Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky. Photo by Olga Merzlyakova / Scientific Russia
Losiny Ostrov is a unique nature reserve in the middle of a metropolis. How does it “feel”? What problems does it experience? What animals and plants live there? How should people behave so as not to disturb it? What are scientists working on there? Professor Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke to the Scientific Russia portal about this.
Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky is a professor at the Russian Academy of Sciences and Deputy Director of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, and a specialist in soil ecology and soil zoology. Comprehensive research conducted under his leadership has covered the impact of industrial pollution and forest fires on soil fauna, quantitative assessment of ecosystem functions performed by soil biota, and the biogeography of soil animals.
— You and your colleagues are currently conducting extensive work in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov National Park. What prompted this?
— Losiny Ostrov National Park is located within two federal subjects: Moscow and the Moscow Region. The Moscow Ring Road separates these two areas. The Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov was transferred to the Moscow government's management, and it is now managed by the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection. It turned out that there was insufficient data on the long-term dynamics and condition of the national park's ecosystems, making it difficult to predict the future development of this specially protected natural area (SPNA) in the metropolis.
— Therefore, a comprehensive inventory of the state of biodiversity in the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov was required, and our institute was involved in this work.
— When did this work begin?
— The pilot project began in 2024: we surveyed the ecosystems of Losiny Ostrov National Park and developed a concept, which began to be implemented in 2025. Full-scale work in the national park began this year.
— What have you discovered?
— The work is devoted to inventorying the fauna, flora, and lichen biota, or lichens — basically, components of all living organisms that inhabit the area. It's a monitoring of all biodiversity. Furthermore, the work includes breakthrough scientific research. For example, we're using modern methods to assess the condition of Losiny Ostrov National Park. Part of the work is conducted using environmental DNA analysis in various environments—water, soil, and tree trunks. All DNA is washed or extracted from the substrate, and then metagenomic analysis is performed, which allows us to understand what organisms are found there.
— We're currently conducting a screening: we've selected the most typical habitats and are studying them. These include soil types common to Losiny Ostrov, bodies of water, and the bark of common trees. This method can identify the presence of dangerous pathogenic microorganisms. It should be noted that we haven't yet been able to identify anything dangerous in Losiny Ostrov.
— According to your research, Losiny Ostrov is healthy?
— In terms of pathogens, yes. To our pleasant surprise, it turned out that the state of Losiny Ostrov's ecosystem is also quite good. Basically, it's a typical temperate forest, comparable to a similar forest somewhere in the Moscow or Ryazan regions.
— Considering that it's located right in the middle of a metropolis?
— Yes. And that's what makes it unique: such a large, untouched tract of forest within a metropolis doesn't exist anywhere else in Europe, or perhaps even in the world. One of the reasons for studying Losiny Ostrov was the need to preserve this unique ecosystem within the city while also allowing people living around it—and we are a huge city—to interact with nature, gain knowledge and aesthetic pleasure from it, without disturbing the ecosystem. The department has set us the following task: to provide recommendations on how to make informed management decisions to protect ecosystems while simultaneously protecting the environment and allowing people to interact with it.
— Does Losiny Ostrov really need such protection? After all, how many years has it been living within the metropolis without any help from you, in good condition as you say?
— It's certainly in good condition, but if you go to any doctor and get examined, they're bound to find something. Losiny Ostrov is the same way—of course, it has its own 'ills,' its own vulnerabilities. Firstly, it's exposed to city noise: the Moscow Ring Road and general noise pollution, especially around the perimeter. Plus, there's accumulated pollution: heavy metals transmitted by air, mainly from cars. Currently, these heavy metals don't exceed the norms for key ecosystem components, but we do find them in soils and bottom sediments of water bodies. And, of course, one of the most serious 'diseases' of the forest is the penetration of invasive species. Currently, the forest is quite rich in box elder maple, Sakhalin knotweed, and various goldenrods." These are all invasive species that are highly aggressive, hence their name: they displace native biota and actively take over space. For example, if the Sakhalin buckwheat (or knotweed) grows, it overtakes the space underneath and around it, all native plant species die, and the insect and soil invertebrate communities begin to deteriorate. Serious disruptions have now been identified in many local areas where these invasive species have spread.
— How did they get there?
— On the one hand, many invasive species spread on their own: that's what makes them invasive: they easily penetrate ecosystems. On the other hand, forest management wasn't always clearly regulated—our legislation doesn't prohibit the planting of alien plant species, so the same maple trees that have now proven dangerous to ecosystems were often used to naturally decorate avenues and paths. A combination of factors led to the introduction of invasive species into Losiny Ostrov Park. But now one of the challenges is figuring out what to do with them next to preserve the ecosystem.
— What are the options? What can you do with them?
— Recently, the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation (ASNC) proposed cutting down all the box elder maple in Moscow. There's no doubt that they need to be controlled, and quite possibly even cut down and replaced with native species like linden, oak, and spruce. We have many good native species that will be resistant to local pests and won't become a gateway for new insect species. It's a perfectly viable idea. At the very least, it's entirely feasible to do this over a small area—maybe not within Moscow, but within Losiny Ostrov. It's a different matter if there are already entire communities formed by this maple. It's practically a natural forest, and cutting it down will, on the one hand, change the ecosystem, and on the other, obviously spark public discontent, with people saying we're cutting down a national park. Consequently, the problem is not only environmental but also political.
— So you need to find a balance between where to cut and where not to. You said these invasive plants bring in alien insect species. Are they present in Losiny Ostrov National Park?
— Yes, there are quite a few of those insects, as well as other invertebrates. For example, there's the Spanish slug; it's already infiltrated there. I'm not saying it necessarily arrived via the box elder, but that's a possible route.
— How does this slug get into Losiny Ostrov Park?
— Humanity is very mobile these days. It's not like 200-300 years ago, when everyone spent their entire lives in their village: born there, died there. We transport goods, we travel long distances ourselves, and this is especially true for soil-bound invertebrates—they can easily travel on car wheels, carrying planting material. Many different routes are open to them."
— And a slug can attach itself to a car wheel?
— Maybe not the slug itself, but its eggs, which are much more resistant to such stresses.
— Does this slug pose any danger to the ecosystem?
— It's dangerous because it can eat anything. It eats many native plant species, but almost none of our predators eat it. One of the goals of our work is to develop methods for combating this slug. We're working on it.
— How can we combat slugs?
— So far, we can't think of anything better than physical extermination. Perhaps some volunteer programs could work, because we need to collect them before they go into hybernation. For example, if you donate a bucket of slugs, you've done a good deed and get a hat. Isn't that a reward?
— Won't you harm the ecosystem by doing this? Perhaps it's already so ingrained that destroying it, like the Chinese did with the sparrows, would cause irreparable damage.
Konstantin Bronislavovich Gongalsky. Photo by Olga Merzlyakova / Scientific Russia
— No. The slug arrived just a few years ago; this is the very first stage of the infestation. We still have a chance to stop it now, while box elder is already difficult to remove from ecosystems; that's a more complex issue.
— Are there any insects that have also invaded the ecosystem?
— Many species expand their ranges, having arrived here, say, 100 years ago, and we now perceive them as native species. For example, in our Moscow region, in Moscow, there are about a dozen species of woodlice. Almost all of them came here from Europe, although this happened many decades ago. If you look at some old collections from Moscow, they were recorded there already so far back. Although these are European species, invasive. But they haven't destroyed our ecosystems—they've become part of them.
— Have you ever encountered a particular species unexpectedly?
— These aren't my personal impressions, but rather the impressions of our team, which consists of over a hundred people. Firstly, a great many orchids have been discovered in Losiny Ostrov, including orchids listed in the Moscow Red Book. At least 100 species of insects listed in the Moscow Red Book have been found, and we see a very wide variety. A large number of birds were discovered in Losiny Ostrov, including the azure tit, which is listed in the Russian Red Book. It had not been recorded in Moscow for over 20 years. Some suspect that Losiny Ostrov has not been thoroughly researched and that the azure tit had been nesting there for the past 20 years, but for ornithologists, this sighting was a significant event. Several previously undiscovered bat species were also recorded.
— Let's talk about the 'king' of Losiny Ostrov (from Russian - “Moose Island”). There are a lot of reports these days of moose wandering onto the highway, the Moscow Ring Road, and the city streets. How should we respond to this? Is this a normal occurrence or something extraordinary?
— Within the scope of our ongoing work, the moose is a separate focus, a separate section, managed by our mammalogists. Right now, we're primarily trying to determine how many moose inhabit the Moscow section of Losiny Ostrov Park.
— Have you figured it out?
— 12–14 individuals. Apparently, this is the optimal number that can feed on the resources available in the national park without additional feeding or migration. One of our tasks is to determine whether these moose are sedentary or constantly on the move. They were fitted with special collars—not all of them, only four so far, because moose can only be tagged in winter, when they're walking in the snow. They're shot with a tranquilizer, and you have to track how far they walk before they fall asleep somewhere. This can only be done with snow. We started working last year—there was very little snow, and it wasn't until the very end of winter that we were able to tag a few individuals. But the four moose that our colleagues tagged show a fairly strong territorial fidelity: each has its own home range, although some venture into neighboring areas to find more suitable vegetation for feeding. But, of course, during the rutting season, their movements become significantly more active, especially for males, so they may venture beyond the park's boundaries, onto the road, and across pedestrian paths. This is natural for the animal, as there are no physical barriers.
— Usually, when people encounter a moose, they're amazed, grab their gadgets, and start taking videos and photos... Is that allowed?
— You can do that of course, but remember that a moose is a wild animal and you're not in a zoo. Therefore, you should behave as calmly as possible and avoid getting too close.
— Is it dangerous?
— Yes, they have very strong and sharp hooves; they can cause quite a lot of injury, if not kill. And most importantly: if you have a dog, you must put it on a leash and keep it close, because to a dog, a moose is a wild animal and it starts to go into a hunting frenzy, while to a moose, a dog is a predator. That's where the most unpredictable things begin. We're currently trying to amend the regulations so that dogs must be kept on a leash while walking on Losiny Ostrov. This isn't a city park, and I'd like to emphasize that. We're entering a forest. The term "national park" is a bit confusing. In fact, a national park is almost the same as a nature reserve. You're entering a protected natural area, and if you're bringing a dog, you shouldn't let it loose. It shouldn't destroy birds' nests, catch squirrels or martens, or interact with moose. This is one of the main reasons why moose can become aggressive.
— I recently watched a video of people motorboating along the Moscow River, and two moose swimming alongside them. They were completely calm, as if such a swim was a natural occurrence for them.
— That's right. It's a well-known fact that moose are good swimmers; they can cross bodies of water, but they also adapt to the presence of humans. One of our research areas is assessing stress levels based on moose hormone levels. As our colleagues have shown, the stress levels of moose in the Moscow part of Losiny Ostrov are roughly the same as in the Kaluzhskie Zaseki Nature Reserve, where there are no humans at all.
— You study soil organisms yourself. What's interesting, surprising, or unique about them?
— We have quite a few employees working on various groups of soil animals. We've discovered several rare species, and some are new to Moscow, such as ciliates and several species of enchytraeids. In our work and in the recommendations we provide to the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Protection, we strive to formulate practical advice on how to further manage this ecosystem and minimize damage, including to soil animals. For example, we suggest using materials that won't “seal” the soil by preventing air penetration, prevent soil compaction, and create some kind of flooring. Regarding invertebrates and insects in particular, we also try to talk about the need to reduce light pollution. This is one of the most serious impacts the city has on forests. For example, parks like Vorobyovy Gory or Tsaritsyno are heavily illuminated, resulting in virtually no insects remaining because they are drawn to the light and die. This shouldn't be done.
— What should be done then?
— The forest shouldn't be as bright as daylight all the time. Perhaps we shouldn't install lanterns along the paths, but instead use spotlights, minimal lighting, if the path is just for walking. Around the perimeter of the forest, it might be useful for city residents, but too much light is detrimental to its inhabitants, especially insects, even birds. I didn't mention at the beginning of our conversation that another important result of our first year of work was that we zoned the national park, designating areas that must remain without interference. This is a protected area.
— Why the “no interference” policy?
— The value of Losiny Ostrov is that it's a single, unbroken patch of forest. It was once cut by the Moscow Ring Road, but we must try not to cut it any further. The fact that moose and other large mammals maintain their populations within Moscow is only possible because they have a large, unbroken habitat. Even if we just build a path with streetlights, it would split the habitat in two. That's why we proposed establishing a protected area.
— How does the department respond to your advice?
— To our pleasant surprise, the department took it seriously. "We'll do what you said." That's great, and not some kind of public flattery. Involving scientific teams in making management decisions is a highly commendable effort, demonstrating that the environmental agency cares for the territory entrusted to it not by making spontaneous decisions, but by basing its work on scientific research.
— You’ve explained what to do when encountering moose. Now let's talk about how to behave in general in Losiny Ostrov to avoid harming it.
— You need to remember that you're not in a park, but in a forest. The taiga deep in Siberia or in the northern European part of Russia requires the same attitude. There are certainly some mosquitoes there that will bite, and ticks that might land on you. Therefore, you need to dress appropriately and avoid wearing shorts in the forest. This is for your own protection. To avoid harming the forest itself, remember these simple rules: don't make noise, don't light fires, and don't pick plants. These are prohibited, but we don't always know all the rules. Even simply taking your trash with you is also a way to protect nature. A discarded cigarette butt or even a glass bottle (due to the lens effect) can start a fire. If there are rules, you must follow them, because they have a basis. If it says you can't leave the paths, it's not because someone wants to count everyone or restrict your freedom, but because otherwise the soil will become compacted, and the soil-dwelling animals won't be able to breathe. We hope that the rules we've refined will be shared with the local population. It's crucial to communicate that research is currently underway in the national park and it needs to be helped, not hindered.
— Have you had any problems with local residents?
— Sometimes. For example, we were given a permit to drive our personal vehicles because we needed to bring in some heavy equipment—traps, camera traps, and set them up. The locals care about the forest: people attack us, block cars, and even the road. We have to explain and show our permits—only then do they begin to understand that we're not poachers. But it's great that people care about the fate of the national park; it's clear that this is their home territory, and they strive to protect it. It would be good to let people know about this program before these clashes with scientists erupted. We're working on it, and the department is also talking about our joint activities.
— There are currently a lot of Losiny Ostrov defenders, green activists, who gather in large groups and make posters. Do you collaborate with them?
— We try to convey to people that our goal is to study this forest, understand how it functions, and ensure its preservation for future generations. We share the information we receive with the Moscow Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection, and they take it very seriously. We hope that the collaboration between the environmental agency and scientists will help maintain the national park in good condition for many years to come.
