[Trait variability in ontogenesis of epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl].

Ontogenesis of the foliose lichen Hypogymniaphysodes has been described on the basis of the material obtained from natural populations. Ontogenetic dynamics (diameter of thallus and the number of lobes) and the features of reproductive structures (the number and diameter of labelloid and galeated sorales) were studied in ecologically different pine forests. We reasonably rejected the use of the variance analysis and nonparametric criteria for the result processing. It was shown that the median dynamics and trait variance may be either similar or different throughout the ontogenesis. The trait variances in ecologically different ecotopes were shown to be different.

[Ontogeny and morphogenesis of the fruticose lichen Usnea florida (L.) Weber ex F.H. Wigg].

The development of the fruticose lichen Usnea florida was described in accordance with the concept of a discrete approach to the description of higher plant ontogeny proposed by T.A. Rabotnov and A.A. Uranov. The ontogeny of the U. florida thallus, represented by 4 periods and 11 ontogenetic states, includes the development of fungal mycelium from a spore, its association with alga into a rudimentary thallus, thallus morphogenesis (the life form formation and decay of the thallus), and all related morphological changes in the apothecia and other structures generated by the thallus. Based on an analysis of morphogenetic processes during thallus formation, we proposed morphological criteria for the separation of ontogenetic states. The formation of the main frame of the thallus and its intensive branching occur before the development of the apothecia because of the switching to the reproductive function. Thallus aging and decay start even before carposome formation (v2 state); later, these processes become more intensive and reach a maximum at the g3 and ss states. Changes in thallus morphogenesis can include both delay and acceleration of morphogenetic processes, representing the manifestation of adaptation mechanisms in response to different environmental factors.

[Inheritance of coat color in the mole vole (Ellobius talpinus Pallas)].

Based on the ecological features of the mole vole, family analysis of the inheritance of coat color was performed with the use of material collected in a wild population. Analysis of coat color in parents and offspring has demonstrated that the offspring segregation into black and nonblack animals after crosses of different types agrees with the hypothesis on the monogenic inheritance of these color variations. Black mole voles are homozygous for the recessive allele (genotype aa). Homozygotes for the dominant allele (AA) are brown. Heterozygotes (Aa) may be brown or have transitional color. The mean frequency of brown coat color in heterozygotes is 0.509 and is very variable. The higher the color intensity in black elements of parent coat color, the more is the offspring coat color saturated with these elements.

[Morphological polyvariance of ontogeny in natural plant populations]. / Morfologicheskaia polivariantnost' ontogeneza v prirodnykh populiatsiiakh rastenii.

The main patterns of expression of the morphological polyvariance of plants are discussed: diversity of biomorphs, pathways of ontogeny, and disturbances of morphogenesis. The diversity of biomorphs of tap root plants in different ecological conditions has been analyzed in detail. Promising directions of future studies have been formulated.

[Biometrical analysis in the radiobiology works of N. V. Luchnik]. / Biometricheskii analiz v radiobiologicheskikh rabotakh N. V. Luchnika.

The contribution of the famous Russian geneticist and biophysicist N. V. Luchnik into biometrical analysis of radiobiological data is discussed. His works on radiation mortality of mice and the process of post-radiation repair of chromosome aberrations are thoroughly observed. The conclusion of necessity to develop biometrical analysis as separate part of biometry is made.