Fig. 1. A collage showing the appearance of the white-blotched skate, the features of its study and distribution in the North Pacific Ocean, as well as some products of stingray processing. Deep-sea skates of the family Arhynchobatidae play an important role in deep-sea communities of the North Pacific Ocean. Many of these species are predatory, facilitating the transfer of energy and organic matter between different trophic levels. They consume valuable commercial species of fish and invertebrates, competing with humans in their fishing activities. In addition, stingrays are economically important in a number of countries, especially in Southeast Asia, where they serve as a source of food and industrial products (Fig. 1). They represent a promising resource for Russian fishing, being exported to the markets of China, Korea and Japan. One of the most common species of deep-sea skates in the North Pacific Ocean is the white-blotches skates Bathyraja maculata, which is widespread from northern Japan to the eastern part of the Gulf. Alaska, including the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and the Bering Sea, the Pacific waters of the Kuril and Aleutian Islands and eastern Kamchatka. Despite the constantly growing number of studies of North Pacific skates, including the white-blotched one, the features of its distribution and biology remain insufficiently studied. Fig. 2. Areas with maximum occurrence of spotted ray (a), distribution of its catches by number of years (b) and number of trawls (c). Employees of the P.P. Shirshov  Institute of Oceanology of RAS, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of RAS and Rosrybolovstvo (Russian fishing) organizations analyzed long-term data over the last 40 years (since 1979) on catches of white-blotched skate, recorded mainly during Russian and American scientific surveys and covering the entire range of this species (Fig. 2). The purpose of the study was to obtain the most complete data on the features of its spatial and vertical distribution, temperature preferences, size composition, sex ratio and relative abundance dynamics during the period under review. The densest concentrations of white-blotched skate were found along the continental slope of the Bering Sea, near the Aleutian Islands, in the eastern part of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk and in the Pacific waters of southeastern Kamchatka and the northern Kuril Islands, where its maximum abundance was noted at depths of 400-700 m with a bottom temperature of 3.1 -4.5°C. During the cold months, individuals of this species migrate to greater depths for wintering, while during the warm period they feed at shallower depths. The length of the white-blotched skate in the catches ranged from 18 to 127 cm, with a predominance of individuals 50-100 cm long. No significant differences in the length and body weight of males and females were detected. The maximum fatness of individuals was noted in the autumn-winter period. The vast majority of study areas have seen significant increases in the relative abundance of white-blotched skate since the early 2000s. The results obtained made it possible to identify areas of maximum concentrations of white-blotched skates in the North Pacific Ocean, which may be of practical importance for Russian fishing companies. The information obtained makes it possible to enrich our knowledge about the peculiarities of the biology of North Pacific deep-sea stingrays, which are necessary for the rational exploitation and conservation of their reserves. Article imprint: Grigorov I.V., Kivva K.K., Volvenko I.V., Orlov A.M. 2024. Distribution, biology, and relative abundance of the understudied deep-water whiteblotched skate Bathyraja maculata // Progress in Oceanography. V. 226. Art. 103300.

May 21, 2024 at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS (IEE RAS) an extended meeting of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on problems of ecology of biological systems and the Scientific Council of the SBRAS on the problems of Lake Baikal was held on the topic “The ecosystem of Lake Baikal: State and factors that determine it.” The meeting was also attended by representatives of: the State Duma of the Russian Federation (Subcommittee for the Protection of Lake Baikal of the State Duma Committee on Ecology), the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, the Federal State Budgetary Institution "VNII Ecology", the Federal State Budgetary Institution "VNIRO", the project office of the Federal Project "Preservation of Lake Baikal" of the National Project "Ecology", Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, En+ Group company, Fund for Support of Applied Environmental Development and Research “Lake Baikal”. Reports were made about long-term research in the river basin of Selenga in connection with environmental risks and threats to the Baikal ecosystem, about the features of the hydrochemical composition of the waters of the coastal waters of Lake Baikal and in the catchment area of ​​the Selenga River (Republic of Buryatia, Trans-Baikal Territory, Mongolia) in the summer, about  microplastics in the surface waters of Lake Baikal - its spatial distribution and long-term dynamics, about nanoplasticity - global trends and potential risks for Lake Baikal, about key habitats and movements of the Baikal seal, about the well-being of the Baikal seal as an indicator of the state of the ecosystem of Lake Baikal, about the results of counting its population, about the assessment of the content of genotoxic alkylating compounds in tissues of Baikal amphipods using lux-biosensors - their spatial long-term dynamics, the organization of biological monitoring systems for shallow and coastal ecosystems of Lake Baikal. During the meeting, it was noted that the institutes of the SB RAS are carrying out state assignments of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science for the study of Lake Baikal, and at the Institute of Economics and Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with the support of a number of companies and foundations, the “Baikal seal research program (2020-2025)” is being carried out with the participation of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “VNIRO” and the Baikal Expedition on hydroecology, which during 2019-2023. operates on Lake Baikal and its main tributary, the Selenga River (in Russia and Mongolia). The Scientific Council on the Problems of Lake Baikal SB RAS has repeatedly noted that sections of state monitoring devoted to the hydrochemical composition of the waters of Lake Baikal in state reports “On the state of Lake Baikal and measures for its protection” contain data that can be assessed as erroneous. Taking into account the variety of work carried out by different organizations and the inconsistency of the data presented at the meeting on the hydrochemical components of the waters of Lake Baikal and its tributaries, the need was noted for the formation of a unified scientific program, including conducting comprehensive monitoring studies of the Baikal ecosystem and key indicator species of its condition; conducting comprehensive research aimed at improving the legal regulation of the protection of the ecosystem of Lake Baikal and the sustainable socio-economic development of the Baikal natural territory, further holding joint meetings of the scientific councils of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences to discuss the problems of preserving Lake Baikal in order to consolidate scientific research and develop agreed scientific positions for presenting to government and management bodies. It was also proposed to hold a meeting with the participation of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Roshydromet to discuss methodological and organizational issues related to the performance of hydrochemical analyzes of the waters of Lake Baikal and its tributaries, as well as consultations with Mongolian colleagues on issues related to the performance of hydrochemical analyzes of the Selenga River in Mongolia, as well as interlaboratory comparative tests to determine hydrochemical parameters based on Russian standard samples. Heads of scientific councils of the Russian Academy of Sciences, academician V.N. Parmon and academician V.V. Rozhnov, were asked to contact the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a proposal to include in the Work Plan of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the second half of 2024 the question of the results of scientific research in the field of conservation of Lake Baikal and to develop a Strategy for the sustainable development of the Baikal Natural Territory and a road map for its implementation. Based on the results of the discussion, the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on problems of ecology of biological systems and the Scientific Council of the SBRAS on the problems of Lake Baikal adopted a resolution and an appeal with relevant proposals to members of the scientific councils of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Project Office of the Federal Project "Preservation of Lake Baikal" of the National Project "Ecology" of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Subcommittee for the Protection of Lake Baikal of the Ecology Committee of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and Rosprirodnadzor, the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia.

Fig.1: P.G. Gharibyan sampling the Mekong Delta in 2023. Based on the results of studying samples collected during an expedition to South Vietnam in 2023, as well as samples previously collected by various colleagues during work in Vietnam as part of the activities of the Joint Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Research and Technology Center, employees of the Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (co-authored with Vietnamese colleagues) published four articles in the journal "Zootaxa" devoted to the systematics and faunistics of cladoceran crustaceans in Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia. Two species widespread in the paleotropics have been redescribed in accordance with modern standards of morphological work. A new species of the genus Ovalona (Van Damme & Dumont, 2008) is described, named after one of the active participants in these works, P.G. Gharibyan. This is just the beginning of work devoted to the cladoceran crustaceans of Vietnam. In 2024, a new expedition is planned to further northern regions of South Vietnam with the aim of further studying zooplankton. Fig.2: Ilyocryptus raridentatus Smirnov, 1989 (Cladocera: Ilyocryptidae) is a relatively common benthic species found in the Far East of Asia and Australia. Articles: Garibian  P.G., Kotov A.A., 2024. Study of rarely occurring males of Bosminopsis сf. africanus Daday, 1908 (Cladocera: Bosminidae) from SE Asia permits clarification of male-character based differentiation within the genus. Zootaxa 5446 (2): 295–300. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5446.2.12 Dadykin I.A., Định N., Shiel R.J., Kotov A.A., 2024. Redescription of Ilyocryptus raridentatus Smirnov, 1989 (Cladocera: Ilyocryptidae). Zootaxa Zootaxa 5468 (2): 331–349. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5468.2.5 Kotov A.A., Garibian P.G., Dadykin I.A., Gusakov V.A., Định C.N., Tiến N.V., Ji G., Shiel R.J., 2024. Species distribution ranges of Ilyocryptus Sars, 1862 (Cladocera: Ilyocryptidae) fit the transitional zone between Boreal and Tropical Provinces in the Far East. Zootaxa 5471 (2): 232–240. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5471.2.3 Sinev A.Y., Dadykin I.A., Dịnh C.N., 2024. A new species of the genus Ovalona Van Damme & Dumont, 2008 (Cladocera: Anomopoda: Chydoridae) from South-East Asia, related to Australian Ovalona archeri (Sars, 1888). Zootaxa 5448(2): 273-282. https://doi.org/10.11646/ZOOTAXA.5448.2.7

Last week in Beijing, in connection with the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of Russian-Chinese diplomatic relations, within the framework of the activities of the “Russian NGO Working Group on BRICS and G20 Issues” an event was held aimed at strengthening scientific and cultural cooperation between the two countries. During the event, the Reserve Embassy Foundation organized a scientific and practical session dedicated to cooperation between Russia and China in protected areas. At the session “Conserving nature, uniting peoples! Cooperation between Russia and China in preserving natural heritage” discussion was held on issues of joint work between Russia and China in the field of biodiversity conservation, eco-tourism, as well as current methods of environmental education in protected areas of the two countries. This Environmental Session was attended by an employee of the Institute, Ph.D. Yachmennikova Anna, where she spoke about scientific cooperation between the two countries in the field of conservation of the Amur tiger. She presented the results of seven years of joint research work of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences with Chinese colleagues - the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Heilongjiang Province. According to her, the partnership was required as part of the implementation of the Institute’s program to return orphaned tiger cubs raised by specialists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences to the wild using a methodology developed for these purposes in 2012-2014. After being released into the wild, it became necessary to monitor tigers that had crossed into Chinese territory, and cooperation was established with the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Heilongjiang Province. Subsequently, scientists made cross-expeditions to protected areas of the two countries. Russian scientists, according to Anna Yachmennikova, shared with their Chinese colleagues their skills in mapping and assessing the state of tiger habitats, methods of working with satellite images, modeling the territory with neural networks, as well as methods for collecting data on the number of animals (the tiger's food supply) based on their tracks. This information and GIS modeling were used to calculate the ecological corridors along which animals can move from one large preserved forest area to another. “These corridors are now mathematically designed to be where they should be. But many of them are interrupted by roads built by humans, and because of this, animals cannot cross them and continue using their own habitats. This is called habitat fragmentation. And now it is very important to properly restore this network of green corridors, then this will allow communication between different parts of natural areas and allow animals to walk from one area to another. The areas that we calculated do not all coincide with the territories of the reserves that currently exist. We need to try, if possible, to create more reserves in those key areas that are characteristic of this ecoregion,” notes Anna Yachmennikova. The report also included abstracts reflecting the prospects for cooperation between the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the North-Eastern University of Forestry, within the framework of research projects planned for implementation by the joint international laboratory created in March 2024 to study the state of the Amur tiger population and its restoration within historical area. Thus, the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences has planned additional directions in the study of various aspects of the biology of the tiger and the Far Eastern leopard at the international level. In particular, work will be carried out to assess the well-being of the territory in the north of China in terms of pathogens dangerous to large cats and to assess the genetic state of the populations of both tigers and leopards, because due to inbreeding, accumulating genetic errors may have fatal consequences for the litters. “Chinese colleagues turned to us for our experience in preserving the tiger population. After all, the tiger is a symbol of China, one of the sacred animals of this country. And of course, he should live and should not be in danger,” said Anna Yachmennikova. The report also covered issues of current research and the need for scientific justification when making decisions at the interstate level; the need to find and implement ways to harmonious coexistence of humans and wild animals; the need to work with people and environmental education. Photo by: Yana Nochuikina Related materials: Interaffairs.ru: Migratory birds, tigers and ecotourism: The Conservation Embassy Foundation held an expert session in China Conservation Embassy: Migratory birds, tigers and ecotourism: The Conservation Embassy Foundation held an expert session in China

Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.V. Rozhnov, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the problems of ecology of biological systems, scientific director of environmental and environmental projects and international programs of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, took part in the 2024 International Congress on the system of environmental safety for all people living along the Belt and Road (2024 International Workshop on An Eco-Security System for All People along the One Road & One Belt, which took place in Shennongjia National Park in Hubei Province from May 27 to 30, as a visiting member of the scientific committee. The Congress is a continuation of the Chinese plan “Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind (CSFM) to achieve win-win sharing”, presented by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2017. The concept of this plan was developed by the International Scientific Network of the National Environmental Security System (NESS), Haikou Forestry Bureau and Hainan Normal University together with other 22 co-organizers. This concept is reflected in many UN resolutions and is recognized and endorsed by a large number of countries. The 2024 Congress was attended by delegates from more than 40 countries, including Russia, as well as representatives of a number of UN and other international organizations. Videos prepared by various countries were shown at the opening ceremony. This was followed by a session on “Co-creating an environmental security system for all people along the Belt and Road”, which was opened by Dexin Tian, ​​founder and chief scientist of the NESS International Scientific Network, presenting a report on the global development of an environmental security system for all people. Photo: Shennongjia National Park (Hubei Province, China) In addition to the Forum on the creation of the international scientific network NESS, meetings were held within the framework of forums on species, on protected areas and on IUCN. The Species Forum on May 27 focused on principles of species research and setting conservation priorities. V.V. Rozhnov presented a report on the topic “Ecological safety system for all people along the Belt and Road: Barriers and corridors in the ecology of large mammals.” When discussing the issues of choosing species for studying V.V. Rozhnov focused on the existence of two approaches to the study of species: the population-species approach, which requires studying rare species, and the ecosystem approach, in which, in this context, one should proceed from the disruption of ecosystems and their failure to fulfill their functions, and in order to restore these functions, key species in such ecosystems should be identified, studied and restored; another group of species in this approach should be indicator species of the state of ecosystems, so that, knowing their biology, timely measures can be taken to restore disturbed ecosystems. Photo: Panda enclosures in Shennongjia National Park After the official events, wonderful trips took place to Shennongjia National Park, where, in addition to sightseeing, trees were planted in memory of the past Congress. Photo: Planting trees in Shennongjia National Park to commemorate the International Congress on the Ecological Security System for all people living along the Belt and Road. Colleagues from Kazakhstan (left, Professor R.V. Yashchenko, Director of the Institute of Zoology) and Mongolia (right, Professor D. Gantulga, Director of the Institute of Biology). International contacts from different countries were encouraged to attract more supporters of the Green for All People initiative so that a regional and global report could be compiled and presented to heads of state for implementation.

Tourist programs in Russian nature reserves and national parks were presented as part of the project “The Word about the Russian Heart”, which opened in Beijing on June 12, Russia Day. Anna Yachmennikova, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Mammal Behavior and Behavioral Ecology of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Candidate of Biological Sciences, told TASS reporters about the importance of such cooperation: "Reserves, at present, due to the colossal pressure of man on nature, are the only existing spaces where nature lives in its own balance. Despite the fact that their areas are small, a well-organized system of protected areas in those places that are key for a complex of species, and a correctly planned system of ecological corridors between them can form a kind of ecological network that will solve the issue of fragmentation of animal habitats and allow humans and nature to exist in harmony. Issues of this level can only be resolved at the international level, since nature knows no boundaries.”

Belarus called on UNESCO to prevent the politicization of the problem around the Polish border in Belovezhskaya Pushcha. This was stated by the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic Sergei Maslyak. He recalled that as a result of Poland's construction of the border fence, the greatest concern is its impact on the environment and on animal populations. The problem was commented on by Taras Sipko, Candidate of Biological Sciences, employee of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Chairman of the Committee for the Study of Bison, Bison and Musk Oxen of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The commentary can be listened to in the audio version.

An employee of the Laboratory of Monitoring of Nuclear Power Plant Regions and Bioindication of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences published an article in the journal Fish and Fisheries (IF=6.7) by Wiley as part of an international team from Russia, Hungary and Brazil. Fig.2. Landmarks of scales for morphometric analysis The published work is devoted to a large-scale study of the shape of freshwater fish scales and an attempt to use it as a taxonomic and environmental indicator. Despite the long-established value of scale morphology for taxonomy, its use for taxonomic identification purposes has generally been limited to the identification of high-ranking taxa. The authors analyzed the shape of the scales of 193 fish species from 14 orders belonging to 5 biogeographic kingdoms. Scale measurements were performed along with measurements of fish body length and height. The study showed that scales can be used to determine orders of fish, and when using additional data on the size of scales relative to the length and height of the fish’s body, species identification is also possible. The study showed that despite the fact that the shape and size of scales are genetically determined, they can also be used as indicators of the division of ecological niches (habitat, preferred flow rate regimes) of closely related species. Fig.3. Canonical variates analysis (CVA) of scale data. In summary, this study demonstrates that scale morphology is a promising additional tool for inferring the ecological preferences of species for which such information is absent or insufficient (including extinct species). The authors note the importance of expanding the database and the need to use artificial intelligence for the purposes of shape recognition and species identification based on the shape and texture of scales. Fig.4. Relationship between scale size and body height index of fish. The studied species were classified according to their preferred flow regimes (a) and their preferred habitat (b). Lines represent phylogenetically generalized least squares (PGLS) regressions. (Data was used for 136 species for which sequences of the mtDNA COI barcode fragment are available in the international NCBI database). The work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 19-04-00218 (Adaptive radiation and speciation in cyprinids under sympatry conditions).

Fig. 1. Enchytraeid among plant remains. Enchytraeids (Annelida, Clitellata, Enchytraeidae) are small relatives of earthworms that can be found in moderately moist soils around the world. These are one of the most important organisms in the soil that decompose plant litter. Despite their widespread distribution, for a long time representatives of the enchytraeid family were considered as an ecologically homogeneous group, ignoring possible differences between species. However, a new study conducted by specialists from the laboratory for studying the ecological functions of soils of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences showed that enchytraeids can be classified into several trophic guilds depending on their feeding preferences, morphological and environmental features. To assess the trophic niches of 16 widespread enchytraeid species living in various biomes and biotopes throughout European Russia, stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen was carried out. The results showed that, judging by the fairly high 15N content in enchytraeid tissues, all members of the family are secondary decomposers that receive nutrients not only from decomposing organic matter, but also from the microorganisms living in it. At the same time, the large scatter of δ13C and δ15N values ​​allows us to divide enchytraeids into three trophic guilds by analogy with the ecological groups of earthworms (Fig. 2). Fig. 2. Isotopic composition (∆13C and ∆15N, ‰) of enchytraeids, soil, plants and mycelium, corrected for the isotopic composition of litter from the local habitat. Green symbols show mean values ​​± standard error for each enchytraeid species, orange symbols show the same for soil, plants, and mycelium. Gray symbols represent the isotopic composition of single enchytraeid samples. The ellipses include 95% of the data for the identified trophic guilds of enchytraeids: Epi - epigeic, Epi-endo - epi-endogeic and Endo - endogeic species Epigeic enchytraeids live in forest litter and algae washed up on the sea coast, and feed mainly on plant particles along with the saprotrophic microorganisms found on them. Epi-endogeic enchytraeids inhabit the lower layers of microbiologically treated litter and mineral soil. The variability of the isotopic composition within the group and even within the species indicates the consumption of a wide range of resources, consisting of various saprotrophic microorganisms (bacteria, fungal mycelium) and highly decomposed plant litter. Epigeic enchytraeids penetrate deeper into the soil using capillary moisture, where they feed on highly humified organic matter and associated microorganisms and dissolved organic compounds. “This work allows us to see enchytraeids not just as a homogeneous group, but as many diverse units that act differently in the soil and make unique contributions to the food web,” the study authors note. The work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Science Foundation (project No. 22-14-00227). The results of the work were published in the journal Soil Biology and Biochemistry. D.I. Korobushkin, P.A. Guseva, K.B. Gongalsky, R.A. Saifutdinov, A.S. Zaitsev, M.I. Degtyarev. Are there different trophic niches of enchytraeids? A stable isotopic (δ13C, δ15N) evidence. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, Volume 194, April 2024, 109422, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109422

The opening speech was made by the Director of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member. RAS, S.V. Naidenko. V.V. Rozhnov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Behavior and Behavioral Ecology of Mammals, also spoke at the beginning of the session. Reports moderated by V.V. Popov were made by: - Supin A.Ya. "Lev Mukhametov from his student years to the present day" - Lyamin O.I. "Comparative study of sleep in marine mammals" - Popov V.V. "Utrish naval station - history" - Artyukhov A. “Creation of demonstration dolphinariums” - Abramov A.V. "Keeping dolphins (capture, transportation, veterinary medicine)" - Kovalzon V.M. "Forgotten pages of scientific biography" - Glazov D.M. "Experience in aerial surveys and satellite tagging of marine mammals." Photos of the event can be viewed in our VKontakte group.