Everything in nature is regulated - from the numbers of vital molecules in our bloodstream to the number of lions in an African savanna. Over the past fifty years, two revolutions have unfolded in biology in understanding the regulation of life at these two scales. In this lecture, Dr. Carroll will discuss the discovery of the "The Serengeti Rules," the ecological rules that regulate the numbers and kinds of animals and plants in any given place, and how they are being applied to restore some of the greatest wildernesses on the planet.   The International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) was established in 1919 as a non- governmental and non-profit organization comprising of National Academies and international scientific Associations and Societies. Since then IUBS is functioning as a global platform of scientists from all disciplines and nationalities for cooperation, interaction and collaboration to promote research, training, and education in biological sciences. To commemorate completion of 100 years of promoting excellence in biological sciences, IUBS has launched a Webinar Series bringing the best of all disciplines to discuss evolution, taxonomy, ecology, biodiversity, and other topics that represent unified biology and the topics of prime importance to address contemporary problems such as climate change, endangered species, food and nutrition, health etc. The first lecture of the webinar series was delivered by Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize Laureate on “Forgetting How to Tend the Soil” on 2nd October 2020.

Available for download now is the monography of S.V.Naydenko «Reproductive biology of cats: mechanisms of increasing reproductive success». The book examines the features of feline reproductive biology, affecting behavior associated with finding a mating partner, changes in marking and acoustic activity during this period, changes in the hormonal status of animals associated with reproduction, as well as the specific mechanism of functioning of the corpus luteum in the genus lynx. The work examines the mechanisms of increasing reproductive success in a promiscuous mating system (an increase in the intensity of ovulation, embryonic mortality, sperm competition), as well as factors affecting postembryonic mortality in feline litters. Intended for biologists, zoologists and students of biological studies. The monograph can be downloaded from this LINK

Sixth International Symposium, "Invasion of Alien Species in Holarctic. Borok-VI" , to be held on October 11-15, 2021 (depending on the number of participants the Symposium will be held either in Borok place, on the base of Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia or in Uglich city, Yaroslavl Oblast, Russia) International Symposium "INVASION OF ALIEN SPECIES IN HOLARCTIC: BOROK" was first organized 20 years ago and has become regular. In these years, the global problem of biological invasions of alien species is remaining topical for humankind.   The main goals of the Sixth Symposium are: • Consolidation of efforts to study the processes of spread of alien plant and animal species in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems; • Exchange of information on the vectors, causes, scales, and regularities of species spread; changes in their properties in new aquatic and terrestrial habitats; • Assessment of the role of the alien species in the transformation of endemic communities; evaluation of social and economic consequences of biological invasions as well as development of risk assessment approaches; • Discussion on the issues related to terminology, theory of species spread and study methods.   Themes of presentations include the following topics: • Spatial and temporal dynamics of biological invasions in the Holarctic: 1) invasions in marine ecosystems; 2) invasions in freshwater ecosystems; 3) invasions in terrestrial ecosystems; 4) paleoinvasions. • Genetic and evolutionary aspects of biological invasions.

Unfortunately many countries are still strongly affected by the Corona virus; there are no regular flights and the possibility to gather together many people. We consider it would be unreasonable to hold the Workshop this year. Instead, we want to hold it next year, most likely between the 20th and 30th of May 2021.  Please save the date! We hope that you and your families are as well as you can be during these challenging times.

The application of documents for post-graduate studies in A.N.Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS in 2020 will take place from 1st to 25th of September. The entrance exams will be held from 1 to 23 October. The results of postgraduate enrollment will be declared from November 1, 2020. Detailed information can be found on the Institute's website http://sev-in.ru/ru/postupausim

First Lecture of Webinar Series "Forgetting How to Tend the Soil” by Prof. Rattan Lal, this year’s World Food Prize Awardee Date: 2nd October 2020 Time: 1:00 PM GMT About the Speaker Prof. Rattan Lal is a Distinguished University Professor and Director of the Carbon Management and Sequestration Centre at The Ohio State University. He is an Adjunct Professor at the University Iceland, and holds a Chair of Soil Science and Goodwill Ambassador position with Inter-American Institute of Cooperation in Agriculture, San Jose, Costa Rica. He was President of the Soil Science Society of America (2006-2008), and the International Union of Soil Sciences (2017-2018). He researches soil carbon sequestration for food and climate security, conservation agriculture, and soil health. He has authored 955 journal articles, mentored 360 researchers, h-index of 150 and 101,811 citations. He is laureate of the 2018 GCHERA World Agriculture Prize, 2018 Glinka World Soil Prize, 2019 Japan Prize, 2019 U.S. Awasthi IFFCO Award, 2020 IICA Chair in Soil Science and Goodwill Ambassador, and the 2020 World Food Prize. (Image credit: Kenneth D. Chamberlain, Photographer, The Ohio State University, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences)