Understanding the long-term dynamics of hydrological changes in mire ecosystems is critical for predicting their responses to climate changes and managing carbon-rich peat deposits. This study reconstructs the late-Holocene hydrological dynamics of a mire at the southern boundary of the mixed forests of the East European Plain, with a focus on non-Sphagnum (consisting of wood and grass remains) peats. We apply a multiproxy approach, utilising plant macrofossil analysis, testate amoeba assemblages, and peat humification measurements as proxies of past moisture conditions. The data reveal that the main changes in vegetation cover over the last 3000 years correspond well to climatic variation. However, the agreement among the hydrological reconstructions based on three proxies was good only at the initial stage of peat accumulation and greatly reduced with the predominance of trees in vegetation cover. Moreover, our findings show that Sphagnum-dominated peats of an adjacent mire were characterised by a better agreement among hydrological proxies. Overall, despite the agreement among various proxies can vary depending on the type of peat deposits, an application of a multi-proxy approach can reveal complimentary aspects of the hydrological regime variation in mires.
This study presents the results of entomofauna research conducted in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Central European Russia) over a 90-year period. For this purpose, information from publications up to 2011 was used, as well as the results of our own research, which was carried out in 2008–2025. Over 1936–2010, a total of 1714 insect species were recorded in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. In the subsequent period up to 2025, additionally 4576 species were identified, bringing the total documented insect fauna to 6290 species. This considerable increase is primarily attributed to the intensification of entomological research, including the expansion of survey methods, the enlargement of study areas, and the involvement of a greater number of taxonomists for species identification. In recent years, three species (Lonchaea cervisiae, Lonchaea cryptica, Lydella villosoventralis) have been described newly to science from the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, along with over 40 species previously unrecorded in Russia and Europe. However, despite this progress, biodiversity research in Protected Areas face several challenges, particularly the «crisis in taxonomy» and «crisis in faunistics», which hinder comprehensive species assessment and conservation efforts. To ensure high-quality biodiversity studies, several key measures must be implemented: (1) expanding the surveyed area or ensuring maximum habitat coverage; (2) employing a full range of study and sampling methods, from traditional techniques to advanced acoustic and molecular-genetic approaches; (3) strengthening collaboration with taxonomists specialising in specific insect groups; (4) engaging citizen scientists and volunteers in faunistic research through accessible collection methods.
The study of the fauna of aquatic and semi-aquatic habitats is of interest due to the ecotonic nature of these communities. A study of the Trichoptera fauna in the Republic of Mordovia has been conducted. An annotated list of 95 species from 48 genera and 16 families has been compiled, based on identification of 3168 specimens of larvae and adults. Of these, 91 species are confirmed by personal collections of the authors, and four species (Hydropsyche ornatula, Lenarchus bicornis, Limnephilus borealis, Setodes viridis) based on literature data only. The families are Limnephilidae (38 species), Leptoceridae (16 species), Phryganeidae (11 species), Polycentropodidae (seven species), Hydroptilidae (five species), Hydropsychidae (five species), Psychomyiidae (three species), Molannidae (two species), Rhyacophilidae (one species), Glossosomatidae (one species), Philopotamidae (one species), Ecnomidae (one species), Brachycentridae (one species), Lepidostomatidae (one species), Goeridae (one species), Sericostomatidae (one species). The dominant species were Anatolia brevipennis (17.74%) and Potamophylax latipennis (17.40%). The most common species are Limnephilus rhombicus (6.29%), Hydropsyche contubernalis (5.27 %), Phryganea grandis (4.90%). Two families (Lepidostomatidae, Sericostomatidae), and 22 species (Agraylea sexmaculata, Orthotrichia tragetti, Oxyethira flavicornis, Lype phaeopa, Psychomyia pusilla, Holocentropus insignis, Plectrocnemia conspersa, Polycentropus irroratus, Lepidostoma hirtum, Anabolia laevis, Ironoquia dubia, Limnephilus affinis, L. auricula, L. dispar, L. elegans, Potamophylax nigricornis, Rhadicoleptus alpestris, Sericostoma personatum, Mystacides niger, Oecetis furva, O. lacustris, O. ochracea) have been found for the first time in the Republic of Mordovia. The list of Trichoptera of Protected Areas of the Republic of Mordovia has been expanded to 86 species. Among them, 74 Trichoptera species have been registered in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, and 50 species have been found in the National Park «Smolny». The present study has identified the following rare and locally distributed species: Hydropsyche bulgaromanorum, Hagenella clathrata, Semblis phalaenoides, Parasetodes respersellus. Polycentropus irroratus, and Rhadicoleptus alpestris, which are listed for the first time in the fauna of the Middle Volga Region. The core of the Trichoptera fauna of the Republic of Mordovia consists of Palearctic (51.5%) and Western Palearctic (25.0%) species. The proportion of Holarctic and European species is 14.0% and 9.5%, respectively.
Extensive trapping of Diptera in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia) has led to the discovery of three new species of Lonchaeidae in the genus Lonchaea. These were formally described between 2022 and 2025. A summary is provided here of the records of these species, their general taxonomy, ecology and wider distribution.
Formicidae (hereinafter – ants) are key components of terrestrial ecosystems and serve as effective indicators of biodiversity status. The study of the ant fauna is particularly important in Protected Areas, where natural species assemblages are preserved. Based on samples collected using Barber traps, Moericke yellow pan traps, and Malaise traps in 2021–2024, a comparative assessment of ant diversity was conducted in the National Park «Smolny» and the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia). In the National Park «Smolny», 38 ant species were identified, while 41 species were found in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. The highest number of species was collected using Barber traps (32 species in the National Park «Smolny» and 36 species in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve). In the species abundance structure of ants in the National Park «Smolny», there were fewer species with low occurrence compared to the Mordovia State Nature Reserve. Additionally, the Pielou evenness index and Simpson diversity index values are higher in the National Park «Smolny», both for all methods and for each used method. Analysis of accumulation curves for observed and expected species numbers with increasing sample size demonstrated that Barber traps were more effective than Moericke yellow pan traps and Malaise traps for studying ants. Multispecies ant communities were examined in five habitat types across three functional land-use zones in the National Park «Smolny». The study revealed typical differences between ant communities in open and forest habitats, while similar habitats in different functional zones showed no such differences. The obtained results indicate that long-term passive sampling provides reliable and representative data on ant species composition and occurrence. Among the used methods of sampling, Barber pitfall traps proved the most efficient and they are recommended as a primary tool for myrmecological sampling. The complementary use of Moericke yellow pan traps and Malaise traps is suggested to improve detection of alate individuals, thereby offering valuable additional information for species identification.
Chiroptera (hereinafter – bats) are the only order of mammals capable of active flight, which has a strong influence on their diet and the structure of their parasite fauna. Of interest is the study of bat helminths, which are characterised by a high degree of host specificity, indicating a high degree of ecological isolation of bats and longtime of their co-evolution with parasites. The aim of this paper was to study the species diversity of bat helminths in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia). In 2022–2024, we studied the helminth fauna of eight bat species at 17 localities in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, using the full helminthological dissection method. In total, 29 species of parasites were registered in the studied bat species, including 20 trematode species, two cestode species and seven nematode species. We revealed the highest species diversity of the parasite composition in Nyctalus noctula (17 species), followed by Vespertilio murinus (12 species), Pipistrellus nathusii, Myotis daubentonii, M. dasycneme, and M. brandtii (ten species each). The lowest number of parasitic worms was recorded in Pipistrellus pygmaeus (nine species). Helminths were not detected in the Plecotus auritus individuals examined. A comparison of the helminth fauna among the bat species showed that the structure of parasites is most similar in those bat species, which trophic niches coincide or partially overlap. Most of the helminth species, recorded in bats in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve, are common and widespread parasites of bats, occurring in the studied host species throughout their entire range. The relatively constant composition of helminths is caused by uniformity of the bat lifestyle and by feeding mainly on flying insects. A comparative analysis of the helminth fauna in bats from various Protected Areas of the Middle Volga Region showed that bat species studied in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve have the highest number of helminth species. A high similarity of the helminth composition of bats in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve with other Protected Areas in the Middle Volga Region was found.
The study focuses on peatland evolution and carbon and nitrogen sequestrations in peatlands of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (European Russia). A quantitative assessment of carbon accumulation rate (CAR) and nitrogen accumulation rate (NAR) during the Holocene, and their relationship to the botanical composition of peat, climatic changes and fire frequencies, was carried out using two peatlands (namely Dolgiy Most and Zhegalovskoe) as case studies. An analysis of peat macro-remains, loss on ignition, peat humification measurements, and elemental carbon and nitrogen analysis, as well as radiocarbon dating, formed the basis of the studies. Statistical data processing was performed using correlation analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the carbon content of rich fen peat with a predominance of herbal plant remains is 46.9–60.9% (average 54.6%), which is generally higher than the carbon content of poor fen peat composed of woody plant remains, Eriophorum and Sphagnum mosses, which is 43.6–50.1% (average 47.8%). The mean CAR values were 31.6 g C/m2 per year for the Dolgiy Most peatland and 13.3 g C/m2 per year for the Zhegalovskoe peatland, while the NAR values were 1.04 g N/m2 per year and 0.46 g N/m2 per year, respectively. Significant differences in the CAR:NAR ratio were observed across various types of peat, ranging from 20:1 for Sphagnum peat to 34:1 for woody peat. Comparing the dynamics of carbon and nitrogen accumulation with Holocene climate changes revealed that periods of high accumulation corresponded to wet and cool conditions. Conversely, a decrease in accumulation rates coincided with arid phases and increased fire activity.
Almost a third of the Orchidaceae species have a deceptive pollination strategy. In the absence of nectar, the most important factor in attracting insect pollinators may be the floral display, i.e. the number of flowers in inflorescence. However, the role of this trait in pollination efficiency is still poorly understood, both in deceptive (nectarless) and rewarding (nectariferous) Orchidaceae species. The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of floral display and plant height on fruit set in Orchidaceae species with various pollination strategies (reward and deceptive) in the Komi Republic (northeastern European Russia). The objects of the study were six threatened Orchidaceae species. Of these, four species, Dactylorhiza cruenta, D. fuchsii, D. maculata, and D. traunsteineri, are characterised by a deceptive pollination strategy, while two species, Gymnadenia conopsea and Platanthera bifolia, offer nectar. It was revealed that deceptive Orchidaceae species bloom earlier than rewarding species, and deceptive species have a lower fruit set (35.4%) compared to rewarding species (90%). The plant height and the time of blooming were related, i.e. early-flowering species were shorter. Statistically significant correlations were found between fruit set and the number of flowers in three deceptive species, Dactylorhiza maculata, D. fuchsii, and D. traunsteineri, and between efficiency of pollination and plant height in Dactylorhiza maculata. Rewarding species, Gymnadenia conopsea and Platanthera bifolia, showed a high fruit set. The fruit set was associated neither with the plant height nor with the floral display.
Translocation, captive breeding and reintroduction to the wild are often used for the conservation of endangered animals. However, in captivity, wild animals may develop behavioural and physiological traits akin to domestication, such as reduced reactivity (similar to being more tame), which could have negative impacts on their reintroduction into the wild. This study was conducted from January 2021 to December 2023 at the Zhuanglang Moschus chrysogaster (hereinafter – musk deer) Breeding Farm in Gansu Province (China). The study recorded the intensity of reactive behaviour of 26 male musk deer, specifically their avoidance reactions to keeper and aggressive behaviour towards conspecifics. Faecal samples were also collected during the same period for the detection of cortisol metabolites. Principal component analysis was used to explore the behavioural and physiological characteristics of captive-bred musk deer in terms of reactivity. Based on these characteristic indicators, cluster analysis was conducted to assess the degree of reactivity of individual musk deer, dividing the 26 animals into high-reactivity and low-reactivity groups (i.e. more-tame vs. less-tame individuals). Subsequently, the study investigated the relationships between reactivity degree and age, musk secretion volume. The results showed that musk deer with a lower degree of reactivity exhibited reduced fear of humans and weaker aggressive behaviour towards conspecifics. Among 26 musk deer, five individuals were classified as the low-reactivity group, while others were in the high-reactivity group. The degree of reactivity was negatively correlated with age. There was no significant difference in musk secretion volume between the high-reactivity and low-reactivity groups (though the high-reactivity group showed a slight, non-significant decrease). Based on this study, it is recommended that musk deer farms construct different breeding environments for musk deer according to the breeding purposes. For musk deer intended for reintroduction to the wild, it is suggested to maintain their solitary living conditions and minimise human contact to preserve their wild nature.
Since the end of the Little Ice Age, glacier retreat has been recorded globally, with its rates steadily increasing. Glacier forelands serve as convenient areas for studying the patterns of biotic community formation during primary succession. Collembola (hereinafter – springtails) typically play key roles in primary successions, being among the first colonists of territories newly freed from ice. The present study focuses on successional changes in springtail assemblages in the valleys of the Cherek-Khulamsky (Bezengi) and Adylsu along the Bezengi and Kashkatash glacier forelands, respectively (Kabardino-Balkaria, northern Caucasus). The Cherek-Khulamsky valley is located within the Kabardino-Balkarian High-Mountain State Nature Reserve, while the Adylsu valley is part of the Prielbrusye National Park. The objective of the present study is characterising the species composition and structure of springtail assemblages along the glacier chronosequences, as well as identifying the local features of the dynamics of these communities. Using standard soil zoological methods, we examined springtail communities across ten precisely dated plots (1–150 years since deglaciation) in both study valleys. On both locations, pioneer springtail complexes formed immediately after glacier retreat include specialised species, such as representatives of the nivalis group of the genus Desoria, which are replaced by widely distributed forms within 3–5 years. The dynamics of successional processes vary significantly between the Bezengi and Kashkatash glacier forelands. At Bezengi, the species richness has gradually increased, reaching a maximum after 135 years, whereas at Kashkatash, a sharp diversity increase is observed as early as 74 years since glacier retreat, at the shrub overgrowth stage. Springtail density also varies: at Bezengi it fluctuates from 36 individuals/dm2 to 177 individuals/dm2, reaching the maximum values just 14 years after deglaciation (grassland stage), while at Kashkatash the first noticeable population increase up to 632 individuals/dm2 is recorded on 74-year old surfaces, with an absolute maximum (726 individuals/dm2) achieved in 150-year old pine forests. The Kashkatash glacier foreland shows more pronounced differentiation between early (pioneer) and late (forest) successional stages than that of Bezengi, evident in both population abundance and species composition. At the same time, radical changes in springtail communities are observed in both valleys during transitions either from grasslands to shrublands or from shrublands to forests. Comparison with similar studies reveals a great role of the local features of a particular foreland. Regional differences could be accounted for by microclimatic, geomorphological and biotic factors. At Bezengi, where subalpine grasslands subject to anthropogenic influence predominate, succession seems to proceed more smoothly, while at Kashkatash the development of pine forests creates stable conditions favouring the formation of sustainable communities. Orographic features, such as slope steepness and the presence of rigels, also render a substantial impact, determining the environmental patchiness and the rate of successional changes. The data obtained contribute to understanding the patterns of biotic community formation in montane ecosystems under deglaciation and emphasise the need for further comparative studies to predict changes under global warming conditions.
Climate change consequences assessing for environment and humans is one of the main tasks facing ecology and has great practical significance. Long-term studies of small rodent populations have contributed fundamentally to the development of population ecology. Extreme drought in the forest zone of the Southern Urals in 1975 is one of the rarest phenomena, a climatic event (once in a century), and it is considered as a contrasting background that provides for especially clear manifestation mechanisms of adaptive resistance in animals populations. In the paper, we present for the first time the 52-year dynamics of species structure of the rodent community and population abundance data, obtained in the Ilmen State Nature Reserve (Chelyabinsk Region, Southern Urals, Russia) before and after the drought of 1975 and its remote consequences. We tested the hypothesis about the similar population responses to both an extreme drought and normal autumn-winter conditions. The drought was verified by a dendrochronological indicator (radial growth of Pinus sylvestris trunks) and two climatic parameters, namely soil humidity (for the first time) and precipitation amount. Population dynamic phase portraits demonstrate species-specific features concerning mainly abundance levels before and after the extreme episode: dynamic stability of Clethrionomys glareolus and C. rutilus; abundance increase of Sylvaemus uralensis; collapse of population abundance of Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis, and Alexandromys oeconomus. Species composition (local species lists) turned out to be a reliable indicator of drought. Based on both original functional-ontogenetic approach and individual marking (CMR-method) data, the species populations' response patterns to drought were studied. In summer 1975, the Clethrionomys species have implemented a response strategy, which historically developed for regular winter conditions, reflected in complete blocking of yearlings sexual maturation (minimisation of metabolic processes) as we hypothesised originally. The next year, we observed population adaptations included breeding period prolongation of overwintering females and intergenerational crossing (age cross), which provide effective utilisation of possibilities for population growth along with preservation of yearlings and improvement of genetic heterogeneity. The Sylvaemus uralensis population demonstrated a similar response pattern to drought, reflected in partial blocking of yearlings' sexual maturation, then a gradual increase in the number of individuals up to a high dynamic level in recent decades. In contrast, Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis, and Alexandromys oeconomus populations are characterised by the usual participation in reproduction of both overwintering individuals and yearlings in drought year (i.e. our hypothesis has not been confirmed). As a consequence, there was a mass mortality and abrupt transition of the populations to the critically low abundance level of its oscillations and elimination. An invasion of an alien species (Apodemus flavicollis) was recorded for the first time in 2020. The weather anomaly triggered rapid long-term changes in the biotic community structure, by reflecting in the increase in population abundance of granivorous/seed-eating species (Clethrionomys glareolus, C. rutilus, Sylvaemus uralensis), the finding of a new species (Apodemus flavicollis), and changing of co-dominant (Sylvaemus uralensis instead of previous Microtus agrestis), and, finally, disappearance of herbivorous species (Microtus agrestis, M. arvalis, and Alexandromys oeconomus). Thus, long-term monitoring of rodent populations in forest ecosystem of the Ilmen State Nature Reserve revealed a real possibility of the rapid population rearrangements on evolutionary scale in populations of the local fauna as a result of extreme drought. Drought exposure consequences in the studied Rodentia species are markedly extended in time, being fixed in a series of generations.
Investigation of animal spatial use is crucial for both fundamental understanding of life history and ecology of the species, and for addressing applied issues in population management and the conservation of threatened species. Acquiring precise data on movements remains technically challenging for mammals with specific lifestyles, particularly for secretive, burrowing, or subterranean taxa. Here, we present the first study of spatial use in Spermophilus fulvus (hereinafter – yellow ground squirrel), a large rodent exhibiting an extremely prolonged period of summer – winter hibernation. We collected data in March–August 2019–2023 in a wild population located in the Dyakovsky Forest National Park (Saratov Region, Russia). Movements of yellow ground squirrels were recorded using Global Positioning System tracking devices. Additionally, for the first time in a rodent hibernator, we have tested a method of attaching GPS-trackers to the skin using surgical glue, which proved to be completely safe for the animals, including those species that exhibit pronounced fluctuations in body mass during their annual cycles. During the mating season in spring, males travelled for long distances in search for estrous females, whereas females remained in the vicinity of their hibernacula. Males traversed several kilometres per day and made excursions well beyond the settlement boundary, visiting and mating with many females, employing a competitive mate‐searching strategy. The observed patterns of mating system are consistent with scramble competition polygyny involving promiscuity and multiple paternity in the yellow ground squirrel. Male movements were reduced on cold or rainy days, which imposed a risk of reproductive failure for females, which might remain unmated, if they came to estrus under unfavourable weather conditions. In summer, during the last weeks before hibernation, individuals of all sex‐age classes occupied relatively small home ranges. Due to the process of natal dispersal, young males covered greater daily distances than other individuals did; nevertheless, dispersal occurred over short distances: unlike males during the mating season, dispersing juveniles did not leave the boundaries of the settlement. The results demonstrate the restructuring of spatial use from the mating period through to hibernation in the yellow ground squirrel, and contribute to our understanding of population processes in ground squirrels.
The relevance of long-term studies of biological communities is growing every year due to global climate change and anthropogenic transformations. Monitoring the numbers of common forest-dwelling bird species in Eurasia shows a decline, particularly among long-distance migratory, taiga, and mountain species. In the Caucasus, such studies are fragmented; therefore, any long-term data from this region are of great value. It is important to identify the causes of these changes and predict future events. Our study aimed to determine the dynamics of bird populations in the main forest communities of the Caucasian State Nature Reserve (Russia). From 2006 to 2024, we conducted route censuses of birds in mid-mountain (600–1500 m a.s.l.) and high-mountain (1500–2000 m a.s.l.) beech-fir forests. The lengths of the routes were 304 km and 246 km, respectively. Fifty-nine bird species were identified, and population trends for 23 regularly occurring species were analysed. A significant downward trend was demonstrated for two dominant species, Periparus ater and Phylloscopus nitidus, and three common species, Sitta europaea, Turdus viscivorus, and Prunella modularis. No species demonstrated significant positive trends. The overall downward trend is not significant, but is clearly visible. The decline in numbers is more intense in the upper mountain beech-fir forests. The density decreased from 422 individuals/km2 to 313 individuals/km2 (-25.8%); the occurrence decreased from 302 individuals/10 km to 185 individuals/10 km (-38.8%). Compared to the mid-mountain beech-fir forests, the density decreased from 480 individuals/km2 to 425 individuals/km2 (-12.5%); the occurrence decreased from 340 individuals/10 km to 240 individuals/10 km (-29.4%). A relationship was shown between the dynamics of the number of birds and the amount of precipitation, which has also decreased in recent years. A relationship was revealed between the number of birds and temperature and the North Atlantic Oscillation index. It was shown that the number of sedentary bird species is more dependent on climatic factors than the number of nearby migrant species. The numbers of long-distance migrants (Phylloscopus nitidus, Sylvia atricapilla, and Ficedula parva) were found to be unrelated to the analysed climatic factors. A relationship between the number of birds and catastrophic weather events, such as late-spring snowfalls and frosts, is discussed. Overall, the dynamic processes in the bird population of the Western Caucasus are more similar to those in Europe than to those in Asia, where bird populations are relatively more stable. It is predicted that with the transition from the arid to the humid phase and the absence of spring frosts and snowfalls, the number of birds in the Caucasian State Nature Reserve will increase again.
A detailed study of the species composition and structure of the fauna of taxonomically rich insect groups in Protected Areas is an important task, the results of which lay the foundation for long-term monitoring of natural ecosystems. A comparative analysis of the thoroughly studied local fauna of natural references allows us to make more in-depth solutions for a number of biogeographical problems. However, studies of Curculionoidea in large Protected Areas are devoted predominantly to compiling preliminary taxonomic lists without a comprehensive analysis of the fauna. This paper presents results of long-term research (2015–2021) in six similar in size Protected Areas of the Orenburg Region (Russia). In total, 510 species from four families of Curculionoidea were recorded (74% of the regional fauna species). Among them, 434 species were identified in five clusters of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve, which are located on the same meridional transect in the steppe zone of the South Urals (from Obshchy Syrt to the Turgay Plateau). The highest species richness of Curculionoidea is recorded in Protected Areas of the low mountains of the South Urals, namely in the forest-steppe Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve (296 species) and in the mountain-steppe clusters of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve: «Burtinskaya Steppe» (293 species) and «Aytuarskaya Steppe» (277 species). On the plain sites (Trans-Volga Region and Trans-Urals Region) of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (Talovskaya Steppe and Aschisayskaya Steppe), where dry steppes and salt marshes on a gentle relief prevail with absence of forested areas, the species richness of Curculionoidea is 1.5–2.0 times lower (203 species and 149 species, respectively). Fundamental differences in the composition and structure of the fauna were found between the local fauna of the steppe zone (clusters of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve) and the mountain forest-steppe (Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve). In the fauna of the Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve, the proportion of species of the Central Palaearctic complex is two times lower (11%) comparing to the Orenburg State Nature Reserve (22%), with a much higher proportion of nemoral species (8.1% in the Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve against 3.9% in the Orenburg State Nature Reserve), as well as boreal and arctic-boreal species (4.5% in the Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve against 1.0% in the Orenburg State Nature Reserve). The lowest Jaccard similarity coefficient (KJ = 0.165) was between the fauna of the Shaitan-Tau State Nature Reserve and the cluster Aschisayskaya Steppe. The fauna of clusters of the Orenburg State Nature Reserve also have considerable differences (in particular, KJ between faunas of the cluster Burtinskaya Steppe and cluster Aytuarskaya Steppe is 0.56, and it is 0.27 between the fauna of the cluster Aytuarskaya Steppe and cluster Aschisayskaya Steppe). The conducted studies demonstrated spatial heterogeneity of the fauna of the Curculionoidea in the Orenburg Region. This is caused by the passage of a number of meridional and latitudinal biogeographic boundaries in the Orenburg Region, and it highlights a greater significance of the South Urals as a zoogeographic unit than it is usually considered.
Panthera tigris jacksoni (hereinafter – Malayan tiger) is an apex predator in Peninsular Malaysia, and it is known to prey on various mammal species within its natural habitat. Studies on plant consumption in the diet of carnivores, including tigers, are limited. However, studying the Malayan tiger diet provides valuable insights that enhance our understanding of predator ecology. Diet analysis through the faecal DNA metabarcoding can provide detailed and useful insights. This study aimed to identify plant materials in wild Malayan tiger scat using advanced high-throughput sequencing, specifically trnL DNA metabarcoding. Faecal sample collection was performed in the Malayan tiger habitat, including protected and human-tiger conflict areas. This study employed DNA metabarcoding analysis and identified a total of 52 plant families from DNA extracted from 18 samples of Malayan tiger faeces, and no significant difference was found in diversity between the two habitat types, categorised as Protected Areas and human-tiger conflict areas. The predominant plant families found in the Malayan tiger faecal samples were Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Euphorbiaceae, and Fagaceae. Furthermore, the most prevalent plant genera included Panicum, Castanea, Renealmia, Mallotus, and Uncaria. Several of the plant families and genera identified in this study could be beneficial to the health of Malayan tigers, as most of the identified plants are recognised as offering health advantages to both humans and animals. Therefore, this study suggests that the presence of certain plant species in some Malayan tiger faecal samples may indicate their potential role in self-medication or as an additional source of nutrition. However, given the limited direct evidence for adaptive benefits of plant material in the analysed tiger faecal samples, further research is necessary to clarify the ecological and physiological significance of plant consumption in this species. This dietary requirement should be given attention and assessed as a source of support for the nutrition and health of the Malayan tiger. These findings may contribute to the development of effective conservation strategies for the Malayan tiger.
The emergence of Cygnus olor in the north-eastern part of the Gulf of Finland led to the formation of a new population, exhibiting an increase in breeding pairs in recent decades. In this study, we assess the influence of environmental factors on Cygnus olor nesting site selection in a rocky skerry landscape. The data were analysed using generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs). The study involved a comprehensive analysis of the spatial characteristics of nesting sites, encompassing both island parameters (area, perimeter, shape) and the surrounding aquatic environment. To examine the influence of spatial scale, buffer zones with radii of 0.5, 1, and 3 km were considered around each island. Within these zones, we assessed parameters such as shallow water area, average depth, reed coverage. In addition, distances to the mainland and to the nearest wooded island, as well as a temporal factor (year) accounting for potential inter-annual variations in conditions, were included. Our analysis revealed that nesting probability was positively correlated with a shallow water area within a 3 km radius of the island and negatively correlated with the average depth within the same radius. Furthermore, distance to the mainland was found to be a significant negative predictor, suggesting that swans preferred islands situated closer to the mainland shoreline. Conversely, island characteristics (area, perimeter, shape), surrounding aquatic environment within 0.5 km and 1 km radii, reed coverage, distance to the nearest wooded island, and the temporal factor were not statistically significant predictors. Thus, the prevalence of shallow areas located close to the mainland was a key factor determining a habitat suitability for this species in the region. The proximity to the mainland appeared to influence only indirectly the nest site selection, as it was closely associated with the presence of richer foraging grounds. These results highlight the importance of foraging resource availability at the northern edge of the species' range. The statistically insignificant effect of distance to forested islands suggests that predation pressure may be relatively low. The successful establishment of Cygnus olor along the northern coasts is probably due to the climate warming, the species' increasing population size in Europe and the overcrowding of traditional nesting sites in the southern and western Gulf of Finland. To gain a more complete understanding of the species' adaptation processes when colonising new territories, further research is essential, including long-term population monitoring and an analysis of reproductive success.
This study is a contribution to the lichenological exploration of Protected Areas of the Russian Caucasus. Nine species of lichen and lichenicolous fungi (Agonimia octospora, Cercidospora caudata, Diplotomma glaucoatrum, Lichenochora aprica, Micarea herbarum, Opegrapha opaca, Sarcopyrenia geisleri, Toninia subdispersa, and Tremella macrobasidiata), collected mainly in the sub-Mediterranean formations in the Utrish State Nature Reserve on the Abrau Peninsula, have been reported for the first time from Russia and the Caucasus. Of these, four species (Diplotomma glaucoatrum, Micarea herbarum, Sarcopyrenia geisleri and Toninia subdispersa) are reported as new to Asia. Brief comments and notes on localities, habitats, substrata and distribution of the species are given.
Hemipterochilus bembeciformis and Tropidodynerus interruptus nest in ground with rather similar soil characteristics (light to medium clay loam). Two nests of the former species and four of the latter were excavated. Both species used water to moisten the ground. Females of H. bembeciformis surmounted the nest entrance with a 1–4 mm high mud collar; the nest entrance of T. interruptus was simple but temporary closed with mud pellets by the wasps. One nest of H. bembeciformis was abandoned, while another contained two brood cells as ends of a branched burrow; all nests of T. interruptus were one-celled. A caterpillar of Acontia trabealis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was recorded as a prey of H. bembeciformis, while females of T. interruptus hunted on larvae of Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) extracting them from fading capitula of Carduus nutans subsp. leiophyllus. Cuckoo wasps Chrysis cylindrica and Ch. valesiana were observed at nests of both species, while only cocoons of the former species were recorded in the brood cells of both H. bembeciformis and T. interruptus. Chrysis cylindrica is recorded as a parasitoid, since its larva consumes the host larva and its cocoons were found inside cocoons of the host-wasp species. The cocoon of T. interruptus is described. Hemipterochilus bembeciformis and T. interruptus form a Müllerian mimicry ring with at least two other eumenine-wasp species co-occurring in the Tarkhankut Nature Park: Paragymnomerus signaticollis and Pseudepipona herrichii. The biology of all four species is discussed; all of them are confined to threatened steppe habitats and require our attention and conservation efforts.
Insects, as the most diverse group of invertebrates, are often unfairly underrepresented in Red Lists of threatened taxa. Despite the significant biodiversity and ecosystem functionality of this group, regional Red lists of taxa often ignore truly threatened species and, conversely, include species that are quite common in adjacent regions. The paper presents the results of long-term monitoring of rare insect species in 14 regions of European Russia (Vladimir Region, Volgograd Region, Voronezh Region, Lipetsk Region, Moscow Region, Nizhny Novgorod Region, Penza Region, Ryazan Region, Republic of Mordovia, Republic of Tatarstan, Samara Region, Saratov Region, Tambov Region, Ulyanovsk Region). The aim of the study was to summarise the results of long-term research of rare species listed in regional Red Data Books and the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. A wide variety of insect collection and census methods were used. To characterise regional Red Data Books during the research, the taxonomic lists, which were actual at the time of the research, were used. The information resulted in 96 insect species from eight orders (one from Odonata, three from Orthoptera, seven from Hemiptera, 64 from Coleoptera, two from Neuroptera, one from Raphidioptera, 13 from Lepidoptera, 5 from Hymenoptera), included in the Red Data Books of the studied regions; of these, 18 species are also included or were included in the recent (2021) or previous (2001) edition of the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation, respectively. Between one and three species listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation were recorded for the first time in seven regions. The number of species included in the regional Red Data Books ranges from 47 species in the Volgograd Region to 261 species in the Voronezh Region. It is assumed that 30 species from the studied taxa do not require special protection measures and should be excluded from protected lists of regional Red Data Books. Justification for such recommendations is provided in each specific case. Leptura aurulenta is proposed to be included on the list of the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation.
Iris junonia, recently documented for the first time in the flora of Azerbaijan, was discovered in 2017 within the Gotursu and Janat regions, located east of the village Bichenak in the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijan). To date, I. junonia has been recorded in Azerbaijan exclusively on these two geographically restricted sites, where it occurs as isolated individuals. Given its limited distribution and sparse population density, we recommend that I. junonia be included in forthcoming editions of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic under the category Vulnerable (VU, A2c+3c). However, it should be noted that the species' current conservation status of the species according to the IUCN Red List remains undetermined.
