Anthropogenic Transformation of Nature

Preface to the issue from the editor-in-chief. It is obvious that the time has finally come to synchronize bachelor's and master's degrees, master's and postgraduate degrees, education and research. In this issue, the article by S.A. Chaikin and his colleagues is a remarkable example of such synchronization. For now, graduate students have preferred an individual scientific and educational trajectory instead of group work.The study of environmental conservation issues reports on the "comeback" of the Chinese striped hamster in the Khingansky State Nature Reserve. A.A. Kadetova and Yu.A. Melnikova have established the parameters of optimal habitats of the species, population dynamics, and the impact of anthropogenic ecosystem transformation.A.D. Sulimov conducted a comparative study of noise pollution in various zones of the water-green framework of the cities of Perm and Kazan. It was found out that the Perm river valleys have a noise-absorbing ability. The author calls for the development of blue and green infrastructure in cities, proves their importance for creating a comfortable living environment in urban conditions.In the section on anthropogenic changes, V.S. Artamonov and A.S. Shavekina present an original study of the current state of man-made soils and the development of microbiota on them, located in different natural zones and differing in the origin of nascent minerals. The latter is related to the microclimate and microbiological processes. Cyanobacteria and diatoms have been found on extreme substrates unsuitable for life. The instruments and technical means used for observations occupy a leading position in both geology and soil science, which made it possible to illustrate scientific research in a variety of ways with photographs obtained using unique microscopes and classical sample preparation methods.The team of authors (M.S. Gubarev, V.F. Reznikov, I.D. Rybkina) shares their experience of the pre-project environmental assessment of the impact of water management activities on the environment in the conditions of anthropogenic transformation in the Altai Territory. Timely environmental protection measures make it possible to consider the ongoing work on clearing and straightening the watercourse of the Aley River quite acceptable.In this issue, the combination of synchronization, individual trajectories of researchers and research makes studying the achievements of luminaries and young people quite interesting.