Regualar Readings in memory of Academician V.E.Sokolov took place on February 3, 2020 at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS. The Readings were opened by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Academician V.E. Sokolov Foundation, Academician Dmitry Sergeevich Pavlov, making the introductory statement. Vladimir Evgenievich Sokolov led our Institute for more than 30 years, so on this day it is important for the employees of the Institute of IPEE of the Russian Academy of Sciences not only to honor the memory of the great scientist, but also to share the Institute’s achievements over the past year. This year marks the 85th anniversary of the Institute, the 50th anniversary of the Joint Russian-Mongolian Integrated Biological Expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the ASM, and the extension of the work of the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition. In 2019, the three-year period of the reporting sessions of the Institute ended and this year the second round begins. Dmitry Sergeyevich noted that the work in all the areas that Vladimir Evgenievich Sokolov formed and started continued. As part of the Readings in memory of Academician V.E. Sokolov a presentation was made by scientists of IPEE RAS. Alexey Vladimirovich Tiunov, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Soil Zoology and General Entomology, presented the report “Soil Ecology in the Tropics: Vietnam Platform”. Of the young scientists, Polina Yuryevna Dgebuadze, Ph.D., made a report "The symbiotic relationship of gastropod mollusks of the Eulimidae family and echinoderms," and Ph.D. Nechaev Dmitry Igorevich - "From the study of the hearing of dolphins to the tuning of human cochlear implants." After the reports, professor and Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Biological Sciences Yuri Yulianovich Dgebuadze awarded the laureates of the Academician V.E. Sokolov prize for 2019. The laureates were Lavrenchenko Leonid Aleksandrovich, Head of the Laboratory of Microevolution of Mammals, and Ph.D. Vasilyeva Nina Aleksandrovna and Ph.D. Becker Evgenia Igorievna in the nomination “Young Talented Scientists”.    

At the end of November 2019, a meeting was held between the vice president of the Academy of Sciences of Heilongjiang Province (PRC) and the executives of the IPEE RAS. During the meeting, they discussed the results of a three-year cooperation on two joint projects of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS and the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Academy of Sciences of Heilongjiang Province, signing the documents confirming the continuation of joint Russian-Chinese research over the next three years. Based on the results of cooperation of past years, plans for further work have been developed. In the course of the project of assessing the suitability of habitats in the mountain range of Maly Khingan in Heilongjiang Province for the restoration of the Amur tiger, key nuclear zones were identified in the territory: areas primarily subject to reforestation, the structure of ecological corridors, the territory of which is subject to special protection. The study was conducted on the basis of Earth remote sensing data with field verification for three seasons of field studies. The simulation also took into account the current state of the tiger hunting ground in the study area. The results of another project were also summed up - a joint work of scientists from the Institute of Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences with Chinese colleagues in the Sanjiang lowland, during which the changes in ecosystems that occur with an experimental increase in the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere were studied. It has been established that, with an increase in CO2 concentration from 370 ppm to 700 ppm, the population density of soil animals significantly increases (more than double the initial concentration), but the structure of the community of soil animals is slightly changed. Similar results were previously demonstrated for the vegetation cover of this territory. The discovered patterns give hope that, despite the global increase in the concentration of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere, ecosystems will not respond with qualitative, but with quantitative changes, the consequences of which will not have any significant effect on humanity. In the course of further joint work, plans have been made to study the effect of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration on the population of soil animals of forest ecosystems. In addition, the expansion of scientific cooperation and the increase in areas of joint work were discussed. In particular, the study of the mechanisms of restoration of soil fauna after fires and the development of biological methods for the disposal of rice waste.

On November 29, 2019, a round table was held at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, at which the main results of the study of the Baikal seal in 2019 were summed up, as well as the relevant directions for the study and conservation of endemic for 2020 were identified. In the framework of the meeting, specialists of A. N. Severtsov Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about the results of an expedition organized in the summer of 2019 together with the Lake Baikal Foundation, the Baikal branch of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, as well as the FSBI Zapovednoe Podlemorye within the project “Baikal seal Year". The experts had the following tasks: catching seals in the Ushkany Islands, completely eliminating the probability of death of individuals, carrying out the necessary measurements and sampling for genetic, hormonal, toxicological analyzes, as well as satellite-tagging seals. An equally important purpose of the trip is to assess the total number of seals on the rookeries. Dmitry Glazov, zoologist, marine mammals specialist, leading engineer of the laboratory of sensory systems of vertebrates of the IPEE RAS, expedition participant and researcher (R&D) spoke about the details of field work and the successful marking of 15 individuals with satellite beacons and the scientists having taken samples from 21 animals. Stock counting was carried out from the shore, from a boat, as well as using an unmanned aerial vehicle. V.I. Chernook, a researcher at the St. Petersburg branch of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), shared the results of aerial surveys of the Baikal seal, which were carried out in 2019 in the northern part of Lake Baikal. These works made it possible to determine the optimal characteristics of aerial survey equipment, as well as the optimal heights and patterns for observing seal dens. A proposal was put forward to expand the territory of areal survey accounting next year to the entire area of ice on lake Baikal, as the key habitats of the Baikal seal can change throughout the year. A.I. Boltnev, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of Laboratory of Marine Mammals, VNIRO, emphasized the need to monitor annual measurements of birth rates and assess the endemic population, study annual changes in the structure of animal nutrition, generational survival rates, and develop recommendations for maintaining ecosystem sustainability and managing biological resources. According to the expert, this program can help develop measures to maintain the well-being of the mammal population in conditions of intensive fishing. Project Manager of the Lake Baikal Foundation Ekaterina Petrunina spoke about the origins of the project and its social block. A new round of research on the Baikal seal began with the Foundation initiating a scientific program to study endemic in the summer of 2018. In November 2018, at the international conference in Arkhangelsk, the main directions of the program for the study and conservation of Baikal endemic were presented, which formed the basis of scientific work. Thanks to the support of private donations to the Foundation, the charity foundation "The World Around You" and the Presidential Grants Fund, a seal was tagged, which was described by the specialists from the A. N. Severtsov institute. In October of this year, the Foundation also launched an environmental online lesson on the Baikal seals on the Stepik platform, which was watched by more than 30 thousand students across Russia. Ekaterina Petrunina emphasized that it is important to form the right habits in relation to the environment in the citizens, to increase the reach of people who are aware of the threats to the life and health of the endemic. Environmental education for adults through children using online tools is an effective practice. According to the results of the round table, experts came to the conclusion that it is too early to draw global conclusions about the state of the population of the Baikal seal. In addition, the question of the exact size of the Baikal seal population remains open at the moment. Scientists have yet to more accurately determine its abundance, animal health and the influence of external factors on the endemic. All experts emphasized the importance of continuing the project. A proposal was made to invite representatives of government and business to cooperation. A proposal was also voiced to create an accessible theoretical base with the results of all current developments and studies for establishing scientific communication and cooperation in order to protect the Baikal seal.

Full-scale research aerial surveys of cetaceans “Flights with dolphins” were carried out in most of the Black Sea off the Russian coast of the Caucasus (from the Kerch Strait to Adler) over the sea with a distance of up to 200 km from shore. Aerial surveys were carried out on board the domestic La-8 amphibious aircraft. The project operator was the Clean Seas Foundation. The scientific part was carried out by a team of leading specialists in mammals of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS (IPE RAS) - a permanent partner of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia in conducting research on marine mammals. Over 6 days of flight, an area of more than 48 thousand km² was examined, the total length of the route was 3195.8 km. During the research, scientists managed to locate all three species of marine mammals living in the Black Sea. Bottlenose dolphins were most often recorded: for 124 encounters, more than 402 individuals. In second place are the white casks: for 92 meetings, about 560 individuals. The most common porpoise (Azovka) - 16 individuals. At the same time, according to scientists, there is no threat of population decline, since the flights took place much further from the coastline than the usual feeding ground for this species. During the expedition in the Black Sea, the scientists found a lot of garbage: both separately floating objects (ropes, buoys, plastic, pieces of fishing nets), and accumulations of garbage. The most significant concentrations of waste were found in the region of the eastern central whirlpool and at a distance of approximately 50-60 km from the coast. “The general picture of the state of the Black Sea cetacean population will be obtained only after the data obtained by Russian scientists are combined with data from studies of other countries of the Black Sea coast. As such, the work continues, and we really hope that scientific “Dolphin flights” will become an annual tradition”, commented Vasily Bogoslovsky, Director General of the Clean Seas Foundation. Thanks to the implementation of an international project by two European organizations ACCOBAMC and EMBLAS plus throughout the coastal waters of the Black Sea countries, for the first time Russia was able to join this program to study and evaluate the current state of endemic (living only in the Black Sea) mammalian populations. The results will bring scientists one step closer to the global goal of the project - to preserve the habitat and life of the vulnerable and Red Book marine life. Photo: Clean Seas Foundation, Olga Shpak  

Since 2018, the Lake Baikal Foundation has been carrying out a set of activities aimed at studying the Baikal seal and forming a careful attitude to it. As part of the project “The Year of the Baikal Seal”, in July 2019, a unique expedition was organized to the Ushkany Islands by a group of specialists from the Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems of A.N. Severtsov RAS, the Baikal branch of the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), as well as representatives of the FSBI “Reserved Podlemorye”. The project “Year of the Baikal Seal” was supported by the Presidential Grants Fund. Scientists shared with us their impressions of the results of field work, and talked about the significance of the project. Solovieva Maria Andreevna, zoologist, specialist in marine mammals, leading engineer of the laboratory of behavior and behavioral ecology of mammals of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of RAS, member of the expedition and performer of research: - We had an old dream to work with the Baikal seal. Thanks to the Lake Baikal Foundation, we were able to achieve it. As part of the expedition, field work was carried out, during which we installed 15 satellite transmitters on Baikal seals. Until now, many seals have never been tagged, they have been equipped with satellite transmitters merely once many years ago. Materials for genetic studies were selected from each of the captured animals to study hormonal status, various chemical pollutants, and so on. Now we are working on the processing of these field data, we receive information from satellite tags and by February we are preparing a final report with all the results. The Baikal seal is an amazing animal, unlike any other. We were able to carry out everything that we planned - this is the most important thing. The work was carried out within the time constraints, all the participants did their share of work, which allowed us to achieve high results. The project has left only the best of impressions. Shumeyko Natalia Ramovna, Leading Engineer of the Laboratory for Behavior and Behavioral Ecology of Mammals of the A.N. Severtsov IPEE RAS, member of the expedition and field researcher: - We cannot yet disclose all the results of the research, as the experts agreed not to publicize them before preparing the publications. But we can say that the results are, of course, amazing. In general, the expedition was successful, in a well-coordinated team, with good animals, on the amazing Lake Baikal. Everyone was very pleased.

  World Fund for Nature’s Barents Branch launches a three-year project to conserve the Red Book Atlantic walrus that inhabits the Oran Islands. This was reported by the coordinator of the environmental projects department Margarita Leskova. Together with World Fund for Nature, the Russian Arctic national park, scientists of the Marine Mammals Research and Expedition Center and the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences will work on the project, Interfax reports. The Oran Islands are the northernmost islands of the Novaya Zemlya archipelago (Arkhangelsk region), their total area is about 3 square kilometers. Environmentalists are concerned about growing threats to Atlantic walruses due to climate change, pollution of the oceans and increased tourist flow to the Arctic. Experts still do not know exactly how many individuals live on the islands. Scientists intend to install camera traps, and mark animals with satellite tags to estimate which water areas near the islands they use and where they migrate, leaving the rookery in late autumn. As reported by News.ru, a record number of walruses was observed off the northwestern coast of the Yamal Peninsula. According to estimates, there were about 300 individuals.  

Journalists of The Moscow Times talked to our employee Alexei Kotov, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, about why he signed the report “Warning scientists of the world about the climate emergency”. And about why only 4 Russian scientists did this. In total, the report was signed by 11 thousand scientists from around the world. It is published in the British scientific journal BioScience in the Opinions section. Follow the link to read the material in English.

IPEE RAS specialists Dmitry Glazov, Olga Shpak, Natalia Shumeyko, Svetlana Artemyeva, Olga Titova, Ilya Meshchersky and Maria Solovyeva will participate in the International Marine Mammal Conference in Barcelona on December 9-12, 2019, along with more than 2500 scientists, students and researchers who have dedicated their lives to study and conservation of marine animals. The main theme of this year's conference is Together for Science and Conservation. A large number of reports are devoted to climate change, ocean pollution and the reduction in the number of populations and species of marine mammals. The norm for modern researchers has been the use of advanced technologies - drones, underwater robots, autonomous sonar equipment, etc. The conference is attended by over 2500 people from 95 countries who will present 627 oral presentations and 1077 poster presentations. A large delegation of colleagues from various institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, universities, and environmental organizations is participating as well. Russian students take an active part and even schoolchildren from one of the Moscow schools presented their poster at the conference. In addition to plenary lectures, several sections, round tables, and meetings are held daily in parallel. This year a format of short 5-minute reports, which present advanced research in a concise form, is widely used.