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Melanism is found in many animal species. This phenomenon is caused by a large amount of melanin pigment and causes an abnormal black or dark brown colour of the outer covers. Melanistic individuals are usually quite rare in nature. However, there are a number of examples indicating that melanistic colouring in animals can be adaptive under certain conditions and be supported by natural selection. These examples include the phenomenon of industrial melanism, described in the birch moth Biston betularia, as well as...

The article presents new data on the impact of dust emissions in cement production of the Open Joint Stock Company "Yakutcement" (Yakutia, Russia) on chemical and microbiological properties and enzymatic activity of frozen forest soils in Central Yakutia. It is established that as the emission source approaches and the dust load increases, significant alkalinization of soils takes place (the pH increases in litter from 7.11 to 8.40, and in humus horizons from 7.05 to 7.75) as a result of the accumulation of free c...