Alexander Supin, chief researcher at the Sensor Systems Laboratory at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Photo by Natalia Leskova For International Maritime Day, Alexander Supin, Doctor of Biological Sciences and chief researcher at the Sensor Systems Laboratory at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IEE RAS), spoke to Kommersant journalists about marine life, how it lives alongside humans, how much they suffer from pollution, and what people can do about it. — Alexander Yakovlevich, you've spent your entire life studying marine life, primarily marine mammals: how they hear, breathe, and sleep. Have you understood what they're thinking? Photo: USFW/Handout/Reuters — It's difficult to understand, although interesting. I'm a neurophysiologist by profession, studying the structure of the brain. In recent years, I've been working primarily with dolphins. We were studying their sleep, which had long remained a mystery. — How did you do that? — We installed sensors on the brain that monitor the nature of the electrical activity within. And it's completely different during wakefulness and sleep. It turned out that in dolphins, one half of the brain can be asleep, while the other is active. There was a lot of speculation about this, but only recording the brain's electrical activity could provide a definitive answer. — Why do they need that? — Dolphins have a difficult life: they live in water, but they need to breathe air, just like you and me. Every few dozen seconds or a few minutes, they must surface to bring their blowhole above the water. This allows them to expel used air from their lungs, draw in fresh air, and then dive back underwater. Our breathing is automatic—we can lose consciousness, faint, or be anesthetized, but our respiratory center works to ensure airflow. For dolphins, such automatic breathing would be fatal—they would choke on water. Therefore, their breathing can be called voluntary: they must surface, and only when skin receptors indicate that their blowhole is above the surface, do they exhale and inhale. This isn't unique to dolphins—it's the same for all whales. To perform the complex movements that allow them to breathe air and prevent their lungs from filling with water, some part of their brain needs to be active. Photo: Reuters — Surely there are times when both sides of the brain are active, meaning they're not sleeping? — Of course. They need more time to get enough sleep than you or me, because one side of the brain needs to rest, then the other. So, for about 20-30% of the day, they're in a situation where the waking half of the brain can maintain some minimal movement, but active work—searching for prey, a mate, or whatever—only occurs when both hemispheres are active. — Do dolphins and other marine mammals suffer from insomnia? — It's hard to say. At least, none of them have ever complained to me about it in person. — And does your research on the brain's electrical activity show that they always sleep well? — It shows that sooner or later they must fall asleep with at least half their brain—one, then the other. It's a vital state. I can't say it's essential for all living things. I don't know whether worms or bacteria sleep, but for highly organized animals—birds, mammals—it's a must, although they all sleep differently. Otherwise, our brains become inactive. — What happens if you deprive dolphins of sleep? You've probably conducted such experiments. — Yes, we have. Sleep pressure increases: when the experiment ends, the animal immediately falls into a deep sleep. It’s not something you can live without. The best reward for a dolphin is a fish. Photo: Alexander Supin's personal archive. — Are there any remaining mysteries about it? — Yes, far from everything is clear. What's going on in their brains, what turns on or off first one half of the brain, then the other? We still don't fully understand this whole process. There are many questions. — From time to time, it is suggested that marine mammals are intelligent creatures. What do you think about this? — Some manifestation of rational activity is characteristic of almost all highly organized animals, only to varying degrees. We had a remarkable researcher and ethologist in Russia, Leonid Krushinsky. He studied precisely the problem of rational activity. He found it in all mammals, in birds—for example, in crows. Dolphins have it to a significant degree. Among the most striking manifestations, I would mention play behavior. In play, an animal or person hones behavioral elements that will be needed during waking life. Dolphins have quite a pronounced play behavior. Typically, communication between an experimenter and an animal proceeds like this: do something right and receive something edible; for a dolphin, that's a fish. However, there have been cases where dolphins didn't eat their hard-earned reward right away, but hid it somewhere. Then, when, from their perspective, the dolphins believed the human had behaved correctly, they retrieved the fish, buried somewhere and already rotting, and brought it to the human as a reward. A dolphin with her calf at the Chicago Aquarium. Photo: John Gress, Reuters — So who's watching whom — are we watching them, or are they watching us? — There's an old joke: when you look at a microbe through a microscope, don't forget that the microbe is watching you through the microscope." They probably also try to control the experimenter's behavior to some extent. If they don't like something, a dolphin might refuse to perform a task, even though it's perfectly understood and knows what to do. But if they don't want to—that's it. — Can a dolphin behave aggressively, punish a human? — It's not so easy for them, because the human is usually out of the water. But there are cases where a dolphin has behaved unkindly toward a trainer who was next to it in the water: it could pin them down or even drown them. Dolphins playing in the waters off Melbourne, Australia. Photo: Reuters — For what? — If a person, from the dolphin's point of view, behaved incorrectly. For example, rewarded another dolphin, but they weren't rewarded. I don't know if this should be called jealousy, but in their opinion, it's wrong, unfair, and counterproductive: why should someone else be rewarded? I can perform just as well! — How do they show affection towards each other? — By organizing cooperative behavior, meaning they can become friends in pairs and do everything together. When we try to teach one of them a behavior, the other, observing it, acquires the same skill. Generally, dolphins who are attracted to each other are very difficult to separate. They don't want to be separated; they swim close, touching each other's fins. A two-day-old dolphin swims with its mother at an aquarium in Tokyo. Photo: Reuters — If one of them dies, do they form a new pair? — It varies. People don't always remain faithful to the memory of a deceased person either. Of course, nature takes its course; sooner or later, a dolphin will find a new mate. But if one member of a pair dies, it's extremely stressful, a very serious psychological trauma. — Like people, are they each individuals? Do they have their own personalities, preferences, habits? — Of course, and not just dolphins: talk to any cow owner. She'll tell you something about her cow: compared to her, a human is a senseless, stupid creature. Every animal is an individual. They learn different skills differently. This is also typical for dolphins, but they can learn more complex skills, so this individuality is more noticeable. For example, a dolphin refuses to work with a human, goes to the end of the enclosure, stands with its nose in the corner, and that's it. Using any kind of punishment or tactics is completely useless—dolphins don't tolerate it. Only rewards for good behavior. But if they're unwilling to do the right thing, you won't achieve anything. A dolphin performs a trick with a ball. Photo: Bogdan Cristel, Reuters — What should we do then? — Be patient. — Have you ever apologized to them? — It's difficult to apologize because we still haven't learned to talk to dolphins, although there are people who do it very seriously. But I don't know how to say "sorry" in dolphin. — There was a recent story in the media that whales allegedly try to communicate with people by creating special circles, and that this is supposedly some kind of message from the whales to us... — I think it's still a rumour, because no matter how high the intelligence of whales and dolphins, they are still animals, not humans. Verbal communication, using words, is the prerogative of humans. Although we can also communicate with more than just sounds: people who are unfortunate enough to be deaf communicate very well with gestures and can convey a great deal to each other. A dolphin twirls hoops around its nose. Photo: Amr Abdallah Dalsh, Reuters — Marine mammals don't try to communicate with us in any way because they can't or don't want to? — Let's start with the fact that physically, our speech and dolphin sounds are very different signals. We simply don't have access to the frequency range dolphins use to communicate. But they can convey quite significant information to each other. One American scientist devised the following experiment: two dolphins in two halves of a pool, separated by a partition. The partition is opaque to light but transparent to sound. A dolphin can easily be trained to perform simple actions: say, press a button and get a fish. It's elementary. But if the button is in one half of the pool, and the signal, which is a command, is in the other, can the dolphins coordinate their activities? If it were two people, there's no question: the one who saw the signal would tell their partner to press the button, and both would get a fish. But if the dolphins were in two parts of the pool, could they do such a thing? It turns out they can and do. This experiment has been repeated many times, but it requires tremendous patience and skill in training dolphins. Plus, there are some doubts about the interpretation: perhaps the dolphin heard something other than the words its partner spoke, some splashes of water, something we don't know about. A trainer introduces a trainee to patients at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, California. Photo: Mike Blake / Reuters — That's another mystery: how do they communicate with each other? — They have a very rich sound repertoire. It's multi-level. Single-level sound signals are not uncommon; many mammals and birds have them. But this is a simple method of communication: this signal means food is coming, that signal means danger, and they should run away. But you can't say much this way, whereas our speech is a multi-level system of signals. Individual sounds are combined into words, and those into phrases... Using this system, we can communicate a great deal—from simple signals like "danger" or "go away" to the content of the novel War and Peace. Dolphins may not have as many levels as humans, but they also have multi-level systems, where individual signals combine into combinations that can be called words, and words combine into phrases. So they communicate quite effectively. — So, should we seek a common language with dolphins? — Of course we should. It's not just a matter of educational interest, although that's important. We're also dealing with the problem of human underwater activity. With all our intelligence, we remain land-based creatures. The aquatic environment is alien to us. Of course, we've invented a breathing apparatus that allows us to dive underwater. But a diver in a suit, a steel helmet, and with a breathing apparatus strapped to his back is a clumsy and helpless creature. Therefore, the question of finding assistants for whom the aquatic environment is natural, who could be indispensable, is constantly being considered. People swim with dolphins on Mikura Island north of Tokyo. Photo: Yuriki Nakao, Reuters — What for? — For example, sailors are very interested in rescuing the crews of sunken submarines. Dolphins could be trained to solve this problem. A diver can locate a sunken submarine and signal a surface vessel that he's found it. But he can't do much. The sunken ship may have a device that emits sounds. But a diver can't determine where they're coming from because our auditory system is designed for use on the surface. He hears a "thump-thump" but can't figure out where the signal's source is. Dolphins don't have this problem: their auditory system is naturally designed to work underwater. They'll hear the sound and locate its source, placing a buoy there if trained to do so. Then it's up to humans to take the necessary measures to rescue the crew. Therefore, finding a common language with dolphins and other marine life is not only an important fundamental problem but also a practical one. And to keep their home—the sea—safe and sound. This is important not only for them, but for us as well. — How are dolphins doing now, for example, in the Black Sea? Does the environmental situation affect them? — They avoid polluted areas. The Black Sea isn't the most suitable body of water for life because, at a depth of several hundred meters, there's a layer of water contaminated with hydrogen sulfide. Life there is only possible in the upper layer. If this layer becomes polluted, things are bad. For now, there's plenty of space for them to live in the Black Sea without entering polluted areas. Surfers watch dolphins at Bondi Beach in Sydney. Photo: Daniel Munoz, Reuters — But when news of the Kerch Strait disaster came in, the 'greenies' said there were many dead dolphins washed up on the shore. Did that happen? — Dead dolphins washed up on the shore were commonplace even before any environmental disasters. There are various points of view on why they die. My point of view is a bit heretical: they die because that's how they save themselves. They live in water, but they need air to breathe. So if a dolphin is very sick and can't move properly, it simply can't surface and dies from being deprived of the ability to breathe. Therefore, mass dolphin strandings could be the result of a pod being struck by some kind of infection or infestation. Perhaps they're trying to save themselves this way. They've crawled ashore, they don't need to actively move to get some fresh air; they're just lying in the shallows and can breathe, and survive for a while." Those "well-wishers" who try to push the dolphins back into the water are doing them a disservice. But that's my point of view; not everyone shares it. — Many researchers perceive the sea as a single living organism. How do you see it? — A living organism requires all its parts to be united by something that provides it with energy, safety, and so on. You can't say that about a body of water several thousand cubic kilometers in volume. No, I think it's more of an image. For me, it represents the habitat of all the animals that interest me and that I study. There's the concept of an ecological system. The sea is an ecosystem inhabited by various organisms, interconnected with one another. Some are food for others, some are a threat to others. But all are equally important and necessary. Interviewer: Natalia Leskova

Meet Southeast Asian native climbing perch _Anabas testudineus_ a seriously cool fish for experiments A Plastic Problem with a Microbial Twist Our planet faces a mounting challenge: it is awash in plastic pollution. Microplastics (MPs), those tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size, are everywhere – in our water, soil, air, and even ice. Plastics vary greatly in chemical composition and their physical properties and can be altered by environmental exposure. These MPs are particularly abundant in freshwater, posing a growing threat to both ecological health and potentially human well-being. But the story gets more complex: microplastics aren’t just inert debris; they are miniature habitats teeming with microbial life that colonize plastic surfaces, forming complex communities known as the “plastisphere”. A biofilm is a key component of the plastisphere, inhabited by diverse microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, algae, and protozoa, and varies depending on the environment, season, and location. This variation, in turn, may influence how these microplastics interact with aquatic organisms. magicstudio.com/ru/ [1] The «Gustatory Trap» Hypothesis: One of the most concerning aspects of plastic pollution is that fish and other aquatic creatures consume microplastics. It’s well-documented that plastic particles are showing up in the digestive tracts of various animals, but why? Do they mistake it for food? Our research suggests that biofilms growing on microplastic surfaces may create a “gustatory trap”. Imagine a fish encountering a piece of plastic covered in a “tasty” layer of microbes. The biofilm might make the plastic seem like food, through taste, visual cues, or perceived nutritional value, drawing the fish in. However, if the fish is unable to distinguish the plastic from their natural diet, it leads to potential ingestion. This can disrupt feeding behavior, increase vulnerability to predators, expend unnecessary energy, and potentially disrupt food webs and energy transfer. Nature at work! After just 14 days in the Am Chua Canal, this is how microplastics become biofouled Biofilms create floating ecosystems, even providing a base for aquatic plants to grow A new kind of real estate? This tiny spider is using microplastic as a platform for hunting, resting, and escaping predators. Our Experiment: Creating a Real-World Plastisphere We designed a mesocosm experiment mimicking the natural environment of the climbing perch. We created a unique in situ experimental setup within the species' habitat, enabling us to observe natural biofilm formation on EPS pellets without risking further pollution. We exposed floating microplastics to the Am Chua irrigation canal for two, six, and fourteen days, allowing biofilms to develop under authentic environmental conditions. The pellets visibly changed color, from white to yellowish-green, as a diverse community of microorganisms (protozoa, cyanobacteria, algae, amoebae, and fungi) colonized the surface. These “biofouled” pellets closely resembled real-world microplastic particles found in polluted waters. We then observed how the fish responded to these biofouled pellets compared to clean EPS and natural food. The irrigation Am Chua Canal along the rice fields What We Discovered: The Biofilm Effect Our findings revealed that climbing perch did frequently grasp the biofouled EPS pellets but often rejected them after oral testing. ·                   Climbing perch more frequently grasped the floating EPS pellets with a mature biofilm, likely due to visual and/or chemical cues mimicking food ·                   Fish ultimately rejected all EPS pellets after intraoral testing, while all feed pellets were ingested ·                   Despite the initial attraction, the fish rejected the plastic, suggesting the biofilm imparted a taste that anabas found unpalatable ·                   Fish grasped the well-developed biofilm plastic more frequently and spent less time “testing” it with their mouths. We believe the climbing perch employs a multi-step decision-making process regarding the potential food-object: first, visual assessment as initial attractiveness to the fish (Does it look like food?); then, olfactory evaluation upon approaching to the pellets (Does it smell like food?); and finally, grasping and oral testing (How does it feel and taste in the mouth?). This integrated sensory information helps the fish decide whether to swallow or reject the object. While the biofouling process seems to act as a deterrent = preventing ingestion, ultimately, the presence of a biofilm diminished the climbing perch”s ability to avoid contact with the plastic debris, causing the fish to express their natural foraging behavior that likely results in energy expenditure and increased predation risk. Thus, this indicates that MP debris can induce behavioral changes in fish without requiring them to ingest the plastic. Our experimental setups for natural biofouling of microplastics in the canal Ecological Consequences: More Than Just Ingestion This study highlights the complex interactions between microplastics, microbial communities, and aquatic life. Even without ingesting the plastic, the presence of biofouled microplastics can have ecological consequences. Floating plastics stimulate foraging behavior in climbing perch, prompting them to move towards the surface, potentially increasing energy expenditure and predation risk with no benefit. Our study shows that the mere presence of microplastic debris can induce behavioral changes in aquatic organisms. Looking Ahead: A Call for More Research While our study provides valuable insights into the feeding ecology of climbing perch, it’s important to remember that sensory-mediated feeding behaviors can vary greatly among fish species. The type of plastic, its size and buoyancy, and the duration of exposure can all influence how different fish respond. Future research should focus on comparative studies across diverse fish species, detailed characterization of biofilm composition, and assessments of toxicity in real-world ecosystems. This will give us a clearer picture of the true risks that plastic pollution poses to aquatic food webs. By understanding how biofilms influence these interactions, we can develop more effective strategies to mitigate the impact of plastic pollution on our planet. The study is published: Floating Microplastics with Biofilm Changes Feeding Behavior of Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus, Microplastics 2025, 4(3), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/microplastics4030062

The list of the top 2% of the most influential scientists in the world, according to the Scopus platform, compiled annually by Stanford University, has been published. Stanford University selects the top 2% of the most influential scientists in the world across 22 fields and 174 areas. A scientist's position in the ranking is determined using a formula based on the h-index, number of publications, number of citations, and other scientometric indicators. The composite score reflects influence (including self-citations) in each scientific field. This year, the assessment was conducted using all Scopus author profiles as of August 1, 2025. Country and organizational affiliation were determined based on affiliation in the most recently published article. Based on the analysis of publications for 2024, more than 900 Russian scientists were included in the top 2% of the most highly cited scientists in the world, including five employees of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences: - Doctor of Biological Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.V. Tiunov (Head of the Soil Zoology and General Entomology Laboratory) - Doctor of Biological Sciences S.I. Golovach (Soil Zoology and General Entomology Laboratory) - Candidate of Biological Sciences I.N. Marin (Soil Zoology and General Entomology Laboratory) - Doctor of Biological Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences A.A. Kotov (Aquatic Community Ecology and Invasions Laboratory) - Doctor of Biological Sciences S.A. Subbotin (Phytoparasitology Laboratory). Congratulations to our colleagues on being included in the list!

Fig. 1. Members of the Russian Geographical Society expedition to Paramushir Island. Photo by K. Mikhailova. O.V. Savinkin, T.I. Antokhina, and Yu.V. Deart, staff members of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), took part in the Russian Geographical Society's "Eastern Bastion – Kuril Ridge" expedition to Paramushir Island (Northern Kuril Islands) as part of a group of hydrobiologists. The expedition took place in July and August 2025, with the camp based in Krasheninnikov Bay, south of the island. A total of approximately 50 people worked on Paramushir, including volcanologists, botanists, ornithologists, entomologists, hydrobiologists, geographers, historians, volunteers, and others. Fig. 2. The Kuril Ridge and the research site in Krasheninnikov Bay. The hydrobiologists' primary goal was to study the biodiversity of the benthic fauna of Paramushir Island. Researchers from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) conducted the research using lightweight diving equipment. Seven locations in Krasheninnikov Bay and the surrounding capes were surveyed (Fig. 2). Fig. 3. Photographs of animals taken during processing of the material at the expedition camp. A – starfish Crossaster papposus (Linnaeus, 1767), B – symbiotic polychaete worm Arctonoe vittata (Grube, 1855), C – gastropod mollusk Boreotrophon cf. truncatus, D – shrimp Lebbeus grandimanus (Bražnikov, 1907). Photo: A, B, D – Antokhina T.I.; C – Deart Yu.V. The dives revealed two contrasting biotopes: boulder bottoms virtually devoid of large animals, and rocky outcrops near the capes—oases inhabited by a multitude of sea urchins, starfish, polychaetes, anemones, soft corals, and mollusks (Figs. 3-4). Of particular interest is the astonishing species diversity of coelenterates—anemones, soft corals, and hydroids—which form unique underwater gardens that provide shelter for small invertebrates and fish. Another species-rich group is starfish, of which at least 15 species were encountered. The rock surface is covered with mussel brushes and clusters of sea urchins (Fig. 4). Fig. 4. A – underwater landscape at Cape Amnat, depth 10-12 m, B – sea anemones Metridium farcimen (Brandt, 1835) and M. senile fimbriatum (Verrill, 1865), starfish and urchins at Cape Skalny, depth 18-20 m, C – sea anemone Cribrinopsis albopunctata Sanamyan et Sanamyan, 2006, D – starfish Leptasterias sp. Photo: Antokhina T.I. During the dives, observations of benthic inhabitants (feeding behavior, symbiotic relationships, etc.) were conducted, and their environmental preferences were clarified. Further laboratory work involves species identification of the collected specimens, study of morpho-anatomical characteristics using various methods, molecular genetic analysis of the samples, and investigation of embryonic and postembryonic development for individual sea anemone species.

Sample collection in Nizhny Novgorod (photo by P.A. Potapova) In 2023, an agreement on education and science was signed between the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and the K. Minin Nizhny Novgorod State Pedagogical University. Under this agreement, students and faculty from Minin University have been completing their third summer internship working with freshwater aquatic organisms at the Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions and at the N.Yu. Zograf Deep Lake Hydrobiological Station. The students are successfully using the knowledge they gain to organize classes for schoolchildren in the Nizhny Novgorod Region. This year, after completing a course on preparing biological specimens for examination using light and electron microscopy, Polina Aleksandrovna Potapova organized a workshop at School No. 130 to introduce students to the microscopic crustaceans that inhabit the ponds of Nizhny Novgorod. The children not only had the opportunity to observe the mysterious little bugs "jumping" in the water but also learned how to collect and identify them. Younger schoolchildren (5th and 6th grades) participated in the lesson, but judging by their delighted expressions, the cumbersome Latin names of the various daphnia and cyclops didn't intimidate them. Moreover, many children expressed interest in personally collecting samples for the staff of the Laboratory of Aquatic Community Ecology and Invasions. Lecture and practical lesson for students in grades 5–6 of School No. 130 (photo by P.A. Potapova) A well-deserved tradition of microscopic crustacean workshops is dividing the session into scientific and creative parts. During the scientific part, the children listened attentively to the lecture, learned how to set up microscopes, and actively asked questions. And during the creative part, everyone could make a brooch in the shape of their favorite microscopic character as a souvenir from the workshop. Naturally, the children's favorite was the water flea Daphnia — a favorite research subject of Alexey Alexeyevich Kotov and Pyotr Grigoryevich Garibyan. A few years ago, it would have been impossible to believe that microscopic crustaceans could be of interest to a young audience. Children interested in biology usually dream of becoming ornithologists or theriologists, or at least entomologists. This is due to the vast amount of readily available popular science materials on birds, mammals, and insects. At the same time, significant discoveries in the field of microscopic invertebrate zoology are often unknown to the general public. Thanks to the collaboration between the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Minin University, the distance between fundamental discoveries and children's audiences has been significantly reduced. This gives hope for fostering a responsible attitude in our society toward the natural environment of our homeland. And it's quite possible that in a few years, there will be a veritable field of enthusiastic Daphnia enthusiasts applying to A.A. Kotov's graduate program! Scientific and creative parts of the lesson (photo by P.A. Potapova) In the meantime, Polina Aleksandrovna, under the supervision of A.N. Neretina, will be completing her bachelor's degree thesis on the specifics of engaging schoolchildren in scientific research.

The biodiversity of rodents on our planet is enormous, and members of the subfamily Arvicolinae occupy a special place within it. This group includes not only the familiar voles, distinguished from mice by their shorter, fluffier tails, but also lemmings, muskrats, and numerous rare and poorly studied species. Voles are one of the most successful groups of rodents. They have colonized all landscape zones of the Northern Hemisphere, including tundra, taiga, broadleaf forests, meadows, and steppes, as well as the highlands of Eurasia and North America. At the same time, they exhibit astonishing diversity: approximately 150 species, many of which arose relatively recently in geological time. Some large groups of vole species arose through explosive speciation, which for a long time prevented the establishment of genetic relationships within this group. This gap has now been largely filled. A new study, conducted with the participation of researchers from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has conducted the first comparative analysis of whole-genome sequencing data (RAD-seq and RNA-seq) for 51 vole species. The scientists reconstructed the evolutionary history of these rodents and clarified the origins of the main groups. Thanks to the analysis of genomic material, long-standing debates about the relationship between different genera and species have been resolved, as well as the order in which they appeared on our planet. "Phylogeny is a roadmap for all of biology. Understanding the structure of a group's 'family tree' provides the foundation for all subsequent research—from ecology to genomics," notes Natalia Abramson, PhD, head of the research team. The results showed that most vole genera arose during periods of intense climate change, when periodic glaciations and subsequent interglacial periods contributed to the fragmentation of populations and the formation of new species. This explains why, in some cases, closely related species are so similar morphologically that they are difficult to distinguish without genetic analysis. A clear understanding of the relationships between voles is important not only for evolutionary biology but also for applied research. Voles play a key role in ecosystems as the primary food source for many predators, and some species are serious agricultural pests and vectors of dangerous diseases. Understanding their evolutionary relationships will help better predict population behavior, develop biological control measures, and assess the risk of infection spread. The work was published in the journal Diversity: Abramson, N., Skalon, E., Bondareva, O., Bodrov, S., Petrova, T., Dvoyashov, I., 2025. Resolving Rapid Radiation of Voles and Lemmings (Arvicolinae: Cricetinae, Rodentia) with QuaddRAD Sequencing and Transcriptome Analysis. Diversity 17, 61.

Armoured catfish. Photo: Efim Pavlov For the last two decades, non-native armoured catfish (Loricariidae) have successfully spread to tropical and subtropical bodies of water, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in Vietnam. The widespread invasion of the catfish genus Pterygoplichthys is primarily due to their popularity in aquarium keeping, as some specimens escape from the aquarium trade or aquaculture and successfully reproduce in natural water ecosystems. These fish are highly plastic and unpretentious. They are capable of breathing air and have a highly protected body with dermal plates, which helps them evade numerous predators. Armoured catfish exhibit parental care and high fecundity rates, contributing to their reproductive success. Non-native catfish cause significant damage to Vietnamese water ecosystems, leading to their degradation and a decline in native fish populations. While this genus is rarely used as a food source for humans, they cause considerable damage to traditional fishing practices in Vietnam by damaging net fishing gears. An irrigation canal is one of the habitats of catfish. Photo: Efim Pavlov Occasional escapes of aquarium armoured catfish into the wild do not fully explain the widespread and rapid spread of these species in bodies of water that are isolated and far from human civilization. Spreading through brackish water in estuaries and coastlines could be one of the potential factors. Armoured catfish are typically characterized as freshwater species. However, numerous experiments have shown that these fish are capable of inhabiting brackish water with salinity levels up to 18 PSU, whereas seawater salinity is approximately 33 PSU. The salinity of water in estuaries of large rivers and near coastlines often decreases compared to seawater. This phenomenon could facilitate the spread of catfish to neighboring rivers. It should be noted that for successful spreading, it is not enough for fish to tolerate brackish water; they must also be capable of recognizing high salinity and moving to low salinity zones. Sampling of captured non-native armoured catfish. Photo: Efim Pavlov Efim Pavlov and Ekaterina Ganzha (IEE RAS), in collaboration with Tran Duc Dien (Russian-Vietnamese Tropic Center), conducted an experimental study aimed at understanding the behavioural traits of armoured catfish that enable them to navigate in brackish water. Two experimental variants were designed. The first experiment estimated the diurnal rhythm of locomotor activity of juveniles and adult fish in brackish water (from 0 to 15 PSU). In the second experiment, a specialized, unique test apparatus with gradual increasing seawater volume was used to assess potential adaptive features of armoured catfish for detecting high water salinity. An important characteristic of the apparatus was that when seawater inflowed into the tank, it did not mix with freshwater. This feature simulated conditions observed in some estuaries of Vietnam. The apparatus was also used to measure how quickly catfish detect changes in water salinity and in which direction they move. The analysis of videos capturing the movement behaviour of catfish within the test apparatus was performed automatically using specialized software, which had been previously verified by the authors. Scheme of the test apparatus “Equilibrium”. Photo: Efim Pavlov The researchers found that the diurnal activity of juveniles and adults was similar, with the maximum activity occurring at nighttime. Juveniles are more sensitive to changes in water salinity than adults. Therefore, it was concluded that the likelihood of juveniles spreading from brackish water is low. Adult armoured catfish can tolerate water salinity levels of up to 10 PSU for extended periods (up to six hours). However, their tolerance to higher salinity levels (15 PSU) is limited to shorter durations, averaging up to three hours. Moreover, armoured catfish are capable of detecting high water salinity and then moving toward the surface, where the water is predominantly freshwater. This result supports the hypothesis that adult armoured catfish can navigate and move successfully along salinity gradients, which increases their chances of spreading from one river system to another through brackish water. The provided experimental data shed light on the patterns of fish invasions. It is shown that freshwater species possess innate behavioural abilities that help them spread through ecosystems with adverse environmental conditions, such as brackish water or seawater. This finding repeatedly emphasizes the need for comprehensive investigation of the biology of non-native fish and assessment of the risks associated with their spread to new water ecosystems. The article (Pavlov E.D., Tran Duc Dien, Ganzha E.V. 2025) was published in Aquatic Invasions (https://aquaticinvasions.arphahub.com/article/162564).

Rowing training (photo by A.N. Neretina) From August 22 to 24, 2025, Anna Neretina, PhD in Biology and Senior Researcher at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, conducted classes on the taxonomy of invertebrates and algae for students from Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod and Minin State Pedagogical University of Nizhny Novgorod. Collection and processing of aquatic organism samples (photo by A.N. Neretina) Anna Neretina shared her story about the classes—both theoretical and practical: “Despite the unfavorable weather forecast, four participants made it to the biological station. It must be said that only true hydrobiology enthusiasts can make the long journey from Nizhny Novgorod and its environs to one of the most inaccessible lakes in the Moscow region! Contrary to the forecast, the weather was magnificent all three days. After checking in, a safety briefing, and a short lecture, we set out to gather materials for the classes. However, during the gathering, it became clear that I was the only one who knew how to row. So, rowing training was quickly added to the program. It's an absolutely essential skill for any hydrobiologist! However, I wasn't much of an instructor. I distinctly remember my supervisor teaching me to row. They simply handed me two oars and said, "Row!" And somehow I managed. I also handed out oars to each participant on our expedition in turn. Each time, for the first five minutes, we'd spin around in the boat, like rotifers swirling in temporary slides under a microscope. The only difference, perhaps, is that rotifers don’t laugh so much!” Glubokoye lake surroundings (photo by A.N. Neretina) “Overall, during the 3.5 hours we spent on the lake, each participant learned how to operate a boat to some degree. We also successfully caught the necessary animals for the practical training. Among our catches were leeches, dragonfly larvae, spiders, water mites, various microscopic crustaceans, and algae. Furthermore, near the pier, one of the expedition participants discovered a mysterious blue-green ball, resembling an emerald. Of course, one would like to say that precious stones can be found in our Glubokoye lake, but no, upon closer inspection, the "ball" turned out to be a colony of blue-green algae. When organizing classes for students at the biological station, I always share their admiration for the beauty of desmid algae, the agility of water fleas, and the dexterity of dragonfly larvae. Even circus performers would envy the acrobatic feats leeches perform while trying to escape researchers! A key feature of the biological station's activities is the opportunity to observe living animals and algae. This is much more interesting than examining dead material preserved in formalin. Furthermore, some anatomy details are only clearly visible in living specimens. Only at Glubokoye lake can you simultaneously peer through a microscope and admire the stunning scenery. It's here that you can witness the most beautiful sunsets, and anyone can try their hand at cooking without the internet and make porridge or pasta for the first time! Next year, we invite everyone to join us for a fun trip to the most beautiful lake in the Moscow region. Those lucky enough to own a Niva-type car are especially welcome!”

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko assessed the infrastructure and learned about the priority research areas of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), and held a meeting on its development. The event was attended by First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Konstantin Tsyganov, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education Denis Sekirinsky, IEE RAS Director and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Sergey Naidenko, and institute staff. "The Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences is working to achieve several national goals set by President Vladimir Putin. These include "Technological Leadership" and "Environmental Well-being." The Institute is actively implementing measures to support the "Youth and Children" national project. It participates in mega-grant programs and is developing a youth laboratory. Furthermore, the IEE RAS is engaged in international scientific cooperation within the framework of the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center," said Dmitry Chernyshenko. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that for the Institute's further development, it is essential to focus on addressing the needs of Russia's regions and industrial partners, integrating data obtained at biostations into existing and emerging information systems, and building predictive models based on them. It is also important that the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources is prepared to incorporate the Institute's proposals into the updated Strategy for Environmental Security to 2030 and for the period up to 2036. The Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center has been operating for over 35 years. The center's research focuses on biodiversity, the structural and functional organization of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the ecology and biology of organisms, and carbon and greenhouse gas fluxes. The IEE RAS also actively collaborates with colleagues from China, for example, on a program to restore the Amur tiger in our countries. This year, several joint expeditions were conducted, including one to assess potentially suitable habitats. The A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences supports five permanent expeditions and centers, including joint ones with Armenia, Ethiopia, and Mongolia, as well as eight biological stations in various regions of Russia. Dmitry Chernyshenko reviewed the infrastructure of the Electron Microscopy Laboratory and visited the Laboratory of Mammalian Behavior and Behavioral Ecology and the Laboratory of Phytoparasitology at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Research staff and graduate students presented their areas of work and the results of their research. In particular, the institute's staff participated in compiling the Red Book of Russia, are implementing projects to assess, preserve, and restore biodiversity in Moscow, and are conducting ornithological surveys of airport facilities. In accordance with the instructions of the President of Russia, the institute is implementing a key innovative project to create and develop a National System for Monitoring Climate-Active Substances. Deputy Minister of Education and Science Denis Sekirinsky noted that the development of the Center for Global Environmental Monitoring and Biosafety at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences plays a key role in the development of a national system of independent environmental analysis. "Thanks to the unique experience and infrastructure of the IEE RAS, a system is being developed that enables us to obtain our own reliable data on the state of ecosystems, climate change, and biosafety risks, including monitoring greenhouse gases, the spread of pathogens, and invasive species. The introduction of advanced digitalization and artificial intelligence methods, as well as the development of a network of environmental observatories, enable Russia to make independent management decisions based on domestic scientific expertise," he said. Proposals for the creation of the Center for Global Environmental Monitoring and Biosafety at the IEE RAS were presented at the meeting. "The establishment of the Center for Global Environmental Monitoring and Biosafety will allow the institute not only to develop cutting-edge world-class competencies within its walls but also to ensure Russia's priority in research and solutions to fundamental and applied environmental problems at a global level. Its activities will significantly expand access for domestic enterprises and institutions to knowledge about the planet's biological and genetic resources and provide scientific and methodological support for Russian economic development projects both in Russia and abroad," noted Sergei Naidenko, Director of the IEE RAS. Furthermore, the Institute houses a Technology Transfer Center, which coordinates such areas as remediation of soil damage after oil spills, drinking water quality monitoring using mollusks, and the study of invasive species and wood pests. Photo: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Related materials: TASS: "Chernyshenko: Science must take into account the needs of the regions" Rambler.News: "Chernyshenko: Science must take into account the needs of the regions" Russian Government: "Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting on the development of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences" RosEcoAcademy: "Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko visited the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences on September 15 and held a meeting on the Institute's development" Kimry City: "Chernyshenko: Science must take into account the needs of the regions" RIA: "Chernyshenko held a meeting on the development of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution” EcoPortal: "Russian scientists will receive a new impetus for environmental research" Tsargrad: "Dmitry Chernyshenko: Development of ecology a strategic priority until 2036" Voov: "Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting on the development of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences on September 15" Rutub: "Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting on the development of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, September 15" Rubrik: "Dmitry Chernyshenko held a meeting on the development of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and assessed its infrastructure"

Seven Russian nature reserves are creating the country's first unified wildlife photo-monitoring network. The project, initiated by the Central Forest Nature Reserve, has received grant support from the Presidential Fund for Nature and has begun operations. Sergey Ogurtsov, the project's director and leading researcher at the Central Forest Nature Reserve, explains its main goal: "Russia has long needed to create a unified data center to accumulate photos and videos from camera traps collected in various protected areas. Such a center will enable meta-analysis, the results of which will be significant at the national level. This is crucial for preserving our country's biodiversity, as well as its environmental and intellectual security. Camera traps are used to monitor biodiversity in many Russian protected areas, but until now, there has been no unified approach to organizing such observations. This makes it virtually impossible to compare data collected in different areas. In 2022, the first national photo-monitoring program, CAMMON (CAMtrap MONitoring), was developed, enabling comprehensive observations of various mammals, as well as plants and inanimate natural phenomena. Thanks to the Presidential Fund for Nature, our work will allow us to test the Program's capabilities in various ecogeographical conditions (from the forest-tundra of the Far North to the Caucasus Mountains), evaluate 12 parameters characterizing the state of mammal populations at the systemic level, demonstrate the high effectiveness of photomonitoring in solving various applied environmental problems, and utilize the obtained results in the social sphere through environmental education.” The project aims to create a unified system for monitoring biodiversity using camera traps and a common methodology. Seven protected areas are participating in the project: Polistovsky Nature Reserve (Pskov Region), Mordovsky Nature Reserve (Republic of Mordovia), Pasvik Nature Reserve (Murmansk Region), Visimsky Nature Reserve (Sverdlovsk Region), Kavkazsky Nature Reserve (Western Caucasus), Sovetsky Federal Wildlife Refuge (Chechen Republic), and the Central Forest Nature Reserve (Tver Region, hereinafter CFNR), which initiated the project. Each of the seven protected areas will address its own specific objectives within the project. Polistovsky Nature Reserve will organize interactions with local residents by assessing their impact on mammals within the reserve and the protected zone. Mordovsky Nature Reserve will begin monitoring the recovery of mammal communities after fires. Pasvik Nature Reserve will assess the impact of engineering structures on mammal migration. The Visimsky Nature Reserve will study how windfalls affect mammal populations in the mosaic landscapes of the Middle Ural lowlands. The Kavkazsky Nature Reserve will be able to observe the impact of mass tourism and resort development on mammals and develop mitigation mechanisms. The Sovetsky Federal Nature Reserve, supervised by specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), will assess the habitat suitability for the reintroduction of the Persian leopard as part of its restoration program in the Russian Caucasus. Importantly, all of them will work using a unified methodology, actively exchange data, and publicly share successes, challenges, and observations throughout the project. "Since 2007, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), with the participation of colleagues from the A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEMT RAS), the Caspian Institute of Biological Resources of the Dagestan Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (CIBR DFRC RAS), as well as zoologists from the Moscow Zoo, the Caucasus Nature Reserve, the North Ossetian Nature Reserve, the Alania National Park, and the Elbrus National Park, has been providing scientific support for the Program for the Restoration of the Persian Leopard in the Caucasus, which is being implemented by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources with the participation of the Sochi National Park and with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Our previous research (Rozhnov et al., 2024) demonstrated that the Chechen Republic has significant potential for leopard restoration in the Central Caucasus and is one of the project's target areas. This area urgently needs a multi-stage assessment of the potential habitat capacity suitable for sustaining a number of leopards. A key component of this survey is the study of the prey potential of local ecosystems, i.e., assessing the abundance of the leopard's main prey species (ungulates and medium-sized carnivores), as well as threats and risks, namely, the population density of competitor species (large predators comparable to the leopard). This information will help assess the pace, risks, and potential success of leopard restoration and survival in Chechnya in the future. Furthermore, non-invasive monitoring of the most mobile ecosystem elements (animals) will be continuously conducted, and new incursions of the target species—the leopard itself—will be recorded. All of this can be achieved by organizing comprehensive photo monitoring using a well-planned and standardized program that has proven effective. Chechnya is a challenging area to work in for many reasons. We already began such work in 2024 in the Shatoi District of the Chechen Republic, within the Sovetsky Federal Nature Reserve, and we currently plan to expand and improve its quality through participation in the "Formation of a National Photo Monitoring Network in Protected Areas of Russia" project, explained Anna Yachmennikova, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The project will engage various audiences at different stages: researchers from protected areas and scientific organizations, volunteers, biology teachers and students, conservation NGOs, and IT specialists. A third camera trap workshop, "Reserve Camera Trap 2026," will be organized to train all project participants, as well as colleagues from other protected areas. #PresidentialGrants #NatureFund #ReserveCameraTrap #cammon #photomonitoring #cameratraps Related materials: Caucasian Nature Reserve: "A project to create the first national wildlife photomonitoring network in protected areas has been launched in Russia." Central Forest Nature Reserve: "A project to create the first national wildlife photomonitoring network in protected areas has been launched in Russia. And it is directly connected to our reserve!"