Sergey Valerievich is a Russian zoologist, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He was born in 1970, and graduated from Samara State University in 1992. In 1997, he defended his dissertation on the topic: "Social behavior of the lynx (Lynx lynx Linnaeus, 1758) and the features of its formation in ontogenesis." He was engaged in the study of the Amur tiger. In 2016, he defended his dissertation for the title of Doctor of Biological Sciences on the topic "Biology of feline reproduction. The mechanism of reproductive success." On March 23, 2021, he was elected Director of the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2022, he was elected a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The IEE RAS team wholeheartedly congratulates Sergei Valerievich on his 55th birthday, wishes him good health, success in scientific and administrative activities, happiness and harmony! Photo on the postcard: Scientific Russia // 55 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE DIRECTOR OF IEE RAS SERGEI VALERIEVICH NAYDENKO! We sincerely congratulate the Director of the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Sergey Valerievich Naydenko on his 55th birthday! Please accept our most sincere wishes for good health, inexhaustible energy, well-being and new outstanding successes in scientific and administrative activities. May the Institute continue to develop dynamically under your leadership, strengthening its positions. We wish you to continue leading the Institute's team to new achievements and discoveries, inspiring your colleagues! May your work continue to bring satisfaction and joy, and may there always be room for happiness and harmony in your life! IEE RAS team August 25, 2025 //

Alisa Neplukhina. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Scientists take samples and examine the spores under a microscope, their color, shape and size, which is often key to accurate identification. Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Photo: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Galina Butaeva. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) are studying mushrooms in the Moscow part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park. The large-scale study began in 2024 on behalf of the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection. Specialists have begun to count macromycete fungi - those that form large fruiting bodies. Scientists plan to record their appearance over several seasons to create a complete picture of species diversity. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow "The mushroom inventory was carried out using the route survey method: having determined the route in advance, the scientists recorded all the mushrooms they encountered. Specimens that could not be identified on the spot were carefully collected in containers, signing the collection location - in the laboratory, they were awaited by microscopic analysis. As a rule, the greatest difficulty is presented by outwardly similar groups of mushrooms: various types of russula, small representatives of the genus Mycena, as well as young fruiting bodies that have not yet developed all the characteristics necessary for accurate identification," shared Galina Butaeva, a research fellow at the Department of Mycology and Algology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Laboratory research To identify many types of mushrooms, it is necessary to study external signs and microscopic characteristics. Scientists make microscopic preparations, examining spores, their color, shape and size under a microscope, which is often key to accurate identification. Research continues in laboratory conditions. This is the most important stage of the work, where specialists study the finest structures of mushrooms using optics, microscopes, stereomicroscopes and special reagents. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Recent finds include many members of the Russulaceae family. Representatives of the Boletus (porcini mushrooms) and Cantharellus (chanterelles) genera have also been discovered. However, some species that are actively fruiting now may not be found next season. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow From the first finds to systematic accounting Thanks to the first stage of the study, specialists compiled preliminary lists of species, including both widespread and rare specimens. “Last year, five species of mushrooms listed in the Red Book of Moscow were recorded, and two of them — the bulgaria inquinans and the violet webcap — were discovered for the first time in the urban part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park,” said Alisa Neplukhina, PhD in Biology, research fellow at the IEE RAS. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The main task is not only to census the mushroom diversity, but also to carefully monitor the endangered and vulnerable species. During the period of active growth of fruiting bodies, scientists carefully study forest areas, recording the places where rare species grow. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Importance of the study Fungi play a key role in the ecosystem: they participate in the decomposition of organic matter, form a symbiosis with trees and serve as an indicator of the state of the forest. Interim data show a rich species diversity in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov Park. Full results will appear after the autumn surveys are completed. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection reminds that picking mushrooms in specially protected natural areas is not permitted. According to Article 4.20 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses, a fine of three thousand rubles is assigned for the illegal collection or trade of plants and animals listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow Photo: press service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow

Photo by - Utrish State Nature Reserve In May 2025, a short-term expedition of the staff of the Laboratory for the Study of Ecological Functions of Soils of the IEE RAS took place in the Utrish State Nature Reserve. During the expedition, the staff collected soil samples in cracks on the slope of the southern exposure, where high humidity and abundant leaf litter create ideal conditions for soil fauna. As part of a comprehensive study of soil inhabitants this year, the researchers paid special attention to enchytraeids - small annelids that are extremely important for the proper functioning of the ecosystem, but to date have not been sufficiently studied. Photo by - Utrish State Nature Reserve Having delivered the collected soil to a laboratory in Moscow, the scientists extracted enchytraeids from it, which they then examined under a microscope. As the head of the working group, Maxim Degtyarev, a candidate of biological sciences, reported: “As a result of the work, four species of enchytraeids were discovered that had not previously been recorded in the territory of the Reserve, and one of these species is new to science and will soon be described. The results of the research showed that the enchytraeid fauna of the Utrish Reserve, containing at least 19 species, not only represents a local version of the Caucasian fauna, but also has unique, distinctive features.” Acting Director of the Utrish State Nature Reserve Roman Podkopaev emphasized that the discovery of new species of enchytraeids on the territory of the reserve, including one previously unknown to science, confirms the uniqueness of its biodiversity. The results of the expedition not only expand knowledge about the soil fauna of the Caucasus, but also demonstrate that the Utrish Nature Reserve is a key territory for scientific discoveries.

The monograph "Analytical Catalogue of Freshwater and Brackish-Water Mollusks of Russia and Adjacent Countries" is available for reading and downloading on the IEE RAS website. The authors of the monograph are M.V. Vinarsky and Yu.I. Kantor. The monograph summarizes data on the taxonomy, nomenclature, geographic distribution, and some aspects of the bionomy of mollusks in fresh and brackish waters of the former USSR. In total, this catalog includes data on 424 nominal species of the Bivalvia class and 728 nominal species of Gastropoda. The current species richness of aquatic continental mollusks of the former USSR is probably significantly lower, since the validity of many of the nominal species requires additional confirmation, and in the future, some of them may be reduced to synonyms. Each species is given a short essay, constructed according to a single scheme. The catalogue also contains data on the distribution of all types of mollusks in individual regions of the former USSR, information on the introduction of invasive species, and information on the conservation status of individual species. You can download the monograph from the link.

Photo of the single-celled microalga Emiliania huxleyi.Source: https://www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/145151/beauty-and-a-burden-in-the-norwegian-sea Planktonic unicellular algae account for 50% of global carbon fixation. However, these microorganisms face a problem: for about half of their vegetative life, at night, they are unable to fix carbon and actively synthesize proteins, which is necessary for the G1 phase (the first of three phases) of the cell cycle. Empirical data indicate that the average daily growth of microalgae depends on their ability to quickly synthesize organic matter, but they must also have a sufficient number of metabolites in the cell. The figure shows examples of experimental dependences of the growth rates of different phytoplankton species on the duration of daylight: it is clear that this dependence is nonlinear. A fundamental question arises about the optimal physiological configuration of phototrophic organisms to maintain such activity under a daily light-dark cycle. Photo of the diatom Ditylum brightwelliiSource: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ditylum_brightwellii In a joint study by scientists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) (Russia) and the Plymouth Marine Laboratory (United Kingdom), computer modeling was used to study the optimization of carbon fixation by unicellular phototrophs. The proposed methodology is based on the quota concept, in which the internal limiting resource is carbon itself, proportional to the total carbon biomass of the organism. The proposed simplified mathematical model of the cell consists of only two compartments: the metabolite compartment and the compartment for the synthesis of organic carbon compounds. The metabolite compartment provides the synthesis of hydrocarbon compounds, but it does not require additional carbon consumption. "Despite the relative simplicity of the proposed model, it is capable of reproducing the general picture of growth at different day lengths and demonstrates a decrease in C-fixation in the afternoon. Particular emphasis in the study was placed on testing the effectiveness of the physiological configuration of cells, leading to the optimality of their functioning," said Andrey Morozov, senior researcher at the IEE RAS. The work shows that although the rate of C-fixation (i.e. the rate of conversion of inorganic carbon to organic matter) required to maintain a given growth potential generally increases linearly with the inverse ratio of daylength to photoperiod, the relationship with the maximum metabolite compartment size relative to whole organism biomass is determined by the ratio of daylength to organism doubling time. Thus, faster growing organisms require not only a higher rate of resource assimilation for a given combination of daylength and maximum growth rate, but also a higher metabolite compartment mass. Represented: nonlinearity of the growth rate of planktonic phototrophs as a function of daylength. Panel (A) of the figure presents experimental data (details are provided in this paper) showing the growth rates of the microalga Emiliania huxleyi, and the diatoms Ditylum brightwellii and Nitzschia turgidula under different daylengths (maximum daylength is 1). In panel (B), these growth rates are normalized to the rate under continuous light. The thin line in panel (A) represents the average daily growth rate corresponding to one cell division per day. The thin line in panel (B) represents the expected growth rate if it increased linearly with daylength. The results obtained may be crucial for understanding the patterns of geographical distribution of planktonic phototrophs at different latitudes during the seasons and may affect the competitive advantage of organisms that will grow under climate change scenarios. In particular, the model predicts that larger vacuolated organisms (e.g. diatoms) that have a larger metabolite compartment may have an advantage in such situations. On the other hand, the requirement for a high mass of the metabolite compartment limits the competitiveness of fast-growing microorganisms to lower latitudes and/or longer daylight hours. The results are published  in PLOS Computational Biology. Flynn, K.J. and Morozov, A.Y., 2025. Resource acquisition in diel cycles and the cost of growing quickly.// PLOS Computational Biology, 21(6), p.e1013132, doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1013132

Photo: IEMT RAS, Pkhitikov A. The female Persian leopard named Khosta, released in 2022 in the Turmon Nature Reserve (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania) as part of the Program for the Restoration of the Persian Leopard in the Caucasus, which is being implemented by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources with scientific support from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and other scientific organizations, continues to live successfully in the wild. New evidence of her well-being was obtained thanks to fresh photographs from camera traps installed in Kabardino-Balkaria by specialists from the A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who are part of the scientific group monitoring the released leopards. One of the camera traps, installed in a typical leopard biotope - a broad-leaved forest of oak, hornbeam and other species with glades partially overgrown with rose hips, filmed Khosta at dusk - the usual time of predator activity. This territory is rich in game: during the inspection of the site, numerous tracks of a wild boar and a brown bear were registered (tracks belong to different individuals, including different ages), in addition, a red deer was sighted. This confirms that the female leopard chooses areas with an abundant food supply, which is critically important for her survival and reproduction. A special analysis of data from a GPS transmitter installed on Khosta showed that she chooses broad-leaved forests most often (2933 locations), uses small-leaved and broad-leaved forests less (405 locations), and visits floodplain meadows and xerophytic shrubs extremely rarely. At the same time, in different biotopes, Khosta moves at different speeds: faster in xerophytic thickets (over 1 km/h), and slower in forests (267-296 m/h). Khosta does not stay in one place all the time - for example, in 2023, she successfully mastered a vast area in Chechnya. Photo: IEMT RAS, Pkhitikov A. "New footage from camera traps confirms that Khosta not only survives, but also hunts successfully, choosing optimal habitats for it," notes Vyacheslav Rozhnov, head of the scientific group monitoring released leopards, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, doctor of biological sciences, head of the laboratory of behavior and behavioral ecology of mammals at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Her behavior is completely consistent with the behavior of its wild relatives, which gives hope for the restoration of a sustainable population of the Central Asian leopard in the Caucasus. An article about this will soon be published, prepared by us together with colleagues from Iran, who studied the wild population of this predator." The survival and well-being of Khosta for three years is a significant indicator of the success of the project, the essence of which is not only the revival of a rare and beautiful species of cats, but also helps to restore the balance of the region's ecosystems, historically disturbed by human activity. In this regard, the restoration of the leopard, which was exterminated by humans in the middle of the last century, is very important for the ecology of the Caucasus. Reintroduction of large predators is a complex process that requires the integration of ecology, ethology and nature conservation methods. The success of Khosta proves that the program for the restoration of wildlife through the return of key species (rewilding), which in the Caucasus includes, among others, the Persian leopard, works. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia with scientific support from a number of scientific organizations. Monitoring of Khosta continues, its results will help improve strategies for the reintroduction of rare species in the future.

An expedition to the Greater Khingan Mountains (China), conducted in the second half of July 2025, has been completed. Work on verifying habitat types in this region has been ongoing since 2023 and continues a series of studies previously conducted in the Lesser Khingan. The essence of the work is to describe habitats and their unique characteristics on the ground; the description plan is not random and is based on preliminary stratification and identification of distinct habitat types carried out on the basis of satellite images of the Earth, which were photographed from space for a certain territory in different seasons. The project is being implemented by the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) jointly with the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Sciences. The expedition was also attended by geobotany specialists from the Faculty of Geography of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and zoologists from the A. K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The project is part of the tiger restoration assessment program in northern Heilongjiang Province, which was initiated in 2017 and is an example of successful cooperation between Russia and China in the field of ecology and biodiversity conservation. The expedition surveyed various forest types in northeastern China (Da Hinggan Ling County, Heilongjiang Province), primarily in the Greater Hinggan Mountains (China), which continues the Hinggan Mountain Range that extends from the Stanovoy Range (Russia). The focal points for the research were identified in advance based on satellite imagery analysis, taking into account the results of previous surveys of the area. The main objective was to verify the identified areas through geobotanical descriptions of the sites and collection of data on the local fauna. The current expedition focused on geobotanical descriptions, while a similar joint winter expedition in 2025 focused on describing animal tracks found on the snow surface. The field team, consisting of Russian and Chinese specialists, planned the routes in advance, taking into account the accessibility of the area. As a result, different types of forests were surveyed both along the main roads connecting settlements and far from them. The total length of the routes was over 800 km, about 60 points were described, including coniferous forests, swamps and agricultural lands. During the snowless period, the presence of seven species of large and medium-sized mammals was confirmed: roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, wolverine, sable, American mink and Siberian weasel. The diversity of forests and the structure of the undergrowth indicate the potential suitability of the territory for the habitation of prosperous populations of large mammals, including predators, however, in the summer it is still difficult to obtain complete data on the fauna. Among the described biotopes are forest and meadow communities, swamp areas, as well as areas with anthropogenically modified vegetation. Larch and small-leaved-larch forests with an undergrowth of honeysuckle, rose hips and hazel prevail on drained slopes. In the marshy areas, shrub communities with wild rosemary, lingonberry and blueberry are widespread. Marshes occupy vast areas in river valleys and are represented by various types - from sedge hummocks to sphagnum massifs. The data obtained will be used to further assess the region's potential as part of the tiger restoration program. "The results of the expedition are important for understanding the potential of the Greater Khingan as a site for tiger reintroduction. Now we see that the ecosystem here may be only partially suitable for the tiger, and further monitoring is required," noted Maria Chistopolova. A significant volume of field descriptions was obtained from the expedition work in the winter and summer of 2025 (about 170 verification points). The obtained field materials will form the basis for mapping habitat types and modeling their suitability for the tiger in the Greater Khingan mountain system area of ​​more than 8 million hectares. The following winter expeditions have already been planned, their tasks include collecting additional information necessary to achieve the minimum required sample. The next stages of the work include analysis of the collected materials and preparation of recommendations for nature conservation programs in China and Russia. Photos by: Rodnikova A., Aristarkhova E., Chistopolova M., Pkhitikov A., Kotlov I.

Photo: Analysis of the catch of water traps-weirs, is there anyone who isn’t there... Photo by O. Makarova. You can get to this place at the foot of Mongun-Taiga (2200 m above sea level) by "loaf" and bring "furniture" for work. Therefore, the dismantling of beetle stains takes place in quite comfortable conditions. There is another kilometer up to the glacier and 5-6 km to the side. Beetles caught in live traps are already laying eggs in the laboratories of Moscow State Pedagogical University, the larvae of many species are undescribed. Photo by O. Makarova. In July-August 2025, a complex zoological expedition of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and the Moscow State Pedagogical University (MPGU) worked in Tuva, on the territory of the coldest and highest part of the State Nature Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunur Basin" - Mongun-Taiga. The task was not an easy one - to confirm the habitation (and, possibly, the origin) of a number of cryobiont (living in the cold) animal species, still considered Arctic, in the mountains of Southern Siberia. A rare biotope in the mountain steppe conditions - a small lake on the slope of Mongun-Taiga, 2600 m above sea level. Lots of ​​beetles and crayfish (we caught them all). Photo by O. Makarova The main objects of the work were soil and amphibious invertebrates. Extensive collections of microarthropods (ticks and springtails), earthworms and enchytraeid worms, mollusks, beetles, dipterans, bumblebees, etc. were carried out. A variety of collection methods were used - forcing soil arthropods in eclectors (Tulgren funnels), water funnels (Rombke method), catching with soil and water traps with bait, flotation of loose substrates, catching flying insects with yellow plates that attract them and with different nets during mowing, siftage of litter, setting traps for aeroplankton, manual catching (including at night using light). Cryoconites on the ice surface of Mongun-Taiga, 3200 m above sea level. The sediment accumulated on the bottom has been collected. We do not yet know who lives there. Such work has not yet been done in Russia, but a whole zoo has been discovered in the glaciers of Spitsbergen. Photo by O. Makarova. Work was also carried out on the retreating Mongun-Taiga glacier (it has retreated by approximately 1.5 km over the past 150 years). Numerous traps were installed on its surface to catch aeroplankton, and 5 liters of sand and debris in the ice deposits were flotated, and the inhabitants of cryoconites ('cups' - thawed patches on the ice filled with dark substrate) were collected. The main inhabitants of the Mongun-Taiga ice surface are springtails - amazing creatures with a jumping fork at the end of their body and a sucker on their chest - the most numerous six-legged animals on Earth. Only their small size (0.3-2 mm) is responsible for their little renown. Springtails of the genus Desoria (s. l.) live directly on the surface of the Mongun-Taiga ice, where they apparently feed on microscopic cold-loving algae and fungi. It probably represents a new species for science, as has happened more than once when studying springtails from the glaciers of the Alps and the Caucasus. Collembola living directly on ice (Desoria s.l. sp.). Beautiful as flowers, similar to those that live on the glaciers of the European Alps. About 40 specimens were obtained by flotation of 5 liters of sand collected from the surface of the Mongun-Taiga glacier, 3200 m above sea level. Photo by M. Antipova. In addition, a series of samples of fresh ungulate excrement were collected along the altitudinal gradient: in the floodplain of the Kargy River in the vicinity of the village of Mugur-Aksy (1800 m, cows), in the middle reaches of the Mugur River (2100 m, khainaks and yaks), at the foot of the Mongun-Tayga glacier (2500 m, yaks). The samples will be examined for intestinal parasites by specialists from the Parasitology Center of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A trap for aeroplankton installed on the eastern tongue of the Mongun-Taiga glacier, 3200 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. Working with microscopic mites and springtails requires lengthy processing (currently these are only alcohol tests – distillations in eclectors), but among the beetles, numerous “arctic” species have already been identified, the finds of which during the ascent to the mountains began only at 2500 m. Part of the collected material will be sent to fellow specialists in various cities and countries: in Russia – to employees of biological institutions in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Nalchik, Tyumen, Perm, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, as well as in Hungary, Canada and Poland. Important discoveries are certainly awaiting us, including new to science species of invertebrates. These bright mountain flowers are found in different areas of the Mongun-Taiga massif, but never lower than 2700 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. At all stages of the research, the expedition received help and care from the reserve's employees - rangers, drivers, employees of the scientific department, management; it was always confident in the safety of the work carried out, although the camp had to be set up three times in different areas of Mongun-Taiga at altitudes of over 2200 m. But the detachment always reliably returned to the base - to the hospitable home of the family of Valery Kyrgyz and Chechek Shambul. A herd of yaks, no shades of red (black, white or grey). Quite timid. Easily interbreed with cows, hybrids (hainaks) are even more colourful, but the males are sterile. In this herd, 2600 m above sea level, there are only yaks (about 140 heads). The calves look like dogs - shaggy, galloping... Photo by O. Makarova The expedition got lucky with the weather. Although the tent had to be dug out of the snow on the first night, not a single working day was lost. A large amount of very valuable scientific material was collected. But one very important Arctic endemic, a small (only 3 mm) circumpolar weevil Isochnus arcticus, which feeds only on one species of creeping willows (Salix arctica), was not found despite great efforts. This means that the search will continue, possibly in other areas of Mongun-Taiga. Head of the Synecology Lab of the IEE RAS, PhD in Biology O.L. Makarova Weighing soil samples for water funnels - accounting for enchytraeid worms. Field camp in the upper reaches of the Mugur River, 2200 m above sea level, a rare hour without wind. Photo by O. Makarova. Field camp in the forest belt, middle reaches of the Mugur River, 2100 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. Until now, the collections of the Zoological Institute (ZIN) did not contain a single dung beetle from Mongun-Taiga. As it turned out, yak dung in these extreme conditions is quite suitable for the development of at least 6 beetle species from 3 families. Photo by O. Makarova. Extracts from Romble traps. The living, usually small enchytraeids from these areas require urgent fixation (their extremely thin membranous integuments macerate very quickly). Sometimes, I had to go entirely without sleep. Extraction in the village of Mugur-Aksy, 1800 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova.

Amphibious fishes are a facultative air-breathing fishes defined by their innate ability to spend part of their life out of water. These fishes not only remain on land but also move across the ground in various ways. A wide diversity of fish species exhibits amphibious behaviors for multiple reasons, including specialized feeding strategies, reproductive activities, predator avoidance, competition reduction in densely populated habitats, or as a response to environmental stressors such as elevated water temperatures or significant decreases in water levels. However, our current understanding of the factors driving terrestrial movement in fishes does not clearly elucidate the internal mechanisms responsible for initiating this behavior. Russian and Vietnamese scientists conducted an experimental study aimed at investigating the endocrinological and biochemical changes in the blood of climbing perch Anabas testudineus associated with terrestrial movements. A specialized testing apparatus was employed to evaluate differences in biochemical parameters between fish held in aquatic conditions and those during terrestrial movements induced by a rapid decrease in water levels. The concentrations of eight biochemical parameters were measured using ELISA and biochemistry analyzer in individual blood serum samples. The study showed that climbing perch primarily undertakes terrestrial movements in response to significant environmental stressors, such as the rapid decline in water levels observed in this study. Both primary and secondary stress responses were identified in climbing perch, characterized by elevated levels of cortisol and glucose in the blood serum of individuals exposed to terrestrial conditions, compared to fish maintained in aquatic environments. Based on these findings, it was suggested that terrestrial movements in climbing perch are often forced and carry a high risk of mortality, as their on-land navigation and ability to locate new water bodies have not been conclusively demonstrated. SRS of IEE RAS, Efim Pavlov reported: “The changes in lipid and enzyme profiles indicate energy mobilization in climbing perch during terrestrial movements. This process imposes a significant energetic cost on the fish compared to their regular swimming.” The present study offers the first detailed insights into the biochemical mechanisms underlying the adaptation of amphibious fish to terrestrial locomotion. Understanding the adaptive potential of these fish is crucial for informing their conservation prospects amid increasing anthropogenic pressures on freshwater environments. Terrestrial movements are a key aspect of the life cycle of amphibious fish, contributing to their survival and supporting the maintenance of population diversity under the influence of global warming. Article was published in Stresses journal: Stress and Energy Mobilization Responses of Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus During Terrestrial Locomotion, Efim D. Pavlov, Tran Duc Dien and Ekaterina V. Ganzha, Stresses 2025, 5(3), 45.

Fig. 1. Young shrubby alder growing near closed shrub communities. Although shrub expansion creates a complex canopy structure, it usually results in a sharp decline in local species diversity. The herbaceous plants, dwarf shrubs, lichens, and mosses visible beneath this young shrub will likely disappear as the emerging shrub canopy becomes taller and denser. An international team of researchers from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), HSE, the University of Virginia (UVA), and Alaska Biological Research applied artificial intelligence to study the distribution of shrub alder (Alnus alnobetula fruticosa) at the northern timberline in Siberia. The paper presents an innovative method for analyzing satellite images using convolutional neural networks. The technique opens up new possibilities for monitoring the effects of climate change in the circumpolar region, combining high accuracy with unprecedented speed of analysis. The study covered three key areas in the Siberian Subarctic. The neural network analyzed almost a million 12x12 m plots based on high-resolution satellite images taken at intervals of 10-15 years. The results showed that the rate of shrub formation varies from 2.4% to 26.1% per decade depending on local conditions. The main factors for shrub formation are heat supply and drainage: shrubs often occupy well-drained, warmed areas, as well as those located near existing shrub communities. The first stages of development of a new territory occur on flat, somewhat wetter surfaces, while closed shrub alder forests formed on warm and dry surfaces. "The new method of data processing is hundreds of times faster than traditional approaches with high accuracy. The use of a neural network that classifies landscapes into four categories (from a complete absence of shrubs to closed shrub communities) made it possible to obtain a more detailed picture compared to simplified binary models," said Ksenia Ermokhina, PhD in Geographical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the IEE RAS. Changes in vegetation associated with the spread of shrub alder have serious ecological consequences. Shrubs affect surface albedo, snow cover properties, and soil temperature, which can lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect in the region. The work was published in the Journal of Ecology: Landscape patterns of shrubification in the Siberian Low Arctic, Anna Derkacheva, Gerald V. Frost, Howard E. Epstein, Ksenia Ermokhina, 02.08.2025. Related materials: RAS: "Artificial intelligence helps scientists study tundra shrubbery"