In the study of diatoms of the genus Meridion in samples from modern reservoirs on Unalashka Island (Aleutian Islands, USA), an employee of the IEE RAS Neplyukhina A.A. and an employee of Moscow State University. M. V. Lomonosov, Doctor of Biological Sciences Chudaev D.A. discovered and described two species of this genus new to science - Meridion tenuipes and Meridion humerosum. The specific epithets chosen by the authors fairly accurately reflect the morphological features of the valves of these taxa. Meridion tenuipes - "narrow-legged" - is characterized by a long and downwardly drawn lower part of the valve. Meridion humerosum - "shouldered" - differs from other representatives of the genus by a noticeable expansion of the valve below the head. In addition, the article presents a comparison of new taxa with already known representatives of this genus, based on photographs obtained using light and scanning electron microscopy. 39-42 - External view of the valves of the new species Meridion tenuipes obtained using an electron microscope The valves of M. tenuipes and M. humerosum are currently recorded only in samples from one fresh water body on Unalaska Island. The data obtained confirm the high degree of endemism of representatives of the genus Meridion in North America. 46-49 - External view of the valves of the new species Meridion humerosum, obtained using an electron microscope The study was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project No. 20-34-90011. The work was published in Phytotaxa: Neplyukhina A., Chudaev D. (2023) Two new species of the diatom genus Meridion (Bacillariophyta, Tabellariaceae) from Aleutian Islands. Phytotaxa 587 (1): 21-30. Related materials: TASS Nauka: "Specialists have discovered two new species of diatoms" RAS: "Two new species of diatoms"

Fig.1: An automatic sound recording device installed on the feeder in the aviary of male red deer. This article shows for the first time that the vocal repertoire of European red deer males is not limited to rutting roars emitted during the reproductive period. It turned out that males on the farm, in the absence of females, can scream roars almost indistinguishable from rutting ones and outside the rutting period. In addition to non-rutting calls, we also described two new, previously unknown types of calls in male European red deer: the contact call and the lowing. Unlike roars, the males never made these calls in the presence of people, so the farm staff did not even suspect the existence of such calls in their deer. Contact cries and mooing of deer could only be recorded thanks to the use of an automatic sound recording device attached to the feeder and operating offline in the absence of people. Animals started calling when people left in the evening and stopped calling in the morning when people appeared on the farm. Thus, automatic devices make it possible to detect a part of the behavioral activity of farm animals that is hidden from people. Obviously, the presence of people (staff or researchers) can influence the vocal activity of farm animals and lead to the use of a depleted vocal repertoire. Fig.2: Farm male red deer of the Spanish subspecies are the objects of study. The results of the study were published in the journal Animal Production Science: Volodin I.A., Gogoleva S.S., Garcia A.J., Landete-Castillejos T., Volodina E.V., 2023. Nocturnal chats of farmed animals: non-rutting vocalizations of male Iberian red deer Cervus elaphus hispanicus. Animal Production Science, v. 63.  Fig. 3: The number of calls of each type (roars, contact calls, lows) emitted by four males at night and during the day.

April 3–6, 2023 the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS hosted a meeting of the Working Group on data processing to assess ecosystem flows of greenhouse gases in the framework of the most Important innovative project of national importance Scientific and Educational Center "Carbon in Ecosystems: Monitoring". The meeting was attended by more than twenty researchers working at environmental and climatic stations (method of turbulent pulsations, or MTP) of the Russian RuFlux network, as well as young employees who plan to process MTP data. The attendees were addressed by Ph.D. Yulia Kurbatova, Head of the V.N. Sukachev Laboratory of Biogeocenology at IEE RAS. On the first day, four reviews and methodological reports were presented. Ph.D. Sergey Kivalov (Institute of Physical, Chemical and Biological Problems of Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino) spoke to the audience about the organization of the European network for carbon exchange measurements ICOS, as well as about the corrections used in the ICC. Arseniy Artamonov (AM Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences) described the features of data processing of multilevel turbulent measurements. Ph.D. Andrey Sogachev (IEE) presented the concept and features of footprint models. Reports were also made on the features of data and their processing at different RuFlux stations: in the Krasnoyarsk Territory (PhD Vyacheslav Zyryanov, V.N. Sukachev Institute of Forestry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Krasnoyarsk), Novgorod region (Arseny Shilkin, Research and Production Association “Typhoon”, Kaluga region, Obninsk; Center for Problems of Ecology and Forest Productivity of the Russian Academy of Sciences), Tver region (Ph.D. Vadim Mamkin and Ph.D. Olga Kuricheva , IEE), Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Region and Tomsk Region (Ph.D. Egor Dyukarev, Institute for Monitoring Climatic and Ecological Systems SB RAS, Tomsk). On the second day, a workshop was held on processing primary data, reports were made on filling gaps in streams using reanalysis data and on determining the turbulence threshold for screening out data of inadequate quality. Messages and discussions concerned the issues of standardization of data collection, organization of data flow. Vitaly Avilov (IEE RAS) moderated the discussion on creating a common data infrastructure in the RuFlux network. On the third day, a report was made on the features of methane fluxes in ecosystems (Ph.D. Gennady Suvorov, IEE RAS), as well as a discussion of the results of an experiment on the simultaneous calculation of the same primary data by different researchers. The meeting of the Working Group made it possible to carry out a successful exchange of experience in data processing, contributed to the strengthening of scientific ties between teams and immersion of young scientists in the fascinating world of research into the interaction of ecosystems and the atmosphere. We hope that such meetings will become regular and will involve an increasing number of teams from environmental and climate stations. The meeting was organized by the staff of the V.N. Sukachev Laboratory of Biogeocenology and the Youth Laboratory of Environmental and Climate Research IEE RAS.

Scientists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Federal University, Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the Privolzhskaya Lesostep Nature Reserve investigated the role of the tailless amphibian Pallas' spadefoot in the transfer of organic matter from small water bodies to land. Among these substances, the focus has been on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are essential for many terrestrial animals, but are efficiently formed mainly by algae and therefore are in short supply in terrestrial ecosystems. Among PUFAs, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids are especially important, which are necessary for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system and other physiological and biochemical processes in terrestrial vertebrates, including humans. In the weakly watered natural areas of the European forest-steppe, water bodies are usually represented by small objects, which makes them key sources of water subsidies for terrestrial ecosystems. In such reservoirs spadefoot tadpoles, one of the largest amphibian larvae, are among the most widespread organisms in terms of abundance and biomass. Tadpoles feed mainly on algae, therefore they accumulate a certain amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their biomass (about 2 mg per g of dry weight). Then these substances enter terrestrial ecosystems together with young spadefoots that have completed their metamorphosis and leave water bodies. Thus, the flow of valuable eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids with these amphibians is 3.27 mg per square meter per year. According to the content of these substances, spadefoot fingerlings are a very high-quality food for terrestrial consumers. At the same time, most of the spadefoot tadpoles do not reach metamorphosis. The biomass of all fingerlings emerging on land reaches only 3.8% of the total biomass of tadpoles. However, spadefoot tadpoles that fail to achieve metamorphosis still serve as a transport agent for polyunsaturated fatty acids. Tadpoles enter terrestrial food webs in large numbers, as they are the prey of many terrestrial or semi-aquatic predators - insects, snakes, birds, and mammals. Spadefoot, like many other amphibians, spawns in temporary and drying up water bodies. However, these reservoirs are currently under threat due to climate change and human activity. The annual drying up of amphibian spawning grounds can result in the loss of one of the most important sources of water subsidies (including essential fatty acids) for terrestrial consumers and humans. The study was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation - project 22-24-00920 (supervisor Academician Dgebuadze Yu.Yu.). Link to article.

Cytogenetics belongs to the field of genetics, to the emergence and rapid spread of which the Russian school of chromosome researchers made a special contribution. The bright period of young science falls in time and place during the years of close interaction between biological institutions in the newly organized complex of institutes of the Academy of Sciences in Moscow in the 1930s-1940s. A new direction in genetics arose in the next decade after the chromosome theory of heredity appeared, experimentally substantiated by the school of T. Morgan in the USA (Morgan et al. 1915). Academician Sergei Gavrilovich Navashin (Works on Applied Botany, Genetics and Breeding, vol. 17, No. 3), a full member of the Russian Academy of Sciences since 1918, was recognized as the domestic founder of "genetic cytology" in 1927, and the most interested "investor" Corresponding Member of the Academy of Sciences and since 1929 Academician Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov, the largest national figure in the genetic direction in fundamental and applied sciences. Fig.1 Memorial plaque at the entrance to the IEE RAS on Leninsky Prospekt, 33 The time and place of the emergence of cytogenetics as a “new and powerful branch” of young genetics, according to N.I. Vavilov, he noted as a grandiose event that took place at the 5th International Genetic Congress in Berlin in 1927. A special issue of the Works of the Institute of Applied Botany, led by Vavilov, was prepared for this forum. A number of years later, the new academic Institute of Genetics, which arose under the leadership of Academician N.I. Vavilov in Leningrad, followed to Moscow following the transfer of the Academy of Sciences from the former to the new capital of the state, where he settled in a common building with other institutions of a similar profile. Since 1934, the history of our institute began and continues here in parallel, only the address changed due to the renaming of the former Bolshaya Kaluzhskaya Street into Leninsky Prospekt and the name of the institute was updated, which invariably bears the name of the founder, academician A.N. Severtsov. Fig. 2 Historical corridor of the Vavilov Institute Vavilov was accompanied by his American guest, the fruit-fly studying geneticist G. Meller, for whom a laboratory for the problems of genes and mutagenesis was created, with one of the first employees of the Vavilov Institute, A.A. Prokofieva-Belgovskaya, who performed the cytogenetic part of Meller's brilliant genetic experiments. 8 joint works published by them were later included in the Nobel list of the 1946 prize winner G. Meller. Most of these classic studies were carried out in 1935, 1936 and 1937 here, in this historic building, during the period of close proximity of our institutions. The memorial plaque at the entrance to the IEE RAS on Leninsky Prospekt, 33 (Fig. 1 and 2) and the historical corridor of the Vavilov Institute are visible symbols of the convergence of genetic science with evolutionary science. Alexandra Alekseevna herself after Meller's departure in 1938 and the defeat of genetics in the USSR in the 1940s was able to conduct fundamental scientific research in difficult conditions and became the most famous domestic cytogeneticist and later the founder of human cytogenetics in our country. Twice Prokofieva-Belgovskaya had to defend her doctoral degree, and both times at our institute, as she said "at Schmalhausen" - academician I.I. Schmalhausen, who took over as director after the death of the first leader A.N. Severtsov in 1936. In 1948, despite a successful defense, she was denied a degree due to obstacles after the Lysenko August session of the All-Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Schmalhausen was deprived of the laboratory and fired, and a new defense took place only in 1965, thanks to the revival of genetics. In 1962 A.A. Prokofieva- Belgovskaya became the head of the laboratory with an unheard-of name - General and space karyology. This laboratory was known to all karyologists of the country. Fig. 3 Direct students and already their pupils created entire directions in human cytogenetics, comparative animal cytogenetics, in the analysis of meiosis and emerging genomics. The scientific "grandchildren" and "great-grandchildren" of the leading mentor of cytogenetics were brought up in the spirit of responsibility for the success of their work. March 26 is the birthday of the great scientist A.A. Prokofieva-Belgovskaya. This year marks her 120th birthday. Fig. 4 In the building where the laboratory of Prokofieva-Belgovskaya was situated before being transferred to the Institute of Molecular Biology, on Vavilova Street, 34, there are now IEE laboratories, which, among other things, present karyological areas (Fig. 3 and 4). V.N. Orlov, L.D. Safronova, N.Sh. Bulatov had met with Alexandra Alekseevna and her employees, and Yu.M. Borisov worked and defended his doctoral dissertation in her laboratory. The topics of laboratories and teams have changed a lot since then, but the cytogenetic direction persists. Information and photographs of Bulatova N.Sh.

Appearance of an ephippial female Daphnia arabica, scanning electron microscopy data. Source: Anna Neretina. Russian biologists, together with foreign colleagues, have deciphered the genome of microscopic daphnia crustaceans living on the Arabian Peninsula. The species Daphnia arabica was able to adapt to such arid conditions thanks to a combination of genes responsible for the restoration of the DNA molecule when it is damaged under stress. Other daphnia that lived here died out about 100,000 years ago due to climate change. Deciphering the genome of this unique organism will help geneticists and breeders to develop animal and plant species adapted to arid conditions. The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation, were published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Daphnia, or water fleas, play a significant role in aquatic ecosystems. They feed on the remains of organic matter at the bottom and in the water column, helping to purify it, and also serve as food for many inhabitants of reservoirs. In addition, water fleas can be a good indicator of water purity, since they are sensitive to various kinds of pollution. In total, scientists have knowledge of more than 50 species of daphnia. Previously, they were difficult to study and classify due to their similarity. However, over the past five years, the situation has been simplified by the availability of genetic analysis, which allows to see differences between species at the DNA level. Scientists actively use water fleas for research, because these crustaceans are unpretentious, multiply easily and grow quickly. For geneticists and ecologists, daphnia are useful because they live all over the planet. Comparing the genomes of related species living in different climatic zones, scientists can gauge the mechanisms of their adaptation to natural and climatic conditions. In addition, these studies make it possible to better understand the history of the Earth, the origin and development of living organisms. Student education: Scientific and practical seminar on the biology of cladocerans on the basis of the University of the United Arab Emirates. Source: Anna Neretina. Scientists from the IEE RAS (Moscow), together with foreign colleagues, have deciphered and analyzed the complete genome of the Daphnia arabica species discovered last year. It lives in only one shallow body of water in the United Arab Emirates, which dries up completely in summer. Genetic analysis showed that the species formed about 60 million years ago, when the climate on Earth was warm and humid. Then other water fleas existed in the region, but all of them, except for Daphnia arabica, died out about 100 thousand years ago due to rising temperatures and drying up of water bodies. Daphnia arabica has managed to adapt to sudden and prolonged droughts due to its breeding habits. Sex in Daphnia is generally determined by external environmental conditions. Under comfortable humid conditions, the studied crustaceans reproduce by parthenogenesis, and their population consists exclusively of females, who reproduce their own clones, also female. When the reservoir begins to dry up, males hatch. Now daphnia begin to reproduce sexually, laying fertilized eggs on the bottom, covered with a drought-resistant shell - ephippia. Eggs are in a dormant state and are able to exist for a long time without water, while the adults die out. When the reservoir is filled again, a new generation of females hatch from them. Scientists collected soil samples from the bottom of a dried-up lake, isolated water flea ephippia and, under laboratory conditions, hatched a population of females from them. After analyzing the features of their structure, the researchers selected more than 60 individuals for DNA analysis using the author's program of genetic methods. Scientists have deciphered the genome of Daphnia arabica and compared it with the gene sets of other previously described species of water fleas. A combination of SOSS-C genes was found in crustaceans from the Arabian Desert, which allows the body to repair DNA when it is damaged under extreme conditions. It is noteworthy that Daphnia from other climatic zones do not have the corresponding genes. Temporary body of water: Habitat Daphnia arabica. Source: Anna Neretina “This protein complex has previously been found in a number of vertebrates that live in arid environments and is likely able to withstand them. Using SOSS-C genes in biotechnology, it is possible to breed animals and plants better suited for desert regions,” says Anna Neretina, Ph.D. Related materials: Search: "DNA repair genes helped water fleas survive in the desert"

The published study is the first deep generalization on the most dangerous invasive species in Russia, performed using ecological modeling methods and geoinformation technologies, which has no analogues both in Russia and abroad. Biological invasions - the penetration of living organisms beyond the historical distribution area - occur in all countries and on all continents. New (alien to the region) species can belong to various taxonomic groups. Identification of those that pose the greatest threat to biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and economic development is one of the important global tasks for assessing the risk and minimizing the negative consequences of invasions. Lists limited to 100 priority species (TOP-100) were compiled for the whole world in 2000, for Europe in 2009. For Russia, such a list (TOP-100) of the most dangerous invasive species was prepared and published with brief essays in 2018. The list includes a variety of aquatic and terrestrial organisms from bacteria to mammals, vascular plants predominate (29 species), insects ( 15 species) and mammals (10 species). Of this list, 62% of the species were accidentally introduced (brought in) with ballast water, traffic flows, ship fouling, agricultural products, with cultivated plants and plants for landscape design. 33% of the species were deliberately introduced, the remaining 5% spread independently. The homeland of 45% of these species is North and Central America, in second place (34%) is the Asia-Pacific region. An extensive database has been collected on the actual locations of invasive species finds both in the area of their natural (native) distribution and in the area of invasion. This material, in combination with climatic and other environmental parameters, formed the basis for the creation of mathematically correct and high-precision models of habitat maps suitable for the distribution of invasive species. It has been shown that all of them, with the exception of the teredo mollusk (shashen) and king crab, have regions in Russia suitable for their further distribution. Among the species that are characterized by a high potential for further settlement is the tripartite ragweed, a plant that clogs fields and is a strong allergen. Using the obtained models of habitats and GIS technologies, zones with a high concentration of invasive species were identified and cartographically visualized. They are located in the economically developed center of the European part of Russia, in the warm regions of southern Russia, including the coastal waters of the Black Sea, and in the Leningrad Region, including the waters of the Gulf of Finland. In these zones, their highest impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems can be expected, and it is there that measures should be taken to limit invasions and the negative consequences of current and future invasion processes. The study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 21-14-00123). The results are published in the international journal NeoBiota (JCR IF4.2; Q1): Petrosyan V., Osipov F., Feneva I., Dergunova N., Warshavsky A., Khlyap L., Dzialowski A. The TOP-100 most dangerous invasive alien species in Northern Eurasia: invasion trends and species distribution modeling // NeoBiota. 2023. 82: 23–56. https://neobiota.pensoft.net/article/96282/ Fig.1: Main regions of origin of invasive species TOP-100 Fig.2: The number of the most dangerous invasive species recorded in Russia for the first time (red line in panel A) and cumulative curve (AS - blue dots in panels A and B). On panel B - blue curve - non-linear trend AS = exp (-5.73 + 0.000002536* Years^2); red line - 95% confidence interval. Fig.3: Zones (Z) of high concentrations of the most dangerous invasive species The letter A denotes places with an increased amount of different invasive species (Hot spots). Related materials: Press Service of the Russian Science Foundation Indicator.ru Rossiyskaya gazeta Scientific Russia

Using the Paleoenvironmental Distribution Modeling (SDM) method, we reconstructed the range history of the largest member of the Cricetinae subfamily, the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus). Fig.1: Common hamster (Criterus criterus) This abundance of this species in natural biotopes has harshly declined over the past 50 years, which nominated it for the IUCN International Red List with the status of threatened in 2020 (Banaszek et al., 2020). Over the past five years, the authors have carried out 7 expeditions across the territory of Russia and Kazakhstan, collected data on the modern distribution of this species and a lot of material for molecular genetic analysis. It is shown that the phylogeographic structure of the common hamster throughout its giant range (more than 6 million sq. km) includes five main phylogroups: "Pannonia", "North", "E", "Caucasus" and "Altai". Fig.2: Phylogenetic tree obtained by Bayesian analysis of haplotypes based on the cytbgene. Numbers indicate branch support The latter was highlighted in this work. The phylogroup "Altai" occupies the easternmost part of the range from the Trans-Urals in the west to the Krasnoyarsk Territory in the east and covers an area of about 600 thousand square meters. km. The formation of the basis of the modern phylogenetic structure of the species was completed, probably by the end of the first half of the Late Pleistocene. The SDM method showed that the maximum expansion of the potential range of Cricetus cricetus occurred during the interglacials - the Mikulin (Eemian) and the Atlantic Optimum of the Holocene. Fig.3: Scheme maps of the range of the common hamster, built using the SDM method:a) the period of maximum expansion of the range (120 thousand years ago). As shown by paleoclimatic reconstructions, during the entire cold period of the Late Pleistocene, the range was reduced and fragmented into refugia due to the reduction and fragmentation of areas suitable for habitation. Fig.4: Scheme maps of the range of the common hamster, built using the SDM method:b) during the period of narrowing and fragmentation of the range (20 thousand years ago). The ancestral forms of locally distributed mitochondrial lineages diverged and spread during the period from the LGM to the Atlantic optimum. This conclusion is fundamentally at odds with previous ideas about the expansion of the range of this species during cold epochs (Banaszek et al., 2015; Neumann et al., 2005; Korbut et al., 2019). Our hypothesis was confirmed by the analysis of paleontological remains (more than 400 finds). The use of an integrated approach (paleoreconstruction, paleontological finds and genetic analysis of modern material) indicates that the current climatic conditions are optimal for the existence of the species, and the observed sharp decrease in its abundance in natural biotopes indicates the leading role of anthropogenic factors in this process. Fig.5: Scheme maps of the range of the common hamster, built using the SDM method: c) at present. Feoktistova N.Yu., Meschersky I.G., Shenbrot G.I., Puzachenko A.Yu., Meschersky S.I., Bogomolov P.L., Surov A.V., Phylogeography of the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus), paleoclimatic reconstructions of Late Pleistocene colonization Running title: Phylogeography of the common hamster // Integrative Zoology.2022 Related materials: Ministry of Education and Science: "Ordinary-unusual hamster: scientists have reconstructed the history of the habitat of the Red Book species of rodent" RAS: "The history of the range of the Red Book species Cricetus Cricetus has been reconstructed"

At the beginning of this year, the peer-reviewed scientific journal Animals published an article “Is the Lesser Khingan suitable for the restoration of the Amur tiger group? Perspectives in terms of habitats and food supply”. The article was prepared based on the results of the work of a joint project of the IEE RAS and the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Heilongjiang Province (PRC) and is devoted to the assessment of existing biotopes in the area of the historical range of the tiger - the Lesser Khingan mountain system. The results of the study showed that the territory of this mountain system can provide highly suitable habitats for 20-40 Amur tigers, depending on their sex and age. The degree of fragmentation of the habitats of the Amur tiger is also assessed and recommendations are given for organizing intra- and transboundary ecological corridors that will increase the migration permeability of the territory, thereby ensuring genetic exchange between tiger groups. The mountain system of the Lesser Khingan has a geographical connection with that of the Greater Khingan and the Stanovoy Range and is one of the three transboundary mountain systems that cross the Amur River basin in the meridional direction. The territory is remarkable in that it has a high floristic diversity, since it is located at the junction of the Daurian, Manchurian and South Manchurian floristic regions. The low mountains, covered with forests of such a multicomponent composition, have always been included in the category of habitats that are attractive to both wild ungulates and tigers. Due to the effective development of this territory by humans over the past 70 years, tigers have not been observed here, although they were once common representatives of the fauna. During the implementation of the IEE RAS project (2013-2015) to restore the population of the Amur tiger in the north-west of its range in Russia by releasing orphaned tiger cubs specifically prepared for life in the wild in the Amur and Jewish Autonomous Regions (Rozhnov et al., 2021 ) some tigers and their descendants swam across the Amur and visited the territory of China in the region of the Lesser Khingan Mountains. Thus, the success of the implementation of the Russian project also initiated cross-border scientific Russian-Chinese cooperation. The Amur tiger belongs to the category of “key species/indicator species” in many respects: it is endangered, listed in the Red Books of the Russian Federation and China, and on the IUCN Red List. The northwestern part of its range is located in both Russia and China, where the tigers were destroyed by humans. In order to plan for the restoration of the tiger population within the historical range, we first of all assessed the condition and suitability of habitats for tiger prey species (wild ungulates) in the Lesser Khingan Mountains (northern China), which became the starting region for our study. We carried out modeling of suitable habitats and calculations of the degree of their fragmentation, based on satellite imagery information and data collected by us during field expeditions in 2017, 2018, 2019. The resulting species distribution maps were used to build the ecological frame of the study area. The best quality habitats (for the tiger) were designated as ecological network cores, which were connected by calculated green corridors. The results of the work confirmed the possibility of implementing a project to restore the Amur tiger in the Lesser Khingan Mountains in China. As estimated during the study, habitats with a high fitness index value are 19,327.6 km2. According to preliminary estimates, at least 20 males or 43 females can form their habitats on them (the size of the habitats of individuals according to Hernandez-Blanco et al., 2015); the rest of the calculations will depend on the sex ratio. Natural green corridors for tiger movement are located mainly at theedges of forests and are characterized by high variability of tree species. This study describes three potentially significant transboundary corridors and makes recommendations for the establishment of specially protected natural areas (PAs) in the most significant tiger habitats: (a) the foothills and low mountains of northern Lesser Khingan; b) the section between the southeastern Lesser Khingan and the western part of the Wandashan mountain system; (c) a corridor in the foothills and low mountains of the eastern part of Lesser Khingan. Establishment of specially protected natural areas here will make it possible to conserve associated complexes of forest tracts in those places where currently there are no protected areas. In addition, recommendations are provided for tiger habitat restoration activities in key areas. Ссылка: Yachmennikova, A.; Zhu, S.; Kotlov, I.; Sandlersky, R.; Yi, Q.; Rozhnov, V. Is the Lesser Khingan Suitable for the Amur Tiger Restoration? Perspectives with the Current State of the Habitat and Prey Base // Animals 2023, 13, 155. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13010155

The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) is widely used in the modern world for the production of a quality food product containing from 30% to 47% protein and 10–35% fat, which is used both in raising farm animals and in food production for humans. Moreover, the possibility of adding food and municipal waste to the substrate for the cultivation of soldier fly larvae can significantly reduce the cost of production. And the resulting biocomposting product is a valuable fertilizer. However, the presence of opportunistic and especially pathogenic microflora in the original composting substrates can adversely affect the properties of the final product (both the biomass of the larvae themselves and the biocompost). In a paper published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, the researchers showed that when growing black soldier fly larvae on a substrate made from plant waste from the food industry, by the third day of cultivating the larvae, the fungal community of the substrate changes dramatically: out of 16 families found in original substrate and represented mainly by phytopathogenic and endophytic genera, only two representatives remained. In the final biocompost, the mycobiome consisted only of representatives of the yeasts Pichia kudriavzevii and Diutina rugosa. It should be noted that the reasons for such significant changes in the fungal community are not clear. Scientists associate the complete disappearance of mold fungi with mechanical damage to the mycelium during the feeding activity of the larvae and with secreted antimicrobial substances. However, these hypotheses require further confirmation.