The distribution of Vimba bream Vimba vimba vimba (Actinopterygii: Cyprinidae) in the unregulated section of the lower Volga river- Boldyrev  V.S. - This paper presents recent data on the population of the anadromous Vimba bream (Vimba vimba vimba), introduced in the Volga basin. Having resettled from the Volgograd reservoir into the downstream section of the Volga River, to date, Vimba bream can be found throughout the entire unregulated stretch downstream of the Volga hydroelectric power station. Observations show that the population size changes naturally during the year due to its spawning migration. At that, a gradual transformation of the species’ seasonal dynamics is observed. As populations settle further downstream, the migratory gatherings of producers downstream of the dam are stretching, and the population density decreases. Also a seasonal redistribution takes place, with reduced migration observed in autumn and increased migration during spring. Meanwhile, the growth rate in the downstream section of the Volga River is comparable to the growth rate of populations in the Volgograd and Tsimlyansk reservoirs. Spawning occurs on in-channel spawning grounds. Yearlings are observed over a distance of 100 kilometers below the dam. In addition to Vimba bream, single individuals of Caspian bream (V. v. persa) were also observed.

Tautoneura polymitusa Oh & Jung, 2016 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae): a new alien species of leafhoppers in the fauna of Eastern Europe - Gubin  A.I.,  Martynov  V.V.,  Nikulina  T.V. -Tautoneura polymitusa Oh & Jung, 2016 (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae), a new for Eastern Europe fauna genus and species of leafhoppers, was found on Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine and Rostov region of Russia in 2019. In urban plantings the leafhoppers were recorded throughout the whole vegetation period from late March to early November. The species was not found in natural forests and remote from settlements artificial plantations. The number of generations per season was not established. In the sexual structure, a pronounced dominance of females was noted. The most probable invasion vector is an unintentional introduction with transport.

First record of potential cabbage pest Aulacobaris cuprirostris (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) in Russia - Zabaluev  I.A.,  Bienkowski  A.O.,  Orlova-Bienkowskaja  M.J. -The invasive weevil Aulacobaris cuprirostris (Fabricius, 1787) is firstly detected in Russia, namely in Adler district of the city of Sochi. Native range of this species is in Northern Africa, Mediterranean region, Western Europe, Southern Europe and southern part of Central Europe. We have found three specimens of this species more than 1100 km apart from his previously known range on the lawn, where the seedlings of shrubs were planed several years ago. The weevils could be unintentionally introduced with these imported seedlings. Aulacobaris cuprirostris feeds on different species of Brassicaceae and is a pest of cabbage in Western Europe. Therefore, it could potentially become a pest in Krasnodar Territory.

Distribution of seeds of the giant hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) in the winter period - Krivosheina  M.G., Ozerova  N.A.,  Petrosyan  V.G. -The results of experiments on natural distribution of seeds of the giant hogweed (Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden.) in winter period are presented. It was found that viable seeds are preserved on the umbrellas of this alien plant in winter. Falling of single seeds during the winter period is not much different from falling in the summer-autumn period. It was shown that seeds under the influence of various factors, in particular, under the influence of strong gusts of wind, can move up to 5 m from the mother plant. It was revealed that the seeds are also able to move together with broken umbrellas over distances many times greater than the distances of the natural scattering of single seeds. Experimental observations on the movement of umbrellas at a distance of 40±9 m for 15 minutes suggest that the range of movement of umbrellas can be hundreds of meters on a flat surface of icy roads. The high germination of seeds left on the umbrellas allowed us to conclude that measures to control Sosnovsky’s cow parsnip should include the destruction of dead plants with seeds until a stable snow cover is formed.

Expansion dynamics of Micruropus possolskii Sowinsky, 1915 (Amphipoda, Crustacea) in Lake Ladoga- Kurashov  E.A.,  Trifonova  M.S.,  Barbashova  M.A.-Among the alien species of Lake Ladoga, amphipods play a leading role. As part of the group, the Baikal species Micruropus possolskii Sowinsky, 1915 is becoming increasingly important. The purpose of the publication is to provide updated data on the appearance of M. possolskii in Lake Ladoga, as well as on the temporal and spatial dynamics of its development and settlement in the water body. It was revealed that initially, the species appeared in the Schuchiy Bay of Lake Ladoga in 2003. Its southward distribution up to Petrokrepost Bay, where it was discovered in 2017, was traced. Further settlement of the species within Lake Ladoga, its high quantitative development in the colonized biotopes and possible expansion to Lake Onega and the Neva Bay of the Gulf of Finland are assumed.

Floristic findings in the Barents Sea: climatic trend as a florogenesis factor  - Makarevich  P.R.,  Oleinik  A.A.-This paper discusses results of floristic studies on plankton in the Barents Sea performed from 2007 to 2018. We documented findings of 16 species new to the indigenous flora and analyzed their distribution in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters. We also calculated statistical indicators (indices) that characterize the regularity and quantitative expression of their presence in certain sectors of the sea. The data obtained demonstrate the intensity and direction of invasion of Atlantic algal flora. The most intense and regular invasion vector is directed eastwards from the southwestern border of the Barents Sea to its central part. Not less stable, but less intensive vector of influence of Atlantic flora was found in the northwestern Barents Sea directed southwards to the central and eastern parts of the sea. In the historical aspect, these processes are characterized as the activation of florogenesis coincided in time and, most likely, caused by the current climatic situation in the region, mainly by the increased advection of Atlantic water. At least one adventive species has been discovered to be currently integrated into the succession system of the Barents Sea phytoplankton in the position of seasonal dominant.

The first data on parasites of monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis (Perciformes, Gobiidae) in the Saratov Reservoir - Mineeva  O.V.,  Mineev  A.K. -The parasite fauna of the monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis from the lower part of the Saratov Reservoir was studied. Six species of parasites have been found, for one of which (the goby-specific plerocercoid Triaenophorus crassus) the monkey goby was noted as an additional host for the first time. The 100% invasion of the goby by the alien fluke Nicolla skrjabini allows it to be attributed to the main definitive hosts of the parasite in the water body.

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Ektoparasites and pathogens of Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) (own and literature data review) - Orlova  M.V.,  Smirnov  D.G.,  Vekhnik  V.P.,  Lukyanenko  A.M.,  Zabashta  A.V.- Here we report the results of our own survey and literary published data on the ectoparasite fauna and pathogens of the invasive bat species, the Kuhl's pipistrelle Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817) (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). This bat is a host of 36 species of parasitic mites, ticks and insects (including accidental findings) and 13 species of pathogens (protozoa, bacteria, viruses). The flea Ischnopsyllus variabilis is recorded on this host for the first time. We have found that outside of the host ancestral range, the core of the bat parasite fauna is significantly different due to the loss of host species-specific ectoparasites. Particularly, in Russia, only 6 species of parasitic arthropods have been recorded for Kuhl’s pipistrelle and all of them are host genus-specific. At the same time, the features of ecology and occasional finds of extrinsic parasites allow to suggest that P. Kuhlii has wide contacts with animals which are the reservoirs of zoonotic infections, that in combination with the fact of isolation of several pathogens from this species (including two coronaviruses) points to a possible medical importance of Kuhl’s pipistrelle.

Effect of wild boar (Sus scrofa) rootings on plant communities in middle taiga of Western Siberia - Pankova  N.L.,  Markov  N.I.,  Vasina  A.L. - Wild boar is an ecological engineer whose feeding activity can make a substantial influence on the composition and structure of plant communities. The aim of this study is to analyze the restoration of plant cover on wild boar rootings in recently settled areas of Western Siberia compared to other parts of wild boar range. We collected data in four types of plant communities typical for the sub-zone of middle taiga of Western Siberia. Wild boar rooting activity resulted in decrease of projective cover of plants and floristic richness of herbal and moss layers. The renewal of plant cover on the rootings took place due to the species typical for original plant community, exclusively. As distinct from the majority of the other parts of the range, the floristic richness did not increase due to explerent species. It possibly resulted from the original low species richness of northern plant communities.

History of Baltic Sea sturgeon fauna formation (review)- Ruban  G.I. - The review considers various aspects connected with renewal of sturgeons in the Baltic Sea including the research history of Baltic sturgeon taxonomic status, diagnostic traits of Acipenser sturio and A. охуrinсhus, historical changes in species composition of the Baltic Sea sturgeons, history of A. охуrinсhus reintroduction to the Baltic Sea basin from Canadian rivers. The examples of intentional and accidental introduction of alien sturgeon species into the Baltic Sea are given.

The first finding of radiolaria Arachnocorys circumtexta Haeckel, 1860 and the bottom microalgae in brown alga Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. A. Agardh epiphyton (Crimea, Black Sea) - Ryabushko  L.I.- The planktonic species of radiolarian Arachnocorys circumtexta Haeckel, 1860 (Radiolaria, class Nassellaria, family Lophophaenidae Haeckel, emend. Petrushevskaya, 1971) in the brown alga Cystoseira barbata (Stackhouse) C. A. Agardh epiphyton was found at a depth of 2.5 m at a water temperature of 24.4 °C and a salinity of 18‰ in Martynov Bay (Sevastopol, Crimea) of the Black Sea in August 2002 for the first time. Before, this species was indicated by E. Haeckel in the Mediterranean Sea plankton. For the Black Sea, this species is probably invasive. The size of the Black Sea radiolarian specimens corresponds to the literary data. In addition to radiolarian, microalgae have been found оn C. barbata including 14 species of Bacillariophyta and one species of Dinophyta from the genus Prorocentrum Ehrenb. Marine species predominate (67%) and 53% of all species encountered are β-mesosaprobionts – the indicators of moderate organic water pollution. Thirty three percent of cosmopolites are found in all geographical zones from the Arctic to the Antarctic waters. The aim of this report is presentation of new data about a rare modern Radiolaria and the species of benthic microalgae in Cystoseira barbata epiphyton from the Black Sea.