Results of scientific research in the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve for 2014 have been summarized.

There has been finished preparation of the scientific report on the subject: “The Study of Natural Processes and Phenomena within the Program “The Nature Records of the Prioksko-Terrasny State Biosphere Reserve.” In the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve the nature records have been kept since 1948. Recently, the 67^th volume has been sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.

In “The Nature Records”, the most important results of the research activities of the reserve are summarized. In particular, the first study of soil microbiological activities of the cellulose decomposition began in 2014. In addition, the inventory of spiders was held and there was found 179 species from 101 genus and 22 families, 92 species of them were first recorded in the reserve, and 10 species were referred to as new to the fauna of the region (the Moscow region and the central part of Russia). The list of bird species was added with 2 types – there was recorded the whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus L) during the spring migration and the common crane during the autumn migration. There was revealed a distinct trend of aridity strengthening within 1998-2004, which caused the inhibition of decomposition of soil organic matter and bedding due to severe shortage of water during droughts.

According to the results of research and monitoring of natural processes and phenomena, scientists emphasize a number of features of 2014, for example, aridity of the climate that was connected with lower rainfall in the summer and winter months. However, there was not registered exceeding of the maximum permissible values ​​of pollutant concentrations and there even was a slight decrease in the level of background contamination of major natural objects (air, precipitation, surface water) with heavy metals and benzo(a)pyrene.

In comparison with 2013 there has increased the total number of beaver settlements and the number of the white hare in winter; besides, a great number of the wild boar and elk has been registered, bison death rate has halved.

In 2014, the phenological time of flowering plants, as a rule, came a few days earlier than the time of average long-term ones, while the berry ripened later due to the cool summer.

Besides, it was recorded that last year the flow of visitors increased by 10%.