by Valery ILYICHEV, Dr. Sc. (Biol.), Olga SILAYEVA, Dr. Sc. (Biol.), Bella STRIGANOVA, Dr. Sc. (Biol.), A. Severtsov Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution, RAS The MALINKI biogeocenological station is an important subdivision of A. Severtsov RAS Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution. Situated just several tens of kilometers from Moscow, it is a sort of test ground for evaluation of the natural environment exposed to augmenting anthropogenic factors. Pine, fir, and birch forests around the station were planted about a century ago by enthusiastic forestry specialists and are therefore particularly interesting for specialists. стр. 101 AN EXCURSION INTO HISTORY Let us remember that the term "biogeocenosis", now used as a synonym for ecosystem, was suggested in 1940 by Vladimir Sukachyov (1880 - 1967), a Russian botanist, geographer, and forestry specialist. He became one of the founders of biogeocenology - the science of interrelated and interacting complexes of live and inert (including the atmospheric layer closest to the ground, soil, solar energy, etc.) nature - biogeocenoses. This information is particularly important for predicting the aftereffects of human interference in natural processes, for supporting forestry and agriculture. In order to solve at least some of the scientific problems, in 1963 Academician Sukachyov created a laboratory in Moscow, which for 15 years was a subdivision of V. Komarov Botanical Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences in Leningrad. He suggested to carry out full-scale studies at a biogeocenological station and in the same year chose a plot for it in the Moscow region, near the town of Troitsk, on the borderline of Podolsk and Naro Fominsk districts. This choice was not accidental. The territory is remarkable for its forests, as they are here mainly planted by people. As a matter of fact, in the 19th century these lands belonged to Count Sheremetev, who allo ... Читать далее