss on hayfield for both single and double mowing scenario was comparable with abandoned hayfield. The value of removed phytomass for single and double mowing was 0.8±0.1 tC·ha^–1·season^–1 and 1.4±0.1 (45% carbon content in dry phytomass) or 3.0 and 4.4 t·ha^–1·season^–1 of hay (17% moisture content). In comparison with the fallow, the removal of biomass of 0.8±0.1 at single and 1.4±0.1 tC·ha^–1·season^–1 double mowing is accompanied by an increase in carbon loss due to CO2 emissions, i.e., the growth of NEE by 0.3±0.1 and 1.3±0.6 tC·ha–1·season–1, respectively. This corresponds to the growth of NEE for each ton of withdrawn phytomass per hectare of 0.4±0.2 tС·ha–1·season–1 at single mowing, and 0.9±0.7 tС·ha^–1·season^–1 at double mowing. Therefore, single mowing is more justified in terms of carbon loss than double mowing. Extensive mowing does not increase CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and allows, in addition, to “replace” part of the carbon loss by agricultural production.