Figure 1. The record-long horn of the woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis), found on the Mustur-Yuryuye River (Yakutia). In a joint article published in the Journal of Zoology, Ruslan Belyaev and Natalia Prilepskaya, researchers from the Laboratory of Ecology, Physiology, and Functional Morphology of Higher Vertebrates at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), along with colleagues from Yakutia led by Gennady Boeskorov (DPMGI SB RAS), analyzed the horn size of woolly rhinoceroses (Coelodonta antiquitatis) found in permafrost in Yakutia. Combining information from previously described horns and new finds studied in recent years, the authors analyzed a sample of 47 anterior (nasal) horns from adult woolly rhinoceroses, described the longest horn known to date, and recorded a record for longevity in Coelodonta antiquitatis. Rhino horns are a unique structure. They lack a bony core and, like hair, nails, and hooves, are a derivative of skin composed of keratin. The horn is formed from numerous keratin tubes (filaments) embedded in a keratin matrix. They are attached to the nasal and frontal bones (if a frontal horn is present) of the skull by a layer of connective tissue and ligaments. Figure 2. Comparison of record-long rhinoceros horns: (a) woolly rhinoceros, (b) white rhinoceros, (c) black rhinoceros, (d) Sumatran rhinoceros, (d) Indian rhinoceros. Thanks to permafrost preservation, numerous Russian museums have amassed a vast collection of woolly rhinoceros fossil horns. These finds date primarily to the second half of the Late Pleistocene and are tens of thousands of years old. A new study has shown that the nasal horn length of adult (over 15 years) woolly rhinoceroses averaged over 1 meter (with an average age in the sample of approximately 24 years). This is almost twice as long as the average length of the front horns of the white rhinoceros (55-60 cm) and 2.5-5 times longer than the horns of other modern rhinoceros species. A woolly rhinoceros horn discovered in 2024 on the banks of the Mustur-Yuryuye River turned out to be the longest rhinoceros horn known to date. Its length along the anterior curvature is 164.7 cm. This is 30.7 cm longer than the second-longest horn of Coelodonta antiquitatis and 6.6 cm longer than the longest known horn of a modern rhinoceros, which belonged to a female white rhinoceros shot over a century ago in South Africa (Figure 2). Like all nasal horns of woolly rhinoceroses, this horn is arched and curved significantly backward. Because of this, its length along the anterior curvature exceeds, and between the extreme points of the base and apex is shorter than the practically straight, when viewed from the side, record-breaking horn of the modern white rhinoceros (Figure 2). The mass of the anterior horns of the woolly rhinoceros was also greater than that of modern species. On average, the nasal horn of an adult woolly rhinoceros weighs just over 6 kg. This is slightly more than the average weight of the nasal horn of the white rhinoceros (just over 5 kg) and 3.5-11 times heavier than the horns of other modern rhinoceros species. The record-breaking horn was found along with a skull on the Mustur-Yuryuye River. Despite the horn's enormous size, the skull of this specimen was quite small (approximately 73 cm in length). Since the woolly rhinoceros, like modern rhinoceroses, exhibited pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size and weight, this suggested that the record-breaking horn belonged to a female woolly rhinoceros. Interestingly, the record-breaking horns of modern African rhinoceroses (black and white) also belonged to females. However, the average horn length in African species is somewhat longer in males. Besides its record-breaking length, the horn from the Mustur-Yuryuye River was also unique in terms of the individual age of the animal – it belonged to the oldest woolly rhinoceros specimen known to date. A rhinoceros' horn is a recording structure and has a layered structure. Rhinoceros horn growth begins at its base, extending from the dermis in successive horny plates approximately 1-2 mm thick. The oldest layers are located at the apex of the horn, and the only layer of 'living' tissue is the youngest (growing) plate, which has not yet lost its connection with the epidermis. The horn's layered structure is manifested by alternating lighter and darker transverse growths (zones) of keratin. In modern rhinoceroses, the sequence of these growths can be studied using tomography or horn dissection; however, in woolly rhinoceroses, by destroying the outer keratin layers, the alternation of growths becomes clearly visible without additional surgical intervention. Annual horn growth consists of two zones: lighter, denser keratin and darker, looser keratin. The number of annual layers in horn correlates well with the number of annual layers in another recording structure—dental cementum. This confirms the reliability of using annual layers in horn to determine the individual age of an animal. The horn found on the Mustur-Yuryuye River contains 40-41 annual layers, indicating an individual age of over 40 years. Since rhinos can completely erase the growths formed in youth, this individual's age at death may have been even slightly older. An age over 40 years corresponds to the longest lifespan for modern rhinos kept in captivity. A study of the discovery was published in the Journal of Zoology: Gennady G. Boeskorov, Maksim Yu. Cheprasov, Gavril P. Novgorodov, Marina V. Shchelchkova, Natalya E. Prilepskaya & Ruslan I. Belyaev (2025) The longest known rhino horn from the permafrost of Yakutia offers insights into woolly rhinoceros morphology, paleocology, and sexual dimorphism. Related materials: Science.Mail: "Longest Ancient Rhinoceros Horn Found in Yakutia" Science.RF: "Longest Rhinoceros Horn Found in Yakutia's Permafrost" RAS: "Longest Rhinoceros Horn Found in Yakutia's Permafrost" AV-News: "165-Centimeter Woolly Rhinoceros Horn from Yakutia Records Species' Maximum Age and Size" RS-News: "Longest Woolly Rhinoceros Horn Ever Found in Yakutia's Permafrost" Baikal.Daily: "Longest Rhinoceros Horn Found in Yakutia" ArcticUniverse: "Unique Discovery Made in Yakutia's Permafrost" Science Index: "Longest Rhinoceros Horn Found in Permafrost of Yakutia"

All photos by: N. Melnik, D. Zlenko https://t.me/territoryofscience Scientists from the Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University (KamSU) and the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) have identified three distinct ecological forms of one fish species that have adapted to different living conditions within the reservoir. The work was carried out by specialists from the Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University together with colleagues from the IEE RAS under the supervision of Daria Panicheva, head of the youth laboratory for the study of anthropogenic dynamics of ecosystems at the Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University. All photos by: N. Melnik, D. Zlenko https://t.me/territoryofscience "Such studies are of great practical importance for our region. They allow us to better understand the biological resources of Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands, which is important for their rational use and protection. In addition, such work increases the scientific status of our university and strengthens its position in the field of fundamental research," said Olga Rebkovets, Acting Rector of the Vitus Bering KamSU. In Lake Glukhoe, scientists discovered three forms of southern Dolly Varden trout, which differ radically from each other in size and feeding method. The pelagic predatory form includes large individuals up to 60 centimeters, which specialize in feeding on young sockeye salmon and other char in the water column. The benthopelagic form consists of medium-sized individuals up to 30 centimeters, consuming mainly amphipods on the slopes of the lake. The deep-water benthic form consists of small individuals up to 20 centimeters, feeding on mollusks and insect larvae at maximum depths. Lake Glukhoe is located in a remote place, in the middle part of Paramushir Island, four kilometers from the coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk. The area of ​​the lake is one square kilometer, the depth reaches 30 meters, the volume of water is 0.02 cubic kilometers. The reservoir arose in the late Pleistocene as a result of the damming of the Shumnaya River during the extrusion of the Fersman volcano. Although the first indications of the heterogeneity of the population of the char were noted during the first description of the lake in 2001, until now a comprehensive analysis of this divergence has not been carried out. The new study allowed us to detail the process of ecological diversification of the southern trout. The revealed ecological forms show parallelism with the diversification of a closely related species in Kamchatka lakes: Medvezhye, Verkhne-Avachinskoye, Azabachye and Kronotskoye. This suggests that in similar conditions, evolutionary processes follow similar paths. All photos by: N. Melnik, D. Zlenko https://t.me/territoryofscience Preliminary morphometric analysis — a study of the shape and size of various parts of the fish body — showed a striking similarity between ecological forms from different lakes. Moreover, the degree of this similarity exceeds the interspecific differences between the southern Dolly Varden and a closely related species. “It turns out that in similar lakes, fish develop according to the same scenario — it’s as if nature uses the same “recipe” for their evolution,” explained Daria Panicheva. Scientists plan to analyze the functional roles of morphological transformations of each of the ecological forms and the degree of similarity of their ecological niches. In the long term, it is planned to conduct a full-genome analysis to identify the genetic basis of parallel divergence, identify key mutations responsible for the formation of similar phenotypes, and study the molecular mechanisms of convergent evolution in geographically isolated populations. The results obtained will be important for understanding the mechanisms of speciation in salmonids. The research also contributes to the study of the biodiversity of Kuril reservoirs and the processes of ecosystem formation in conditions of island isolation. The study is carried out within the framework of the interdepartmental comprehensive program of scientific research of the Kamchatka Peninsula and adjacent territories for 2024-2026. The coordinator of the program, which unites the efforts of ten scientific organizations, is Vitus Bering Kamchatka State University.

Picture: Electric fields generated by lampreys in different behavioral situations All animal organisms generate electric currents that accompany both muscle contraction and the functioning of the nervous system. Lampreys have a developed electric sense, thanks to which they are able to sense electric currents in water and, as previously assumed, can use this information to detect potential victims. At the same time, it was known that the number of electroreceptors in lampreys is unusually large for electrically inactive animals, which suggests the existence of a developed system of active electrolocation. The ability to navigate in space using an electric sense is characteristic of many bony fish, but has not been described previously for jawless fish (lampreys and hagfish), which are the ancestors of other modern vertebrates. Previous studies aimed at detecting specific electrical activity in lampreys (Lampetra fluviatilis) were unsuccessful. The reason for the failure was the use of insufficiently flexible recording equipment, which required immobilization of the experimental animal. Successful registration of the electrical activity of lampreys became possible thanks to the development of the "Electric Eye" installation, designed to record electric currents generated by free-swimming animals, by the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS). The "Electric Eye" made it possible to record thousands of individual electric signals and analyze their connection with lamprey behavior. "We managed to find out that the river lamprey generates electrical signals at the moment of physical contact with other lampreys or other inanimate elements of the environment. The signals generated by a disturbed lamprey differed from the signals generated by actively swimming individuals, which allowed us to draw conclusions about the duality of the functions of electrical signals," said Dmitry Zlenko, PhD in Biology, senior researcher at the IEE RAS. On the one hand, lampreys are able to send signals to their relatives, indicating their presence. On the other hand, electrical signals are used to probe the surrounding space, since by perceiving distortions in the distribution of electrical currents in space, the lamprey is able to determine the properties of the material it has touched. In other words, the detected signals serve to electrically "illuminate" the surrounding space, which primarily allows lampreys to expand their tactile sense. The article is published in the  Journal of Experimental Biology: Electric activity of the adult European river lamprey, Dmitry V. Zlenko, Aleksandr O. Zvezdin, Alina M. Tyshchenko, Aleksandr V. Kucheryavyy, Dmitry S. Pavlov, Vladimir M. Olshanskiy. Video clips demonstrating the electrical activity of lampreys are available for viewing on the IEE RAS website. Related materials: RAS: "Specific electrical activity of river lamprey discovered"  

Ephippial female Daphnia magna under a scanning electron microscope (Photo by A.A. Kotov) Daphnia magna is a Holarctic cladoceran and a popular model organism, especially for ecotoxicological studies. Researchers from the Laboratory of Aquatic Community Ecology and Invasions of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), in collaboration with a colleague from the University of Bialystok (Poland), first discovered this crustacean in the unique ecosystem of Lake Titicaca, the largest body of water in South America, located at an altitude of 3,812 meters above sea level. The native range of Daphnia magna does not extend to South America, although lineages native to North America are known. Photo: Lake Titicaca (Anthony Lacoste, CC BY 3.0) Molecular genetic analysis showed that the discovered population is most closely related to the European strains and differs significantly from the North American strains. This fact indicates that this organism was most likely introduced anthropogenically. Cases of laboratory strains escaping into natural ecosystems are known for many countries, but the data obtained indicate that the Lake Titicaca population is more closely related to the natural European strains than to those commonly used in laboratories. The introduction of Daphnia magna to Lake Titicaca may affect its unique ecosystem through interactions with native species, such as Daphnia cf. pulex. Further monitoring is needed to understand the consequences of this introduction. The study was published in the journal Biological Invasions: Pereboev, D.D., Karpowicz, M. & Kotov, A.A. Unexpected arrival of Daphnia magna Straus, 1820 (Crustacea: Cladocera) in high mountain Lake Titicaca. Biol Invasions 27, 182 (2025).

All photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The staff of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) together with the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection have prepared instructions. The most important thing is not to touch or take the found hares home. The best thing a person can do when meeting one in nature is to pass by. In summer, Moscow's green areas are in hare season. During walks in nature, you can meet young hares of different ages - from tiny ones to already large teenagers. Specialists from the capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection warn that the smallest of them are especially vulnerable: hiding from danger, they can easily become prey for domestic pets. The reason for the different age composition of the hare population is very simple: these animals have offspring several times a year. The first rut occurs in February-March, and 50 days later, in April-May, babies weighing up to 130-150 grams are born. During the season, the female gives birth to a brood several times, so in the warm season, green areas turn into a hare kindergarten. Two species of these animals live in Moscow - the white hare and the brown hare. In winter, the white hare acquires a white color, and the brown hare only changes its shade from gray or brown to a lighter one. All photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow In the first 20 days of life, the tiny creatures are completely defenseless. They are not yet able to escape from a threat, so they choose the tactic of hiding. In case of danger, an adult female hare protects her kits, diverting attention to herself, and the babies hide in the grass so carefully that they can only be discovered by chance. During this period, they consume fat and nutrients from their mother's milk, which helps them grow quickly. The female feeds her offspring once or twice a day, and on average, each baby gains 20 grams in weight daily. By the age of ten days, the baby hare already begins to try grass, but continues to feed on mother's milk. The instinct of hiding in these animals disappears around the 20th day, and then they begin to actively explore the space around them. By the age of about 38-45 days, the hare becomes completely independent - the mother leaves him, and the young animal begins its own adult life. How not to harm a baby hare Hares are largely known to be fertile animals. The female's rut ​​begins on the same day that her first litter of the year is born. Thus, while she is nursing the first litter, the second is already preparing to be born. This happens several times during the spring-summer season, and each litter can contain from one to four hares. At the same time, despite the fertility inherent in nature, there are also restraining factors. Female hares, for example, are distinguished by their pickiness in choosing a mate. Therefore, for successful reproduction, it is important that the population in the area they have chosen is large enough to find a suitable male. Another restraining factor is the vulnerability of hares to predators. It may seem that this animal lives everywhere and is a habitual inhabitant of green areas, but today both species - the white hare and the brown hare - are listed in the Red Book of Moscow. All photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The leverets are not yet able to run away from danger, their only defense is to hide. In the green areas of the metropolis, the main threat to them is domestic animals. They can fall prey to domestic dogs. That is why it is so important to always keep your pet on a leash during walks in city parks and forests. Another ironclad rule that must be followed: do not touch or take the found hares home. It is almost impossible to feed these long-eared kits at home - pet food is absolutely not suitable for them. The best thing a person can do when they meet a leveret in nature is to pass by. Its mother will definitely return and feed her child. If the animal is injured, only animal rehabilitation specialists can help it. The Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow is working to preserve the population of the brown hare and the white hare. In TiNAO, over 200 animals have been released into green areas in recent years. This summer, in the capital part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park, specialists from the department and scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences carried out events to introduce the white hare: 30 young individuals were released into the green territory of Moscow, where they have all the conditions for a prosperous life and reproduction. Related materials: Regions: "Chernogolovka hunters explained why there are no hare trails in the city in the fall"

Branchiopods (Cladocera) are one of the most important components of freshwater plankton and meiobenthos. The leading center for studying cladocerans is the Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), which carries out a long-term program of work on the taxonomy, faunistics and phylogeography of these invertebrates. A characteristic feature of the biology of Cladocera is cyclic parthenogenesis, during which males and ephippial females, which produce resting eggs, periodically hatch from unfertilized eggs laid by a parthenogenetic female. It is the features of gamogenetic individuals that are most significant for the taxonomy of many Cladocera, but these stages are often rare and therefore poorly studied. This is especially true for bottom-dwelling cladocerans, which are already difficult to catch and study due to their confinement to a certain substrate and other biological features. Interestingly, despite the specialization for living in the pelagic or benthic zone, similar features are often observed in the geographic distribution of different representatives of this group. For a number of cladoceran species, it has been shown that populations inhabiting Northern Eurasia can be divided into two main genetic lines: one is common in Europe and Western Siberia, and the other inhabits Eastern Siberia and the Far East. Another case of such regionalism was found in Lathonura, a representative of the small and poorly studied family Macrothricidae. Despite the fact that these beautiful and unusual epibenthic crustaceans have constantly come to the attention of researchers, their morphology has been poorly studied until recently. It was believed that the type species of Lathonura, L. rectirostris, originally described in Norway, is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere and inhabits both Eurasia and North America. However, a genetic study of 34 Lathonura populations using a fragment of the COI gene, conducted by I.A. Dadykin and D.D. Pereboev (Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions, IEE RAS) showed that the East Asian populations are genetically isolated from both the North American and West Eurasian ones. Moreover, Lathonura from East Eurasia differs from their European relatives morphologically. Thus, the "true" L. rectirostris inhabits only Western Eurasia (in the east, its range reaches the Baikal basin). In Canada and the east coast of the USA, there probably inhabits a morphologically similar but genetically distinct species that has yet to be described. And Eastern Eurasia and Alaska are inhabited by a third species of Latonura, L. bekkerae - the taxon is named in honor of E.I. Bekker, who previously worked in the laboratory of ecology of aquatic communities and invasions and collected the new species in several reservoirs of Kamchatka and Yakutia. The morphological analysis conducted by the authors significantly clarifies and supplements the information about the parthenogenetic and gamogenetic individuals of Lathonura. Some structural features of these crustaceans, in particular, the structure of the thoracic limbs of the first and third pairs and the swimming antenna of the male, are quite rare or even unique among Macrothricidae. Previously, a number of studies suggested that Latonura and some other macrotricid-like cladocerans (Pseudomoina, Guernella, Grimaldina, Neothrix) represent an independent lineage, only distantly related to true Macrothricidae (Macrothrix, Wlassiczia, Bunops, Streblocerus). However, significant adaptive radiation of representatives of the family does not yet allow us to develop a coherent model of their morphological evolution, so the status and family ties of Lathonura remain unclear. The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant 23-24-00128). The article was published in the journal Zookeys: Revision of Lathonura rectirostris (O.F. Müller, 1785) (Anomopoda, Macrothricidae) leads to translocation of East Asian populations to a separate species, Lathonura bekkerae sp. nov. Ivan A. Dadykin, Dmitry D. Pereboev https://zookeys.pensoft.net/article/154922/ Related materials: Science.Mail: "Scientists describe a new species of crustaceans from the Far East" RAS: "A new species of cladocerans from the north of the Russian Far East has been studied"

Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Thanks to monitoring, scientists can notice changes in time and predict possible risks to rodent populations. In the urban part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park, planned studies of the mouse-like rodent population continue. Scientists study the immunity, stress level and diseases of animals, using humane methods that do not harm them. The work is carried out in the spring and autumn under the supervision of specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) on behalf of the capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection. Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow How the research is conducted For research, biologists use traps that do not injure the animals. Each captured mouse undergoes a quick examination, after which it is released into the wild. During the procedure, a minimal amount of biomaterial is taken from the animals: a drop of blood and a hair sample. This does not affect their health, but allows scientists to obtain important data on the state of the population. "During the season, researchers catch about 100 rodents, mainly bank voles, wood and field mice. These species play a key role in the food chain, they serve as food for birds of prey: owls, hawks, kites, and also help to spread plant seeds," said Maria Kim, an employee of the IEE RAS. Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The reason for study The collected materials allow us to assess the immune status — the rodents’ resistance to infections, seropositivity (the presence of antibodies to various diseases) and stress level (by the concentration of hormones in the fur). Such studies help to assess the impact of the urban environment on wildlife. In addition, monitoring such animals allows us to promptly identify important changes that can affect the health of people and their pets. By studying the physiological state of rodent populations, scientists obtain valuable data that helps maintain ecological balance, ensure the well-being of pets and promote a comfortable human life. Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The importance of the study Rodents are an important link in the ecosystem, and their condition reflects the overall health of the forest. Disruption of the population can affect the number of predators and plants. Thanks to monitoring, scientists are able to notice changes in time and predict possible risks. The research is carried out without harm to the animals, all rodents are returned to their natural environment after examination. This is an example of a responsible scientific approach that helps maintain a balance between nature and the metropolis. Related materials: Mos: "How the health of mouse-like rodents is assessed in Losiny Ostrov" Moscow24: "The health of mice in Losiny Ostrov Park is assessed without harming them"   Rambler.News: "The health of mice in Losiny Ostrov Park is assessed without harming them"   Vechernyaya Moskva: "How the health of mouse-like rodents is assessed in Losiny Ostrov" Postnews: "Research on the population of mouse-like rodents is conducted in Losiny Ostrov"   Medargo: "Losiny Ostrov scientists conduct humane research on the health of mouse-like rodents to preserve the ecosystem" MosTimes: "Not a pest: ecologists named the unobvious benefit of mice in the ecosystem of the megalopolis"

Want to test your knowledge of the world around us, nature and ecology? Try answering the questions of the online quiz "Green Marathon"! It is held by the Public Ecological Council under the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow. "Green Marathon" is fifty questions on various topics: water, air, land, biodiversity, nature and man. And four answer options, you need to choose the correct one. If you don't succeed the first time, you can repeat. Among the ambassadors of the quiz is Konstantin Gongalsky, Deputy Director for Science at the IEE RAS, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences. The winners will receive tickets to the Darwin Museum or the Moscow Zoo. Link to the quiz: https://golnk.ru/64Yxd

In the first ten days of July, a workshop for young researchers of cranes of Northeast Asia was held in Mongolia, organized by the Wildlife Study and Conservation Center of Mongolia (WSCC) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The workshop was held within the framework of the UN Subregional Programme “Participatory Conservation of Migratory Bird Habitats in Northeast Asia”. It provided a unique platform for early career researchers and conservationists from across the region to enhance their technical capacity in crane research and conservation. Through a combination of lectures, field trips and interactive discussions, young scientists from Mongolia, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia gained hands-on experience in crane research and conservation. The exchange of experiences and modern methods provided a palette of effective measures for restoring endangered species populations. During the workshop, participants learned about methods of working with rural communities in direct contact with cranes in the wild, mastered the skills of processing survey data obtained using a quadcopter and much more. Russia was represented in the seminar by young scientists from the Daursky and Chernye Zemli nature reserves, the Muravyevsky Park for Sustainable Nature Management, the Institute for Biological Problems of the Cryolithozone of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the N.I. Vavilov Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences was represented by leading engineer K.D. Kondrakova and, as an invited lecturer, senior researcher E.I. Ilyashenko, who reviewed the results of studying and preserving cranes in the world, including Northeast Asia, presented information on the achievements and problems of preserving this group of species at the international level and along flyways, and also spoke about the methods needed to assess the quality of foraging habitats for cranes.

Lyudmila Borisovna Volkova is a research associate at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientific editor of the Invertebrates section of the Moscow Red Book (2001, 2011, 2022), and an expert of the Wildlife Conservation Center. In 1973, she entered the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. She graduated with honors from the Department of Entomology. In her senior years and until 1985, she participated in the activities of the insect protection sections of the Central Council of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation and the Moscow Regional Council of All-Russian Society for the Protection of Nature. Together with her colleagues, she designed a number of entomological reserves and developed scientific principles for maintaining meadow communities of plants and insects in specially protected natural areas. She has repeatedly led projects to study and protect insects in Moscow and the Moscow Region, and actively participated in such projects. L.B. Volkova is one of the scientific editors of the Invertebrates sections of the Red Book of the Moscow Region (1998, 2008) and Moscow (2001, 2011, 2022), is a member of the authors' collective of the Red Book of the Russian Federation (2021), and one of the authors of the Rules for the Maintenance of Green Spaces in Moscow (2007). Thanks to L.B. Volkova, the Rules for the first time introduced a category of multi-grass multi-species species-preserving lawns from plants of local natural flora for green areas of urban development and the transport network with incomplete mosaic mowing, which allows preserving the diversity of not only producer plants in the biota community, but also the most widespread consumers - invertebrates. An active popularizer of the topic of widespread use in cities of multi-grass multi-species lawns from plants of local natural flora. The author of more than 60 scientific publications on entomology and nature conservation and dozens of popular science articles and speeches on these topics, has an author's column on the website http://progazon.tilda.ws/, publications in the media. Laureate of the Moscow Mayor's Prize for Nature Conservation. Awarded the badge of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow "For active work in the field of environmental protection of the city of Moscow". The IEE RAS team sincerely congratulates Lyudmila Borisovna on her 70th birthday! We wish her good health, success in scientific and educational activities! //Happy Birthday to IEE RAS Research Fellow LYUDMILA BORISOVNA VOLKOVA Dear Lyudmila Borisovna, Happy Anniversary to you! Thank you for your many years of dedicated work! Your expert and scientific work is an invaluable contribution to science and environmental protection. We would like to express special gratitude for your active educational work. You not only study and preserve nature on the pages of scientific publications and monographs, but also make it closer and more understandable to every city resident, popularizing the idea of ​​species-saving lawns. We wish you good health, inexhaustible energy, new scientific achievements and inspiration for further fruitful work for the benefit of science! IPEE RAS Team August 26, 2025 //