The biodiversity of the entrance zones of the Montenegro caves is barely studied, therefore the purpose of this study was to assess the biodiversity of several caves in Montenegro. The samples of phototrophs were taken from various substrates of the entrance zone of 7 caves in July 2017. A total of 87 species of phototrophs were identified, including 64 species of algae and Cyanobacteria, and 21 species of Bryophyta. Comparison of biodiversity was carried out using Jacquard and Shorygin indices. The prevalence of cyanobacteria in the algal flora and the dominance of green algae were revealed. The composition of the phototrophic communities was influenced mainly by the morphology of the entrance zones, not by the spatial proximity of the studied caves.

No abstract

The paper deals with life cycle management of a 3-D printer technology to design an underwater drone hull to study the Arctic. The Arctic region is of strategic importance for the Russian Federation and the entire world community. Due to harsh climatic conditions the scientists started to search for more efficient ways of not only using resources of the territory but also retaining sustainable development of the region. The paper presents a graph that includes activities involved in a 3-D printer life cycle design. A 3-D printer is used for a layer growth of an underwater drone’s hull. The authors took into consideration all the existing options of development, operation and disposal of a particular 3D printer and identified eight variants of its life cycle design based on various financial resources and timing budgets. The study helped to identify a number of effective options. Information and mathematical systems support the implementation of the life cycle management of technology. We selected the following mathematical tools: mathematical programming methods, mathematical statistics, process simulation tools, routine problems, queuing theories. The paper focuses on such information management tools as systems programs, development programs and application software.

Caves are considered as ecosystems isolated from the surface in varying degrees. Hypogean habitats are mostly A study of cultivated species of microfungi in two show caves Novoafonskaya (Caucasus) and Ali-Sadr (Iran) was carried out. The species composition of fungi has been analyzed in the air and cave sediments along the excursion route. Species identification was performed using standard approaches and cultivation methods. Jaccard index was applied to estimate similarity of communities of different biotopes. The species diversity of microfungi was higher in the Novoafonskaya cave where 50 species of microfungi were identified. Only 38 species were isolated from the Ali-Sadr cave. Representatives of Ascomycota predominated in fungal communities. The greatest species diversity was noted in the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Trichoderma. Species Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Cladosporium herbarum, Pseudogymnoascus pannorum, Oidiodendron tenuissimum and Penicillium chrysogenum were identified in all biotopes of both caves. Comparison of two biotopes of the caves using the Jaccard index revealed a high similarity in the species composition in the soil and air of the Novoafonskaya cave (KJ = 0.64). On the contrary, the species composition of fungi was different in Ali-Sadr cave (KJ = 0.22), which may be explained by intensive propagules input from the surface due to the cave morphology features and the arrangement of excursion route.

Сarbon dioxide fluxes from substrates and consortiums were estimated for the first time in the photic zones of seven caves of Montenegro. The dependence of consortiums productivity with their species composition and structure, as well as determination of the priority source of carbon dioxide for the primary producers of trophic chains of the photic zones were revealed.Five consortiums were distinguished in the fouling communities of the photic zones of seven karst caves of Montenegro: with the dominance of acrocarpous mosses, pleurocarpous mosses, green algae, cyanobacteria biofilms and sheath-forming cyanobacteria on various substrates. The closed chamber technique was used to calculate carbon fluxes. The net carbon flux, gross respiration of substrates and consortiums, and gross primary production of consortiums in the summer and winter were determined. The biomass of the phototrophic and heterotrophic components of the consortiums was estimated. Isotopic analysis of clay deposits and phytomass of bryophytes in the consotriums as well as on the surface was carried out. All of the investigated consortiums function as a carbon sink in both seasons, providing a negative balance to the atmosphere. Consortiums with the dominance of bryophytes possessed the greatest biomass, spores of micromycetes dominated in the heterotrophic component. The respiration of substrates was maximized on clay deposits, the respiration rate increased in winter. Phototrophic respiration and gross primary production were maximal in the consortiums of acrocarpous mosses and case-forming cyanobacteria in terms of dry phytomass. Increased content of the light carbon isotope 12C in the bryophytes phytomass in the photic zones compared to the bryophytes phytomass on the surface was established.