This collection presents the proceedings of the 7th All-Russian Scientific Conference with International Participation "Ecosystem Dynamics in the Holocene," which took place October 20-24, 2025, at Perm State National Research University. The topics covered include the history of Arctic and Subarctic ecosystems, highlands, Eurasian forest zones, and arid regions; marine, oceanic, and coastal ecosystems in the Holocene; diverse climate changes during the Holocene; extreme events and anthropogenic factors in ecosystem history; the history of nature management; and innovative methods and approaches to studying Holocene paleogeography. The collection can be downloaded via this link.

Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky. Photo by Olga Merzlyakova / Scientific Russia Losiny Ostrov is a unique nature reserve in the middle of a metropolis. How does it “feel”? What problems does it experience? What animals and plants live there? How should people behave so as not to disturb it? What are scientists working on there? Professor Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke to the Scientific Russia portal about this. Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky is a professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Deputy Director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, and a specialist in soil ecology and soil zoology. Comprehensive research conducted under his leadership has covered the impact of industrial pollution and forest fires on soil fauna, quantitative assessment of ecosystem functions performed by soil biota, and the biogeography of soil animals. — You and your colleagues are currently conducting extensive work in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov National Park. What prompted this? — Losiny Ostrov National Park is located within two federal subjects: Moscow and the Moscow Region. The Moscow Ring Road separates these two areas. The Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov was transferred to the Moscow government's management, and it is now managed by the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection. It turned out that there was insufficient data on the long-term dynamics and condition of the national park's ecosystems, making it difficult to predict the future development of this specially protected natural area (SPNA) in the metropolis. — Therefore, a comprehensive inventory of the state of biodiversity in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov was required, and our institute was involved in this work. — When did this work begin? — The pilot project began in 2024: we surveyed the ecosystems of Losiny Ostrov National Park and developed a concept, which began to be implemented in 2025. Full-scale work in the national park began this year. — What have you discovered? — The work is devoted to inventorying the fauna, flora, and lichen biota, or lichens — basically, components of all living organisms that inhabit the area. It's a monitoring of all biodiversity. Furthermore, the work includes breakthrough scientific research. For example, we're using modern methods to assess the condition of Losiny Ostrov National Park. Part of the work is conducted using environmental DNA analysis in various environments—water, soil, and tree trunks. All DNA is washed or extracted from the substrate, and then metagenomic analysis is performed, which allows us to understand what organisms are found there. — We're currently conducting a screening: we've selected the most typical habitats and are studying them. These include soil types common to Losiny Ostrov, bodies of water, and the bark of common trees. This method can identify the presence of dangerous pathogenic microorganisms. It should be noted that we haven't yet been able to identify anything dangerous in Losiny Ostrov. — According to your research, Losiny Ostrov is healthy? — In terms of pathogens, yes. To our pleasant surprise, it turned out that the state of Losiny Ostrov's ecosystem is also quite good. Basically, it's a typical temperate forest, comparable to a similar forest somewhere in the Moscow or Ryazan regions. — Considering that it's located right in the middle of a metropolis? — Yes. And that's what makes it unique: such a large, untouched tract of forest within a metropolis doesn't exist anywhere else in Europe, or perhaps even in the world. One of the reasons for studying Losiny Ostrov was the need to preserve this unique ecosystem within the city while also allowing people living around it—and we are a huge city—to interact with nature, gain knowledge and aesthetic pleasure from it, without disturbing the ecosystem. The department has set us the following task: to provide recommendations on how to make informed management decisions to protect ecosystems while simultaneously protecting the environment and allowing people to interact with it. — Does Losiny Ostrov really need such protection? After all, how many years has it been living within the metropolis without any help from you, in good condition as you say? — It's certainly in good condition, but if you go to any doctor and get examined, they're bound to find something. Losiny Ostrov is the same way—of course, it has its own 'ills,' its own vulnerabilities. Firstly, it's exposed to city noise: the Moscow Ring Road and general noise pollution, especially around the perimeter. Plus, there's accumulated pollution: heavy metals transmitted by air, mainly from cars. Currently, these heavy metals don't exceed the norms for key ecosystem components, but we do find them in soils and bottom sediments of water bodies. And, of course, one of the most serious 'diseases' of the forest is the penetration of invasive species. Currently, the forest is quite rich in box elder maple, Sakhalin knotweed, and various goldenrods." These are all invasive species that are highly aggressive, hence their name: they displace native biota and actively take over space. For example, if the Sakhalin buckwheat (or knotweed) grows, it overtakes the space underneath and around it, all native plant species die, and the insect and soil invertebrate communities begin to deteriorate. Serious disruptions have now been identified in many local areas where these invasive species have spread. — How did they get there? — On the one hand, many invasive species spread on their own: that's what makes them invasive: they easily penetrate ecosystems. On the other hand, forest management wasn't always clearly regulated—our legislation doesn't prohibit the planting of alien plant species, so the same maple trees that have now proven dangerous to ecosystems were often used to naturally decorate avenues and paths. A combination of factors led to the introduction of invasive species into Losiny Ostrov Park. But now one of the challenges is figuring out what to do with them next to preserve the ecosystem. — What are the options? What can you do with them? — Recently, the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation (ASNC) proposed cutting down all the box elder maple in Moscow. There's no doubt that they need to be controlled, and quite possibly even cut down and replaced with native species like linden, oak, and spruce. We have many good native species that will be resistant to local pests and won't become a gateway for new insect species. It's a perfectly viable idea. At the very least, it's entirely feasible to do this over a small area—maybe not within Moscow, but within Losiny Ostrov. It's a different matter if there are already entire communities formed by this maple. It's practically a natural forest, and cutting it down will, on the one hand, change the ecosystem, and on the other, obviously spark public discontent, with people saying we're cutting down a national park. Consequently, the problem is not only environmental but also political. — So you need to find a balance between where to cut and where not to. You said these invasive plants bring in alien insect species. Are they present in Losiny Ostrov National Park? — Yes, there are quite a few of those insects, as well as other invertebrates. For example, there's the Spanish slug; it's already infiltrated there. I'm not saying it necessarily arrived via the box elder, but that's a possible route. — How does this slug get into Losiny Ostrov Park? — Humanity is very mobile these days. It's not like 200-300 years ago, when everyone spent their entire lives in their village: born there, died there. We transport goods, we travel long distances ourselves, and this is especially true for soil-bound invertebrates—they can easily travel on car wheels, carrying planting material. Many different routes are open to them." — And a slug can attach itself to a car wheel? — Maybe not the slug itself, but its eggs, which are much more resistant to such stresses. — Does this slug pose any danger to the ecosystem? — It's dangerous because it can eat anything. It eats many native plant species, but almost none of our predators eat it. One of the goals of our work is to develop methods for combating this slug. We're working on it. — How can we combat slugs? — So far, we can't think of anything better than physical extermination. Perhaps some volunteer programs could work, because we need to collect them before they go into hybernation. For example, if you donate a bucket of slugs, you've done a good deed and get a hat. Isn't that a reward? — Won't you harm the ecosystem by doing this? Perhaps it's already so ingrained that destroying it, like the Chinese did with the sparrows, would cause irreparable damage. Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky. Photo by Olga Merzlyakova / Scientific Russia — No. The slug arrived just a few years ago; this is the very first stage of the infestation. We still have a chance to stop it now, while box elder is already difficult to remove from ecosystems; that's a more complex issue. — Are there any insects that have also invaded the ecosystem? — Many species expand their ranges, having arrived here, say, 100 years ago, and we now perceive them as native species. For example, in our Moscow region, in Moscow, there are about a dozen species of woodlice. Almost all of them came here from Europe, although this happened many decades ago. If you look at some old collections from Moscow, they were recorded there already so far back. Although these are European species, invasive. But they haven't destroyed our ecosystems—they've become part of them. — Have you ever encountered a particular species unexpectedly? — These aren't my personal impressions, but rather the impressions of our team, which consists of over a hundred people. Firstly, a great many orchids have been discovered in Losiny Ostrov, including orchids listed in the Moscow Red Book. At least 100 species of insects listed in the Moscow Red Book have been found, and we see a very wide variety. A large number of birds were discovered in Losiny Ostrov, including the azure tit, which is listed in the Russian Red Book. It had not been recorded in Moscow for over 20 years. Some suspect that Losiny Ostrov has not been thoroughly researched and that the azure tit had been nesting there for the past 20 years, but for ornithologists, this sighting was a significant event. Several previously undiscovered bat species were also recorded. — Let's talk about the 'king' of Losiny Ostrov (from Russian - “Moose Island”). There are a lot of reports these days of moose wandering onto the highway, the Moscow Ring Road, and the city streets. How should we respond to this? Is this a normal occurrence or something extraordinary? — Within the scope of our ongoing work, the moose is a separate focus, a separate section, managed by our mammalogists. Right now, we're primarily trying to determine how many moose inhabit the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov Park. — Have you figured it out? — 12–14 individuals. Apparently, this is the optimal number that can feed on the resources available in the national park without additional feeding or migration. One of our tasks is to determine whether these moose are sedentary or constantly on the move. They were fitted with special collars—not all of them, only four so far, because moose can only be tagged in winter, when they're walking in the snow. They're shot with a tranquilizer, and you have to track how far they walk before they fall asleep somewhere. This can only be done with snow. We started working last year—there was very little snow, and it wasn't until the very end of winter that we were able to tag a few individuals. But the four moose that our colleagues tagged show a fairly strong territorial fidelity: each has its own home range, although some venture into neighboring areas to find more suitable vegetation for feeding. But, of course, during the rutting season, their movements become significantly more active, especially for males, so they may venture beyond the park's boundaries, onto the road, and across pedestrian paths. This is natural for the animal, as there are no physical barriers. — Usually, when people encounter a moose, they're amazed, grab their gadgets, and start taking videos and photos... Is that allowed? — You can do that of course, but remember that a moose is a wild animal and you're not in a zoo. Therefore, you should behave as calmly as possible and avoid getting too close. — Is it dangerous? — Yes, they have very strong and sharp hooves; they can cause quite a lot of injury, if not kill. And most importantly: if you have a dog, you must put it on a leash and keep it close, because to a dog, a moose is a wild animal and it starts to go into a hunting frenzy, while to a moose, a dog is a predator. That's where the most unpredictable things begin. We're currently trying to amend the regulations so that dogs must be kept on a leash while walking on Losiny Ostrov. This isn't a city park, and I'd like to emphasize that. We're entering a forest. The term "national park" is a bit confusing. In fact, a national park is almost the same as a nature reserve. You're entering a protected natural area, and if you're bringing a dog, you shouldn't let it loose. It shouldn't destroy birds' nests, catch squirrels or martens, or interact with moose. This is one of the main reasons why moose can become aggressive. — I recently watched a video of people motorboating along the Moscow River, and two moose swimming alongside them. They were completely calm, as if such a swim was a natural occurrence for them. — That's right. It's a well-known fact that moose are good swimmers; they can cross bodies of water, but they also adapt to the presence of humans. One of our research areas is assessing stress levels based on moose hormone levels. As our colleagues have shown, the stress levels of moose in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov are roughly the same as in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve, where there are no humans at all. — You study soil organisms yourself. What's interesting, surprising, or unique about them? — We have quite a few employees working on various groups of soil animals. We've discovered several rare species, and some are new to Moscow, such as ciliates and several species of enchytraeids. In our work and in the recommendations we provide to the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Protection, we strive to formulate practical advice on how to further manage this ecosystem and minimize damage, including to soil animals. For example, we suggest using materials that won't “seal” the soil by preventing air penetration, prevent soil compaction, and create some kind of flooring. Regarding invertebrates and insects in particular, we also try to talk about the need to reduce light pollution. This is one of the most serious impacts the city has on forests. For example, parks like Vorobyovy Gory or Tsaritsyno are heavily illuminated, resulting in virtually no insects remaining because they are drawn to the light and die. This shouldn't be done. — What should be done then? — The forest shouldn't be as bright as daylight all the time. Perhaps we shouldn't install lanterns along the paths, but instead use spotlights, minimal lighting, if the path is just for walking. Around the perimeter of the forest, it might be useful for city residents, but too much light is detrimental to its inhabitants, especially insects, even birds. I didn't mention at the beginning of our conversation that another important result of our first year of work was that we zoned the national park, designating areas that must remain without interference. This is a protected area. — Why the “no interference” policy? — The value of Losiny Ostrov is that it's a single, unbroken patch of forest. It was once cut by the Moscow Ring Road, but we must try not to cut it any further. The fact that moose and other large mammals maintain their populations within Moscow is only possible because they have a large, unbroken habitat. Even if we just build a path with streetlights, it would split the habitat in two. That's why we proposed establishing a protected area. — How does the department respond to your advice? — To our pleasant surprise, the department took it seriously. "We'll do what you said." That's great, and not some kind of public flattery. Involving scientific teams in making management decisions is a highly commendable effort, demonstrating that the environmental agency cares for the territory entrusted to it not by making spontaneous decisions, but by basing its work on scientific research. — You’ve explained what to do when encountering moose. Now let's talk about how to behave in general in Losiny Ostrov to avoid harming it. — You need to remember that you're not in a park, but in a forest. The taiga deep in Siberia or in the northern European part of Russia requires the same attitude. There are certainly some mosquitoes there that will bite, and ticks that might land on you. Therefore, you need to dress appropriately and avoid wearing shorts in the forest. This is for your own protection. To avoid harming the forest itself, remember these simple rules: don't make noise, don't light fires, and don't pick plants. These are prohibited, but we don't always know all the rules. Even simply taking your trash with you is also a way to protect nature. A discarded cigarette butt or even a glass bottle (due to the lens effect) can start a fire. If there are rules, you must follow them, because they have a basis. If it says you can't leave the paths, it's not because someone wants to count everyone or restrict your freedom, but because otherwise the soil will become compacted, and the soil-dwelling animals won't be able to breathe. We hope that the rules we've refined will be shared with the local population. It's crucial to communicate that research is currently underway in the national park and it needs to be helped, not hindered. — Have you had any problems with local residents? — Sometimes. For example, we were given a permit to drive our personal vehicles because we needed to bring in some heavy equipment—traps, camera traps, and set them up. The locals care about the forest: people attack us, block cars, and even the road. We have to explain and show our permits—only then do they begin to understand that we're not poachers. But it's great that people care about the fate of the national park; it's clear that this is their home territory, and they strive to protect it. It would be good to let people know about this program before these clashes with scientists erupted. We're working on it, and the department is also talking about our joint activities. — There are currently a lot of Losiny Ostrov defenders, green activists, who gather in large groups and make posters. Do you collaborate with them? — We try to convey to people that our goal is to study this forest, understand how it functions, and ensure its preservation for future generations. We share the information we receive with the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection, and they take it very seriously. We hope that the collaboration between the environmental agency and scientists will help maintain the national park in good condition for many years to come.

A new species Melophagus storozhenkoi Matyukhin, Yatsuk & Nartshuk, 2025 The Hippoboscidae family of blood-sucking flies is a group of specialized blood-sucking ectoparasites that spend all or most of their lives in the fur or feathers of their hosts—mammals and birds. Both sexes feed on blood. For over a century, these flies have been studied as vectors of animal pathogens. The Hippoboscidae family currently includes approximately 220 species. One of the most studied groups of blood-sucking flies is the genus Melophagus. According to various authors, it includes between three and eight species. Their primary hosts are various types of sheep. Members of this genus are believed to have originally been Palearctic species, but have become widespread in Europe, Asia, North America, and South Africa thanks to the breeding of domestic sheep. A new species for this genus — Melophagus storozhenkoi Matyukhin, Yatsuk & Nartshuk, 2025 — was described by researchers at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS). "The parasite was collected from a Marco Polo sheep (Ovis ammon polii) in the area of ​​Lake Zorkul (Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, Tajikistan). Melophagus storozhenkoi differs from all known species of the genus in the number of setae on the scutellum, scutellum morphology, coloration, thickness and length of the ventral setae, and body coloration," explained Alexandra Yatsuk, PhD, a researcher at IEE RAS. An updated key to all species of the genus Melophagus, including the new one, is provided. The work was published in the journal Zootaxa: A.A. Yatsuk, A.V. Matyukhin, E.P. Nartshuk 2025. A new species of the genus Melophagus Latreille, 1802 (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) from the Eastern Pamir. Zootaxa 5715 (1): 519–523. Related materials: Science. Mail: "Scientists discover new species of bloodsucker fly from the Eastern Pamirs"  

Soil pollution harms flora and fauna. Heavy metals, such as copper, lead, and zinc, are among the most common soil pollutants. Molds, or soil filamentous fungi, seemingly less noticeable but numerous and important soil inhabitants, also encounter these metals in the soil. Molds are considered resilient organisms: they can withstand high levels of pollution and even cleanse soil of heavy metals. However, does this mean that all molds are immune to heavy metals? To address this, a study was conducted at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), together with colleagues from the S.N. Vinogradsky Institute of Microbiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The study examined the effect of copper on important biological molecules of several molds—lipids and osmolytes. Lipids are fat-like substances that play a crucial role in the structure and functioning of living organisms. Lipids are part of the main protective barrier of any cell – the cell membrane. Osmolytes are responsible for the stability of living organisms, despite changing external conditions and stress. The study showed that copper causes changes in the composition of these biological molecules. This helps us understand how molds resist the effects of heavy metals and which fungal species are more successful in this resistance. Therefore, molds can hardly be considered invulnerable to heavy metals. The results of the study were published in the international journal BioMetal (Q1; IF 4.1): Elena V. Fedoseeva, Vera M. Tereshina, Olga A. Danilova, Elena A. Ianutsevich, Anna E. Ivanova, Vera A. Terekhova. Biochemical responses of soil filamentous fungi to copper: changes in lipid and osmolyte composition. Biometals (2025).

The Kamchatka Volcanoes Nature Park Network, in collaboration with scientists from Vitus Bering KamSU and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has begun implementing the first phase of the Presidential Fund for Nature project, "Search, Description, and Development of a Strategy for the Rational Use of Endemic Fish Species from Unexplored Lakes of the Bystrinsky Nature Park." Most of the Bystrinsky Nature Park's water bodies are known to be home to specific salmonids. Understanding their diversity, evolutionary history, population status, and potential risks required specialized scientific research. The first object of study was a cascade of lava-dammed lakes at the foot of Ichinsky Volcano. "The eruption of the volcano's lateral cone 7,500 years ago dammed the river valley with lava. This resulted in the formation of the Ketachan-Arbunat-Angre chain of lakes. The most interesting from a hydrobiological perspective is Lower Angre Lake. This body of water was populated by char through a channel from an ancient glacial lake located higher up the slope," explained project leader Evgeny Esin, Doctor of Biological Sciences. It was in Lake Angre, where the char arrived through a channel from a glacial lake, that nature created its own unique laboratory! Slow water filtration through lava dams and seasonal flooding create favorable conditions for plankton development—the biomass of planktonic crustaceans here is many times higher than in similar lakes in Kamchatka. The char have learned to take advantage of this abundance. Scientists have discovered that an entirely new form has evolved from the familiar form, which feeds on bottom-dwelling invertebrates and spawns in a tributary! It has transitioned entirely to life in the water column and feeds on abundant zooplankton. The difference in food sources has led to divergent maturation and spawning times for the char. "The uniqueness of the speciation event in Lake Angre lies in the tiny size of the ecosystem, covering only 0.2 square kilometers. It is the smallest body of water known to science where vertebrate speciation occurred without geographic barriers," emphasized Acting Rector Olga Rebkovets. Specialists will study endemic fish species inhabiting 11 mountain lakes in the park. This will allow them to understand the diversity and evolutionary history of local fauna. This information is important for developing a strategy for the long-term conservation of ecosystems, especially in the face of increasing anthropogenic impact. The results of the study will be summarized by the end of 2026. A detailed report on the work will be submitted to the Kamchatka Volcanoes Nature Park Network, ensuring a sustainable future for these unique lakes and their inhabitants. The project is being implemented with co-financing from the Interdepartmental Comprehensive Program for Scientific Research of the Kamchatka Peninsula and Adjacent Waters in 2024-2026. Related materials: SM-news:  "The Genetic Chronicle of Kolyma: Arctic Fish Hold Secrets of Glacial Migration and the Key to Survival"   Pravda: "Kolyma Holds the Secret of Ancient Seas: Geneticists Decipher the History of Arctic Fish" Kamchatka Volcanoes: "How Lava Flows Created Lakes, and Tundra Created Hummocks"

Photo: Pagurapseudopsis vietnamica A - male, paratype; B - female, holotype, general appearance; Light microscopy photographs (A, B). Scale bars: 1 mm. A detailed study of crustacean biodiversity in the mangrove swamps of the Cần Giờ Mangrove Biosphere Reserve, located near Ho Chi Minh City in southern Vietnam, revealed a high species diversity of tanaids (Tanaidacea Dana, 1849). These organisms form specific faunal assemblages inhabiting deep-silted mangrove habitats. As part of the study, a new species, Pagurapseudopsis vietnamica Marin, Nguyễn, Palatov, 2025, was described, along with its key ecological characteristics. Molecular genetic analysis revealed its close relationship to P. thailandica Angsupanich, 2001, previously known from Songkhla Lake (lagoon) in Thailand (Gulf of Thailand). However, the new species is clearly distinct in morphological features, particularly in males. In the Kanze mangrove swamps, it coexists with several other tanaid species. Inhabiting the surface and upper layers of alluvial silt covering the bottom of enclosed lagoons surrounded by dense mangrove thickets, during the rainy season (September–October), this species forms dense aggregations of up to 50 individuals per square meter. It is the third most abundant tanaid in this biotope, behind Ctenapseudes vuxuankhoi Marin, Palatov et Nguyễn, 2024 (up to 1,300 individuals/m²) and Pseudohalmyrapseudes alexeitiunovi Marin, Palatov et Nguyễn, 2024 (up to 120 individuals/m²). Photo: The habitat of Pagurapseudopsis vietnamica in the Kanze Mangrove Reserve, and moments of field collection of animals by IEE RAS staff in 2023 Like other marine tanoids found in this area, this species likely plays an important role in the food web, serving as the primary consumer of detritus derived from plant matter arriving from land. Its diet likely consists primarily of detritus derived from decayed or decomposed fallen leaves of the mangrove tree Rhizophora apiculata Lam. These data significantly expand our understanding of the diversity and structural organization of mangrove communities in the region and represent the second discovery of a representative of the genus Pagurapseudopsis in Vietnamese waters. Understanding the mechanisms that shape the biodiversity of these ecosystems is important not only for reconstructing evolutionary processes but also for developing effective conservation strategies. The work was published in the journal Zoosystematica Rossica: A new species of the genus Pagurapseudopsis (Tanaidacea: Pagurapseudopsididae) from the Cần Giờ mangrove area in southern Vietnam I.N. Marin, T.V. Nguyễn, D.M. Palatov Zoosystematica Rossica, 2025, 34(2): 258–271.

Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection Animals need names to be included in their personal health passports The "Active Child Citizen" platform has launched a survey to choose names for four moose — the symbols and pride of Losiny Ostrov National Park. Young Muscovites can learn more about these powerful and noble animals and choose the most suitable name. Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection Ships of the Forest Currently, 10 to 12 adult moose live in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov National Park. They roam freely throughout the area, but prefer to remain unnoticed by humans. For their impressive appearance and graceful gait, moose are known as "ships of the forest." National park staff monitor the animals' movements and health parameters using special GPS transmitters. Smart devices have already been attached to the collars of four moose. They also have health passports with biometric data and the ability to track physiological parameters over time. To personalize the health cards, the moose need names that highlight their character and individuality. However, there is a condition: each animal's name must begin with a specific letter, which is indicated on the GPS transmitter. Names for the moose The youngest female moose is three years old, and her satellite tag is marked with the letter D. National park specialists believe the following names might be suitable for her: Demetra, Diona, Dina, Dubrava, Danaya, Dogada, Darina, or Deyana. Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection Another female is five years old. She's in the prime of her life and already has a wealth of life experience. Heritage says E, so the following names were chosen for her: Elka, Elena, Yesenia, Elaya, Yelma, Enoliya, Evia, and Eremya. Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection The wise guardian of the forest - the seven-year-old moose - needs a name beginning with A. The animal knows every path and clearing in the park, and her majestic calm exudes the power of nature. Young city residents might choose the name Arta (derived from Artemis), Ariadne, Aurora, Astrid, Astra, Athena, Aphrodite, or Andromeda. Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection The male moose is four years old. He is young, handsome, confident, and still possesses a youthful, playful spirit. The first letter taken from the tag is B. Suggested options include Boreas, Buran, Bor, Biant, Boethius, Bayar, Bias, and Briar. Photo: Press Service of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection Young Muscovites aged six to 14 can participate in choosing names for the four moose. A standard account on the mos.ru portal or authorization on the Moscow Electronic School platform is required. For participating in the survey, children will receive points for the city's "Million Prizes" loyalty program. These points can be used to obtain goods and services from partner organizations in a special category on the program's website or in the "Prizes" section of the "Active Child Citizen" platform. These include school backpacks, board games, ice cream molds, promo codes for discounts at stores and cafes, and much more. Researchers from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) are participating in large-scale research on the Losiny Ostrov site, which began in 2024. Scientists conducted a large-scale ecological survey and discovered over 1,500 animal and plant species in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov. More than 200 of these are recognized as rare and protected.

Photo: A female cheetah with her cub in the wild in Kenya. Researchers from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), the Mara-Meru Nature Reserve in Kenya, and Lomonosov Moscow State University have described for the first time the vocal repertoires of adult and cub wild cheetahs from Kenya. Previously, cheetah vocal repertoires had only been studied in captivity: in zoos and breeding centers. In this study, the acoustic cues and situations in which 12 call types (7 tonal and 5 non-tonal) were used were examined for adult cheetahs over 4 years of age and cubs under 6 months of age. The study found that wild cheetahs use the same set of 8 basic call types previously described for captive cheetahs. In addition to these 8 call types, the researchers described 4 additional call types that were observed in the wild in situations that were either rare or not encountered at all in captivity. The contexts in which cheetahs used different types of vocalizations were similar in the wild and in captivity, with the exception of meowing. While meowing is relatively rare in the wild, it is the most common vocalization in captivity (47.6% of all vocalizations). In the wild, cheetahs meow during non-aggressive, close-range interactions, while in captivity, they primarily use meowing to communicate with their keepers while awaiting food and release for a walk. It is possible that cheetahs use meowing to manipulate their keepers, similar to how domestic cats use meowing to manipulate their owners. The spectrogram illustrates 5 tonal types of calls of adult (top) and cubs (bottom) cheetahs, each sound belonging to a different animal or litter of cheetahs: (a) chirp; (b) meow; (c) scream; (d) chatter; (e) hoot. It was found that during cub maturation, the fundamental and dominant frequencies of seven tonal call types increased, while the duration of seven tonal and three non-tonal call types either remained unchanged or increased. In calls with a rhythmic pulsation (crackles, growls, and purrs), the pulsation frequency was the same in cubs and adults. The acoustic structure of the calls differed slightly between adult males and females. Only in three high-frequency tonal call types (chirps, meows, and howls) were the fundamental and dominant frequencies lower in males than in females, while the duration did not differ between the sexes for any call type. A distinctive feature of cheetah calls from other felid species was the unexpectedly very high fundamental frequency of some tonal call types, in both cubs and adults. These calls were significantly higher-pitched than those of domestic cats, which are many times smaller than cheetahs. The results of the study were published in the Q1 journal Mammalian Biology: Chelysheva E.V., Klenova A.V., Volodin I.A., Vasilieva N.A., Volodina E.V. "Vocal repertoires of wild-living cub and adult cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus): call types, acoustic parameters, and contexts." Mammalian Biology, 2025, v. 105, no. 4, pp. 499-516. Related materials: RAS: "Researchers have described the vocal repertoire of adult and cub cheetahs in the wild" Science.Mail: "Russian scientists have studied the cheetah 'language'"

We live in an era when animal and plant species are rapidly spreading beyond their native ranges due to human activity. Species that have conquered new territories are called “alien species” or "invaders". Today, some species can be found almost worldwide, making their distribution "global." These species are referred to as "global invaders." Such species include the Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), which was historically actively distributed around the world to control mosquito larvae, and the African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis), which is widely used in medicine and scientific laboratories. These animals were introduced to water bodies in regions where they had never existed before, and if the climate permited, they reproduced, spreading to neighboring water bodies, and harming native animal species. Both the mosquitofish and the clawed frog are voracious predators capable of eating almost any small animal, including invertebrates and small vertebrates such as tadpoles and fish. However, what will happen if these two global invaders, the mosquitofish and the clawed frog, meet in the same water body? Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences conducted a series of specialized laboratory experiments. The researchers assessed the vulnerability of different life stages of the clawed frog (eggs, hatchlings, tadpoles, newly-metamorphosed froglets, and adults) to predation by the mosquitofish, and also tested whether adult clawed frogs prey upon juvenile and adult mosquitofish. The results confirm differences in the palatability of different ontogenetic stages of the clawed frog to the mosquitofish, as well as the low palatability of mosquitofish for adult frogs, with the exception of mosquitofish juveniles, which are relatively protected in well-lit conditions (during the day) but highly vulnerable under low-light conditions (at night). Thus, these behavioral interactions are complex and can be defined as "asymmetrical bidirectional predation": the mosquitofish readily eliminates its opponent at early developmental stages (eggs, hatchlings, tadpoles, metamorphs), but under certain conditions, it may itself become prey for adult frogs. The discovery of a vulnerable stage in the mosquitofish makes it impossible to definitively state that this fish will suppress clawed frog populations when the two invaders meet in new regions of the planet. In any case, mosquitofish are likely to dominate in urban water bodies with artificial lighting. The practical significance of this study is that we have taken another step toward understanding what nature around us, including the species composition of ponds and lakes, will look like as a result of irreversible global changes driven by human activity. The results of the study were published in an international journal NeoBiota (Q1; JCR IF 3.1): Reshetnikov A.N., Raldugina A.O., Grinchenko D.V., Kidov A.A., Platonov N.G., Petrovskiy A.B., 2025. Predatory interactions between two global aquatic invaders beyond their native ranges: An experimental approach. NeoBiota 102: 173–189. DOI: 10.3897/neobiota.102.145644

Photo: The northern mole vole uses its enormous teeth to dig underground tunnels, where it lives permanently, with almost no access to the surface. Dental x-rays allow the animals' ages to be estimated in the field. The subterranean rodent, the northern mole vole (Ellobius talpinus), is an interesting subject for ecological research. A key requirement for ecological projects is the ability to reliably estimate the age of living mole voles when capturing them in the field. Researchers from the Herzen St. Petersburg Pedagogical University, St. Petersburg State University, the University of Tokyo, and the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) conducted an X-ray study of various age cohorts of individually tagged northern mole voles in a natural population in the Saratov region of Russia. Photo: X-rays of the skulls of northern mole voles of three age classes: a - class 1 (young of the year), b - class 2 (yearlings); c, d - class 3 (overwintered two or more winters). USF - synclinal fold of the first upper molar; LSF - synclinal fold of the first lower molar. Radiography is one of the most promising methods for non-invasively determining the age of animals. In this study, the researchers applied it for the first time to live rodents from a wild population. Radiographs were obtained in the field using a portable X-ray machine and a digital radiovisiograph. Thanks to intensive capture and tagging of mole voles at the model site since 2021, the ages of many individuals were known, which allowed them to identify age-related dental traits, develop a model for age class determination, and successfully validate this model. "The use of field radiography can significantly improve the efficiency of many ecological studies, expand the range of tasks that can be solved, save scientists time, and ensure the ethical welfare of the mole vole under study," said Elena Volodina, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Two traits were selected as age-related indicators: the length of the second synclinal groove of the upper first molar and the length of the second synclinal groove of the lower first molar. Both indicators decreased with age. No sex differences were found in the age-related dynamics of these traits. Discriminant analysis showed that reliable discrimination between age classes is possible when adding radiograph date as a predictor to the molar traits. Model accuracy was 99%, and cross-validation accuracy was 97%. The primary contribution to discrimination comes from the first discriminant function, primarily related to the indicator characterizing molar length. The article was published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research: Nikonova V.R., Naumova A.E., Bergaliev A.M., Dymskaya M.M., Rudyk A.I., Volodina E.V., Smorkatcheva A.V., 2024. Dental radiography as a low-invasive field technique to estimate age in small rodents, with the mole voles (Ellobius) as an example. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 2024, v. 70:46.