Photo: Mos.ru, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=183051081 Many know of Timofey the Pallas's cat, the symbol of the Moscow Zoo and the subject of many memes, whose journey to adulthood and the search for a mate is followed with interest by Russians. This day is dedicated to him and his fellow cats: April 23rd is International Pallas's Cat Day. The Irbis Association has described the species' characteristics and why it needs protection. The Pallas's cat is a rare wild cat listed in the Russian Red Data Book. In Russia, Pallas's cats live primarily in the mountains and steppes of Altai, Tyva, Buryatia, and the Trans-Baikal and Krasnoyarsk territories. These animals have the thickest and densest fur of any cat on Earth, which allows them to survive even in extreme cold - down to -50°C. "The Pallas's cat is a unique feline species with a high level of adaptation to harsh climatic conditions. Many know it for its secretive nature and unusual appearance, but not everyone realizes the important role the Pallas's cat plays in the ecosystems of the areas it inhabits. Meanwhile, the declining population of these wild cats poses a serious threat to the environment," notes Daria Petrova, Director of the Irbis Association. What threatens the Pallas's cat? The Pallas's cat's diet includes some rodents, birds, and insects, but consists primarily of pikas - small lagomorphs. By regulating their numbers and eating up to five animals a day, the Pallas's cat prevents pasture degradation and curbs the spread of natural diseases. In this way, the Pallas's cat indirectly supports biodiversity and preserves habitats for numerous other plant and animal species. However, this natural balance is currently under threat: due to the conversion of steppes to cropland, devastating fires, and the aggressive use of chemicals, the Pallas's cat is rapidly losing both its home and its ability to forage. The situation is exacerbated by human factors: although Pallas's cat’s fur is not highly valuable, poachers still kill the animals for trophies, and in some cases, for meat. Furthermore, the cats often die in traps set for other animals and face fierce competition from their natural enemies - foxes, wolves, and snow leopards. Although the Pallas's cat is listed in the Red Data Book of Russia as a rare species with declining numbers, systematic monitoring of its numbers in the country has not been conducted for over ten years, so there is no accurate data on the population. How to save the Pallas's cat? The Irbis Association, together with the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), with the support of Mars LLC, is currently implementing a program to protect, study, and increase the Pallas's cat population in Russia. The first phase of the project involves the creation of a network of camera traps in the Pallas's cat's historical habitats: Altai, Tyva, Buryatia, the Trans-Baikal Territory, and Krasnoyarsk Krai. The traps will be installed this summer, and data collection and processing will begin, with the first results to be officially published this winter. The collected information will allow for population estimates, behavioral studies, and the formation of a basis for further conservation and scientific activities. The project will not be limited to camera traps; outreach will also be an important part. Volunteers and educators will help local residents learn more about this rare neighbor of ours and its importance to nature. Together, the scientists will seek ways to stop poaching, protect the steppe from fires, and make life safer for the Pallas's cat in these regions. Interesting facts about the Pallas's cat 🐱 The Pallas's cat is one of the most introverted predators. It lives almost entirely alone in its territory (approximately 100 square kilometers for males and 30-40 square kilometers for females) and only interacts with other Pallas's cats during the mating season in February-March. Although this cat appeared on Earth at least 5 million years ago, very little is known about it. Counting the exact number of Pallas's cats is difficult precisely because of their secretive nature. 🐱 Pallas's cats have the thickest fur of all cats: up to 10,000 hairs per square centimeter of their body. This is why Pallas's cats tolerate freezing temperatures well. 🐱 The average domestic cat weighs even more than a wild Pallas's cat. Their kittens are very tiny, weighing less than 100 grams, while the typical weight of an adult Pallas's cat (they are considered to be around 8 months old) is 3-5 kg. Their size is also no larger than a cat's – about 60 cm in length and 30 cm at the tail. 🐱 Pallas's cats need to gain weight during the fall. Experts call this process "fattening." Pallas's cats don't hibernate; they hunt constantly. Therefore, the only way to survive the winter is to accumulate more fat, "fattening up." A winter Pallas's cat weighs 6-7 kg and spends more time running around in search of food. 🐱 The word "manul" means "cat" in Kyrgyz, and "dwarf ear" in Greek. These wild cats got their name from their shortened ears. Pallas's cats are also known as steppe cats, stone cats, and Pallas's cats, named after the German naturalist who first discovered this predator on the coast of the Caspian Sea. 🐱 Pallas's cats are quiet animals and rarely make any sounds, so as not to attract unnecessary attention. Pallas's cats prefer to live in secluded places: caves, rocky outcrops, thickets of bushes, and burrows. However, if a Pallas's cat is unable to establish its own home, it may take over another's: Pallas's cats can often be found in abandoned fox, marmot, and badger burrows. 🐱 Only 150 Pallas's cats are kept in zoos worldwide, and almost all are related. Zoologists from the Moscow and Novosibirsk Zoos have made significant contributions to the study of the behavior of these wild cats. Related materials: Life: "Habsburgs and Introverts: 7 Facts About Pallas's Cats That Have the Entire RuNet Crazy About Timofey" RIA: "Scientists Explain Why Pallas' Cats Need to Live Fat" NTV: "Charismatic Introvert: Interesting Facts About the Pallas's Cat" ZooInform: "Pet the Cat! Especially on Pallas's Cat Day" Rambler: "Endangered: Which Animal Species May Disappear This Century"

Fig.1: Mature females of D. magna (left) and D. longispina (right) Aquatic bacteria are microorganisms that can only be seen under an electron microscope at a magnification of over 100,000x. Despite their microscopic size, they play a vital role in the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Bacteria produce large quantities of organic matter, much of which is consumed by zooplankton and enters the primary grazing food web, which then delivers organic matter to fish and then to higher trophic levels. Bacterial organic matter often exceeds the concentration of organic matter in phytoplankton, the preferred food source for crustaceans. Another portion of bacterial organic matter (approximately 20%) is lysed by viral infection (viral shunt) and dissolved. Some bacteria settle to the bottom, creating a nutrient medium for benthos development. However, it has not yet been known whether bacteria influence the species structure of zooplankton communities. Fig.2: Aquatic bacteria under an epifluorescence microscope at 1000x magnification. The downward-pointing arrow indicates a bacterial filament. Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), together with their Polish and American colleagues, studied competitive interactions between Daphnia longispina and Daphnia magna, competing for algae of varying quality in experiments with low and high bacterial concentrations. The scientists hypothesized that the outcome of the competition may depend on both the bacterial concentration and the algae quality. In the experiments, the daphnia were fed three types of food: (1) high-quality green alga Chlamydomonas klinobasis, (2) phosphorus-poor C. klinobasis, and (3) the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, which lacks vital lipids. "The experiments showed that we found significantly higher numbers of both Daphnia species in monocultures with increased bacterial content compared to monocultures in the experiment with low bacterial content, indicating that bacteria contribute to the increase in Daphnia numbers," said Irina Feneva, Doctor of Biological Sciences, a leading researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In the experiment with low bacterial concentrations, the dominance of both Daphnia species depended on the quality of the algae. However, although D. magna lost out to competition in the high-quality algae conditions, when the bacterial concentration increased, the competitive advantage shifted to this species. D. magna emerged as the superior competitor in all experimental conditions, regardless of food quality, in the experiment with increased bacterial concentrations. The scientists concluded that increased bacterial concentrations are a significant factor determining competitive interactions in cladoceran communities, and, therefore, bacteria can alter the species structure of zooplankton communities. Fig.3: Binary division of bacteria under an electron microscope with 100,000x magnification. Thus, bacteria not only serve as an important supplier of organic carbon in aquatic ecosystems, allowing Daphnia to significantly increase their numbers, but also contribute to improved food quality. Literature data confirms that bacteria can supplement the cladocerans' phosphorus needs, and some bacterial species have also been shown to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids. This mechanism for replenishing food resources through rapidly reproducing bacteria allows zooplankton communities to maintain biomass while reducing the concentration of algae - their primary food source - and to balance the flow of nutrients through the food web in aquatic ecosystems. Irina Feniova, Tomasz Brzeziński, Andrew R Dzialowski, Anna Bednarska, Bartosz Kiersztyn, Varos G Petrosyan, Natalia Zilitinkevich, Piotr Dawidowicz, The role of alternative microbial resources in competition between Daphnia species, Journal of Plankton Research, Volume 48, Issue 3, May-June 2026, fbag020 Related materials: RAS: "Aquatic microorganisms change the species structure of zooplankton communities"

The new issue of the journal "Problems of Ichthyology" is now available for reading and download: Volume 66, Issue 2, 2026. CONTENTS The olfactory organ of the goldenstriped soapfish (Grammistes sexlineatus) (Grammistidae) and the fire-tail devil (Labracinus cyclophthalmus) (Pseudochromidae) N. I. Pashchenko, L. T. K. Oan, A. O. Kasumyan Ichthyofauna of freshwater reservoirs of the Murmansk region M. Yu. Alekseev, A. V. Zubchenko Grayling (Thymallus, Salmonidae) in water bodies of federal protected areas of the Amur river basin: diversity and conservation pathways A. L. Antonov Stock dynamics of the Baikal omul (Coregonus migratorius) during the fishing period and the moratorium on fishing N. G. Zapadaeva, A. E. Bobyrev, V. A. Peterfeld, A. V. Bazov Reproduction patterns of pink salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha (Salmonidae) on Iturup island A. M. Kaev, V. I. Ostrovsky Cases of anomalous body coloration in fish from Sakhalin-Kuril waters Yu. N. Poltev, A. V. Luchenkov SHORT COMMUNICATIONS Discovery of a new cichlid species (Cichlidae) to the fauna of Vietnam - the redbelly tilapia Coptodon zillii - in the Dong Nai River basin E. P. Karpova, N. D. Ku, S. V. Kurshakov, I. I. Chesnokova, C. H. B. Nguyen Discovery of a clutch of eggs of the frog sculpin Myoxocephalus stelleri atop a clutch of antlered sculpin Enophrys diceraus (Cottidae) V. V. Panchenko, P. A. Savelyev, Yu. S. Nekotinev Leukocyte profile of the blood of the golden grey mullet Chelon auratus (Mugilidae) of different ages A. G. Rokotova, A. A. Soldatov, T. A. Kukhareva This issue is available at this link.

Photo by: Mikhail Stupin According to scientists, the barn owl on the Taman Peninsula is a rare breeding species, and its conservation requires biotechnical measures. Scientists studied the nesting and feeding habits of barn owls on the Taman Peninsula. Representatives from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SSC RAS), and the Marine Research Center of Moscow State University participated in the study. As explained by the SSC RAS ​​press service, this study demonstrated for the first time that barn owls, a sedentary species, nest in the northwestern part of Taman. It also revealed that they are not particularly rare in this region, although their population is generally low. According to experts, the barn owl on the Taman Peninsula is a rare breeding species, and its conservation requires biotechnical measures, such as hanging artificial nesting structures in suitable habitats. A study of the avifauna of the Taman Peninsula was conducted in 2023-2024 using various route and point counting methods. For counts during the nesting season of owls (Western barn owl Tyto alba, little owl Athene noctua, and long-eared owl Asio otus), a direction-finding method was used - luring the birds with the sound broadcast of their species-specific territorial calls. The direction-finding was conducted in the deep evening twilight, according to an excerpt from the article "On the Nesting and Feeding of the Barn Owl on the Taman Peninsula," published in the proceedings of the scientific conference "Birds of Southern Russia." A total of 13 direction-finding points were used in March 2024, where response calls were recorded (and in some cases, approaching birds were observed) from 20 little owls, three long-eared owls, and three barn owls. The barn owl's wingspan is reported to be 90 centimeters. The bird's height is up to 35 centimeters. It has a large head with a well-developed, heart-shaped facial disc. Their coloration varies geographically, from near-white with a golden upperparts to a rufous-golden upperpart with an ash-colored upperpart. The owl received its Russian name ([sipukha] - “wheezer”) for its low, hoarse call.

Photo: Russian Ministry of Education and Science Specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Industrial Ecology of the North of the Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and colleagues from the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted an ichthyological study in Lake Imandra - the largest body of water in the Murmansk Region - and discovered how climate change is altering fish food competition in northern lakes. Global climate change is altering ecosystem structure, especially at high latitudes. Rising water temperatures, shorter ice periods, and changes in water productivity are creating new conditions for freshwater species. Cold-water species, such as whitefish and vendace, are under threat, while more tolerant and warm-water-loving species, such as perch, are expanding their range northward. Scientists hypothesized that this expansion could lead to the direct displacement of native species through food competition. However, until recently, the mechanisms of this interaction in subarctic conditions remained poorly understood. Lake Imandra is an important water supply and a fishery for whitefish, vendace, and smelt. To obtain primary data, the scientists used two complementary methods: analysis of fish stomach contents and analysis of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in muscle tissue. Isotope analysis reflects feeding patterns not over the past hours, but over weeks and months, as the isotopic composition of muscle tissue is renewed gradually. This compensates for the limitations of stomach content analysis, which only records short-term dietary patterns. The combination of both methods provides a comprehensive picture: taxonomic detail and an integrated assessment of trophic relationships. Furthermore, the δ¹³C isotope ratio serves as an indicator of energy source: for example, pelagic (water-bound) and benthic (bottom-dwelling) food chains have distinct carbon signatures. The δ¹⁵N indicator allows one to assess an organism's position in the food chain: the higher the δ¹⁵N value, the higher its level in the food chain. The study's results confirmed the existence of significant food competition between whitefish, traditionally found in northern latitudes, and perch, which is expanding its range northward due to global warming. Analysis of stomach contents revealed that the diets of whitefish and perch overlap by 48%. Both species occupy similar trophic positions, corresponding to the status of first-order predators. The obtained data help explain the decline in whitefish populations in subarctic lakes. The perch's food flexibility, combined with global warming, creates conditions favorable for population growth and increases competitive pressure on cold-water species such as whitefish. Other fish species have occupied different niches. For example, vendace, smelt, and burbot rely more on pelagic food sources, while the ruffe is a specialist feeder on chironomid larvae. The authors of the study note that their research primarily involved adult fish. They believe that further research should focus on studying trophic interactions during the early stages of fish development. Competition for planktonic resources can be particularly intense during the juvenile period, which critically impacts the survival of generations.

Scientists at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences have discovered that darkling beetles are capable of processing polystyrene, a plastic that takes hundreds of years to decompose. Using a specially designed mouthpart, the larvae can turn pieces of disposable tableware and kitchen sponges into dust in six weeks. Marmorated cockroaches and mealworms demonstrate even more impressive results. What is the secret behind the unique biochemistry of these larvae that can digest this synthetic polymer? Are these insects truly considered pests in agriculture? And why should they be fed additional food in addition to plastic? Alexander Bastrakov, PhD in Biology and a researcher at the Laboratory of Innovative Technologies, discussed these and other issues on the program "[Not] Fiction."

Fig.1. Lipoptena arianae Maa, 1969.1 — Dorsal view, 2 — ventral view. Scale bars are 1 mm. One of the specialized groups of mammalian ectoparasites from the family Hippoboscidae Samouelle, 1819 is the genus Lipoptena Nitzsch, 1818. These small and medium-sized flies transmit numerous dangerous pathogens. One representative of this group, Lipoptena arianae Maa, 1969, is a widespread species in Asia, found on various species of the ram Ovis Linnaeus, 1758 in Iran, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. Studies by various authors have observed significant discrepancies and contradictions in the drawings and morphological data for this fly. Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) obtained new specimens of L. arianae from the Severtsov ram (Ovis ammon severtzovi Nasonov, 1914) in Uzbekistan. The studied flies were compared with the holotype. Discrepancies with published data on morphology and distribution were clarified. The specimens we studied and the holotype have a greater number of humeral, laterocentral, and parafrontal setae than reported in the literature. Given that this species has been found in northeastern and southern Iran, southern Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan (Kyzylkum Desert, Nuratau Mountains, and Samarkand), it can be assumed that it is also present in Turkmenistan and possibly Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. It can also be assumed that this species is thermophilic. The genus Ovis is of Central Asian origin. These animals evolved along migration routes from their ancestral range to both Europe and the New World. L. arianae is thought to parasitize all subspecies of O. ammon, O. orientalis Linnaeus, 1758, O. vignei Blyth, 1841, and their hybrids, but not domestic sheep. Therefore, this parasite may pose a threat to protected wild species.

Photo by: O.V. Bursky In the face of increasing global warming, it's important to understand how the biological community will respond. Birds, thanks to their mobility, are sensitive indicators of global change, but there's still no clear understanding of which climate and weather components provide them with the right signals. In what form are these signals made available? How do birds know what lies ahead? How do they distinguish temporary difficulties from serious risks? Surprisingly, climate change helps answer these questions by offering a global experiment: what if the entire adaptive environment is altered? Is there a ready-made answer, or is evolution needed? In what ways, to what extent, and how quick? These are fundamental questions of evolutionary ecology, unanswerable in the laboratory. At the Yenisei Ecological Station, the first spring bird sightings were always recorded, regardless of the primary objectives of the work. Now these data have come in handy: after all, it's rare that such observations have been conducted for half a century, especially in the absence of visible anthropogenic changes to the natural environment for many hundreds of kilometers around. The summer productivity of ecosystems here, in the heart of the taiga zone, reaches tropical levels and supports a rich nesting fauna of birds, but due to the harsh winters, almost all species are migrants. They fly here from all corners of the Old World: from Britain and South Africa, Japan and Australia. It is known that in a boreal climate, the development of any spring process - snowmelt, leaf budding, insect activity and their prey - depends on temperature. Crossing a threshold provides the initial impetus, the accumulated sum of temperatures determines the rate of development, which then proceeds independently, according to its own schedule. In this way, all spring processes are initiated sequentially, one after another, including those that determine food availability for birds. The set of parallel phenological processes forms the environmental phenology. It depends on the temperature of the previous period, although long-standing deviations are gradually "forgotten." The same is true for the future: environmental phenology predicts development, but the accuracy of the result decreases over time. Researchers at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) developed an index of environmental phenology and compared thousands of annual deviations in dates of spring migration with deviations in environmental phenology. They found that these deviations explain migration timing better than other climate variables, particularly on the day of arrival. The proposed phenology index exhibits robust autocorrelation, allowing birds to predict food availability two weeks in advance. It provides an adequate measure of environmental changes on a daily, annual, and multi-year scale. This measure allows for an objective assessment of the extent to which shifts in migration timing compensate for climate change. Paradoxically, compensation for climate change cannot and should not be complete. It merely adjusts the photoperiodic calendar. Day length has been and remains a reliable guide to seasonal changes. Caution prevents deviation from it: too complete compensation can lead to an early false start of migration or the omission of the breeding season. "We've shown that environmental phenology successfully explains migration timing. This approach can be applied to other species as well. Our findings differ in many ways from previous generalizations, but they are built on a solid foundation. Here, we examined the general characteristics of bird responses to phenological fluctuations. But each species is unique, which raises new questions. What hinders the perception of climate signals? Are all species affected by global warming? What life-history characteristics determine the flexibility of the annual cycle phases? Which species adapt more successfully to warming? Our approach allows us to compare species' sensitivity to current changes, but that's another story," explained Oleg Bursky, Doctor of Biological Sciences and Leading Researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences. Photo by: O.V. Bursky Photo by: O.V. Bursky Photo by: O.V. Bursky RAS: "Environmental phenology determines the timing of bird migration"

The Russian Science Foundation has announced the results of its competition for fundamental and exploratory research projects by individual research groups. Based on the evaluation results, 454 projects were supported in the Russian Science Foundation's grant competition for the event "Conducting Fundamental and Exploratory Research by Individual Research Groups." A further 168 projects were supported in the competition for project extensions already supported by Russian Science Foundation grants. The Foundation's grant amounts to between 4 and 7 million rubles annually. The following projects by staff members of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) were supported: "Evolutionary Consequences of Natural Hybridization in Mammals: Genomic and Morphological Aspects" by L.A. Lavrenchenko"The Settlement of Hydrobionts in Continental Waters of the Ponto-Caspian Basin as a Continuous Series of Events from Paleogene Migrations and Neogene Waves of Invasion from the Paratethys to Pleistocene Range Pulsations and Modern Anthropogenic Invasions" by A.A. Kotova (extension) Congratulations to our colleagues on their victory!

The new issue of the journal "Problems of Ichthyology" is now available for reading and download: Volume 66, Issue 1, 2026. The issue is available at this link. Contents: Ichthyofauna of the Kara River Basin V. I. Ponomarev Northward expansion of the zander Sander volgensis (Percidae) in the Kama River basin P. B. Mikheev, S. N. Kazarinov, F. Taddese Distribution and biological observations of the wattled eelpout Lycodes palearis (Zoarcidae) in the southwestern Bering Sea during the summer-autumn period Yu. K. Kurbanov, A. A. Balanov Distribution and size composition of the intermediate staghorn sculpin Gymnocanthus intermedius (Cottidae) in the waters of Primorye (Sea of ​​Japan) during the summer period V. V. Panchenko, A. N. Vdovin Longnose sucker Catostomus catostomus rostratus (Catostomidae) in lake-river systems of the southern spurs of the Chersky Ridge E. V. Khamenkova, M. B. Skopets, S. I. Grunin, V. V. Pospekhov Changes in the biological characteristics of the nelma Stenodus nelma (Salmonidae) in 2000–2022 A. V. Shestakov Growth of the lavaret Coregonus lavaretus (Salmonidae) in lake-river systems of the extreme northeastern European part of Russia E. I. Boznak, V. I. Ponomarev Genetic variability of the Pacific rainbow smelt Osmerus dentex (Osmeridae) from northeastern European Russia based on DNA microsatellite analysis A. V. Semenova, G. V. Fuchs, V. S. Sherstkov A morphoecological approach to studying the intraspecific structure of the Greenland halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides (Pleuronectidae) from the Sea of ​​Okhotsk O. Z. Badaev, V. V. Kulik Brief Communications Species composition of gunnel (Pholis nebulosa) in Russian Waters M. O. Rostovtseva, B. A. Sheiko, A. A. Balanov New discovery of a rare species in Russian waters: the dragonet Draculo mirabilis (Callionymidae) E. D. Vasilyeva, E. A. Dunaev Obituary In Memory of Mikhail Ilyich Shatunovsky (June 29, 1938–December 11, 2025) D. S. Pavlov, Yu. Yu. Dgebuadze, N. N. Nemova, G. I. Ruban Table of correspondence between archival and current digital object identifiers (DOIs) for journal issues for 2025