Wild cheetahs in Mara Meru National Park in Kenya. Photo by E.V. Chelysheva. The loud calls of cheetahs were studied in a wild population in Kenya in animals of 14 age classes, from newborns to adults. At the youngest ages, the calls are very high-frequency and resemble the chirping of birds. As they grow older, their calls gradually become lower in frequency. The maximum fundamental frequency of calls was found to be the best indicator of the age of cheetahs. In newborns, this figure exceeded 10 kilohertz, decreased steadily as the cubs grew, and reached a plateau of about 1 kilohertz in adult animals aged four years and older. Based on the dependence of voice pitch on age in cheetahs, polynomial models were constructed to estimate the age of cheetahs from their calls. The most appropriate models used to estimate the age of dolphins and humans based on dental parameters were selected as the basis for the modeling. The models developed in this study for estimating the age of cheetahs from their voices can be used to monitor animals in the wild from call recordings, even in cases where the animals cannot be seen in dense vegetation or poor lighting. The spectrogram illustrates changes in the calls of cheetahs from the youngest age class (1, newborns) to mature adult animals (14, adults over 4 years old). The frequency parameters of calls change gradually with age, which opens up the possibility of solving the inverse problem, determining the age of animals by their calls in nature. An audio file of these calls is available in the Supporting Information for this article. Modeling the correlation between the fundamental frequency of cheetah calling calls and age makes it possible to estimate the age of animals based on the parameters of their calls. The results of the study were published in the journal Ethology:: Klenova A.V., Chelysheva E.V., Vasilieva N.A., Volodin I.A., Volodina E.V. Acoustic features of long-distance calls of wild cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are linked to the caller age from newborns to adults. Ethology, 2023. doi: 10.1111/eth.13406 Материалы по теме: Project for the study of Cheetahs "MARA-MERU"

October 5 at the site of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS held a thematic meeting of the IPO “Expert Council on Nature Reserves” on the issue “Current state, problems and prospects for implementing measures to regulate the number of wild animals in protected areas of federal significance”. These regulatory measures are scientifically based actions taken in nature reserves, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries to change or maintain the number of individual species, preserve and restore the structure of natural ecosystems, ensure ecological balance and the natural course of natural processes in protected areas. The meeting was opened by Vyacheslav Rozhnov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the Ecology of Biological Systems. In his report Vsevolod Stepanitsky, co-chairman of the Expert Council on Nature Reserves, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation, noted that conceptual approaches to carrying out regulatory activities in protected areas were formulated in the 80-90s of the last century by outstanding domestic scientists - ecologists and theorists of nature reserves, in including V.V. Dezhkin, A.M. Krasnitsky, V.E. Sokolov, K.P. Filonov. The speaker emphasized that the implementation of regulatory measures in protected areas by shooting or trapping animals should be considered as a measure caused by exceptional necessity and having a thorough scientific justification. The report cited numerous examples of unfounded, misconception-based and ill-conceived regulatory measures in Russian protected areas over the past half century. The speaker noted that measures for regulatory shooting or trapping of wild animals in nature reserves, national parks and sanctuaries can be allowed, first of all, as an objective need to reduce the number of certain species in order to minimize the degradation of natural ecosystems. It is unacceptable to use such events as a pretext for “meat procurement” or “hunting fun” for a number of interested parties, including employees of institutions managing protected areas. Such cases only work to discredit the ideas of conservation, incl. in the eyes of the local population. It was also noted that when justifying and making decisions on carrying out regulatory measures in protected areas, one should fully take into account the arguments of modern science, and not rely on the postulates of the middle of the last century. In this regard, a quote is given from the famous book by F.R. Shtilmark “Historiography of Russian nature reserves”: “Until the end of his life head of the Main Hunt of the RSFSR N.V. Eliseev did not even want to hear about stopping the extermination of wolves in nature reserves, despite all the arguments of ecologists.” In addition, the speaker drew attention to the need on the part of both managers of protected areas and officials making decisions on regulatory activities to calculate and minimize the corruption risks and opportunities for poaching associated with such activities. It is also important to keep in mind such potential undesirable consequences as increasing the disturbance factor and (in certain cases) replacing the ecological niche of wolves with “stray” dogs and wolf-dog hybrids. During the discussion of the report, Vyacheslav Rozhnov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, drew attention to the fact that when discussing the feasibility of regulating the number of wild animals in protected areas, it is necessary to take into account differences in size, legal status, purposes of creating protected areas and - in all cases, a scientific approach to regulating the number of animals is very important, no matter what territories we are talking about. Also, according to Rozhnov, this issue requires extensive interaction between specialists from government agencies managing protected areas with colleagues from specialized academic and other institutions. The exceptional importance of scientific justification for regulating the number of animals in protected areas was also emphasized by Sergei Naidenko, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS. Yuri Dgebaudze, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of General Ecology and Hydrobiology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Head of the Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Communities and Invasions at A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Ecology RAS in his speech emphasized that protected areas are created, first of all, to preserve natural populations and ecosystems that are self-regulating: “they don’t need to be bothered, they just need to be protected.” At the same time, he drew attention to the problem of alien species, the number and distribution of which must be minimized, especially in protected areas, which is confirmed by generally accepted international practice. However, this problem does not find proper understanding from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources. Jose Antonio Hernandez-Blanco, Ph.D., senior researcher at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, using the example of the wolf population structure, showed that regulatory measures can be ineffective and lead to the opposite result, for example, not to a decrease in the wolf’s pressure on ungulates, but to a noticeable increase. Therefore, the problem of regulating the number of predators in protected areas requires careful scientific research. In his speech, Mikhail Kreindlin, a member of the Bureau of the Expert Council on Nature Reserves, emphasized that based on the analysis of published data on the regulation of animal numbers, with rare exceptions, there are no serious scientific studies of applications for regulation. He also shared examples of strange motivations for decisions to carry out regulatory measures (for example, shooting a large number of wild boars in the Meshchersky National Park, despite the decline in its numbers both in the park itself and in the region). He also drew attention to the fact that often the initiative for such events comes not from the institutions that manage protected areas, but from above, incl. under pressure from regional authorities. According to Kreindlin, the current situation with the regulation of wildlife in protected areas discredits the reserve system and the cumulative negative effect may increase. The recommendations prepared following the meeting should be aimed at changing the situation in this area. Alexander Lipkovich, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rostov State Nature Reserve, noted that it is necessary to separate the full regulation of the number of animals and cases when there is an objective need to remove from the territory singular individuals of large mammals that show aggression, in particular those that are dangerous for people, as well as predators that harm domestic animals. Using the example of the Rostovsky Nature Reserve, he explained that while it is obviously inadmissible to shoot a wolf in the reserve itself, there is no doubt about the regulation of its numbers in the adjacent territories represented by pasture farmland. He also recalled that there are methods for regulating the wolf population that are not related to its shooting and the presence of persons with hunting weapons in protected areas. According to Sergei Podolsky, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Zeya State Reserve", when developing legal norms in this area, it is important, on the one hand, to put clear barriers to unreasonable decisions, and on the other hand, not allow such rigid administration as to make it difficult to regulate where it is needed. As an example, he cited the Tokinsko-Stanovoi National Park in the Amur region, one of the tasks of which is the preservation of traditional reindeer husbandry, which is extremely problematic without regulating the number of wolves and brown bears. Sergey Kuzmin, Ph.D., chief specialist of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS in his speech touched upon the problem of obtaining animals (with removal from their habitat) in protected areas for the purposes of scientific research and environmental monitoring. He noted that the study and monitoring of biota with large-scale removal of wildlife objects contradicts the main task of protected areas, especially state natural reserves, to protect biota. In his opinion, the need to remove a significant number of individuals from nature in order to obtain very conditional estimates of the dynamics of species numbers raises great doubts. For most reserves, the species composition of animals is known; for many species, their disappearance or appearance can be assessed by experts without removing them from nature. Kuzmin proposed introducing a system of issuing permits for research in federal protected areas without removing animals from their habitat; which should be allowed only in individual cases, but by no means on a traditional scale. During the discussion, co-chairman of the Expert Council on Nature Reserves, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Viktor Danilov-Danilyan, Ph.D., member of the Bureau of the Expert Council Dmitry Gorshkov, Ph.D., leading researcher at the Institute of Global Climate and Ecology Yuri Buivolov, Director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Baikal State Reserve" Vasily Sutula, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Honored Ecologist of the Russian Federation Yuri Gorshkov, Ph.D. A.N. Severtsov RAS – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Leonid Baskin, Ph.D. Andrey Poyarkov, Ph.D. Victor Zubakin. The meeting participants supported the recommendations voiced by the speaker and addressed to the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources with the following proposals: — develop and adopt a legal act regulating the organization and implementation of measures to control the number of wild animals in federal protected areas, which, in particular, provide for the following mandatory requirements: preparation of scientific justification for carrying out regulatory activities;consideration of issues of population regulation at the scientific and technical councils of the Federal State Budgetary Institutions that manage protected areas;formation of an expert commission under the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources from among independent highly qualified specialists to consider applications for regulatory measures in federal protected areas;posting on the official website of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources of information about decisions made regarding the implementation of regulatory measures in federal protected areas,as well as regulation of issues of disposal of hunting products in order to control the numbers. — develop and promote a draft federal law on amendments to the Federal Law “On Hunting and the Conservation of Hunting Resources…” in terms of determining the procedure for approving the limit on the production of hunting resources for protected areas of federal significance, the regime of which allows for amateur and sport hunting. Unfortunately, it was not possible to hear the position of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources on the problems of regulating the number of wild animals in protected areas of federal significance - its representatives did not take part in the meeting, despite the official invitation. Based on the results of the thematic meeting, the final version of the recommendations will be prepared, which will be sent to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation. Below, snapshots of history In the Kandalaksha State Nature Reserve, 1981 In 1964, a researcher at the Voronezh State Nature Reserve V.A. Komarov developed a chemical method for immobilizing deer, which made it possible to carry out measures in the reserve to regulate the number and mass capture of red deer for their further resettlement in the regions of the country.

Sixty years ago, on October 7, 1963, the Soviet scientist, world-famous theorist of evolutionary doctrine of the 20th century, Ivan Ivanovich Shmalhausen, the second director of our Institute (at that time - the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Evolutionary Morphology (IEM)), replacing Academician A.N. Severtsov, passed away. The obituary was published in 1964 in the Journal of Zoology.In April next year we will celebrate the 140th anniversary of the birth of Academician I.I. Schmalhausen. By this date, the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences is planning an exhibition dedicated to his life and contribution to science, and will also post publications dedicated to this outstanding researcher on the Institute’s website.  

A working meeting was held between the Director for Development of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation, Alexey Aleksandrovich Reteum, and the leaders of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS. The meeting was attended by the director of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, professor, corresponding member of RAS, Doctor of Biological Sciences Sergei Valerievich Naidenko; Deputy Director for Science, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky; Scientific Secretary, Doctor of Biological Sciences Natalya Yuryevna Feoktistova and Deputy Director for General Issues Evgeniy Igorevich Karlik. The meeting was dedicated to cooperation between ASNC and IEE RAS in the scientific and expert field; plans for the implementation of joint projects and programs in the field of ecology and nature conservation were discussed. It is worth noting that the head of the Laboratory of Behavioral Ecology of Mammals of the Institute of Ecology and Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Rozhnov joined the recently formed Scientific Expert Council of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation.

Employees of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS - Candidate of Biological Sciences, coordinator of the implementation of the scientific program for the restoration of the leopard in the Russian Caucasus Anna Andreevna Yachmennikova and Doctor of Biological Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Rozhnov have spoken about the program on television.

Streams draining the slopes of active volcanoes are often characterized by a number of unfavorable environmental factors for the habitat of aquatic organisms. In Kamchatka, many watercourses that serve as spawning grounds for the salmon Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) are contaminated with solutions of heavy metals. Excessive levels of copper, zinc, and lead in water are toxic to fish and cause multiple dysfunctions. Specialists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences studied populations of Dolly Varden permanently inhabiting streams of volcanic territories and discovered characteristic adaptive changes in physiology that make it possible to ensure the sustainable existence of populations in an extremely unfavorable environment. The new article presents the results of field studies and experimental cultivation of Dolly Varden, shedding light on the physiological basis of adaptation to water pollution by heavy metals. It has been shown that fish from “volcanic” streams differ from the inhabitants of clean rivers in their hyperthyroid status, which accompanies an increased rate of catabolism, increased activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduced ionic conductivity of tissues. Counteracting physiological stress requires energy; therefore, Dolly Varden from volcanic streams is characterized by reduced reserves of lipids and glycogen in somatic tissues. Experimental data show that hyperfunction of the thyroid gland increases the resistance of the fish body to water pollution with heavy metals. Also, adaptive hyperthyroidism determines the evolution of the phenotype in Dolly Varden populations. Under conditions of chemical pollution, populations begin to experience paedomorphosis, a reduction in the duration of the life cycle, and miniaturization of the body. The similarity of physiological and morphological changes in populations inhabiting volcanic streams for different numbers of generations suggests the universality of the mechanism of “evolutionary rescue” of fish in the event of exposure to unfavorable living conditions. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Esin E.V., Shulgina E.V., Shkil F.N. 2023. Rapid hyperthyroidism-induced adaptation of salmonid fish in response to environmental pollution. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. Vol.DOI: 10.1111/JEB.14220 Related materials: RAS: "The mechanism of adaptation of freshwater fish for survival in water with extremely high concentrations of heavy metals has been described"

The research is conducted by scientists from the reserve and the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS. The main goals of the scientific program are to assess the importance of the Kamchatka feeding area for gray whales, to study the number, sex and age composition of the feeding group of Red Book animals in Kronotsky Bay and their relationship with relatives in the waters of Sakhalin. All this will help in the future to develop additional recommendations for the conservation of unique marine mammals and their habitat. The expedition of employees of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve to research gray whales is carried out with the support of PJSC NOVATEK. This year, specialists from the environmental organization have already worked in Kronotsky Bay, one of the feeding areas of gray whales, from the end of May to the end of August. They plan to continue research in October-November, when the migration of whales from feeding grounds to breeding grounds begins. “As we expected, at the beginning of summer many gray whales transited through the waters of Kronotsky Bay without stopping. We noted about 40 such individuals. It is likely that their main feeding grounds are located in the waters of Sakhalin. Others stayed for a while, fed and continued on their journey. And about 15 whales spent the entire summer in the bay, and almost all of these animals spent just as long here last year. Presumably, Kronotsky Bay is a significant feeding area for a small group of gray whales with a more or less constant composition,” said Evgenia Volkova, a researcher at the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and a marine biologist. In September, scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences joined the research and began studying the feeding group of gray whales in the summer of 2022. “This year we are working not only in Olga Bay. We traveled from Utashud Island in the South Kamchatka Federal Nature Reserve to the Chazhma River in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve. Along the way we saw gray and humpback whales, killer whales, sea lions and sea otters, as well as porpoises. Currently, the main focus is on photo identification of gray whales. So far, we have seen 23 gray whales, 12 of which were in Olga Bay last year. According to first impressions, there are fewer whales this year. But this is no reason to panic. The whales are probably looking for food in other places. Let’s see what the final results of the joint work with the reserve will give,” said Matvey Mamaev, head of the expedition, leading engineer of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Photos: Evgenia Volkova and employees of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The news was delivered by employees of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve Related materials: PoiskNews: "Scientists are conducting research on gray whales in the waters of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve"

In Moscow, on the basis of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, from August 23 to 25, 2023, the Fifteenth International Nematological Symposium of the Russian Society of Nematologists was held, dedicated to several significant dates: the 145th anniversary of the birth of academician Konstantin Ivanovich Scriabin, the 80th anniversary of the Center for Parasitology, the 30th anniversary of the Russian Society of Nematologists. More than 60 specialists from various organizations of the Russian Federation took part in the Symposium (M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology RAS, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS, Petrozavodsk, N.V. Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden RAS, All-Russian Research Institute of Parasitology - branch of the Federal State Budgetary Institution FSC VIEV RAS, Center for Oceanography and Marine Biology "Moskvarium", Federal State Budgetary Institution "All-Russian Center for Plant Quarantine", A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center for Marine Biology FEB RAS, Far Eastern Federal University, "Federal Scientific Center for Biological Plant Protection", Krasnodar, A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas RAS, Sevastopol, Dagestan State University, Makhachkala). The symposium was attended by specialists from Kazakhstan (Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Institute of Zoology of the Science Committee, Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty), Belgium (Ghent University, Ghent), USA (Plant Pest Diagnostics Center, California Department of Food and Agriculture, USA), South Africa (Agricultural Research Council - Cereals Institute, Potchefstroom, Agricultural Research Council - Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Mbombela, North West University, Potchefstroom). The work of the conference was structured within the framework of one plenary and 4 thematic sessions - plant nematodes, soil nematodes, sea nematodes and vertebrate nematodes, online sessions, poster sessions and schools of young scientists. In total, 29 reports were heard and 14 posters were presented. The plenary session on August 23 was opened by the director of the Center for Parasitology, Doctor of Biological Sciences, prof. Spiridonov S.E. The proceedings were opened by Deputy Director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, corresponding member Surov A.V. At the plenary session, a report on the development of nematological research at the Center for Parasitology of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences from its foundation to the present day was made by S.E. Spiridonov, the head of the laboratory reported on the organization of phytoparasitological research at the Chernogolovka scientific laboratory. Phytoparasitology Center of Parasitology IEE RAS Pridannikov M.V., scientific reports were made by corresponding member of RAS Yushin V.V., Doctor of Biological Sciences A.Yu. Ryss. Dr. Nancy Ntidi from the Republic of South Africa, in her report, informed about the organization of phytoparasitological research in this country. At 4 thematic and poster sections, reports were presented in several areas: phylogeny, diversity and ecology of nematodes and other Ecdysozoa; morphology, physiology and biochemistry of nematodes and other Ecdysozoa; communities of nematodes and other molting organisms as bioindicators of changes occurring in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; relationships in the “parasite-host” system; measures to control the number and regulate the harmfulness of economically significant and quarantine species of parasitic nematodes. Specialists from the All-Russian Center for Plant Quarantine (FGBU VNIIKR), subordinate to Roselkhoznadzor, presented several reports on topics related to quarantine species of nematodes. Particularly noteworthy is the holding of a school of young scientists within the framework of the conference (leading schools are research associates L.A. Limantseva and R.V. Khusainov, Ph.D.), at which young researchers - students of the K.A. Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy (6 reports). The exhibition dedicated to the 145th anniversary of the birth of the founder of GELAN (now the Center for Parasitology), Academician K.I.Scriabin, aroused great interest among the symposium participants, as well as the 80th anniversary of the Center for Parasitology, prepared by employees of the Laboratory of Phytoparasitology R.V. Khusainva and V.V. Vulsonok. On the final day, August 25, 2023, there was a trip to the scientific and experimental base of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Chernogolovka. Here, participants were able to get acquainted with a rich collection of cats, which are being studied by scientists at the experimental base, and examine enclosures with lynxes, ferrets, sables, hedgehogs and camels. The symposium participants visited theexperimental base of the laboratory of phytoparasitology of the Central Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, created by the work of employees under the leadership of the head M.V. Pridannikov and got acquainted with the conditions for conducting research. The international symposium gave participants the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the latest achievements in various fields of nematology, modern methods of studying nematodes, and present and discuss the results obtained. Discussing the current situation in the development of nematology in Russia, the Symposium participants noted the important role of the Russian Nematological Society and the Russian Nematological Journal in promoting and organizing nematological research and international cooperation. The Symposium participants elected the leadership of the Russian Society of Nematologists. Of the society for 2023-2025, S.E. Spiridonov was elected President, M.V. Pridannikov as vice president, RON Secretary - E.A. Sokolov and the representative of RON in the International Federation of Nematological Societies - Yu.K. Zograf. The next, 16th, RON Symposium is scheduled for 2025. It seems most likely that most of the Symposium will be held in Moscow (in various locations), with a trip to one of the cities of the Moscow region as a cultural program and to become familiar with natural and agrocenoses as habitats for nematodes. Resolution on the XV Symposium of RON. Author of the photo: Alexandra Komarnitskaya. All photos can be viewed in our group on VKontakte.

Photo: Argas persicus, PictureInsect The epidemiological significance of ticks of the genus Argas has been known since 1897, since this genus includes at least 61 species of ticks that parasitize birds and bats, and is capable of being the host and carrier of a number of bacterial diseases, such as salmonellosis and agyptianellosis. The study presents the results of monitoring A. persicus mites collected from several bird species over 4 years in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia. The study's findings suggest that domestic and wild birds can harbor large numbers of ticks, and their close proximity increases the likelihood of tick exchange. Scientists have found that a variety of non-migratory birds come into contact with poultry during the nesting season and are likely to exchange mites with them. It is clear from the study that despite regular acaricide treatment of farms, the presence of mites was extremely high, with the exception of small sporadic reductions. It can be concluded that due to contacts between wild and domestic birds on private farms, acaricide treatments show low effectiveness, since Argas persicus mites move from wild birds to domestic birds. The published article is devoted to the results of monitoring the infestation of birds with the mite Argas persicus (Oken, 1818). Ticks were collected from private farms in the village of Priyutnoye, Priyutnensky district, Republic of Kalmykia (Russia) from 2012 to 2016 as part of a project for continuous monitoring of bird ectoparasites Ticks of the genus Argas Latreille (1796) are found in areas with temperate and warm climates; only a few species live in areas that sporadically reach 50 ℃ in the forest-steppe zone from the northern hemisphere. This genus includes at least 61 species of ticks that parasitize birds and bats and are capable of transmitting a number of bacterial diseases, such as salmonellosis and agyptianellosis. A. persicus is a carrier of spirochetosis, rickettsia, several other bacteria and hemoparasites in wild and domestic birds. Sometimes A. persicus even attacks humans, causing painful bites and invading their homes. The tick parasitizes chickens and other birds, feeding on blood at night and hiding in the cracks of buildings during the day. High numbers of A. persicus often lead to the death of birds both from large blood loss and from infectious diseases transmitted by ticks. The Persian tick may further increase its initial widespread distribution due to current global temperature changes, given that its optimal development temperature is 28–30℃ at 65–70% relative humidity with a lower temperature limit of 20℃. During the monitoring, 1242 bird species of two domestic and 27 wild species were examined. We found 290 adult ticks on poultry and 1963 adult ticks on wild birds. Our results show that despite regular acaricide treatments on farms, mite presence was extremely high, with the exception of small temporary declines in mite numbers. A large number of mite larvae were observed on the chickens, which were likely attached to them from the soil of the farm. We confirmed that mites are actively colonizing cracks in the walls of buildings. We found that various birds from non-migratory species (Passer domesticus; Streptopelia decaocto (Frivaldszky, 1838); Columba livia L., 1758), long-distance species (Upupa epops; Hirundo rustica; Lanius minor; Oenanthe oenanthe) and nomadic species (Sturnus roseus) actively nest on farms. All of them come into contact with poultry during the nesting period. Among wild bird species, the highest tick load was observed in the synanthropic species Sturnus roseus and Passer domesticus L., 1758, which can act as reservoirs and vectors of ticks between wild bird populations and human buildings. Thus, domestic and wild birds may harbor large numbers of mites, and their close proximity increases the likelihood of mite exchange. High densities of poultry on farms may facilitate the local spread of disease through ticks as disease vectors, and in turn ticks may be transported by wild birds to other regions during natural migrations. https://doi.org/10.22073/pja.v12i2.77948

Fig.1. Data processing scheme. (A) Raster information on climate characteristics obtained from the CMIP6 model was used to calculate (Б) the average climate characteristic for each administrative region. (В) Data on the distribution of mean temperature and (Г) precipitation were used to calculate (Д) values for the CLIM1-4 variables. Employee of the Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology of the Institute of Soil Ecology RAS Ph.D. Goncharov A.A. together with colleagues from Tyumen State University (Institute of X-BIO), Federal State Budgetary Institution "Rosselkhoztsentr", Marchuk Institute of Computational Mathematics RAS and Emperor Peter I Voronezh State Agrarian University developed a mathematical model to assess the impact of climate change on grain yields in the Tyumen region in the short term (2025 - 2030) and medium term (2045 - 2050). The study was carried out on the basis of combined data for the period from 1990 to 2020 on the yield of five grain crops (barley, oats, spring and winter wheat, winter rye) in the Tyumen region (provided by the Federal State Budgetary Institution Rosselkhoztsentr), as well as key meteorological parameters obtained using the global model CMIP6, developed within the framework of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Fig. 1). It is shown that in general in the Tyumen region in the short and medium term there will be an increase in agricultural yields. However, this will not happen evenly across the parts of the region, which will lead to a redistribution of the increase in yield across regions (Fig. 2). Under the most likely scenario of climate change in the Tyumen region, a significant decrease in the yield of winter rye is predicted in the medium term (by 2050). For spring wheat and spring oats, the selection of cold-resistant, early-ripening varieties adapted for cultivation in the taiga agro-ecological zone is justified. Fig.2. Main results of the study. The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation, project No. 22-76-10027. The work was published in the journal Field Crops Research (SJR Q1, IF = 5.224). Anton A. Goncharov, Taras A. Safonov, Alexander M. Malko, Gennady A. Bocharov, Sergey V. Goncharov (2023). Climate change expected to increase yield of spring cereals and reduce yield of winter cereals in the Western Siberian grain belt. Field Crops Research, 302: 109038.