We congratulate our colleagues on Victory Day! 81 years have passed since the day of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Year after year, the generation of people who defended our right to life and freedom and rebuilt a country devastated by war passes away. It is important to remember the heroism of these people and preserve their memory. This year, we've prepared a new piece for the website for May 9th – "Winged Soldiers. Pigeon Mail." This is material collected by our staff about how Red Army units used birds for operational communications between intelligence departments and for transmitting reports from active units. Professor A.A. Mashkovtsev's assistance in breeding homing pigeons for the Red Army's Central School of Communications, Dog Breeding, and Pigeon Breeding in 1941–1942 was a contribution by the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Animal Morphology of the USSR Academy of Sciences to the mobilization of scientific resources for the army. For more details on how this work was organized, please see the article at the link. Our website has a section with stories of Institute employees who participated in the Great Patriotic War. We have published these stories in our news articles over the past several years. You can view them all in one place at the link. There is also a section with family histories of IEE RAS employees. Happy Victory Day, dear colleagues!

On April 16, 2026, staff from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) participated as experts in the conference "Bird strike prevention" at the headquarters of the Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC). The event was attended by approximately 100 aviation specialists from states party to the Agreement on Civil Aviation and the Use of Airspace, including representatives of international organizations: the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the CIS Executive Committee, and the Eurasian Economic Commission. The event was also attended by representatives of aviation administrations, airlines, airports, airfield ground services, equipment manufacturers, as well as representatives of educational institutions and staff from our Institute: - Leading Researcher of the Laboratory of Comparative Ethology and Biocommunication, Doctor of Biological Sciences Aleksey Sergeevich Opayev - Head of the Laboratory of Ecology and Behavior Management of Birds, Doctor of Biological Sciences Olga Leonidovna Silaeva - Lead Engineer of the Laboratory of Ecology and Behavior Management of Birds, Viktoria Vitalievna Kutilina. During the event, participants reviewed the requirements of international and national documents for reducing the risk of aircraft-bird strikes, modern developments in bird and wildlife repellency technologies, their application experience, and other topics. IEE RAS staff presented the following papers: - "Ways to Minimize Aircraft-Bird Strikes in the Russian Federation" (A.S. Opaev) - "Aviation Ornithology: Experience of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences" (V.V. Kutilina) The IAC discussion forum proved an effective platform for professional dialogue. Participants not only shared experiences but also identified key challenges in preventing aircraft-bird strikes and protecting them against wildlife, outlining solutions. The conference emphasized the need for a systematic approach to providing airports with technical ornithological safety equipment, including bird monitoring systems based on radar and optoelectronic devices that can detect birds and predict their behavior. The conference, "Bird strike prevention," was held in a productive atmosphere and received high praise from participants. Experts emphasized the importance of such events and expressed their willingness to further collaborate on improving bird strike prevention measures.

Photo of a female snow leopard with cubs by: Sergei Malykh, IEE RAS The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is included in the IUCN Red List and the Red Data Books of all countries in its range, and has the highest conservation status in the Russian Red Data Book. Endemic and an umbrella species to the high-mountain ecosystems of Central Asia, this predator has faced risks for many decades from poaching and declining prey. Recently, this large and graceful cat has been increasingly threatened by habitat loss due to human activity and climate change. The snow leopard population in Russia is located at the northern edge of its range, forming a single transboundary population along with Mongolian leopards. Due to landscape and biogeographical peculiarities, the northern population is isolated from the main part of its range, communicating only marginally with populations of the Tibetan Plateau and Tien Shan through scattered island habitats in the Gobi and Dzungarian Basins. Isolation, unfavorable environmental conditions, and poaching pressure are reducing the viability of northern populations. Scientists predict that the snow leopard's range will shrink by more than 20% by 2070 due to global warming, with northern habitats being hit the hardest. Furthermore, according to modeling results, the extremely low level of genomic diversity found in snow leopards in Russia and Mongolia puts the northern population at the greatest risk of extinction. Figure: Range structure and possible corridors linking disparate snow leopard populations In light of potential negative scenarios, maintaining functional connectivity and gene flow between isolated parts of the range becomes especially important. For this reason, ecological modeling and empirical genetic data are critical for identifying migration corridors and determining the degree of population connectivity. Russian researchers from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with colleagues from Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China, decided to determine whether habitats in Kazakhstan serve as a "bridge" connecting snow leopards from the northern population with representatives of this species in other parts of the range. After all, the mountain ranges of Kazakhstan, located between the Tien Shan and Altai, have always been considered the main natural migration corridor for snow leopards. Figure. Study region and previously unexplored habitats. The focal area of ​​the present study is highlighted by a dotted line. To answer this question, genetic variability of mitochondrial and nuclear microsatellite markers was analyzed in snow leopard populations from the Altai-Sayan, Gobi, Dzungarian Alatau, Tien Shan, and Pamir mountains. The results confirmed the importance of the Dzungarian region in maintaining functional connectivity between isolated parts of the range: signs of genetic exchange were identified in the Mongolian Altai and Gobi mountains - possible contact zones between the major mountain ranges of the Altai and Tien Shan. However, the hypothesis that Kazakhstan serves as a primary migration route for snow leopards was refuted. The study data indicate that gene flow is most intense through the eastern spurs of the Tien Shan in Xinjiang and further on to the Gobi and Gobi-Altai. "Considering the results obtained previously for other contact zones, we concluded that the northern population's connection to the main part of its range relies on several narrow corridors, migrations through which are supported by the snow leopard's ability to cover large distances even through unsuitable landscapes. Given the importance of the Dzungarian region for range-wide genetic exchange, we recommend paying close attention to the protection of snow leopard island habitats in both Kazakhstan and Xinjiang, China. Preserving such 'transit' zones will support genetic exchange between dispersed areas of the range and will be an important contribution to the stability of not only the snow leopard but also its prey populations," said Miroslav Korablyov, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences. Figure: Results of microsatellite loci analysis and comparison with the results of migration corridor modeling The study was published in the journal Mammalian Biology: Miroslav P. Korablev, Alexey A. Grachev, Andrey D. Poyarkov, Saltore K. Saparbayev, Jose A. Hernandez-Blanco, Sergey V. Bespalov, Maxim V. Bespalov, Yerlik R. Baidavletov, Dmitry Yu. Alexandrov, Alexander S. Karnaukhov, Sergey V. Malykh, Bariushaa Munkhtsog, Munkhtsog Bayaraa, and Viatcheslav V. Rozhnov. Evaluating snow leopard population connectivity: is Kazakhstan a bridge for gene flow between the northern and southwestern range?. Mamm Biol 106, 75–88 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42991-025-00531-w

A team from the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) working on the restoration of the Persian leopard in the Central Caucasus has mastered advanced photomonitoring methods and is beginning work on their part of the project "Formation of a National Photomonitoring Network in Protected Areas of Russia." IEE RAS staff involved in the project to restore the Persian leopard in the Central Caucasus participated in the Third "Protected Area Camera Trap 2026" workshop. The event, held in April 2026 at the Central Forest State Nature Biosphere Reserve (CFSNBR), focused on in-depth work with camera traps, data analysis, and preparations for the deployment of a large-scale monitoring network in European Russia, including the Chechen Republic. The Institute's team's primary goal in participating in the seminar was to master the CAMMON (CAMtrap MONitoring) program standards. This knowledge is critical for the effective organization of a photo-monitoring network of 60 camera traps in the Chechen Republic. Such a network will enable the creation of an effective system for monitoring large mammals—both potential prey of the leopard and its competitors. Furthermore, working with a unified CAMMON methodology will enable the collected data to be used in another, larger-scale project - as part of the first national Wildlife Photo-Monitoring Network in Russia's protected areas. This will subsequently enable meta-analysis and comparison of results with other areas, which is crucial for the conservation of biodiversity and the environmental and intellectual security of our country. Over the course of six days, scientists mastered both the theory and practice of modern photomonitoring. The program included the following key topics: Animal population estimation: Participants learned to calculate population densities of unrecognizable species using the random encounter model (REM) and time-to-event model (TTE) methods, and for individually recognizable species (e.g., tigers) using SECR analysis in R. Network design and GIS: Participants were shown how to create photomonitoring networks in QGIS, from simple options to automatic location generation taking into account various constraints. Camera calibration and data processing: As part of the REM method's development, master classes were held on calibrating locations using a calibration pole, constructing their photogrammetric models in AnimalTracker, and processing images in Timelapse (taking into account the tagging features for REM). Data analysis in the R environment: Scripts for REM, single-season population analysis (using the Far Eastern wildcat as an example), and the capabilities of the CAMMON core module for calculating abundance indices, species diversity, daily and seasonal activity, and assessing human impact on mammals were covered in detail. Individual recognition: Participants learned how to identify tigers and leopards in ExtractCompare and were introduced to the capabilities of HotSpotter for recognizing lynxes and Caucasian wildcats. All IEE RAS staff members successfully completed their training, received certificates, and acquired the extensive practical knowledge necessary to implement this ambitious project. The equipment that the scientists will use in Chechnya was obtained with the support of two foundations: 40 cameras were acquired in 2026 thanks to IEE RAS's participation in the creation of the first national photomonitoring network (a project of the Central Forest Reserve) using a grant from the Presidential Fund for Nature. Twenty cameras were installed earlier, in 2024, with support from the Nature and People Foundation. They have now been in operation for a year, having been removed and prepared for the 2026-2027 season. The collected data will be used in two key areas. As part of the Central Forest Reserve project, the Chechen Republic's model territory will be integrated into the first national photo-monitoring network for protected areas in Russia. Under the Persian Leopard Recovery Program in the Russian Caucasus, regular monitoring of fauna will be conducted in areas frequented by wild and released leopards. As the expedition participants noted, the Institute has three noble goals: Establishing a monitoring network in the Caucasus comparable to that in the Far East, which will allow for a comprehensive study of the status of leopards and related species.Developing and testing a specialized module of the CAMMON Photo Monitoring Program, adapted specifically for mountainous areas, taking into account the complex terrain and habitat distribution of animals.Restoring the status of a federal specially protected natural area (SPNA) to the former Sovetsky Sanctuary in the Chechen Republic, where scientists are currently working. This area is a vital ecological corridor for Persian leopards and many other animal species, so it is crucial to restore the SPNA status of this region of mountain broadleaf forests. For reference: The Persian leopard recovery program in the Caucasus has been implemented by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment with the scientific support of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 2007, with the participation of Sochi National Park, the Caucasus Nature Reserve, the Institute of Ecology and Geophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Far Eastern Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Zapovednaya Alania National Park, the Turmonsky Nature Reserve, and the Berkut State Budgetary Institution; the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania; the Nature and People Foundation; and the Moscow Zoo, with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Additional information: https://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/xmnadds351-nachalas-tretya-shkola-seminar-zapovedna https://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/tfl1f9fr31-vtoroi-den-shkoli-seminara-zapovednaya-f https://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/j3rj1ldef1-tretii-den-shkoli-seminara-zapovednaya-f https://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/g8hpofths1-chetvertii-den-shkoli-seminara-zapovednahttps://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/ilcjmo44o1-pyatii-den-shkoli-seminara-zapovednaya-fhttps://zapcamtrap.ru/tpost/18k348vc91-zavershilas-tretya-shkola-seminar-zapove

Sea otters. Photo by: Alexey Perelygin The first sea otter study expedition of the year has begun in the waters of the Southern Kuril Islands. This species is listed in the Russian Red Book as a "rare species" - its population in Russia is declining. The expedition was organized by the Nature and People Foundation in collaboration with the Kurilsky Nature Reserve. The goal of the fieldwork was to collect data on the sea otter population in the Southern Kuril Islands to develop conservation measures. The expedition departed from Yuzhno-Kurilsk, and the team included staff from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and rangers from the Kurilsky Nature Reserve. Photo by: Alexey Perelygin Sea otters play a vital role in the ecosystems of the North Pacific Ocean. Observations over the past five years have documented population declines across almost their entire range. The Southern Kuril Islands remain a region where the population is reportedly growing. "The lack of systematic research has long prevented us from reliably confirming the status of the population in the Southern Kuril Islands, particularly in the Lesser Kuril Ridge. Therefore, the main task is to verify its status and understand how sea otters are actually faring in this region," noted expedition leader Svetlana Artemyeva, a researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "We hope the weather will be favorable. Dense fog makes the Southern Kuril Islands very challenging to navigate at virtually any time of year." This work will be the first to study the distribution of sea otters in the waters of the Lesser Kuril Ridge. The census will be conducted using a standardized methodology. The data obtained will form the basis of an action plan to conserve the species both in the Kuril Islands and throughout its entire range. Sea otter mother with a pup on her chest Author of the photo: Alexey Perelygin The expedition is being carried out by the Nature and People Foundation in collaboration with the Kurilsky Nature Reserve with the support of RWB (United Company Wildberries & Russ) and Kaspersky Lab. Interesting facts about sea otters The sea otter has the densest fur of any mammal—up to 140,000 hairs per square centimeter of skin. This allows it to retain heat in cold water without a thick layer of subcutaneous fat.Sea otters are one of the few marine animals that regularly use tools. They break sea urchin shells and mollusc shells against rocks, often carrying them in a special fold of skin under their paw.To prevent currents from carrying them out to sea while resting, sea otters drift among the long stems of kelp (kelp). This is how otters anchor themselves in one place. The project includes several stages. A second expedition is planned for August. By the end of the year, specialists from the Nature and People Foundation intend to prepare information on the population status and proposals for further monitoring. These materials will be submitted to the sea otter working group and will help formulate recommendations for nature management that take the interests of the animals into account. Related materials: Zen: "IEE RAS scientists went to the Kuril Islands to count endangered sea otters" Regions: "IEE RAS scientists invited to the Kuril Islands to count sea otters" Kurilsky: "Preliminary results of the sea otter census expedition"

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"

On April 23, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) held an Open Day, with the participation of the Council of Young Scientists. Approximately 50 people attended to learn about the institute's work, including representatives from the Timiryazev Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Agricultural Academy, Rosbiotech, and Lomonosov Moscow State University. IEE RAS Director Sergei Valerievich Naidenko spoke about the organization's main areas of work. Elena Semenovna Schwartz, Head of the Graduate School, explained the admissions requirements, the qualities required of graduate students for research, and the specifics of training young scientists. Ten Institute staff members, including doctors and candidates of science, as well as graduate students from the IEE RAS, addressed the guests. They discussed the Institute's various areas of work, specific research, and opportunities for engaging undergraduate and graduate students in research. Following the official part, the guests visited the laboratories: ✅ In the Electron Microscopy Room, Raisa Musayevna Khatsayeva, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Room, demonstrated the equipment and research objects. ✅ In the Vivarium, Natalya Yuryevna Feoktistova, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Scientific Secretary, spoke about the animals housed there, their behavior, and the research being conducted. ✅ In the Historical Ecology Laboratory, Lead Engineer Stanislav Vladimirovich Samsonov introduced the guests to the laboratory's work methods and showed them a collection of mammal bones. ✅ In the Phytoparasitology Laboratory, Renat Viktorovich Khusainov and other laboratory staff presented the main areas of work. ✅ In the behavioral research room, Doctor of Biological Sciences Aleksey Vasilyevich Surov and Chief Specialist Yulia Vladimirovna Ganitskaya spoke about their work with dogs and hamsters. Alongside the laboratory tours, several institute staff members set up tables with demonstration materials: equipment for assessing soil respiration rates, microscopy stations for studying parasites, algae, and chromosomes, and a demonstration of work with birds and marine mammals were on display. You can watch a recording of the Open Day at the link. We welcome the interest of schoolchildren and students in our Institute and look forward to seeing everyone at future open events! Stay tuned for our news.

Specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University discovered a population of char with anatomical features not previously recorded in any Kamchatka fish in Bystrinsky Nature Park in Kamchatka, KamSU officials told representatives of Gazeta.Ru. The expedition worked in the spring of 2026 in the area of ​​lakes east of Ichinsky Volcano. This cascade of lakes is cut off from the Bystraya-Khairyuzovskaya River by rapids impassable for fish. The upper lake, Lake Rybnoye, is small: an area of ​​0.05 square kilometers and a depth of up to 9 meters. It is likely of glacial origin—water filters through a moraine into the stream. In this lake, the scientists found char that has existed in complete isolation, presumably since the melting of the glaciers, when the fish's ancestors migrated up the stream from the river. Over millennia of isolated existence, this population has developed a unique skull structure, previously uncharted in Dolly Varden (a freshwater fish of the salmon family, genus Goltsy). A cartilaginous plate develops in front of the eye sockets, and the supraorbital branch of the lateral line sensory system runs externally to the skull, rather than in a dedicated canal, as in all related forms. A powerful lateral crest develops on the suspensory bone, which is absent in the ancestral Dolly Varden. The nature of these differences remains a subject of research. They may be the result of a random mutation that has become established in a small population, or they may have adaptive significance: this skull structure may help the fish extract benthic invertebrates from liquid mud. Molecular genetic studies have already begun to test these hypotheses, as well as to study their evolution. "Kamchatka is a place where evolutionary processes are unfolding before our eyes. Isolated mountain lakes preserve populations untouched by external influences for millennia. The data obtained during the expedition will form the basis for a strategy for protecting rare species in the Bystrinsky Nature Park and will enable us to develop a systematic approach to preserving the peninsula's wildlife," noted Olga Rebkovets, Acting Rector of the Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University. Down the gorge, in Lake Nochnoye, scientists discovered another fish species - kokanee salmon - a stunted sockeye salmon that, at some point in geological history, migrated into a closed body of water and ultimately lost its connection with the sea. In Lake Nochnoye, it only reaches a weight of 200 grams and matures at four to five years. "Previously, three kokanee habitats were known in Kamchatka: lakes Kronotskoye, Podsopochnoye, and Utinoe. Residential forms of Kamchatka sockeye salmon are rare, and in each case, the fish acquire their own ecological characteristics. In Kronotskoye, they diversified into zooplankton consumers and benthic invertebrates, while in Utinoe, they became predatory. The kokanee of Lake Nochnoye feed on zooplankton," explained project leader Evgeny Esin, a researcher at the Laboratory for the Study of Anthropogenic Ecosystem Dynamics at KamSU and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution. The study was conducted as part of a project by the Presidential Fund for Nature in collaboration with the Kamchatka Volcanoes Nature Park, as well as the Interdepartmental Integrated Program for Scientific Research of the Kamchatka Peninsula and Adjacent Waters in 2024–2026. Related materials: Kamchatka Today: "Char with a Mutant Skull: A Fish That Shouldn't Exist Found in Kamchatka" Pravda: "Living Relics of the Ice Age: Unique Species Discovered in Kamchatka's Mountain Lakes" TechInsider: "A 200-Gram Sockeye Salmon and a Char with an Anomalous Skull: Scientists Describe Fish from Isolated Kamchatka Lakes" Gazeta.Press: "In Kamchatka, Scientists Found a Fish That Surprised Them with Its Skull" Gazeta: "In Kamchatka, Scientists Found a Fish That Surprised Them with Its Skull" Kamchatka Time: "A Fish with an Unusual Skull Discovered in Kamchatka" High-Tech: "Char with Unusual Heads and Dwarf Sockeye Salmon Found in Kamchatka"

A new species of small burrowing anemone, named Edwardsianthus vostok, has been described from the shallow waters of Vostok Bay, Peter the Great Gulf, Sea of ​​Japan, home to the marine biological station of the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology (NSCMB), Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS). This is the first discovery of a representative of the genus Edwardsianthus in Russian waters. The article, by researchers from the Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Institute of Geography (FEB RAS), together with specialists from the A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology (FEB RAS), and the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (RAS), was published in the journal Invertebrate Zoology. Scientists have discovered a new species of sea anemone—solitary, skeletal animals closely related to corals. The species has been assigned to the genus Edwardsianthus - the first discovery of this genus in Russian waters. Previously, its representatives were known only from the tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. The Russian Far Eastern seas are home to a wide variety of these invertebrate species. Their greatest diversity is observed in tropical latitudes, but these vibrant animals, with their striking diversity of colors and shapes, can also be quite numerous in temperate waters and in polar regions. A significant portion of the Far Eastern sea anemones - 19 species, 3 genera, and 2 families - were described by Nadezhda and Karen Sanamyan, specialists in this group, and staff members of the Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Institute of Geography, FEB RAS. In 2024, researchers from the A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (NSCMB FEB RAS) collected several samples of small burrowing anemones near the Vostok Marine Biological Station. These anemones superficially resembled members of the genus Edwardsia, which is quite common in these waters. Scientific contacts, the exchange of research results, and shared scientific interests with specialists from the Kola Branch of the Pacific Geographical Institute (FEB RAS) allowed them to submit the obtained samples for identification. At that time, only three species of the Edwardsiidae family were known in the Far Eastern seas of Russia: Edwardsia sojabio Sanamyan et Sanamyan, 2013, a sea anemone common in the abyssal zone at depths greater than 2500 m in the Sea of ​​Japan; Edwardsia japonica Carlgren, 1931, considered a common species in Amur Bay of Peter the Great Gulf in the Sea of ​​Japan; and a shallow-water species also described by specialists from the Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Geographical Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in the area of ​​the Kuril Islands and Eastern Kamchatka: Paraedwardsia malakhovi Sanamyan et Sanamyan, 2021. Morphological examination of the specimens obtained on histological slides revealed that they belonged to the genus Edwardsianthus, which until now included only a few tropical species, relatively large, visually striking, and distinguished by brightly fluorescent tentacles. Molecular data analysis performed at the National Scientific Center of Marine Biology and Biochemistry (NSCMB) also confirmed the specimens' affinity with the genus Edwardsianthus. The discovery itself was unexpected, as the site of this discovery is more than 1,100 km north of the northernmost point of distribution of this genus in Japan. During the study of the material, specialists were able to identify an unusual order of septation in the internal cavity. These results, including a discussion of the variants of tentacle anlage and internal septa in the family Edwardsiidae, will allow specialists to further revise the group. The sea anemone received its specific name from the geographic location of the type specimen - Vostok Bay and the Vostok Marine Biological Station of the NSCMB. Currently, the species is known only from its type locality. Interestingly, these sea anemones inhabit shallow waters (4–8 m), where they are found in large numbers in so-called "phoronid fields" (dense aggregations of worm-like marine animals that live in tubes and reach significant numbers, including in the Far Eastern seas of Russia). In this context, the authors discussed the taxonomic history and summarized all available information on the nominal and taxonomic species belonging to the genus Edwardsianthus, accompanied by striking photographs of other representatives of the genus.

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"