Fig.1 Mature males of representatives of the species group Nothobranchius ugandensis. The coloration of males is species-specific and is an important diagnostic feature for Notobranchius. Researchers from IEE RAS, Ph.D. E.Yu. Krysanov and Ph.D. S.A. Simanovsky, together with colleagues from France, Canada, and the Czech Republic, studied the differentiation of karyotypes in the group of Nothobranchius ugandensis, which includes 12 valid species. In addition to cytogenetic data for each of the 12 species, a complete set of phylogenetic and biogeographic data was also analyzed. Fig.2 Karyotypes of seven notobranchius species that were first studied cytogenetically in this work Fig.3 Phylogenetic tree based on the analysis of two mitochondrial genes, with cytogenetic and biogeographic data included The researchers showed that the N. ugandensis species group is characterized by a conservative diploid number of chromosomes 2n = 36, but a varying number of chromosome arms NF = 46–64, which suggested a significant role of pericentric inversions and/or other types of centromere reposition in the evolution of the genomes of this species in this group. It is noteworthy that while the karyotypes of many other species of the genus Nothobranchius have differentiated by chromosome fusions and splits (2n within the genus varies from 16 to 50), the N. ugandensis species group retains a stable 2n, and karyotype differentiation seems to have been limited to intrachromosomal restructuring. One of the most interesting conclusions of the work was that the cytogenetic characteristics did not show any correlation either with phylogenetic relationships or with the features of the distribution of the ranges of the studied species. The authors suggest that the main factor in the fixation of chromosomal rearrangements in this case is genetic drift; however, further studies are needed to assess the impact of putative multiple inversions on genome evolution and their possible role in local adaptations. The work was published in Comparative Cytogenetics (SJR Q2, IF = 1.079): Krysanov E.Yu., Nagy B., Watters B.R., Sember A., Simanovsky S.A. (2023) Karyotype differentiation in the Nothobranchius ugandensis species group (Teleostei, Cyprinodontiformes), seasonal fishes from the east African inland plateau, in the context of phylogeny and biogeography. Comparative Cytogenetics 7(1): 13–29. https://doi.org/10.3897/compcytogen.v7.i1.97165

One of the mountain swamps of Kabardino-Balkaria and testate amoebae living in it: Arcella discoides, A. catinus, Padaungiela lageniformis (from left to right) Photographers: Chertoprud E.S. and Esaulov A.S. Understanding the nature of interactions between different ecological and taxonomic groups of living organisms in ecosystems is the most important task of ecology. This issue is of particular interest in relation to the interactions between the aboveground and soil components of ecosystems. Scientists from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University together with colleagues from the A.N. Severtsov RAS (Moscow) studied the influence of macro- (geographical position) and microenvironment (water hydrochemistry and temperature), as well as the composition of vegetation (including vascular plants and bryophytes) on the species structure of testate amoebae communities. The study was carried out on relic upland sphagnum bogs of the North Caucasus, located at altitudes of more than 1600 m above sea level. Swamps covered with sphagnum mosses are often found on the plains, but are rare in the mountains. In the Caucasus, the fauna of such reservoirs has been studied very poorly. In North Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria there are more than a dozen small swamps, usually located on flat or slightly concave sections of the slopes of mountain ranges. The largest swamp, Chifandzar, is located at the headwaters of the Kharesidon River in North Ossetia. The study made it possible to discover a strong relationship between testate amoeba communities and swamp vegetation. Characteristically, the composition of mosses, which form a complex structured habitat for microorganisms, determined the composition of amoebae to the greatest extent. The influence of the composition of the flora on testate amoebae was comparable to the influence of geographical location and exceeded the influence of local abiotic conditions. Apparently, vegetation is a complex ecological factor which reflects the sum of environmental conditions affecting testate amoebae in a separate biotope. Further research should clarify how true this hypothesis is and deepen the understanding of the relationship between biotic and abiotic components in raised bogs. The research was supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 19-14-00102. Tsyganov A.N., Chertoprud E.S., Mazei N.G., Esaulov A.S., Sadchikov I.P., Mazei Y.A. 2023. The effects of vegetation and environmental variables on testate amoeba assemblages in Sphagnum peatlands in the Northern Caucasus Mountains // Diversity. 15, 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020258 Related materials: Science and Life: "Amoebic Preferences"

Leopards released in July 2022 in the Republic of North Ossetia continue to explore the Central Caucasus. Having traveled most of the territory of North Ossetia, they headed west: the male Leo and female Laura left for Kabardino-Balkaria and, judging by the data we receive, are adapting well. The process of habitat formation is entering a new phase; it is too early to talk about their stabilization. The female Hosta remains faithful to the Ossetian mountains, now exploring the southern direction. The results of processing data from GPS-collars, the coordinates from which we regularly receive, confirm that Khosta remains a record-breaking traveler - since her release she has already walked 991 km across the mountain slopes, foothills and low forests of Ossetia. The area mastered by her, in which she freely navigates, is now 1592 square kilometers: it covers Digorsky and Alagirsky districts and the district of Vladikavkaz. In spite of her attachment to forested gorges and red deer (she successfully hunted them in Tsey Reserve), Khosta decided to visit the southern part of the North-Ossetian Reserve and continues moving in the direction of the NP Alania. As she moves south, her preference for low forests changes to heights of about 1000-1500 m. Approximately every 100 km Khosta climbs a peak or ridge to have a good look around. The highest elevation to which she climbed was 2,488 m, all other climbs were limited to 2,000 m above sea level. During the "winter period" Khosta has already covered a greater distance than during the snow-free period - 562 and 429 km, respectively. The leopard is in excellent shape, as evidenced by the data we received from the camera traps. She feeds regularly and in abundance. So far we have checked 27 places where Khosta hunted. In spite of the fact that her diet consists primarily of small prey (badgers, jackals, raccoon dogs), she successfully hunted wild ungulates (deer, roe deer). On January 9, 2023, Leo crossed the border of Ossetia and Kabardino-Balkaria, at the same time conquering a height of 3200 m above sea level. So far, he has chosen to explore the highest mountains of all leopards released in the Central Caucasus. In Kabardino-Balkaria, Leo prefers wild boars as winter food (he has already caught at least 5 wild boars in a month). It cannot be said that he traveled a lot in Kabardino-Balkaria - during the time spent there, he walked only 130 km and mastered a space of 116 sq. km, while he walked 548 km through the territory of Ossetia, and the area that he mastered there was 796 sq. km. In general, Leo prefers the path of least resistance: apart from climbing above 3,000 m a.s.l., he prefers altitudes no more than 1,000 m a.s.l. According to the data from the camera traps, Leo feeds very well (Fig. 1). Laura showed interest for Kabardino-Balkaria twice. The first time she crossed the border before the new year (December 24, 2022), after which she returned to Ossetia (January 24, 2023), and the second time she left for Kabardino-Balkaria on January 29, where she remains to this day. Interestingly, Laura used the same ecological corridor for the transition from Ossetia to Kabardino-Balkaria which was once used by the female Volna, released in Ossetia in 2018. Laura did not meet Leo, despite the fact that she was moving from the north to the south, and Leo, after conquering the heights in the south, on the contrary, went north. At this time, there were moments when the cats were relatively close to each other (they were separated by no more than 4-5 km), but there was still no face-to-face meeting. Laura traveled 268 km through the territory of Kabardino-Balkaria and mastered an area of almost 400 sq. km, while in Ossetia her total track was 548 km, and the area was 652 sq. km. Among her latest prey are three wild boars, a raccoon dog and a wild Caucasian forest cat. It should be noted that Laura explores valleys and slopes most carefully, keeping a long distance from settlements - she never came closer than 3 km to them. At the moment there is no direct capture from camera traps, but there is no doubt that Laura is healthy and able, otherwise she would not have hunted for difficult prey like wild boars so successfully. The program for the restoration (reintroduction) of the Caucasian (Persian) leopard in the Caucasus is being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia with the participation of the Sochi National Park, the Caucasian Reserve, the North Ossetian Reserve, the World Fund for Nature, the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS, A.K. Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories RAS, Moscow Zoo, as well as with the assistance of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). Financing of the monitoring of the Persian leopard in the Caucasus is funded by supporters of the World Fund for Nature, business companies RusHydro and EcoEnergy. Fig. 1 Moments of relaxation of Leo's after a meal. Fig. 2 Height profile of the trajectory of leopards: (a) Khosta; (b) Leo; (c) Laura. For successful hunting, all three leopards prefer twilight and hunt mainly at dusk (Fig. 3). Fig. 3. Time of the leopard hunt

Photo: Astrakhan 24 The saiga, born in May 2022, was released into its natural habitat in the Stepnoy reserve in the Limansky district three months ago. Before being released into semi-free conditions, the male of the relic antelope was equipped with a device with the function of video recording and data transmission. It is needed for remote monitoring of the saiga population of the North-Western Caspian region, which is carried out by scientists from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Last week, the male was in the coverage area of cellular transmission. Institute specialists received a report on its movement from the moment of issue until December 25, 2022. These studies have shown that the young saiga actively moves around the territory of the reserve and stays with the herd. The project for remote monitoring of the saiga population has been implemented since 2020. All animals are marked with transmitters before being released into the territory of the Stepnoy Reserve. Saigas are raised and researched under the state program "Environmental Protection of the Astrakhan Region".

On the eve of the consideration by the State Duma Committee on Ecology of the draft law No. 288302-8 “On the Development of the Russian Federation”, the Interregional Public Organization “Expert Council on Reserve Affairs” addressed an opinion on the inadmissibility of adopting this draft law in the presented version to Dmitry Kobylkin, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. The bill was submitted to the State Duma by Deputy Viktor Pinsky. The draft law does not define who, in what order and by what criteria determines the “significance” or other grounds for the abolition of protected areas. This means that if the bill is adopted, the boundaries of any specially protected natural areas of regional importance (which make up more than 80% of all Russian protected areas, and their area - more than 50% of the total area of all protected areas) may be cut or the protected areas themselves may be abolished. According to the Expert Council, the adoption of the draft law entails the risk of destruction of specially protected natural complexes, violation of Russia's international obligations and deterioration of the ecological state of many regions of Russia. The draft law contradicts the current legislation and runs counter to such conceptual documents as the Environmental Doctrine of the Russian Federation and the Environmental Security Strategy of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2025. Due to the vagueness of the wording cited as grounds for the abolition or reduction of the boundaries of protected areas, the draft law carries corruption risks and threats to the implementation of commercial projects in specially protected natural areas of regional significance. Thus, in the conclusion of the Expert Council, examples are given when the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia has repeatedly agreed on controversial decisions of regional authorities that threaten the integrity of protected areas and protected natural complexes, as well as examples of regional protected areas that are already threatened by various nature-destroying projects. If the bill is adopted, the number of such decisions and threats to protected areas may increase many times over. Experts point out that the bill hinders the implementation of international conventions and agreements ratified by the Russian Federation, in particular, the Kunming-Montreal Declaration, adopted in December 2022 and supported by Russia, according to which by 2030 the area of protected areas should reach 30% of the land and sea. Among those who signed the conclusion of the Expert Council on the reserve case on the inadmissibility of adopting the draft law No. 288302-8 “On Amending Article 2 of the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Territories” in the presented version are Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.V. Rozhnov; corresponding members of the RAS B.A. Voronov, V.I. Danilov-Danilyan, N.V. Lukina, A.A. Sirin, A.A. Tishkov; professors at Moscow State University Lomonosov A.A. Romanov and A.V. Khoroshev; Professor of Perm State University S.A. Buzmakov; Honored Ecologists of the Russian Federation - Doctor of Geography E.A. Shvarts, Doctor of Biology Yu.A. Gorshkov, Doctor of Biology, A.N. Kudakin, Doctor of Biology B.S. Tuniev, M.N. P. Novikov, M.V. Onufrenya, V.B. Stepanitsky, Yu.A. Darman, Chairman of the Commission on Ecology and Environment of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation E.A. Sharoikina, Director of the Ecological and Educational Center "Zapovedniki" N.R. national parks "Reserved Russia" R.T.Bakirova, Director of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University, Doctor of Biology M.V.Kalyakin, President of the Union for the Protection of Birds of Russia V.N.Melnikov, President of the Russian Society for the Preservation and Study of Birds A.S.Mishchenko, V.Yu. Ilyashenko, Head of the Biodiversity Conservation Laboratory of the A.N. Severtsov IEE, E.V. Khamenkova, Deputy Director of the Institute of Biological Problems of the North, E.Borovichev, Deputy Director General of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, well-known professionals - heads of regional directorates of protected areas O.N. Kanishcheva, T .V.Kovaleva, Ya.S.Sivtsev. Read the text of the appeal

Scientists of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences took part in the preparation of the next edition of the Red Book of the city of Moscow. This is the first edition after the expansion of the territory of the capital, which increased by 2.4 times after the accession to it in 2012 of the areas of the so-called "New Moscow" (TiNAO). The annexed territory is intensively built up, quickly fragmented, and this process, according to expert estimates, may soon lead to the loss of up to 60% of forests. In Moscow, the transformation of parks continues, even in protected areas within the Moscow Ring Road, which is accompanied by the destruction of undergrowth, the removal of fallen leaves, old-growth trees, and the massive laying of bike paths and sidewalks. All this negatively affects the survival of animals in the city, depriving many species of places suitable for burrows and shelters, as well as leading to depletion of the food supply (insects and other invertebrates, fruits and seeds). Common toad The modern theriofauna of Moscow includes at least 43 species of mammals belonging to 6 orders. It is hardly possible to determine the exact number of species, since systematic censuses of the animal population are not carried out. The previous edition of the Red Book of the city of Moscow included 16 species of mammals belonging to 5 orders - European hedgehog, Eurasian water shrew, Brandt's bat, Daubenton’s bat, common long-eared bat, Nathusius’s pipistrelle, common noctule, parti-coloured bat, stoat, least weasel, black polecat, mountain hare, European hare, hazel dormouse, birch mouse, water vole. All of these species are included in the new edition. In addition, 8 more species of mammals have been added to the Red Book. These are European badger, pine and beech martens, flying squirrel, common beaver, harvest mouse, yellow-necked mouse and common hamster. Thus, in the new edition of the Red Book there are now 24 species of mammals, which is already more than 50% of the species composition of the city's theriofauna.The conservation status of a number of species has been changed to more threatened, but it is not yet clear whether this is due to a decline in their numbers or just additional information received. The theriofauna of the TiNAO, in comparison with the "old" Moscow, is much less studied. Further monitoring studies are needed to clarify the status of mammal species in the annexed territory, in particular, badger, pine and beech martens, flying squirrels, harvest mice, yellow-necked mice, etc. Employees of the IEE RAS examined all districts of the capital and made a detailed inventory of the habitats of reptiles and reservoirs - breeding grounds for amphibians. New, previously unrecorded, habitats were discovered. Detailed work was carried out with museum collections of both Russian and foreign museums, which store collections of reptiles and amphibians from Moscow. According to the results of the work, 6 species of reptiles and 8 species of amphibians are listed in the 3rd edition of the Red Book of the city of Moscow. Baby mouse The expansion of the boundaries of Moscow made it possible to include in the composition of the fauna of the city the rarest species of snakes - the non-poisonous smooth snake, previously noted only in the Moscow region. The common viper, previously considered extinct on the territory of Moscow, has been repeatedly noted here in recent years, which served as the basis for entering it into the Red Book of Moscow. For the first time in decades, populations of the common spadefoot were identified in the city, which was considered extinct here until the early 1990s. Breeding reservoirs of the crested newt, a species that was also considered extinct for the territory inside the Moscow Ring Road, were discovered in this search. However, these species, along with the green toad, are exceptionally rare and endangered. Another species of amphibians - the fire-bellied toad - according to the results of the study, has to be considered presumably extinct in the city. The new edition includes 16 species of fish, including three new species, such as sterlet. This fish of the sturgeon family in former times was common in rivers in Moscow, but later practically disappeared due to water pollution. In recent years, a slight recovery of the sterlet population is due to the release into the Moskva River of juveniles grown at the Mozhaisk experimental fish hatchery. The conservation status of many animals in Moscow has been upgraded due to degradation and destruction of habitats and population decline. Among the "traditional" reasons for the decline of animal populations in the urban environment (such as pollution, fragmentation or disappearance of habitats, inbreeding of the remaining individuals, hunting by domestic animals), new negative factors are now increasingly relevant. From the second half of the twentieth century, the role of alien species is increasing. For example, an important reason for the suppression of amphibian populations on the territory of Moscow was the widespread distribution of the invasive sleeper fish (Perccottus glenii), introduced into the water bodies of the European part of Russia from the Far East. This fish actively destroys tadpoles, and reservoirs previously suitable for breeding newts and frogs cease to be such. The release of another invasive animal into the city ponds by amateurs is also a cause of concern - the North American pond slider, which, like the sleeper, is included in the list of the Top 100 invasive species most dangerous for the ecosystems of Russia. An insufficiently studied factor is the spread and role of diseases, including the invasive species - amphibian chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which caused the decline of many amphibian populations in different parts of the world, including Europe. All species of reptiles and amphibians, a number of representatives of other groups of animals that are listed in the Red Book of Moscow, need urgent measures aimed at preserving their populations. The conservation of these animals in the urban environment is possible only with the adoption of a special urban program. Without taking a number of special measures, these species may disappear from the fauna of Moscow. Thus, the Red Book is not only an important government document that establishes the status of a species, but also a tool for solving many biological problems of the species inhabiting the city.

A new subgenus of leaf beetles of the genus Chrysolina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) has been identified. It includes seven species, three of which were previously known, and four of which are described as new to science. All species are endemic to the belt of alpine coniferous forests in the northwestern part of the Chinese province of Yunnan. Representatives of the new subgenus are wingless, broadly oval, convex beetles 5-8 mm long with a bronze, purple, greenish or bluish metallic sheen. “The study of the reproductive apparatus of males (the middle lobe of the aedeagus) revealed the presence of sensilla, that is, sensitive setae, on its apex. A sexual apparatus of this type is not known in any other representative of the genus Chrysolinini, and in the whole subfamily Chrysomelinae of the world fauna, sensilla on the aedeagus are found only in some species of the genus Gonioctena, which also live in southern China,” said the author of the study, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Senior Researcher researcher of IEE RAS A.O. Benkovsky. Yunnan Province is one of the centers of the greatest species diversity of the genus Chrysolina. There are many endemic species with unusual characters and very narrow ranges in the highlands. The study was published in the journal Forests: https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/14/1/66/html Bieńkowski, A. (2023). A New Unusual Subgenus of the Genus Chrysolina (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae) from the Highland Forests of China, Yunnan Province. Forests, 14(1), 66.

A new species of crustaceans, previously unknown to world science, has been discovered on the territory of the Utrish Reserve in the Krasnodar Territory. The discovery was made by a group of scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution. The crustacean is named after the reserve - Niphargus utrishensis Marin et Palatov sp.n. In the reserve, freshwater invertebrates were examined in lakes, streams, wells and water outlets between rock layers in crevices and on the coast. Scientists have discovered about 12 species endemic to the Caucasus. To identify invertebrates, morphological comparisons were made, creating a DNA barcode. According to the head of the expedition, candidate of biological sciences Ivan Marin, these animals inhabited their current habitats at least five million years ago - at the end of the Miocene. “We believe that the current distribution of species is determined rather by the “growth” of the Caucasian coastal mountain ranges and the fragmentation of karst occurring over the past 2-3 million years. Due to the fact that these animals are not capable of active settlement, these unique ancient genetic lines (species) and their biotopes - underground aquatic habitats - need special protection,” Ivan Marin said. Also, a new genus and new species of gammarid amphipod Dursogammarus dromaderus Marin & Palatov, 2022 (Amphipoda: Gammaridae) was found in the Durso River at the border of the reserve. The new species is now known to be endemic to the lower reaches of the small mountain river Durso, which flows into the northwestern Black Sea. Moreover, this crustacean represents a phylogenetic lineage related to the Atlanto-Mediterranean gammarids, which apparently survives in isolation in these coastal habitats for a very long time, which indicates the uniqueness of the biotopes of this river. According to the expedition members, a serious threat to the habitat of these unique crustaceans today is the depletion of groundwater. Source: Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology Related materials: Live Kuban: "The newest species of crustaceans was discovered in the Utrish reserve" Fishnews: "A new species of crustaceans has been discovered in Russia" Ministry of Natural Resources: "A species of crustaceans previously unknown to worldscience has been discovered in the Utrish Reserve" Komsomolskaya Pravda: "An ancient invertebrate animal unknown to scientists was found inthe Kuban" Kuban News: "An unknown species of freshwater crustaceans was found in the Utrishreserve near Anapa" GLAS: "A species of crustaceans previously unknown to world science was discovered inthe Utrish Reserve" Kuban Inform: "A species of previously unknown crustaceans was discovered near Anapa" Iluki: "A previously unknown species of crustaceans has been discovered in Russia" Glas naroda: "A species of crustaceans previously unknown to world science has beendiscovered in the Utrish Reserve" YASNO: "Kuban scientists have discovered an unknown ancient invertebrate creature" Without Format: "Niphargus utrishensis: a new species of crustacean was named after theUtrish nature reserve in Anapa" Aquaculture: "A new species of crustaceans has been discovered in Russia" Gorodskoy portal: "The newest species of crustaceans was discovered in the Utrish reserve" Gorodskaya sreda: "A previously unknown species of crustaceans was discovered in theUtrish reserve" Аквакультура.info: "A new species of crustaceans has been discovered in Russia" IP Aquakultura: "A new type of crustaceans has been discovered in Russia" News of Krasnodar: "Nifargus utrishensis" Ru24: "New species of crustaceans discovered in Kuban" 59minut: "Nifargus utrishensis" Новости.Mail: "An ancient invertebrate unknown to scientists was found in the Kuban"

Mollusk Trinchesia ornata examines a prey polyp (left) and eats it (right) / Source: Irina Ekimova, Moscow State University. Photo: Andrey Shpatak A team of Russian scientists from M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and IEE RAS studied how nudibranch molluscs of the family Fionidae steal stinging capsules from stinging coelenterates and how the choice of a robbery victim affects the anatomy of a thief. The results of the work were published in the prestigious scientific journal Frontiers in Zoology. Nudibranch molluscs, like snails, belong to the class of gastropods. Only, unlike most of their fellows, they do not have a shell, and their gills are branched tender outgrowths exposed on the sides or on the back, which is where they got their name. These mollusks live mainly in the seas, where they crawl along the bottom in search of prey. Many nudibranch molluscs feed on cnidarians. Cnidaria serve not only as food for nudibranchs. Mollusks digest their soft tissues, including the stinging cells, the protective weapon of the stingers. But the burning organelles contained in these cells - the cnidocyst - nudibranch mollusks are embedded in the cnidosac sacs, which end in the outgrowths of their own body. Zoologists call this phenomenon kleptocnidia. When danger occurs, the mollusk uses the stolen weapon as its own: a cnidocyst twisted into a spiral or into a spring with poison unfolds sharply inside the cnidosac, rushes with its end towards the victim and digs into it, injecting poison. Few studies are known of kleptocnidia, and many obscure phenomena are associated with it. For example, how exactly the nudibranch mollusk distinguishes stinging cells from the rest during digestion, why it does not digest capsules, but builds them into its body, or how its immune system reacts to the presence of foreign organelles. A team of Russian zoologists led by Irina Ekimova, a senior researcher at the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, has made significant progress in unraveling the unresolved issues related to kleptocnidia. For this study, scientists have chosen 13 species from the Fionidae family, whose representatives are characterized by high selectivity in nutrition. The average species specializes in feeding 1-3 types of coelenterates. Scientists observed selected species in nature and in the laboratory, experimented with the diet of experimental subjects, studied in detail the structure of their cnidosacs, trying to trace the relationship between cnidosac morphology and diet or species relatedness. “For the first time, we have identified a clear relationship between the structure of the radula, the mechanism of food production, the spectrum of nutrition and the structure of cnidosacs. Cnidosacs of different groups of fionids are characterized by great interspecies variability in microanatomical characters, which correlates both with differences in food objects (different types of cnidocysts in different cnidarians) and with feeding mechanisms (mollusks that feed on the same species of cnidarians, but on different parts of them, will have different cnidosacs), — explains the main author of the study Irina Ekimova. “Thus, the structure of cnidosacs does not reflect evolutionary changes, but depends on the ecological characteristics of the species. The transition to an unusual type of food can lead to a complete loss of the ability of kleptocnidia - for example, mollusks that feed on fish caviar have lost the ability to select stinging capsules. The same is true for molluscs that feed on coral polyps: although they also belong to the intestinal animals, corals do not have burning stinging cells. There are only those that glue the prey. The mollusk recognizes such cells as incorrect, and selection does not occur”.

The A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS opened the exhibition "Illustrations to the Red Book of the Russian Federation". The opening is dedicated to the 95th anniversary of V.E. Sokolov. (On February 2, the Sokolov Readings will be held at the IEE RAS). Vladimir Evgenievich played an important role in the creation of the Red Book - first of the Soviet Union, then of the RSFSR and then of the Russian Federation. Photos from the opening of the exhibition can be viewed in the album in the IEE RAS group on VKonakte. Illustrations for the Red Book of the Russian Federation are presented in the small conference hall of the IEE RAS (room 230),. The authors of the works - Ph.D. Koblik E.A. and Ph.D. Mosalov A.A. Employees and guests of the Institute can visit the exhibition. If you do not work at IEE RAS, but would like to attend the exhibition, you can contact us by email or by phone (89262551977 - WhatsApp/Telegram).