The monograph “Marine and Brackish-Water Gastropods of Russia and Adjacent Countries: Illustrated Catalog” is available for reading and downloading on the IEE RAS website. The authors of the monograph are Yu. I. Kantor and A. V. Sysoev. This is the first and so far the only complete illustrated catalog of marine and brackish-water gastropods of the fauna of Russia and the former USSR. The fauna in question consists of 1,240 species-level taxa, 350 genera, and 110 families of Gastropoda. For each species, references are provided to the original description, synonymy, type locality, information on types, and data on distribution in the specified region. Illustrations, mostly color photographs, are provided for 1,154 species. Preference is given to type specimens for species described from the territory in question. For other species, specimens on which the findings were based are used. The bibliography includes 790 titles. The text is completely bilingual (Russian and English). You can download the monograph from the link.

Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation A Jack Russell Terrier named Zhuzha was taught to search for whales by smell. This is the first time such an experiment has been conducted in our country. In the future, the animal’s unique skills will help scientists in their work on studying rare cetaceans. The project is being implemented by the Nature and People Foundation with the support of the Siberian Wellness “World Around You” Foundation in partnership with the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The experiment started a year ago. Then Zhuzha became a  full-fledged participant in the expedition  to study bowhead whales in the Sea of Okhotsk. She tolerated the seas well, easily adapted to life on a ship, and showed the makings of a good whale “seeker”. This year, scientists went to the coast of the Barents Sea, whose waters house the endangered humpback whales, Minke whales, killer whales, porpoises, and other marine mammals. The team went out to sea five times, and each time Zhuzha demonstrated excellent “nose work”. Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation "We were pleasantly surprised that our little colleague had not lost her skills in a year: on the very first day, she showed a very good reaction and immediately "stayed" when approaching the whales, despite the strong pitching and lack of visual contact," says junior researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yulia Ganitskaya. "Later, we managed to show her different marine mammals, and she actively responded to each of them, showing that she recognized the smell." Scientists note that the experiment can and should be continued. And there are plans for another experiment: to teach the dog to distinguish between sea animals and give a different reaction to each of them. It can also help in the search for whale excrement - biological material is not easy to obtain, but it is an important source of information about the whales' food supply, the presence of parasites, hormone levels, etc. Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation During the expedition, the scientists also surveyed the coast and were able to assess the prospects for studying humpback whales in the Barents Sea. “The northern coast of the Kola Peninsula could become an excellent location for scientific research,” noted Alexandra Semenova, an expert at the Nature and People Foundation. “In particular, Ura Bay is a good place from a logistics point of view, and is not as developed by tourists as neighboring Teriberka. It is convenient to go out to sea from here to conduct photogrammetry, collect biopsies, or tag whales, and a point for observing marine mammals could be comfortably located on the coast.” Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation Related materials: Afisha: "A small but brave nose: how Russian scientists are training the dog Zhuzha to find whales" Pravmir: "Jack Russell Terrier Zhuzha has become the first dog-biodetector of whales in Russia" TASS Science: "The coast of the Kola Peninsula may become a location for studying whales" Pravda: "Whales under control: who is helping scientists in the Arctic - you won't believe it" Vesti GTRK Murman: "In the Murmansk region, a dog was taught to search for whales in the dark and fog" Krasnaya Vesna: "A dog was trained in the Barents Sea to search for whales by smell" News of the Murmansk region: "She can find them by the smell: Jack Russell Zhuzha learned to search for whales in the Barents Sea"   ASI: "A base may appear on the Ura Bay on the Kola Peninsula for the study of whales"

Photo: K.D. Kondrakova Ornithologists have summed up the disappointing results of the second stage of the project to preserve the rare demoiselle crane. Another expedition to count birds listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation confirms the fears of specialists: the species is disappearing in the European part of Russia. The demoiselle crane conservation project has been implemented for the second year by specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), Valentin Ilyashenko, Elena Ilyashenko and Kristina Kondrakova. In June of this year, the scientists examined suboptimal habitats of the cranes in the Volgograd and Saratov Trans-Volga regions. The route, about 3 thousand km long, was planned based on the results of a preliminary survey conducted in April. During the survey, ornithologists encountered fewer pairs of cranes than in the spring, although they expected the opposite result: usually in the summer heat, pairs with chicks stand in the shade of poles or come to drink. Photo: E.I. Ilyashenko "During the expedition, the weather was not hot, it was constantly raining, and the couples did not need to come to drink at the livestock points or hide in the shade of the poles. Basically, we found only those couples that were seen incubating in the spring, although we had to look for them specifically. This is very different from the demoiselle count in previous years, when cranes were noted along the entire route," said expedition participant, candidate of biological sciences Elena Ilyashenko. Photo: E.I. Ilyashenko In Kalmykia, in the optimal habitats of the Priergeninskaya sloping plain, where about 40 pairs were counted last spring and 21 chicks were tagged in the summer, there are also fewer demoiselles. This spring, only 5 pairs were counted, and in general, only 8 chicks aged 35-45 days were ringed in Kalmykia. "Another five pairs were leading downy chicks from repeated clutches, which is probably due to the cold weather in May during the incubation period," said expedition member, candidate of biological studies Valentin Ilyashenko.

August 6 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Georgy Aleksandrovich Viktorov (1925–1974), one of the most outstanding entomologists, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and head of the laboratory at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Evolutionary Morphology and Ecology of Animals of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences). From 1943 to 1946, Georgy Aleksandrovich served in the Soviet Army, first on the Central Front, then on the 2nd Far Eastern Front. His time in the army during the war years left a deep imprint on his character and worldview, and taught him to love people and life in all its manifestations. Georgy Aleksandrovich made a great contribution to agricultural entomology by analyzing the factors that determine the dynamics of insect pests and developing biological methods for controlling the population of such insects. As a taxonomist, he studied true wasps (family Ichneumonidae) — an exceptionally species-rich and extremely difficult to identify group. At the Department of Entomology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Georgy Aleksandrovich taught courses in agricultural entomology and entomophage ecology. Shortly before his death, he became the editor-in-chief of the Zoological Journal. Unfortunately, he died before he even reached 50 years of age, but he managed to do a lot and left a good memory of himself. You can read more about the life of Georgy Aleksandrovich on our website: https://sev-in.ru/viktorov-georgiy-aleksandrovich Related materials: RAS: "100th Anniversary of the Birth of the Outstanding Soviet Entomologist, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Georgy Viktorov"

From July 15 to 23, 2025, a working meeting of the staff of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) with colleagues from the Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) was held in Harbin, China. The visit of the Russian specialists attracted a lot of attention - a special report about the work of the delegation was aired on the Chinese Central Television CNR (the story is available at the link). The visit was devoted to discussing the current results and prospects for further research within the Joint Russian-Chinese Research Laboratory for the Conservation and Restoration of the Amur Tiger. During the meeting, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Rozhnov gave a lecture on the conservation and restoration of the Amur tiger in Russia, China and Kazakhstan, emphasizing the importance of using the experience of IEE RAS scientists and cross-border cooperation to protect this rare species Particular attention during the visit was paid to the practical aspects of interaction between humans and predators. Anna Yachmennikova presented the document "HUMAN-TIGER CONFLICT SOLUTIONS" developed by Russian specialists, containing practical recommendations for preventing conflicts between tigers and people. The document, based on the best Russian practices and recommendations for people living in tiger habitats and global experience in effective solutions and management of human-wildlife conflicts, was agreed upon by Chinese colleagues and has already been recommended for use by the Chinese authorities. The following materials were used in preparing the document: "Rules of Conduct and Keeping Domestic Animals in Tiger Habitats" (Yu. Dunishenko, Russia); "Recommendations for Keeping a Neighborhood with Wild Animals Free of Conflict" (D. Matyukhina and E. Blidchenko, Land of the Leopard National Park); "Managing Tiger-human Conflicts Guide" (PANTHERA); "IUCN Guidelines on Conflict and Coexistence between Humans and Wildlife" (2024); research on the coexistence of humans and big cats (Cat News Special Issue, 2022). The document offers practical measures for local residents, regional and federal authorities aimed at reducing conflicts and their consequences. IEE RAS specialists Jose Antonio Hernandez Blanco and Dmitry Alexandrov conducted a unique training course for their Chinese colleagues on the safe capture of large predators, based on 20 years of Russian research experience. This is especially relevant in the prompt resolution of situations involving the capture of a conflict tiger in or near a populated area. According to Chinese specialists, such cases have become more frequent in northeastern China over the past two years. These methods, as shown by the CNR television report, have aroused particular interest among Chinese specialists. The visit also included a discussion of new joint projects – from studying tiger parasites to studying the sleep of these animals. A special honor for the Russian delegation was the awarding of the titles of honorary professors of the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Sciences to Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.V. Rozhnov and Senior Researcher A.A. Yachmennikova. The wide resonance that the work of Russian scientists in China has received clearly demonstrates the importance and demand for Russian experience in the field of preserving rare species of animals. This cooperation opens up new prospects for joint work to protect the Amur tiger - a unique representative of the world fauna.

Photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow The soil cover retains substances that can pollute groundwater and the atmosphere, which helps protect the park's ecosystem. Together with a group of scientists from leading Russian scientific institutions, specialists from the capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection  are studying the ecosystem of the Moscow part of the Losiny Ostrov National Park. They are also analyzing the condition of the soil. The experts' task is to determine the level of fertility and the ability of the soil cover to perform the most important natural functions - protective and buffering. Photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow "Any green area in a metropolis is subject to anthropogenic impact. We assess how resistant a park and its individual ecosystems are to such impact, how well they perform their natural functions. This is important for the conservation of rare species and for the city itself: ecosystems provide clean air and water, reduce pollution levels and regulate the microclimate. Understanding how these natural mechanisms function, we can carefully manage green areas and look for new effective solutions to maintain the capital's biodiversity," said Natalia Chukhrayeva, Deputy Director of the State Nature Conservation Center. Experts began conducting soil research in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov this year. Specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IEE) of the Russian Academy of Sciences also joined the work. The research has already been completed in one of the park's sections. Photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow "We have completed our work with the soil section in the selected area of Losiny Ostrov. In the middle of the last century, there was a field in this place, as evidenced by both the soil characteristics and cartographic materials of past years. We are describing genetic horizons - soil layers with different characteristics: moisture, color, organic carbon content, mechanical composition, hardness and others. In addition, we use all additional sources of information about the studied soils and landscapes, which helps us learn about the past and current state of the soil," said Polina Guseva, junior researcher at the laboratory for the study of ecological functions of soils of the IEE RAS. During excavations at a depth of about 40 centimeters, researchers discovered fragments of rubber, which confirms anthropogenic impact on the area in the past. Photos by: Press Service of the Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the City of Moscow According to Daniil Korobushkin, senior researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the soil cover plays an important role in the environmental well-being of the metropolis. It is able to retain substances that pollute groundwater and the atmosphere, such as heavy metals and oil products. This helps protect both the park's ecosystem and the city as a whole. When collecting samples, experts mark each sample: indicate the date and coordinates, give a brief description of the area, for example, "new forest", "cloudy, with rain". This helps to avoid confusion when processing materials. It is also important to take into account weather conditions. Samples are collected only in dry weather, since heavy rain can distort the data. Large-scale studies of the Losiny Ostrov territory began in 2024. About 80 scientists from various scientific institutes conducted a large-scale environmental survey and discovered over 1.5 thousand species of animals and plants in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov. More than 200 of them are recognized as rare and protected. In addition, to analyze the park’s ecosystem, specialists took samples of water and bottom sediments in the Kazenny Pond, as well as phyto- and zooplankton in Babaevsky. Related materials: Moscow Seasons: "Scientists study soil biodiversity in Losiny Ostrov National Park" BeZformata: "Scientists study soil biodiversity in Losiny Ostrov National Park"   RSN:  "Scientists study soils in Losiny Ostrov National Park: how the ecosystem protects the metropolis from pollution" News: "Soil analysis is being conducted in Losiny Ostrov National Park" Vedomosti:  "Russian scientists will assess soil biodiversity in Losiny Ostrov National Park"   Moscow Government InfoCenter: "Scientists study soil biodiversity in Losiny Ostrov National Park"   Moscow 24: "Soil condition is being analyzed in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov"   Utro: "Soil analysis is being conducted in Losiny Ostrov National Park"  

The Baikal seal species lives only in Lake Baikal. Due to the specifics of its habitat, this species differs from its relatives and requires separate study. In 2018, the Lake Baikal Foundation for the Support of Applied Environmental Research and Development began implementing a project to study the Baikal seal. The Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the support of the Foundation, conducts scientific expeditions to: count the number of seals;behavioral observations to assess the impact of tourists on animals;track migration routes;study the health of the population. Since this endemic is one of the symbols of Lake Baikal, one of the goals of the Lake Baikal Foundation is to popularize the collected scientific data among the general public. The first popular science film about the Baikal seal, "Baikal Seal and Man", is the result of many years of work. The film was shot with the support of the "World Around You" Foundation by the Siberian Wellness company by the Buryat studio 4VETRA. Director - Nikita Bulanov. A picturesque and educational documentary tells viewers about an amazing animal, as well as about the difficult work of caring people trying to preserve the nature of Lake Baikal. The film was shot with the support of the World Around You Foundation by the Siberian Wellness company by the Buryat studio 4VETRA. Director - Nikita Bulanov. The picturesque and educational documentary tells viewers about an amazing animal, as well as about the difficult work of caring people trying to preserve the nature of Lake Baikal. Related materials: World Around You: ""Baikal Seal and Man": watch the premiere about the endemic of Baikal in the OKKO online cinema"   Pchela: "What can we learn from Baikal seals" RBC: "With the support of Siberian Wellness, the film "Baikal Seal and Man" was released"

Photos: Neplukhina A.A., Molchanov A.K. (Appearance of Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza) On July 18, 2025, during route surveys of macromycete fungi in the Kuzminki-Lyublino Natural and Historical Park, researchers discovered a species of the 3rd category of rarity, listed in the Red Book of the city of Moscow - Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza. The find confirms the high biological value of this natural area within the Moscow city limits. The surveys were conducted by researchers from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Faculty of Biology of the Lomonosov Moscow State University. The fungus was found during biodiversity monitoring aimed at identifying rare species. According to available data, this type of fungus is registered for the first time on the territory of the Kuzminki-Lyublino Natural and Historical Park. Photos: Neplukhina A.A., Molchanov A.K. (Appearance of Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza) Ophiocordiceps entomorrhiza is a parasitic fungus that attacks insects and helps control their numbers in the ecosystem. “This discovery is an important reminder of the need to protect even small natural areas in a metropolis. And listing species in the Red Book is important for drawing attention to monitoring rare species,” the experts note. Photos: Neplukhina A.A., Molchanov A.K. (Appearance of Ophiocordyceps entomorrhiza) Scientists emphasize that the preservation and further study of such species is possible only with strict observance of the conservation status of the territories and careful attitude of visitors to the nature of the parks.

Photo: Pond slider turtle living in Babaevsky Pond (Moscow, Losiny Ostrov National Park). Although these freshwater reptiles come from warm regions, they are able to survive in conditions of long cold winters. The pond slider turtle was discovered in the waters of the Babaevsky pond by biologists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS). This species of freshwater reptile is considered alien to the natural conditions of central Russia. The homeland of the red-eared turtle is North America. Historically, it was found only in the Mississippi basin (USA) and in the nearby territory of Mexico. Later, the turtle spread throughout the world, becoming invasive. In some countries, for example, in Australia, it is officially classified as a pest. Despite the fact that the pond slider turtle is considered a popular pet, not all owners realize the responsibility of keeping it. Since reptiles live for several decades, they require certain conditions and complex care. Some owners, after understanding that they care for the pet effectively, release them into bodies of water without thinking about the consequences. One of the key problems is the transformation of the ecosystem, which occurs due to the introduction of alien species into the natural environment. They compete with local species for food and habitat, which can lead to their displacement. The pond slider turtle is omnivorous, it can feed on frogs, dragonfly larvae and fish fry. In the capital, it has a direct competitor - the European pond turtle, which is listed in the Moscow Red Book. Both species occupy a similar ecological niche, feeding on almost the same thing, but the invasive guest is often stronger. At the same time, the increase in the population of the pond slider turtle occurs much faster than the European pond turtle. It should be taken into account that pond slider turtles do not only spread naturally. They are able to survive in long cold winters. In the fall, they bury themselves at the bottom of rivers and other bodies of water, hibernating until spring. The capital's Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection  calls on city residents to take a responsible approach to choosing pets. Before getting a pet, you need to study its needs, assess your capabilities and understand that its fate depends on its owners.

Figure 1. Cyathocotyle bithyniae Sudarikov, 1974 Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), the Rostov State Nature Biosphere Reserve and the Federal Center for the Study and Reproduction of Hunting Resources (Rostov-on-Don) discovered two species of flukes – Cyathocotyle fulicae and C. bithyniae – during a parasitological study of the coot in Russia and Belarus and studied them using morphological and molecular methods. “Cyathocotyle fulicae is a rare and poorly studied species of trematodes, known from two registrations, one of which was not supported by morphological evidence. Cyathocotyle bithyniae is also a poorly studied parasite, sexually mature individuals of which have so far been obtained only in laboratory conditions,” said Sergey Vlasenkov, junior researcher at the IEE RAS. Figure 2. Cyathocotyle fulicae Ginetzinskaja, 1952 The conducted study clarified the morphological features of these species and reconstructed their phylogenetic relationships. The authors put forward hypotheses about the belonging of C. bithyniae to the same species as the isolate of C. bushiensis from the USA, and C. fulicae to the dispersal larvae of flukes (cercariae) previously noted in the mollusk Bithynia tentaculata from Central Europe. Molecular data do not support the presence of the closest common ancestor in the molecularly characterized species of the genus Cyathocotyle, which indicates the need for revision of this group of flukes. The article was published in the journal Zoosystematica Rossica: Vlasenkov S.A., Lipkovich A.D. & Sokolov S.G. 2025. Redescription and phylogenetic analysis of Cyathocotyle bithyniae and C. fulicae (Trematoda: Diplostomoidea: Cyathocotylidae) from Eurasian Coot Fulica atra (Aves: Rallidae). Zoosystematica Rossica 34(1): 160–172. Doi: 10.31610/zsr/2025.34.1.160