Evgeny Yuryevich is a PhD candidate in biology and the head of the Laboratory for Environmental Monitoring of Nuclear Power Plant Regions and Bioindication at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He graduated from the Pedagogical Institute and has worked at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences for over 50 years. Since 2017, he has served as the laboratory head. In 1987, he defended his dissertation for the degree of PhD in biology in Ichthyology and Genetics on the topic "Aneuploidy and Chromosomal Mosaicism in Fish (using the Cyprinodontidae and Synbranchidae families as an example)." He participated in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant cleanup expeditions and many others in Russia and other countries and continents. He is the author of numerous scientific publications on fish karyology and cytogenetics, as well as the toxicology of nanoparticles and other substances, which are widely cited and recognized by researchers worldwide. We sincerely congratulate Evgeny Yuryevich on his anniversary and wish him scientific success and good health!

From February 9 to 11, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) held the educational module of the Floating University Winter School. A total of 227 applications were submitted for the track. Ultimately, 20 students were selected for the Winter School. These 20 students came from across the country, representing eight cities and 13 universities. The IEE RAS track was "Marine Biodiversity: Methods and Directions for Studying Marine Mammals and Birds." Over the course of three days, the institute hosted lectures and workshops on biology and ecology, as well as the study of marine mammals and birds. Students were also introduced to other areas of work and research by IEE RAS scientists. Winter School participants will be eligible for competitive selection for the Floating University expedition during the 2026 field season and will also gain access to an aggregator of internships and job openings from program partners. This is the second time that IEE RAS has served as a platform for the Floating University with its own educational program. We thank the Institute's staff for organizing the educational track and serving as lecturers.

From February 3 to 5, 2026, Saint Petersburg State University hosted the annual White Sea Student Scientific Session – a conference for young Arctic researchers. This year, five graduate students from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) participated in the event, presenting their research in four different sections. Developmental Biology Section 1. E. P. Matveicheva (co-authors: M. A. Kulakova, M. S. Aparina, E. G. Ivashkin, E. E. Voronezhskaya). Changes in the Mechanisms of Segmental Marking Formation in the Development of Spiralia Vertebrate Zoology Section 2. E. A. Astakhova. Life-Form Diversity of Lampreys (Lethenteron and Lampetra) from the Arctic to the Baltic (the study was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant No. 24-14-00111) Parasitology Section 3. K. I. Belolyubskaya (co-authors: G. A. Kremnev, V. A. Krapivin, A. S. Savchenko, O. A. Skobkina, D. Yu. Krupenko). Endosymbiotic Turbellarians: Underestimated Flatworms of Our Spherical Planet Invertebrate Zoology Section 4. Krolenko V.I. (co-authors: Temereva E.N., Kotov A.A.) Stranger and Stranger: New Data on the Organization of Holopedium gibberum (Crustacea: Cladocera: Holopediidae) 5. Dadykin I.A. (co-authors: Pereboyev D.D., Garibyan P.G.) Biogeography and Phylogenetic Position of Ophryoxus gracilis Sars, 1862 (Branchiopoda: Anomopoda: Ophryoxidae) (this study was supported by Russian Science Foundation grant No. 25-74-00070) The conference was an excellent opportunity not only to present the results of their research to the wider scientific community, but also to establish new professional contacts with colleagues from other research centres.

Fig. 1. Host coral species, their symbionts, and habitats. A. Pleuractis moluccensis, dorsal view. B. The same coral, ventral view. The location of the symbiont is outlined in a rectangle. C. Fungia fungites, dorsal view. D. Hololepidella martini Britayev et Antokhina, 2025, photograph of a living worm. The arrow indicates damage to the parapodia, probably caused by an intraspecific encounter. E. Symbiont located along the ribs on the underside of the coral F. fungites. A study by a Russian-Vietnamese team of scientists expands our knowledge of rare coral reef inhabitants. Symbiotic relationships on coral reefs have been studied primarily using crustaceans and fish as examples, while the role of polychaete worms (Polychaeta) often remains obscured. Worms of the Polynoidae family are considered particularly rare inhabitants of scleractinian corals. Until recently, only nine such species inhabiting corals were known worldwide, and only three of them inhabited shallow tropical reefs. During a joint expedition by researchers from the Laboratory of Morphology and Ecology of Marine Invertebrates at IEE RAS and their Vietnamese colleagues from the Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center to the Tho Chu Archipelago (South China Sea, Vietnam), a new species of polynoids was discovered and described – Hololepidella martini Britayev et Antokhina, 2025. This discovery brings the list of coralliphilic polynoids to four and provides valuable data on the specificity of these secretive symbionts. Fig. 2. Hololepidella martini Britayev et Antokhina, 2025, as seen under a scanning electron microscope. A. Anterior end of the body. B. Notochaetes (dorsal setae). C. Elytra (dorsal scales). D. Part of the elytra with microtubercles. E. Parapodium, anterior view. F. Parapodium, posterior view. "This worm is an example of astonishing selectivity," comments Temir Britaev, Doctor of Biological Sciences and head of the Laboratory of Marine Invertebrate Morphology and Ecology at IEE RAS. "We discovered it during a targeted survey of mushroom corals, and it immediately became clear that it has a strong preference for one host species over another. Proving this is a new species to science, and not simply a local population of a known one, required painstaking morphological and molecular genetic analysis. The setae proved particularly revealing: all of our worm's setae, without exception, are bicuspid." Fieldwork in June 2023 focused on two species of mushroom corals (Fungiidae): Pleuractis moluccensis and Fungia fungites (Figure 1). Of the 143 colonies surveyed, worms were found exclusively on their ventral surfaces. Analysis revealed marked host specificity: P. moluccensis served as the host in 33% of cases, while F. fungites did so in only 6%, statistically confirming the former's status as the primary host. Based on a thorough analysis of morphological characteristics, the new species was taxonomically assigned to the genus Hololepidella (Figure 2). Its key differences from the widespread H. nigropunctata complex (associated with echinoderms) include the strictly bicuspid structure of all neurochaetae, the absence of contrasting pigmentation (Figure 1), and its obligate association with mushroom corals. The species status was independently confirmed by molecular genetic analysis of the COI gene, revealing significant genetic distance (11–13%). Ecological observations revealed that the majority (83%) of worms are solitary on the coral. The presence of damaged parapodia in some individuals (Figure 1) may indicate intraspecific territorial conflicts. The presence of both juveniles and mature individuals in the collections indicates a complete life cycle, occurring in association with the host. Thus, this discovery, made through Russian-Vietnamese collaboration, contributes to the systematics of this rare group of symbionts and highlights the importance of targeted research to uncover the hidden biodiversity of coral reefs. The new species is named after the prominent Spanish polychaetologist Dr. Daniel Martin. The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 24-14-00288). A paper based on the findings has been published. Related materials: RSF: "New species of symbiotic polynoid worm discovered on Vietnamese mushroom corals" Science.Mail: "New species of symbiotic polynoid worm discovered on Vietnamese corals" RAS: "New species of symbiotic polynoid worm discovered on Vietnamese mushroom corals"

Figure. Stages of weatherfish development: from eggs (a) to larvae with external filamentous gills (d).  After the completion of embryonic development within the egg, the fish organism does not simply increase in size but undergoes profound structural and functional reorganization. In the early ontogeny of the weatherfish Misgurnus fossilis, these processes are accompanied by pronounced morphological changes - a metamorphosis that is considered an adaptation to conditions of reduced dissolved oxygen. This is related to the spawning ecology of weatherfish, which reproduce in shallow, vegetation-rich water bodies with weak flow, where limited water mixing and the decomposition of organic matter in bottom sediments often lead to dissolved oxygen deficiency. Weatherfish morphological transformation begins very early in life. Like many freshwater fish, weatherfish undergo profound developmental changes during early ontogeny, and hormones play a central role in directing these processes. In a recent study, researchers investigated how thyroid hormones interact with lipid metabolism during the early developmental stages of this species. Dr. Efim D. Pavlov and colleagues tracked biochemical changes in individual weatherfish from unfertilized eggs to larvae with fully developed external filamentous gills. Their results show that, during the earliest developmental stages, weatherfish embryos depend entirely on maternal thyroid hormones stored in the eggs. These maternal hormones sustain early development while the fish’s own hormone-producing system remains inactive, resulting in low and relatively stable thyroid hormone levels. The endogenous thyroid system becomes active just before larval metamorphosis, at the stage when larvae begin preparing for major morphological restructuring. During this period, embryos and newly hatched larvae rely on external filamentous gills for respiration in hypoxic waters. Once these gills are formed, levels of free triiodothyronine (FT3), the biologically active form of thyroid hormone, increase sharply, marking the activation of the larval thyroid axis. Notably, total thyroid hormone concentrations alone did not capture this developmental transition; instead, the free fraction of triiodothyronine emerged as the most informative indicator of developmental progression. The increase in active thyroid hormones coincided with a surge in energy stores, particularly cholesterol and triglycerides. This pattern reflects the heightened energy demands required for tissue remodeling, organ development, and the forthcoming metamorphic transition. In simple terms, thyroid hormones signal that it is “time to grow”, while lipids provide the fuel needed to carry out this transformation. Together, these findings demonstrate that the coordinated rise of biologically active thyroid hormones and lipid metabolism represents an early biochemical signature of impending metamorphosis in weatherfish. By highlighting the central role of FT3 and energy mobilization, the study advances our understanding of how endocrine and metabolic systems interact to drive critical developmental transitions in fish. Article (Pavlov et al., 2026) was published in a specialized journal (Q1): Fish Physiology and Biochemistry.

Fig.1. Ecological and climatic stations at sites of long-term monitoring of CO₂ fluxes: the Staroselsky Moss swamp (Tver region, photo by V.V. Mamkin), the Ust-Pozheg swamp (Komi Republic, photo by M.N. Miglovets), the Mukhrino swamp (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, photo by E.A. Dyukarev), and the Bakcharskoye swamp (Tomsk region, E.A. Dyukarev). A group of Russian researchers compared the results of monitoring CO₂ absorption by taiga bogs in European Russia and Western Siberia. Wetlands are considered one of the most effective natural tools for regulating atmospheric CO₂ concentrations. Swamps are generally considered to be a stable and long-term sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide. Over millennia, swamps in northern latitudes (north of 45° N) have accumulated an amount of organic carbon comparable to the mass of all vegetation on the planet. However, the increasing frequency of droughts and heat waves in northern latitudes, associated with current climate change, negatively impacts the productivity of swamp vegetation and increases the share of emissions in the carbon balance of swamps. Predicting the response of swamp ecosystems to climate change requires data on how photosynthesis and respiration in bog ecosystems change under the influence of external factors in various natural zones, taking into account the diversity of wetlands. In a joint study by scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow), the Komi Institute of Biology of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Syktyvkar), Yugra State University (Khanty-Mansiysk), and the Institute for Monitoring of Climate and Ecological Systems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Tomsk), an analysis of direct observations of ecosystem CO₂ fluxes was conducted in four bogs in the southern and middle taiga of European Russia and Western Siberia. The studies were conducted at the raised (oligotrophic) swamps of Staroselsky Mokh (Tver Region), Mukhrino (Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug), and Bakcharskoye Swamp (Tomsk Region), as well as at the fens (meso-oligotrophic swamps, transitional from lowland to raised) Ust-Pozheg (Komi Republic). Observations were conducted using automated measuring systems (ecological and climatic stations) and a uniform methodology. The study established that all its objects act as sinks for atmospheric CO₂ during the growing season. Moreover, the highest absorption values ​​were observed in the fen, under temperature and precipitation conditions close to the climatic norm. It was found that CO₂ absorption processes in the meso-oligotrophic swamp are more resilient to elevated temperatures and low air humidity. "In addition to the negative impact of abnormally dry and hot weather conditions, it has been found that extremely high precipitation can also negatively impact the absorption of atmospheric carbon by meso-oligotrophic swamps. Considering that climate change in many regions of Russia is leading to a transformation of precipitation patterns—from continuous torrential—it is essential to advance research aimed at studying the influence of precipitation intensity and duration on the condition and functioning of various natural ecosystems," said Vadim Mamkin, PhD in biology and head of the Youth Laboratory of Ecological and Climatic Research at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Predicting the structural and functional organization of wetlands can only be based on long-term comprehensive environmental and climate monitoring data using modern methods. This work was carried out with the support of the state assignment of the Youth Laboratory of Ecological and Climatic Research of IEE RAS (FFER-2025-0001, No. 1024100700075-7-1.6.19), the most important innovative project of state significance "Development of a system for ground-based and remote monitoring of carbon pools and greenhouse gas flows in the territory of the Russian Federation, ensuring the creation of a system for accounting for data on the flows of climate-active substances and the carbon budget in forests and other terrestrial ecological systems" (reg. No. 123030300031-6)", the state assignment of the Institute of Biology of the Komi Federal Research Center of the Komi Scientific Center of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (No. 125020501547-8), a grant from the Government of the Tyumen Region within the framework of the program of the West Siberian Interregional Scientific and Educational Center of World Class (National Project "Science"), the state assignment of the Institute for Monitoring of Climatic and Ecological Systems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FWRG-2021-0001 No. 121031300154-1) and the Fundamental Research Program of the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

On February 7 and 8, the Zapovednoye Posledstvo (Nature Embassy) Scientific and Educational Center in Zaryadye Park will host the family educational festival "The Loud Voice of Russian Science." Scientists will share personal stories of their scientific research and professional challenges with schoolchildren and their parents through lectures, master classes, and interactive sessions. The second day of the festival's lecture program, February 8, is dedicated to the sciences that study living organisms. Ivan Bashinsky, PhD in Biology and Senior Researcher at the Laboratory of Aquatic Communities and Invasions Ecology at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, will discuss why the disappearance of beavers will have negative consequences for nature. Registration is available at the link.

A team of scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), the Institute of Geography of the RAS, the Institute of Forest Science of the RAS, and the E.M. Sergeev Institute of Geoecology of the RAS conducted a unique comparative study of old-growth spruce forests in the Moscow Region, repeating geobotanical descriptions completed 40 years ago in 1985 now in 2025. Data from the 1980s was provided by A.A. Maslov, Chief Researcher at the Institute of Forest Science of the RAS. The results demonstrate large-scale disturbance of forest stands and a fundamental rearrangement of the structure and functional composition of forest communities under the influence of climate change. Norwegian spruce (Picea abies) is one of the main forest-forming species in the European part of Russia. However, numerous data indicate that one of the causes of spruce forest decline is rising temperatures, particularly the devastating impact of extreme droughts. The aim of the study was to identify patterns of change in the structural and functional organization of mature spruce forests in the center of the East European Plain by re-describing permanent geobotanical sites after 40 years. The study was conducted in intact, natural spruce forests in the Smolensk-Moscow Upland Protected Areas (Moscow Region). The researchers re-described 70 geobotanical plots established in 1985 and analyzed changes in all vegetation layers: trees, undergrowth, shrubs, grass-dwarf shrubs, and moss. Over 40 years, the projective cover of the tree layer decreased by 2.5 times—from 71% to 29%—while the cover of undergrowth and shrubs doubled. The main cause was the widespread drying and decay of old-growth spruce forests, including as a result of bark beetle outbreaks in 1999–2003 and 2010–2013, preceded by abnormal droughts. After the collapse of spruce stands, two types of secondary successions were formed: (1) with the renewal of spruce undergrowth on leveled areas of the relief and (2) with the active growth of shrubs (hazelnut Corylus avellana and rowan Sorbus aucuparia) and undergrowth of broad-leaved species (maple Acer platanoides and oak Quercus robur) on more drained elevated positions. Fig.1: Successional pathways over 40 years. Types:1. Boreal spruce forests,2. Nemoral spruce forests,3. Boreal spruce-pine forests,4. Nemoral spruce-pine forests,5. Oak-linden-spruce forests,6. Birch-aspen forests with spruce,7. Destroyed boreal spruce forests,8. Destroyed nemoral spruce forests. The typological diversity of spruce communities has changed: new "treeless" types (destroyed spruce forests) have emerged, some mixed spruce-broadleaf communities have transitioned to broadleaf, and boreal pine-spruce communities have given way to nemoral types. Analysis of the complete species composition using Ellenberg's ecological scales revealed a trend toward nemoralization: the proportion of thermophilic and alkaliphilic species has increased, indicating a shift toward a nemoral spectrum of vegetation. "It is important to note that over 40 years, the average maximum temperature in the region has increased by 2°C, and the climatic water deficit has almost doubled. For spruce forests at the southern boundary of their range, such warming is equivalent to a shift in the growing season isotherms by approximately 150 km south. This leads to a transformation of the forest formation composition," comments Ivan Kotlov, PhD in Biology, Senior Researcher at the V.N. Sukachev Laboratory of Biogeocenology at the IEE of the RAS and co-author of the study. It is predicted that over the next 40–60 years, if current forest management practices continue, the proportion of spruce in mixed forests will decline, leading to the complete disappearance of pure spruce forests in the central East European Plain. Norway spruce will survive only as an accompanying species in mixed forests, giving way to broadleaf species. This work was supported by Russian Science Foundation Grant No. 24-17-00120 (field research, analytical work, statistical analysis) and as part of a state assignment from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Forest.ru: "Forty-year study reveals critical changes in Moscow Region spruce forests" Science.Mail: "Scientists report on the fate of Moscow Region spruce forests" Rambler: "Russian environmentalists are sounding the alarm: global warming and unsustainable forest management threaten the disappearance of spruce forests" MK: "Russian environmentalists are sounding the alarm: global warming and unsustainable forest management threaten the disappearance of spruce forests"

The hamster, the emblem of a major scientific conference, has come down from the banners for its own mini-exhibition! Our institute has opened a cozy exhibit dedicated entirely to common and Palearctic hamsters as part of the "Mammals in a Changing World" conference. It features everything from scientific books and detailed drawings to amusing figurines, plush toys, and even rattles. The goal is to showcase the multifaceted nature of these animals: from a subject of intense biologist study to a beloved character in books and souvenirs. "We wanted to create something warm and memorable," shares exhibition organizer N.Yu. Feoktistova. "Conference participants spend all day listening to complex presentations on population dynamics, genetics, climate change, and so on. And near the exhibit, you can take a moment to relax, smile, and remember who and what all this serious work is for. After all, behind every graph and term is a living creature whose home is our planet." The exhibition reminds us that many species of wild hamsters in the Palearctic are extremely vulnerable today. Studying and protecting them is one of the most important tasks of modern zoology. We invite all conference participants to stop by the first-floor lobby next to the library and get in some hamster spirit!

Diagram from the tochno.st platform. The tochno.st (rus. `to be exact`) platform published a large article about beavers and their impact on cities and ecosystems. Ivan Bashinsky, PhD in Biology and Senior Researcher at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), gave an interview to journalists about how the beaver population has begun to recover and their impact on infrastructure and ecosystems. The article is available at this link.