Fig.1. Processing of the material in the laboratory of the University of Deri Dawa together with Ethiopian specialists. November 2023 During the implementation of the project “Pathogens and helminths of mammals of Ethiopia: epidemiological and epizootic significance in anthropogenically disturbed and native ecosystems”, supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation in November-December 2023, specialists in large mammals and their pathogens  Volobueva K.A. and Kim M.D., led by the project leader, Director of the Institute of Economics and Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Naidenko S.V., specialists in small mammals and their viruses Kostin D.S. and Martynov A.A. and an employee of the Center for Parasitology of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Efeikin B.D. The work was carried out in accordance with a pre-approved plan in the central (Addis Ababa) and eastern (Deri Dawa, Aisha, Kebri Dehar) parts of the country. Expeditionary work to study the seropositivity and immune status of mammals in Ethiopia included trapping and collecting blood from rodents of various species, and capturing large mammals (hyenas). Fig.2. Capture of small mammals by employees of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences A total of 768 specimens of small mammals were captured, including representatives of rodents (Nikolaus’s mouse Megadendromus nikolausi, Ethiopian striped mouse Muriculus imberbis, Abyssinian grass rat Arvicanthis abyssinicus, Cairo spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus, Mount Chercher brush-furred rat Lophuromys chercherensis, Ethiopian white-footed mouse Stenocephalemys albipes, Brockman's rock mouse Ochromyscus brockmani, Natal multimammate mouse Mastomys natalensis, black rat Rattus rattus, lesser Egyptian gerbil Gerbillus gerbillus, Somali gerbil Ammodillus imbelis, naked mole rat Heterocephalus glaber), insectivores (Glass’s shrew Crocidura glassi, Thalia’s shrew C. thalia, Bale shrew C. bottegoides), Afro therium (elephant shrews Galegeeska revoilii and G. rufescens) and bats (yellow-winged bat Lavia frons, hairy slit-faced bat Nycteris hispida, Rüppell's horseshoe bat Rhinolphus fumigatus). Of particular interest within the framework of this project are the black rats that live exclusively in human buildings and disperse with them, polymammated rats of the genus Mastomys, for the Ethiopian representatives of which a new species of non-pathogenic for humans mammarenavirus Dhati-Welel (closely related, however, to the causative agent of such a disease, like Lassa fever), has been described, as well as the naked mole rat, which is the most important model object for a number of areas of evolutionary and medical biology. Based on helminthological material collected in Ethiopia, a new species of nematode, Syphacia ethiopiana, was documented and described. The nucleotide sequences of the ITS rDNA and LSU rDNA of the newly described Ethiopian species were analyzed. The data obtained were compared with data on other species of the genus, including Syphacia obvelata - a closely related species, which is also the type species of the genus parasitizing of the genus Mus, including the common house mouse Mus musculus. A complete description of the fine structure of the cuticle surface is given based on the results of scanning electron microscope studies; it is shown that there is significant similarity between the new Ethiopian and the type species of the genus, although there are also morphological characters that distinguish the new species from previously described ones. Article by project participants: A.R. Gromova, L.A. Lavrenchenko and S.E. Spiridonov “Syphacia ethiopiana sp. n. (Nematoda: Oxyurida: Syphaciinae) from the endemic Ethiopian rodent Stenocephalemys albipes Rüppell, 1842” was published in the Russian Journal of Nematology. Among the foreign participants, Mohammed Kasso, Mengistu Vale and Mesele Yikhune took part in the research. To carry out the work on the project, primarily related to the collection of biological material, they organized logistics, as well as the purchase of consumables necessary both for field research and for subsequent processing of the material in the laboratories of the University of Deri Dava.

On December 2, a long-awaited event took place at the Darwin Museum - a holiday dedicated to World Pet Day. This day included exciting master classes, quests, board games, meeting with pets, and meeting with specialists. The “True Friends” quest helped young participants find in the museum exhibition those animals that have been domesticated by humans for a very long time. The attention of visitors was attracted by the making of memorable jewelry - “dog” and “cat” brooches, folding paper bunnies, and cutting out paper bird beaks. The last action reminded us that among domesticated animals there are many not only animals, but also birds. Of course, pets have generated unprecedented interest. The animals of Valeria Parfenov, a great lover of pets, the French bulldog Motya and the gray parrot Sima, became the stars of the lecture programs. The Moscow public organization “Club of Decorative Rats Lovers” has already repeatedly taken part in museum events, and on this day they delighted visitors with their cute and well-mannered pets. President of the non-profit organization Union of Breeders and Breeders of Domestic Animals, author of the MINOR dwarf rabbit breed Alexander Gennadievich Shiryaev presented funny and tame rabbits. Cute and fluffy creatures from the Ferret Shelter also attracted the attention of visitors. There were also hamsters. Chief Researcher at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS Feoktistova Natalya Yuryevna introduced the children and their parents to the animals of the vivarium. Lovers of man's long-time and devoted friends - dogs - could get acquainted with pets from the training center of the Sokolniki Cultural Center and from the Rehabilitation Center for stray dogs "СВОЯ СТАЯ" (“own pack”) under the leadership of Olga Orlova. A biologist, trainer, specialist in search disciplines and search and rescue services, an employee of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution named after. A.N. Severtsova RAS Ganitskaya Yulia Vladimirovna. She also spoke no less interestingly about the species diversity of parrots, their maintenance in captivity and taming. The celebration ended with positive emotions and good mood from meeting pets and participating in games and educational programs.

“Hidden hunger” occurs in humans and livestock and is caused by a deficiency of microelements, essential amino acids and vitamins. Provoked by an insufficient supply of microelements with food and feed, even with an excess of macronutrients, hidden hunger can lead to the development of serious diseases and pathological conditions. Finding enough micronutrients is often difficult because they are either obtained from limited external natural sources or are synthesized de novo. Soil-dwelling saprophages constitute a major part of the zoomass on Earth, but they are surprisingly overlooked as a potential source of microelements. To assess their nutritional value based on microelements, employees of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS with colleagues from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and the V.A. Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology RAS, selected 30 species of invertebrates, obtained from natural ecosystems of European Russia or widely cultivated species originating mainly from tropical regions. They belong to the main taxa of soil saprophages: cockroaches (Blattodea), larvae and adults of beetles (Coleoptera), springtails (Collembola), centipedes (Diplopoda), larvae of flies, including the black soldier fly (Diptera), earthworms (Haplotaxida), woodlice (Isopoda), crickets (Orthoptera). Their proteinogenic amino acid, microelement and vitamin composition was assessed. Taxonomic differences in micronutrient composition and ratios were identified, and specific taxa naturally enriched in micronutrients were identified for further consideration as potential candidates for inclusion in food and feed additives to alleviate hidden hunger in livestock and humans. Head of the work, Doctor of Biological Sciences prof. RAS Konstantin Gongalsky says that soil invertebrates, which represent an almost unlimited resource due to the availability of food - dead organic matter - are important not only as a source of protein, which is already used in many countries, but also as a source of micronutrients. Obtaining large volumes of biomass from such animals can be used to feed farm animals as natural dietary supplements. The results were published in the Journal of Insects as Food and Feed: Gongalsky,K.B., D.I. Korobushkin, L.A. Baratova, A.I. Bastrakov, M.I. Degtyarev, A.Yu. Gorbunova, A.L. Ksenofontov, S.A. Lapa, I.M. Lebedev, A.S. Zaitsev. Soil saprophages as an emerging global source for micronutrients // Journal of Insects as Food and Feed. V.9. P. 1603-1613. doi.org/10.1163/23524588-20230001 Related materials: RAS: "Потенциал использования почвенных сапрофагов для получения ценных микронутриентов"

Every year, thousands of tons of seaweed wash up on the coasts of the World Ocean. This potentially valuable resource is used by some farmers to fertilize poor soils, but until now it has been unclear how exactly the algae is broken down and nutrients are released into the soil. The staff of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences tried to shed light on this issue. Fig.1: Washed ashore algae in the supralittoral zones of the Arctic seas. The researchers conducted a laboratory experiment to introduce seaweed (Fucus vesiculosus and Cystoseira barbata) into the soil from discharges of the White and Black Seas, along with littoral enchytraeids living there, as well as composting earthworms Eisenia fetida. The main attention was paid to the possibility of accelerating the decomposition of algae - hard-to-reach organic matter and enriching the soil with mineral nutrition elements; assessment of the role of added soil organisms in regulating greenhouse gas emissions during the destruction of organic matter; studying the survival rate of earthworms in salty soil with algae and its effect on the rate of transformation of the organic substrate. The 45-day experiment measured the dynamics of CO2 emissions, algae biomass, nitrogen and carbon content in the soil, and carried out isotope analysis of soil and animal samples to assess the entry of marine organic matter into terrestrial food chains. The results showed a higher rate of decomposition of Cystoseira compared to Fucus - the loss of biomass reached 30%. The maximum effect was observed in the combined presence of enchytraeids and earthworms. In addition, Cystoseira increased the survival rate of enchytraeids by 5 times, while Fucus decreased it. The earthworms maintained 75% viability regardless of the type of algae. According to isotope analysis, carbon of “marine” origin in coprolites of earthworms, subsequently introduced into the soil, was found only in variants with the simultaneous introduction of enchytraeids. Enchytraeids also regulated the activity of soil microorganisms, which is confirmed by a twofold reduction in CO2 emissions. Thus, enchytraeids play a key role as an intermediary between hard-to-reach marine and terrestrial organic matter, ensuring its inclusion in the soil. Table: CO2 emissions under various options for introducing marine organic matter (without algae, with a predominance of Fucus and Cystoseira) and soil animals (without animals, only enchytraeids or earthworms, two groups together) into experimental microcosms. Different letters above the bars indicate statistically significant differences (Repeated measures ANOVA test, p < 0.05) between the means. The results of the study made it possible to reconstruct the most probable and fastest way of involving marine organic matter into soil detrital food webs: in the first stages, the decomposition of algae occurs mainly by microorganisms, which make up a significant part of the enchytraeid diet, which ensures the inclusion of marine carbon in the soil. Earthworms recycle the waste products of enchytraeids, enriching the soil with them. Thus, the combined application of earthworms and enchytraeids ensures the fastest possible transfer of marine organic matter into the soil to increase soil fertility when algae are used as fertilizer. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant 21-14-00027. Link to publication: Korobushkin D.I., Zaitsev A.S., Degtyarev M.I., Danilova M.A., Filimonova Zh.V., Guseva P.A., Pelgunova L.A., Pronina N.A., Tsurikov S.M., Vecherskii M.V., Volkova E.M., Zuev A.G., Saifutdinov R.A. (2023) Littoral enchytraeids and Eiseniа fetida earthworms facilitate utilization of marine macroalgae as biofertilizers. Applied Soil Ecology 188: 104882.

© Photo: Shutterstock Science has long been concerned with the question of how aquatic animals acquire the ability to breathe air. One amazing example is the creeper fish, or persimmon. Russian scientists are studying it in its natural environment and at the same time helping to restore traditional crafts in Vietnam. The mystery of the “turtle fish” The first information about fish, which spend part of their lives on land, can be found in ancient Greek authors. The most famous example is the river eel, which can crawl on wet ground. Most amphibious fish live in the tropics, which is why European researchers have mentioned them since the beginning of the Age of Discovery. At the end of the 18th century, the German naturalist Markus Bloch compiled an encyclopedia on ichthyology. A collection of dozens of specimens was delivered to him from the south of India, in which he discovered an unusual fish with a head resembling a shell. The scientist named the new species “turtle fish.” In a drawing from that time it is depicted with blue eyes. Around the same years, the Holstein naturalist Dagobert Karl Daldorf, according to some sources, a native of Moscow, left for India. The Copenhagen Natural History Society commissioned him to assemble a collection of local fauna. In one of his scientific notes, he shared observations about a “perch” that climbed onto a palm tree growing near a pond, using spiny fins and gill covers. Fig.2. Book from 1861. In the picture, one climbing rope crawled out of the water, and the other already climbed onto a palm tree. Daldorf's message was translated into English, and many European publications reprinted it, embellishing it along the way. It was claimed, for example, that fish climb trees to drink sap or even palm wine. The famous naturalist Georges Cuvier combined these cases into an independent genus, which he named Anabas (from Greek - “ascent”). Later, a colonial official, Mitchell, wrote a note in a scientific journal based on the words of a servant who had allegedly seen persimmon climbing into trees many times. Already in the 19th century, some scientists doubted this evidence. At the same time, in the Dravidian language and some Malaysian dialects this fish is called “tree-climbing,” which was noticed by the American ichthyologist Hugh Smith in the mid-20th century. Since then, the persimmon has been observed alive many times; none of the scientists have seen it climbing trees. The reasons, even theoretical ones, that could prompt it to do this are unknown. And yet the issue has not yet been resolved, says Dmitry Zvorykin, candidate of biological sciences, senior researcher at the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (subordinate to the Russian Ministry of Education and Science). He worked for several years at the Russian-Vietnamese Tropical Center, detailed the history of the discovery of the species in the Natural History Archives, and became the first author from Russia in this British journal. "Inaccurate data and errors sometimes play a positive role. Rumors accompanying reports of fish traveling on land and climbing trees prompted scientists to study these unusual creatures," says the biologist. Fig: © Photo: D. Zvorykin Anabas in an aquarium preparing to grab prey Where do the Anabas crawl? Now science knows of many air-breathing fish, and the most interesting ones live in the tropics. These include the climbing rope, or creeper fish, one of the most famous amphibious fish. Small, resembling a perch, it is widespread in fresh water bodies of Vietnam, Taiwan, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India. During the rainy season, perches take refuge in small puddles along river banks. There they reproduce without any competition, laying many thousands of eggs. Within a day the larvae hatch. The grown juveniles climb onto land and spread out. Most die; at best a dozen individuals reach sexual maturity. “We don’t fully understand how they choose a direction,” continues Dmitry Zvorykin. “But this is the survival strategy of this species. They conquer with numbers”. © Illustration by RIA Novosti. iStock/tagenu Anabas native to South and Southeast Asia. From there it spread to India At the end of the 20th century, zoologist Eugene Balon argued that fish protect their eggs from predators for some time, that is, they demonstrate primitive parental care. This detail is included in many encyclopedias and textbooks. “Where did he get this from?” asks Zvorykin. “This behavior requires time and effort, there are fewer offspring, but they survive better. No one has seen parental care in the climbing rope. Most likely, this is a myth.” Just like blue eyes - in fact, in this species they are yellowish or reddish. Anabas crawl on land, relying on fins and gill covers. They do not have special adaptive features for “walking”. They usually move short distances, but sometimes they cover two hundred meters. In humid conditions outside the reservoir, they can stay for several days. But without air in the water they die in a matter of hours. The creeper fish (anabas) lives in the muddy water of local rivers and ponds © Photo: D.Zvorykin “This feature allows it to survive in bodies of water where other fish cannot exist. Thus, the species avoids competition, which is important for the tropics,” explains the biologist. The anabas breathe air thanks to a labyrinthine organ located under the gill covers. “It looks like a lump of thin winding plates. Due to its large surface, it has good gas exchange efficiency,” Zworykin clarifies. In addition to the climbing rope, for example, popular aquarium fish have a labyrinthine organ - bettas, macropods, gourami. Scientists have found that the ability to go onto land and breathe arose in fish many times throughout evolution, independently in different groups. Labyrinthids appeared approximately 50 million years ago and most likely originated from some small freshwater fish (they are not related to amphibians). The anabas have existed unchanged for ten million years. Photo of the labyrinthine organ © Photo: D.Zvorykin Return to tradition The anabas forms an important part of the diet of Southeast Asians. Archaeological evidence suggests that it has been consumed since at least the Stone Age. The fish is grilled, stewed in pots with other products, but most often boiled, since soups are eaten throughout the day. The anabas has been bred in ponds since ancient times, often combined with rice growing. Nowadays, due to the active use of fertilizers and pesticides, this tradition has begun to fade. Now it is being revived with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). “At the end of the 20th century, international programs focused on breeding the most effective aquaculture species, such as tilapia and large catfish,” says Dmitry Zvorykin. Over time, however, it became clear that these species were becoming invasive and threatening native fauna. Therefore, the breeding of small native fish species is now encouraged. “It’s much cheaper, simpler and safer for the environment. It’s accessible to many small farmers,” notes the biologist. True, there are nuances. If you breed persimmon in ponds, you must use hormonal injections and special feeding methods. This is where the help of scientists was needed. Being a widespread species, the persimmon helps solve environmental problems. If it is caught or bred uncontrollably, it is unknown what will happen to the local biological communities. Last but not least, this fish is an important object of fundamental research. It helps to reconstruct the exit of animals to land. By studying fish that can breathe air and move in a different environment, scientists are trying to understand how and why this happened to the ancestors of the first land creatures.

The family of bloodsucking flies Hippoboscidae Samouelle, 1819 has about 213 species. All its representatives are widespread blood-sucking ectoparasites of mammals and birds. Both sexes feed on the blood of their owners. Courtship and mating take place on the host. Representatives of the genus Ornithomya Latreille, 1802 are full-winged parasites of 47 families of birds. Representatives of Ornithomia live mainly in the middle latitudes of the Old World. Before this work, 30 species of the genus Ornithomya were known. A new species, O. triselevae, was described from Iturup Island (Kuril Islands, Russia). According to the literature, 5 species of Ornithomya are found in the Russian Far East, and 4 on the northern Japanese islands. The new species differs from other Ornithomya species in the setae on the abdomen.O. triselevae was collected from Ocyris spodocephalus personatus, the most abundant passerine bird of the Kuril Islands, which occurs in many habitats and winters in China. The new species is named in honor of Tatyana Alekseevna Triseleva, senior researcher at the Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology of the IEE RAS. A. V. Matyukhin, A. A. Yatsuk,  Ya. A. Red’kin, P. A. Smirnov and E. P. NartshukA New Species of the Genus Ornithomya Latreille (Diptera, Hippoboscidae) from Iturup (Kuril Islands)Entomological Review, 2023, Vol. 103, No. 4, pp. 450–454. DOI: 10.1134/S0013873823040061 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S0013873823040061

In the photo: Chechen Republic, “Carbon Farm” site, measuring mast for greenhouse gas flows using the turbulent pulsation method. Author of the photo: Mamadiev Nurdin. Human influence on natural ecosystems has increased significantly over recent decades, as a result of which their structure and functioning are changing. Changes in the structure of radiation, water and carbon balances affect regional weather and climate conditions. Forest restoration and land reclamation are important components of low-carbon development and decarbonization strategies in the Russian and global economies. Thus, studying the process of restoration of natural ecosystems after disturbances becomes extremely important in the context of climate change. Employees of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences together with colleagues from M.D. Millionshchikov Grozny State Oil Technical University collaborated on an experiment to monitor greenhouse gas flows in a reforestation zone in the Chechen Republic. New experimental data were obtained on their seasonal and daily variability, as well as on their sensitivity to environmental conditions. Observations of greenhouse gas fluxes using the turbulent pulsation method were carried out in a reclaimed area planted with tree seedlings. The first year of measurements showed that the absorption of CO2 by the reforestation area in a temperate continental climate is determined by moisture conditions during the growing season. CO2 absorption was observed during the active growth of tree seedlings during periods with optimal soil moisture conditions in the spring months. Periods of prolonged heat and drought in the summer led to the death of vegetation and the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. Sensible and latent heat fluxes also depended on weather conditions, mainly on incoming solar radiation and humidification conditions. Thus, for the successful implementation of such forest-climatic projects aimed at creating and restoring forest ecosystems with a high absorption capacity of CO2, it is also necessary to develop appropriate irrigation and drainage measures that provide a sufficient amount of soil moisture. Link to article: Satosina, E.; Mamadiev, N.; Makhmudova, L.; Kurbatova, J. Carbon Dioxide and Heat Fluxes during Reforestation in the North Caucasus. Forests 2023, 14, 2368. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14122368

The world of Chukotka is wonderful and unique, but fat too distant and unreachable to many. What new and interesting things did scientists discover in a village with a wonderful Chukchi name - Meinypilgyno in 2023? Presented in the film "Chukotka. Science in Meinypilgyno." Sofya Borisovna Rosenfeld, candidate of biological sciences, ornithologist, senior researcher at Russian bird ringing, took part in the filming process.

Fig.1. Shells of C. fluminalis on the shores of the Caspian Sea (Republic of Dagestan). Photo by Olga Aksenova (FECIAR UrB RAS) Scientists from the N.P. Laverov Federal Research Center for Integrated Study of the Arctic of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Arkhangelsk) with the participation of colleagues from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS (Moscow) selected and studied samples of invasive mollusks of the genus Corbicula, which are actively spreading in the European part of Russia. The study of nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial and nuclear genes largely explains the reasons for the rapid development of populations of the species Corbicula fluminea and Corbicula fluminalis in Russian water bodies. Mollusks of the genus Corbicula (from the Latin corbis - basket), historically living in fresh and brackish waters of Asia, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, have significantly expanded their range in recent decades, settling in the rivers and canals of Europe, including the European part of the Russian Federation, and also South and North America. In Russia, invasions were first recorded in the Shura-Ozen River (Caspian Sea basin, Republic of Dagestan) in 2013, and then in other reservoirs of the Caspian basin (Yuzbash-Sulak and Prisulak canals, etc.). The first habitats of corbicula in the north of the European part of the Russian Federation were artificial reservoirs with heated water created by energy facilities. In 2015, corbicule was discovered in the area where heated waters from the Kostroma State District Power Plant are discharged into the river Volga and in the technological channel of the Arkhangelsk Thermal Power Plant (Northern Dvina River basin). Then “basket” mollusks were found in the warm canal of the Novocherkassk State District Power Plant and in the Don River. In 2022, scientists from the Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences noted a high density of corbicula populations in some areas in the lower reaches of the Don (up to 50 individuals per square meter). With a high degree of probability, corbicula could have entered the water bodies of the Russian Federation on river vessels along with ballast water, as well as through their transfer by migratory birds and together with the introduction of aquaculture objects. As explained by the director of the Institute of Biogeography and Genetic Resources of the Laverovsky Center, Yulia Bespalaya, corbicula are heat-loving representatives of the animal world. To reproduce, they need a temperature of at least + 6 . Mollusks used the heated°C waters of power facilities as refugia (ecological shelters), gradually adapting and spreading to neighboring reservoirs. Global warming creates additional conditions for further large-scale invasions. Corbicula, like other bivalves, are active biofilters. Once in new bodies of water, they quickly multiply, reach large numbers and begin to compete for food resources with local species of mollusks, filtering out their larvae (glochidia) from the water column and thus reducing their numbers. The high density of “baskets” also contributes to the transformation of habitats. To fully understand the reproductive success of invasive species, scientists analyzed not only mitochondrial but also nuclear DNA. The nuclear DNA of invasive corbicula was studied for the first time in Russia. According to Alexander Kropotin, a junior researcher at the Laverovsky Center, research results have shown that individuals of C. fluminea and C. fluminalis may be hybrids. In other words, one living organism contains different versions of nuclear DNA in its chromosomes. Some hybrid corbicula individuals are polyploid, in which case the organism has more than one pair of chromosomes. – The rapid development of populations is due to the fact that corbicula can reproduce through androgenesis (“male parthenogenesis”). In such cases, one individual may be enough to give rise to a new population. For the first time, we examined the nuclear genes of corbicula in all discovered populations and found out that they contain both hybrid and non-hybrid individuals,” explained Yulia Bespalaya. Also during the study, the origin of the “invaders” was established. For example, individuals of Corbicula luminalis found in water bodies of Dagestan and the Stavropol Territory turned out to be genetically closest to mollusks living in the rivers of Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Myanmar and Turkey. It should be noted that C. fluminalis from the Euphrates River was first described by the Danish naturalist Otto Frederik Müller back in 1774, i.e. almost 250 years ago. The study was carried out within the framework of the work under the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 21-14-00092 “Phylogeny, biogeography, integrative taxonomy and features of reproduction of bivalves of the genus Corbicula (Bivalvia: Cyrenidae).”

Energy and mass exchange between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is significantly influenced by modern climate change. Long-term observations of carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes using eddy-covariance technology are an effective method for studying the impact of environmental variability on the processes of CO2 absorption and emission by various ecosystems. Typically, CO2 fluxes are measured by a sensor at one point above the ecosystem and reflect the integral contribution of all CO2 sources and sinks located upwind of the sensor. Correct interpretation of the received signal is impossible without determining the area from which the signal arrives at the sensor. Using modeling and experimental data, employees of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences analyzed this area of influence on CO2 fluxes for a measuring complex located in a sphagnum-blueberry spruce forest in the southwest of the Valdai Hills. The dependence of the area of influence (or area of signal formation) on the season and direction of the prevailing wind was studied. The area of influence in the analysis was characterized by two parameters: the distance from which the maximum influence on the measured flow is exerted, and the distance providing 80% contribution to the measured flow. Both parameters showed weak seasonal dynamics due to the predominance of coniferous trees on the territory (quasi-homogeneous forest). However, most of the models used in the analysis to assess the impact zone showed that in summer the area that has the maximum impact on the signal is located 10–15% of the distance typical for winter from the sensor, which is associated with seasonal changes in air flow dynamics. The analysis revealed that small remote areas of broadleaves forests in separate directions from the measuring complex are capable of influencing the impact zone. Areas with low or less dense vegetation also affect the impact area by transforming the air flow passing over them. The results of the analysis are important for the interpretation of measurements over a quasi-homogeneous forest, allowing for the separation of various sources and sinks that influence the measured CO2 flux depending on the season and prevailing wind direction. This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (grant No. 21-14-00209) and within the framework of the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation FFER-2022-0002 (topic No. 1022031600002-1-1.6.19) Link to article:Sogachev, A.; Varlagin, A. Seasonal Dynamics of Flux Footprint for a Measuring Tower in Southern Taiga via Modeling and Experimental Data Analysis. Forests 2023, 14, 1968. https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101968