Fig. 1. Mating tournament of male Luskhan itilensis. Illustration by A.A. Atuchin from the book by Nelikhov A.E. When the Volga was a sea. Leviathans and pilgrims / A.E. Nelikhov, M.S. Arkhangelsky, A.V. Ivanov. – M.: University Book, 2018. – 140 p. At the end of March, paleontologists from Belgium, Great Britain and Russia published a detailed description of the Early Cretaceous pliosaur Luskhan itilensis. This taxon was named back in 2017, but then a short report was made in Current Biology to speed up the publication of the find. The detailed description was now published in the British Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. The remains of a pliosaur were discovered in 2002 on the banks of the Volga near the Slantsev mine (Ulyanovsk region) in the deposits of the Hauterivian stage of the Cretaceous period (about 130 million years old). It was possible to extract an almost complete skeleton of the animal from the enclosing clays. Painstaking work on the preparation and conservation of fossil remains continued for more than 10 years. And it’s not surprising - the skeleton reaches 6.5 m in length (the length of the skull alone is 1.6 m). The name Luskhan itilensis given to the pliosaur is based on Mongolian mythology and is associated with Lus, the master spirits of reservoirs, and their ruler Luskhan. Itil is the ancient Turkic-Mongolian name for the Volga. In general, the name of the fossil reptile can be interpreted as “lord of the Volga waters.” For a long time, almost nothing was known about Early Cretaceous pliosaurs; researchers called this period the “Early Cretaceous gap” in the history of pliosaurs. However, discoveries in recent years have made it possible to fill this gap. Luskhan's anatomy is unique among pliosaurs. Previously, paleontologists believed that all representatives of pliosaurs (both Jurassic and Cretaceous) were ferocious predators that hunted large prey. However, a study of the remains of Luskhan showed that its skull was similar in structure to representatives of another, unrelated group of short-necked plesiosaurs from the family Polycotylidae, which were small and fast fish-eating forms. Such convergent similarity with polycotylides demonstrates the unexpected ecomorphological diversity of pliosaurs and the more complex nature of their evolutionary history than previously thought, and also refutes the prevailing stereotype that all pliosaurs without exception belong to superpredators. Fig. 2. Comparative cranial anatomy of predatory marine amniotes with medially located teeth. High resolution 3D models. A, Luskhan itilensis (UKM 68344/1_262). B, Pervushovisaurus campylodon (CAMSM B20671). C, Prognathodon solvayi (IRSNB R33b). D, Ninoziphius platyrostris (MNHN SAS 941). E, Tasmacetus shepherdi (USNM 484878). F, Ziphius cavirostris (NHMUK 1915.7.20.1). G, Ankylorhiza tiedemanni (CCNHM 103). H, Prosqualodon davidis (USNM 467596). Silhouettes: Ziphius, Chris Huh, from Phylopic (http://phylopic.org/image/7c1d06fb-2d6e-454d-b57b-a859d5dbdb9f/); Squalodon, Craig Hylke, from Phylopic (http://phylopic.org/image/95a73c63-e7c7-4e81-8e6d-592f647b07bc/). One of the striking anatomical features of Luskhan is the forward-directed first pair of teeth of the upper jaw. Similar forward-protruding teeth at the tip of the upper or lower jaw are found in some ichthyosaurs, mosasaurs, and a number of fossil and modern cetaceans. Thus, in some beaked whales (for example, Ziphius cavirostris), such protruding teeth are used during mating tournaments between males. Whether such complex behavior could also be characteristic of pliosaurs is a question that cannot yet be answered. In addition to the scientific examination of the bones, the authors of the work also created a complete three-dimensional reconstruction of this animal. Employee of the Institute of Economics and Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences N.E. Prilepskaya, using a high-precision metrological 3D scanner Artec Space Spider, scanned all the bones of the Luskhan skeleton, and then assembled their three-dimensional models, which were posted as an appendix to the article. Based on 3D models of bones, the famous Russian paleosculptor Vlad Konstantinov, who previously worked in the popular science paleontological projects of National Geographic, completely reconstructed the skeleton of Luskhan, virtually straightening the deformations in a 3D graphic editor and completing the missing bone fragments. Later, this skeleton was printed life-size for a new exhibition at the Undorovsky Paleontological Museum. Thanks to painstaking work carried out by an international team of paleontologists, Luskhan is now not only one of the most well-studied pliosaurs in the world, but also the only one with a complete virtual reconstruction. In the published article you can see recreated images of the ruler of the ancient seas. Fischer V., Benson R.B.J., Zverkov N.G., Arkhangelsky M.S., Stenshin I.M., Uspensky G.N., Prilepskaya N.E. Anatomy and relationships of the bizarre Early Cretaceous pliosaurid Luskhan itilensis // Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2023. Volume 198, Issue 1, Pages 220–256. DOI: 10.1093/zoolinnean/zlac108

On November 13-14, the XVIII All-Russian Congress of Nutritionists and Dietetics “Nutriciology and Dietetics for the Health of the Russian Population” was held in Moscow, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. At the Symposium “New and Alternative Food Sources: Domestic and World Experience”, the guest speaker, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Innovative Technologies N.A. Ushakova, gave a report “Insects as a source of food ingredients: production technologies and chemical composition”. The report aroused great interest among the audience in connection with the signing by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation M. Mishustin on October 10, 2023 of the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2761-r on the inclusion in the list of agricultural products, production, primary and subsequent (industrial) processing of flour from the black soldier fly, fat from black soldier fly, granules and puree from black soldier fly larvae. The report presented the world experience of a new branch of agriculture - industrial insect farming and the formation of domestic industrial cultivation of the black soldier fly. The composition of protein, fat, microelements, and antioxidants of black soldier fly larvae is presented, which determines the potential for their use not only in animal feed, but also as a potential food source for humans. The final conclusion is that the products of processing of black soldier fly larvae can be suitable for further use as an ingredient for fortifying food products with both nutrients and nutraceuticals.

On November 4, 2023, the IEE RAS, with the financial support of the Russian Academy of Sciences, held an international conference “Current directions and prospects for expeditionary research in Mongolia (within the framework of the Joint Russian-Mongolian complex biological expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences)” dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Purpose of the Conference: Providing a platform for scientific discussions and ensuring interaction between researchers from Russia and Mongolia on current issues of organizing and conducting field research within the framework of the scientific program of activities of the Joint Russian-Mongolian Integrated Biological Expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences for future periods. The Conference was attended by scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, IBR RAS, IGeo ASM, IB ASM, Moscow State University, MIPT, who presented their reports in various fields of biological, chemical, geographical and other disciplines. The conference was chaired by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences Rozhnov Vyacheslav Vladimirovich, Scientific Director of the Russian part of the expedition. Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences. Naidenko Sergey Valerievich, director of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, welcomed the participants. Oral reports were presented at the conference: Ecological and zoological research in Mongolia: accumulated experience and prospects - Rozhnov V.V., Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences.Monitoring the physiological state and infectious diseases of gazelle in groups in Russia and Mongolia - Naidenko S.V., corresponding member of RAS, IEE RAS.The study of bats is one of the current areas of zoological research - Vasenkov D.A., Ph.D., IEE RAS.The Gobi Desert is a refuge for vulnerable species of Central Asia - Battogtokh N., Institute of Biology of the MAS.Results and prospects for studying terrestrial squirrels of Mongolia - Brandler O.V., Ph.D., IBR RAS. Results and prospects of molecular genetic research on the example of Eversman's hamsters - Gureeva A.V., Ph.D. IEE RAS.Hypothermia and memory using the example of the Mongolian hamster: prospects for field research - Smagina M.Yu. IEE RAS.On the use of some animals of Mongolia in laboratory practice - Feoktistova N.Yu., Doctor of Biological Sciences, IEE RAS.Half a century of Russian-Mongolian research into the aquatic ecosystems of Mongolia: results and prospects - Dgebuadze Yu.Yu., acad. of RAS, IEE RAS, Moscow State University.Hydrochemical research: water quality problems in the area of Ulaanbaatar - Odsuren B., Ph.D. Institute of Geography and Geoecology of the MAS.Preliminary results of environmental monitoring of the Selenga drainage basin in Mongolia and Russia - Kolobov M.Yu., Ph.D., Moscow State University.Bacterial biosensors for ecotoxicological studies - Novoyatlova U.S., MIPT.Prospects for landscape-ecological research in Mongolia based on remote sensing information - Sandlersky R.B., Ph.D., IEE RAS.Ecosystem flows of greenhouse gases in environmental studies - Kurbatova Yu.A., Ph.D., IEE RAS.Some aspects of multidisciplinary and scientifically applied research - Bazha S.N., Ph.D., IEE RAS. During the discussion of reports and additional presentations, the conference participants outlined priority areas of activity within the framework of the Scientific Program of the Expedition. In general, promising areas of research for the Expedition can be combined in the form of the following provisions: Floristic-faunistic and biogeocenotic diversity in the ecotone zone of Southern Siberia and Central Asia.Environmental risks in natural and natural-anthropogenic ecosystems.Environmental problems of terrestrial, aquatic and wetland ecosystems in Mongolia and adjacent territories of the Russian part of the Lake Baikal basin.Current state of the network of protected areas in Inner Asia and prospects for its development.Desertification as an environmental and economic problem and ways to mitigate its impact on the natural environment of Mongolia.Ecological and social problems of environmental pollution.

Photo by: Evgeny Burgov Many ants have vision and hearing, but their main sensory system is the chemical senses. How do they distinguish “friends” from “strangers” by smell when they use rhythmic touching, chirping and pheromones in communication? How does the social life of ants work, when an individual begins to claim dominance, and what does it mean to curl up in a “suitcase”? Evgeniy Burgov, an employee of the robotics laboratory of the National Research Center Kurchatov Institute and the IEE RAS, spoke about what a tactile code is and how ants use the “language of poses.” You can listen to the podcast using the link. Even more amazing facts about ants can be found in Evgeniy’s group “Formica Ants” (Telegram/VK). This is not the first time Evgeniy has participated in the RIA Novosti podcast: in the episode “Make love not work: polymorphism and ant castes” he talked about the structure of the ant family and castes; in the issue “Robbery, cannibalism, extermination: ant wars” he explained why experienced, authoritative ants play a special role at the beginning of the battle;and in the episode “Ants will be the first to get into cyberpunk. What roboticists learn from nature” Evgeniy shared how knowledge about ants is used in robotics.

Sea otter Photo: Alexander Tikhonov The second meeting of the expert group on sea otter conservation in 2023 took place on the base of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Kurilsky Nature Reserve Elena Linnik took part in the event. Her report presented a prognosis for an increase in the number of sea otters in the northwestern Pacific near the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge, reports SakhalinMedia news agency, citing the press service of the Kurilsky Nature Reserve. 13 organizations took part in the meeting, of which 3 protected areas of federal significance and 6 institutes, as well as other organizations and public associations, which were represented by 37 specialists. Elena Linnik presented “The number of sea otters near the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge in 2022 and the prospects for its change.” Since the first meeting of the expert group in 2023, Russian scientists have carried out a large amount of work to study the state of sea otter groups in the waters of the Commander Islands, off the coast of Kamchatka, off the islands of the Greater and Lesser Kuril chains, as well as to study benthic communities, analyze animal invasions and causes of death of the sea otter in most of the Russian range. Most of the speakers noted the continuing downward trend in sea otter numbers in the main, northern part of its Russian range: off the coast of the Commander Islands, Kamchatka and the Northern Kuril Islands. Thus, according to the head of the laboratory of the KB TIG FEB RAS Sergei Kornev, the latest surveys in 2023 around Paramushir and Shumshu showed a decrease in the number of sea otters compared to 2003 by 96% - from 15 thousand to 541 individuals. The reports also presented the results of surveys near the southern Kuril Islands, which show that sea otter groups in this area tend to increase in number. Thus, on Iturup and Urup, the number of sea otters remains stable - 230 and 1299 individuals, respectively, and on the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge there has been a significant increase in the number of these animals. Work of the expert group on sea otter conservation. Photo: press service of the Kurilsky Nature Reserve According to censuses carried out by employees of the Kurilsky Nature Reserve in 2022, the total number of sea otters in the Lesser Kuril Islands was 471 individuals, of which 290 were females with puppies - 40.3%, which was 14 times higher than in 2001. In 2023, marine surveys were carried out by the Finval research center from a trimaran. According to the head of the center, Andrei Semenov, the number of sea otters on the Lesser Kuril Ridge was 516 individuals, of which 248 were females with pups. The main factors that attract the sea otter are the jagged coastline with numerous coves and islands, shallow depths (up to 50 meters), a diverse benthic community, including the animal’s main food resource - sea urchins, as well as fields of kelp algae, where the sea otter spends most of its time. According to research by the Sakhalin branch of VNIRO, it is near the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge that significant accumulations of sea urchins and vast fields of brown algae are noted, and the entire water area is located within the isobath of up to 50 meters of depth. Elena Linnik's report presented a forecast for an increase in the number of sea otters until they reach optimal density over the entire water area of the Lesser Kuril Ridge, based on its resource availability. This number may be at least 1,300 individuals in the future. — I would like to especially emphasize that an important factor in the conservation of the southernmost breeding group of sea otters in the northwestern Pacific near the MKG islands is that the border of the animals’ distribution is within the marine protected zones of the Kurilsky Nature Reserve and the Small Kuriles federal nature reserve, therefore sea otters and their habitats are under state protection. This allows us to regulate human presence and economic activity, thereby preserving these beautiful animals in our region,” Elena Linnik noted in her report. Participants in the expert group meeting came to a number of conclusions. It is necessary to: develop unified methods for conducting animal censuses and collecting biomaterial;continue studying the state of benthic communities using modern technologies and involving competent specialists;prepare and conduct a one-time synchronized census of the sea otter population in the territory of its Russian distribution area. The next meeting of the expert council is scheduled for February 2024. Related materials: Na rubeje: “The number of sea otters is growing only in the southern group of the North-West Pacific” Fishnews: “Sea otters continue to have problems” RAS: "The number of sea otters near the islands of the Lesser Kuril Ridge may increase"

Armored catfish Over the past decade, invasive catfish Pterygoplichthys spp. spread throughout most of the river systems of Vietnam. One of the possible reasons for their rapid settlement is associated with the transit movements of armoured catfish through river estuaries and desalinated coastal zones. Employees of the laboratory of behavior of lower vertebrates (Ganzha E.V., Pavlov E.D.) together with a Vietnamese colleague (Tran Duc Dien) assessed the likelihood of estuarine dispersal of armoured catfish, both in situ and in office conditions. Fig.1: Fishing areas in the estuary Using control fisheries, it was established for the first time that armoured catfish are found in the waters of the Darang River estuary with salinity up to 25‰ inclusive. Previously, armoured catfish in brackish waters (up to 8‰) were found only in the rivers of Southeast Mexico (Capps et al., 2011). Fig.2: Estimation of water salinity in the estuary The ability of armoured catfish to move and breathe in sea water (33‰) was experimentally assessed. Fish in the control group, placed in fresh water, were usually positioned motionless on the bottom. In seawater, on the contrary, fish more often moved both horizontally and vertically. The locomotor activity of fish in sea water began to decrease only at the 13–15th minute of the experiment. The presence of armoured catfish in sea water for the first 6 minutes led to disruption of respiratory movements (opening/closing of gill slits) in fish until they stopped, but did not have a significant effect on their motor activity. Fig.3: Preparing for catching armoured catfish The results of field and experimental studies indicate that invasive catfish can be found in river estuaries, move in them and at the same time are able to avoid water of high salinity due to directed movement into the surface, often desalinated layers of water. These facts are in good agreement with the hypothesis about the invasion of armoured catfish through river estuaries and sea coasts under concomitant favorable external conditions. The work was carried out within the framework of the Ecolan 3.2 project (Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center with financial support from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science) and the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 19-14-00015. The article was published in the journal Aquatic Invasions. Related materials: RAS: "Invasive armoured catfish are capable of spreading through estuaries and coastalareas"

Deputy Science Direstor of IEE RAS, Corresponding Member of the RAS Alexey Vladimirovich Tiunov will give a lecture “Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functions” on October 29 at the Nauka 0+ Open Week in Shenzhen. Soil biodiversity plays a critical role in maintaining fertility and the global carbon cycle. In modern consciousness, “diversity” implies environmental well-being, but we must not forget that soil biota can be dangerous for humans and their farms. The lecture will examine the key “positive” and “negative” functions of soil biota, some of which remain extremely little studied. The NAUKA 0+ festival takes place from October 24 to 29 as part of the II Festival of Knowledge, Science and Culture at the University of Moscow State University-PPI in Shenzhen, China. The broadcast will be available in the VKontakte community. Related materials: MSU-PPI University: "Open Week Nauka+ in China" AI-News: “Lectures will be given by leading scientists from Russia and China at the NAUKA0+ Open Week in China”

From October 5 to October 8, 2023 in the village Divnoye, Stavropol Territory, in the administration building of the Apanasenkovsky Municipal District, the Fifth International Scientific Conference “Cranes of the Palearctic: Biology, Conservation” was held, organized by the Working Group on Cranes of Eurasia (WGGE), the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (RAS), the Russian Bird Conservation Union and the Apanasenkovsky branch of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation. The choice of the conference venue was not accidental. Divnoye is located in the Manych valley, which lies on the migration route of cranes and other birds to their southern wintering grounds. By the end of August, demoiselle cranes gather here from the entire territory from the Central Ciscaucasia to the Urals, as well as Northwestern Kazakhstan, from where in the first half of September they migrate to wintering grounds in the Nile basin. From the second half of September until the end of November, before flying to their wintering grounds in Turkey, Israel and Ethiopia, gray cranes from most of European Russia gather here. Unfortunately, in November-December 2022, a mass death of gray cranes was noted in the Stavropol Territory, and this problem was a key one at the conference. The conference was attended by 42 specialists from 32 organizations from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia, as well as representatives of national and international environmental public organizations. For the first time in the history of RGJE conferences, participants who were unable to attend in person participated online. The President of the Eurasian Crane Study Society Anatoly Fedorovich Kovshar, who welcomed the participants of the conference online, proposed to name the Society after Vladimir Evgenievich Flint, the first president of the organization. The conference participants warmly supported this proposal. On October 5, on the first day of the conference, a round table “Threats to the populations of gray cranes and demoiselles” was organized to discuss the trend of a sharp decline in the number of demoiselle cranes in the European part of its range and the problem of mass poisoning of gray cranes in the Stavropol Territory in the winter of 2022/2023 and the ongoing mass death of pelicans and waterfowl and waders. In addition to the conference participants, the round table was attended by representatives of the Directorate of Protected Natural Areas and the Department of Protection, Control and Supervision over the Use of Wildlife of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Stavropol Territory, the North Caucasus Interregional Directorate of Rosselkhoznadzor, the North Caucasus Interregional Directorate of Rosprirodnadzor, GBU SK "Apanasenkovskaya regional station for combating animal diseases" and the editorial office of the newspaper "Primanych Steppes". The most pressing problems of animal death were identified, their causes were discussed, and recommendations were given to prevent animal death. It was decided to continue cooperation on solving the problem of poisoning of cranes and other bird species in agricultural fields and reservoirs in the North Caucasus region with supervisory authorities in the field of nature conservation and agriculture, which began during the round table. The need to disseminate the results of the discussion of the threat to the populations of gray cranes and demoiselles in the North Caucasus region through the mass media and social networks was noted. Conference participants noted alarming trends in the sharp decline in the number of demoiselles in the European part of its range, associated with the deterioration of the condition of nesting habitats and mass hunting along the flight route through Saudi Arabia. It is necessary to conduct a census of the demoiselle along its flight path through the Republic of Dagestan and the Chechen Republic to assess the abundance of the species in the European part of its range and the degree of its decline over the past 20 years. It is proposed to use social networks as anti-advertising for hunting for gray cranes and demoiselles in Saudi Arabia, and also to ask the Crane Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, as well as the International Crane Conservation Foundation and the Secretariat of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species to re-apply to the environmental authorities of the Kingdom Saudi Arabia with a request to strengthen counteraction to illegal hunting of cranes. During the conference, participants discussed the current state of the populations of the Siberian Crane, Japanese, White-naped, and Sandhill cranes, monitoring of autumn aggregation and wintering sites, biology, migrations, breeding and reintroduction, methods of study and environmental education, and current problems of crane protection. The participants made a number of decisions reflected in the conference resolution. In particular, it includes proposals for disseminating experience in the use of new technologies, including photo and video cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, GPS-GSM transmitters for studying nesting, population ecology, distribution, migration and conservation of cranes in cooperation with the European Working Group on Cranes, the Northeast Asian Crane Working Group and other national and international organizations. The conference participants approved the activities of the Nursery of Rare Species of Cranes of the Oka State Natural Biosphere Reserve, the Station for the Reintroduction of Rare Species of Birds of the Khingan State Nature Reserve and the Muravyovsky Park to improve methods for raising and releasing rare species of cranes into the wild. A report was made on the reaction of Siberian Cranes to the collection of eggs, which was carried out to replenish the captive population of Siberian Cranes, in which recommendations were given on collection methods for further implementation of similar work. The achievements of the members of the organisation in the field of fundamental and applied research in the biology, ecology, genetics and parasitology of cranes were noted, as the basis for measures to protect and restore populations, and it was proposed to continue collecting biological material for genetic, population and morphological studies. The activities of the Eurasian Crane Study Society in the field of environmental education were approved, which includes, in particular, the widespread celebration of the “Crane Day” holiday, first initiated by the group in 2002, and the involvement of the local population in the conservation of cranes. At the end of the conference, with the efforts of the Social and Cultural Center of the village. Divnoye, a concert was organized in honor of the Crane Day holiday, and the resolution noted the need to further promote the celebration in the Manych Valley with the involvement of schoolchildren and the local population. Conference participants visited Lake Manych, where they assessed the scale of death of waterfowl and waders during an outbreak of an infectious disease in August 2023. Among the remains of the dead birds were spoonbills and avocets, species listed in the Red Book of Russia. The international scientific conference was a significant event in the field of crane conservation not only for residents of the village Divnoye, but also on a wider scale. Its progress was widely covered in local and regional media. The successful implementation was greatly facilitated by the Administration of the Apanasenkovsky Municipal District of the Stavropol Territory and the Social and Cultural Center (SCC) of the Divnoye region. The conference participants are grateful to the head of the administration D.A. Klimov, deputy head A.I. Bulavinov, employees V.I. Ponushkov and N.I. Denisenko, as well as the director of the SCC L.V. Kovaleva and employee L.I. Gergel. Special gratitude was expressed towards V.N. Fedosov, Apanasenkovsky branch of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, IEE RAS and Eurasian Crane Study Society for organizing and holding the conference, the Russian Bird Conservation Union for agreeing to support the publication of the collection of proceedings of the International Conference “Cranes of Eurasia-7” and E.A. Koblik and V.V. Gridneva for preparing the conference logo and banner layout. The conference participants proposed that the Russian Bird Conservation Union contribute to the holding of the Sixth International Scientific Conference of the Russian State University of Journalism in 2027 in the Altai Territory, Russia. Program and abstracts of reports of the Fifth International Scientific Conference “Palaearctic Cranes: Biology, Conservation.” Related materials: Russian Society for the Conservation and Study of Birds: “The mass death of gray cranes onLake Manych was discussed at the International Scientific Conference “Cranes of thePalaearctic: Biology, Conservation” State Natural Reserve "Bastak": "The fifth international conference "Cranes of thePalaearctic: biology, conservation" was held" Russian Bird Conservation Union: "International Conference "Palaearctic Cranes: Biology,Conservation" Stavropolskaya Pravda: "International Conference in the Stavropol Territory: The Sad Songof the Crane" Stavropol Television Svoe: “Scientists from three countries have examined the problem ofthe death of cranes in the Stavropol region”

Traditional group photo On September 5, the international conference “Chromosome-2023” began in Novosibirsk Akademgorodok, in which employees of two laboratories of the IEE RAS took part - Ph.D. N.Sh. Bulatov and Ph.D. S.V. Pavlova. Pictured: Co-chairman of the Conference Organizing Committee, Director of IMCB, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Igor Fedorovich Zhimulev in the group of participants with the donated book “Atlantas”, published by the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In total, approximately 170 Russian and foreign scientists registered to participate in the conference. In the current geopolitical conditions, it was quite difficult to assemble a representative scientific conference, but it was a success, although the 4 days allocated for its holding in the House of Scientists of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences were barely enough for the scientific program. The Chromosome 2023 conference is a continuation of a series of conferences of the same name in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018, held on the initiative of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IMBB SB RAS). This year, scientists from Novosibirsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Tomsk and Irkutsk, as well as from other countries: Kazakhstan, Germany, the USA, Italy, Serbia and China took part in the conference in the format of in-person and online reports and poster presentations. At the opening session on September 6, introductory lectures were read (I.F. Zhimulev and A.S. Grafodatsky, IMKB; N.Sh. Bulatova, IEE). Meetings of 9 sections were devoted to the most pressing issues of modern chromosome research on different groups of organisms on the following topics: I - Chromosomes and genomes (8 reports)II - Heterochromatin (7 reports)III - Genetic organization of interphase chromosomes (13 reports)IV - Evolution of eukaryotic genomes (3 reports)V - Core structure (6 reports)VI - Special chromosomes (4 reports)VII - Medical genetics (7 reports)VIII - Chromosomes and cell division (4 reports)IX - B chromosomes, telomeres, centromeres and transposable elements (11 reports). Section meetings were held from September 6 to 9, and on September 10 and 11, participants were treated to excursions to iconic places of the city and natural attractions of the Novosibirsk region. The conference program and materials are published in electronic format in two working languages of the scientific event, Russian and English. The organizers of the Chromosome-2023 conference were the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Novosibirsk State University. The conference was supported within the framework of the Priority 2030 program. Picture: Svetlana Vladimirovna Pavlova (IEE RAS) after the report in the IX section From the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, two collective reports were presented at the conference, co-authored by collaborators from different institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Together with links to two of our reports*, the following are the titles of reports close to the topics of our institute, in square brackets the translation into Russian of the titles of abstracts published in English. All are included in the electronic collection of abstracts (cited above). Picture: Participant of all "Chromosome" conferences (2009-2023) *Orlov V.N. 1, Lyapunova E.A. 2, Baskevich M.I. 1, Kartavtseva I.V. 3, Malygin V.M. 4, Bulatova N.Sh. 1. 1 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and EvolutionRAS, Moscow, 2 N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology RAS, Moscow; 3 Biological and Soil Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok; 4 Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow. – Advances in mammalian cytogenetics in the development of chromosomal diagnostics and species systems. *Pavlova S.V. 1.5, Romanenko S.A. 2, Matveevsky S.N. 3, Kuksin A.N. 4, Dvoyashov I.A. 5, Kovalskaya Yu.M. 1, Petrova T.V. 5. 1 A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS, Moscow; 2 Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, SB RAS, Novosibirsk; 3 Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow; 4 Tuvinian Institute for Exploration of Natural Resources, SB RAS, Kyzyl; 5 Zoological Institute, RAS, Saint-Petersburg. – Karyotype diversity and B chromosome polymorphism within cryptic species of the subgenus Stenocranius (Cricetidae, Rodentia). Picture: The organizers of the Siberian "Chromosome" acad. I.F. Zhimulev and corresponding member A.S. Grafodatsky, IMBB SB RAS Topics of reports from the conference program: Andreenkova N.G. – Genetic relationships of black kite (Milvus migrans) populations in Asia, Taiwan, Japan and Australia: is there a Taiwanese subspecies? Novosibirsk, IMBB. Baklushinskaya I.Yu. – Chromosomal rearrangements and speciation: mole voles of the subgenus Ellobius. Moscow, IBR. Beklemisheva V.R. – Study of constitutive heterochromatin and comparative chromosome maps of martens of the genus Martes (Mustelidae, Carnivora, Mammalia): the use of bioinformatics analysis and molecular cytogenetics methods. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Bikchurina T.I. – Hybrid sterility of male gray voles of the genus Microtus: cytogenetic and transcriptomic analysis. Novosibirsk, NSU. Mohamed Kader Haidara – [Inversion polymorphism in natural populations of malaria mosquitoesAnopheles subgroup Maculipennis in Western Siberia due to infection by parasitic nematodes]. Tomsk, TSU. Kulak M.M. – Telomere length in the chromosomes of the red-eared turtle Trachemys scripta elegans. St. Petersburg, St. Petersburg State University. Kusliy M.A. – Genetic diversity of horses of the Sargarin-Alekseevskaya culture of the Ob-Irtysh region. Western Siberia. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Lemskaya N.M. –Differential staining of heterochromatin using the CDAG method. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Modina S.A. – Phylogeography of the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) of Eastern Siberia in Late Pleistocene. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Molodtseva A.S. – Species identification of mammals accompanying humans at sites in the mountainous regions of Central Asia. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Rubtsova D.V. Hybrid sterility in voles of the genus Alexandromys: what chromosomal polymorphism and heterozygosity for rearrangements are capable of. Novosibirsk, ITsIG. Tomarovsky A.A. – Assessment of the level of heterozygosity of sable (Martes zibellina), pine marten (Martes martes) and their hybrids. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Avel V. Urin – [New genomic data on the origin of the hybrid parthenogenetic lizard species Darevskia unisexualis]. Moscow, IBG. Utkin Y.A. – Genetic diversity of silver crucian carp (Carassius gibelio) in Siberia and the Far East. Novosibirsk, IMBB. Compiled by N.Sh. Bulatova, S.V. Pavlova

Fig.1: Processing of zooplankton samples under a stereomicroscope. On September 30, at the State Budgetary Educational Institution "South-Western Moscow School No. 1543" the defense of the research work "Cladocera (Crustacea: Cladocera) of some small reservoirs of Moscow" took place. The work was carried out by 11th grade student Kristina Yuryevna Mityaeva under the guidance of the staff of the Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences - A.N. Neretina, P.G. Garibyan and A.A. Kotova. During the work, for the first time in almost 150 years, a detailed study of the species composition of cladoceran crustaceans was carried out in 113 small reservoirs located in Moscow.