Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2023, issue №2

CONTENTS

TO THE BIOLOGY OF INVASIVE SPECIES OF IMPATIENS GLANDULIFERA ROYLE. (BALSAMINACEAE) IN BASHKORTOSTAN REPUBLIC - Abramova  L.M.,  Rogozhnikova  D.R.,  Golovanov  Y.M.,  Mustafina  A.N.,  Kryukova  A.V.,  Nurmieva  S.V.  - Morphometric parameters and population characteristics of the invasive species Impatiens glandulifera in the Southern Ural Range (Republic of Bashkortostan) are analyzed. Twenty four localities of invasion in 20 districts of the Cis-Urals were examined. The density of the species in communities is 18–79 individuals per 1 m²; its biomass ranges from 1 to 9 kg/m². The biomass share of the species reaches from 49.7 to 99.0%, i.e. this species dominates in all localities. It is established that the maximum values of morphometric parameters are characteristic of populations growing in conditions more favorable in terms of moisture availability and richness of soils, with a slight anthropogenic impact. Minimal ones are observed under conditions of a stronger anthropogenic impact (recreational load, trampling, landfills). The good adaptation of the species to different growing conditions in new habitats and the competitive advantages of I. glandulifera over local plant species were noted. There is a high probability of further settlement of the species in slightly disturbed, as well as in natural habitats along the shores of the reservoirs of the republic.

ALIEN VIMBA BREAM VIMBA VIMBA (CYPRINIDAE) IN THE URAL RIVER BASIN- Boldyrev  V.S.,  Yakovlev  S.V.,  Viphlo  E.V.   - This paper provides information on the presence of the vimba bream (Vimba vimba) in the middle reaches of the Ural River. One of the distinguishing features of this species from the native Caspian vimba (V. persa) is a greater number of scales in the lateral line. In the late 1980s, the vimba bream was introduced from the Don River basin into the Volga River basin. Having successfully adapted in the Volgograd reservoir, the species subsequently settled in the unregulated section of the Lower Volga, in the northern and, apparently, middle parts of the Caspian Sea, and also formed a stable residential population in the Ural River basin.

ALIEN FISH SPECIES IN COOLING RESERVOIRS OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND STATE DISTRICT POWER STATIONS OF CENTRAL RUSSIA- Bykov  A.D.  - The article presents an overview of alien fish species living in cooling reservoirs of nuclear power plants and state district power stations in Central Russia. A brief description of recipient reservoirs is given as a habitat for thermophilic fish species that are not characteristic of the native ichthyofauna of the region. The essays on the history of the appearance of these species, the peculiarities of biology, occurrence in catches, and fishery significance in six small reservoirs of special water management located within the borders of the Moscow, Smolensk, Ryazan and Kursk regions of Russia are given. The main vectors of invasions of hydrobionts in cooling reservoirs for each alien species recorded as a result of ichthyological monitoring in this group of reservoirs are shown. The forecast of the dynamics of the number of alien fish species is given depending on changes in the thermal regime of reservoirs, the volume of stocking and the intensity of fishing in the cooling reservoirs of nuclear power plants and power plants of Central Russia.

EFFECT OF SALINITY ON THE ACTIVITY OF OXIDOREDUCTASES IN TISSUES OF THE ARK CLAM ANADARA KAGOSHIMENSIS (TOKUNAGA, 1906), A BLACK SEA INVADER - Golovina  I.V.  - Effect of salinity on the activity of the enzymes of energy metabolism and antioxidant protection: malate dehydrogenase (MDH, 1.1.1.37), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, 1.1.1.27), and catalase (1.11.1.6) was studied in the tissues of anadara. Four groups of adult molluscs (shell length of 37.0–55.5 mm) were exposed to different salinity (15‰, 25‰, 35‰ and 45‰) for two days at a water temperature of 21 °C and constant aeration (6.5± 0.3 mg O₂/L). MDH activity reached its maximum value in the tissue of the foot and hepatopancreas at a native salinity for the invader – 35‰, that exceeded 1.7-fold (p<0.05) its values under 15 and 25‰ in both tissues; in the gills that activity of the enzyme remained at a constant level. A trend towards an increase in LDH activity in the foot and gills by 24–48% was found under salinity of 25–35‰ against the background of extremely low activity of the enzyme in the hepatopancreas in all experiments. A negative correlation (r) between the MDH/LDH index and LDH activity (from −0.66 to −0.82, p<0.05) was found in the foot and gills. The maximum activity of catalase in the foot, gills, and hepatopancreas was noted in the salinity range of 25–35‰. In the gills, a significant correlation was found between the activity of catalase and LDH at 25‰ (r = 0.72, p<0.05) and 35‰ (r = 0.96, p<0.05), as well as the activity of catalase and MDH (r = 0.71–0.89, p<0.05) over the studied salinity range. In the anadara a synchronous decrease in the activity of oxidoreductases beyond the optimal salinity (25–35‰) may be one of the reasons for the slowdown in the growth of molluscs in water bodies where salinity is not optimal.

FINDING OF THE WESTERN CONIFER SEED BUG LEPTOGLOSSUS OCCIDENTALIS (HETEROPTERA: COREIDAE) IN THE VORONEZH NATURE RESERVE (CENTRAL RUSSIA)- Emets  V.M. - In the south-east of the forest area of the Voronezh Nature Reserve (quarter 541, central estate, 51°52'33'' N; 39°39'09'' E,) outside on the window of the main administrative building, a female of the western conifer seed bug Leptoglossus occidentalis (Heidemann, 1910) was recorded on November 19, 2021. It is an actively spreading species native to North America, where it damages seed plantations of coniferous trees and shrubs reducing significantly their seed productivity. This finding is the northernmost in the European part of Russia (the nearest location is 40 km to the south of the reserve, on the outskirts of Voronezh). This is probably the result of unintentional introduction by motor vehicle (there are three parking lots for tourist buses and cars of visitors next to the main administrative building of the reserve).

PARASITOIDS (HYMENOPTERA) OF PHYLLONORYCTER PLATANI (STAUDINGER, 1870) (LEPIDOPTERA, GRACILLARIIDAE)  - Ermolaev  I.V. - The review is devoted to the complexes of parasitoids Phyllonorycter platani (Staudinger, 1870) (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae). Throughout its range, the miner is attacked by 72 species from 7 families of Hymenoptera. In Europe, 62 species have been identified, in North America, the Caucasus, Western and Central Asia – 5, 3, 12 and 1 species, respectively. Complexes of parasitoids Ph. platani in Eurasia are characterized by absence of narrow specialists. Parasitism rates in European populations of miner are low. Analysis of the composition of the complex of parasitoids indicates a possible North American origin of the miner.

NEW DATA ON ALIEN SPECIES OF WEEVILS (INSECTA, COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE) IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA - Zabaluev  I.A.  -This article presents new information on the distribution of a number of alien species of weevil beetles in the European part of Russia. For the first time populations of Otiorhynchus porcatus (Herbst, 1795), O. asphaltinus Germar, 1823, O. pseudonothus Apfelbeck, 1897, and Pholicodes inuratus Boheman, 1833 are found in Moscow. For the first time Lignyodes bischoffi (Blatchley, 1916) of North American origin is recorded for the Republic of Crimea, Krasnodar Territory, Kursk Region and Moscow, Orchestes steppensis Korotyaev, 2016 is recorded for the Republic of Dagestan, O. sulcatus (Fabricius, 1775) is recorded for the Pskov Region and Tver Region. In recent years a dramatic broadening of the secondary range of Polydrusus formosus (Mayer, 1779) in Moscow Region is established.

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DISTRIBUTION OF THE MUSKRAT (ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS L.) AND THE AMERICAN MINK (NEOVISON VISON SCHREBER) IN YAKUTIA (NORTHEASTERN ASIA, RUSSIA) - Zakharov  E.S.,  Smetanin  N.N.,  Sidorov  I.A.,  Zakharova  O.I.,  Filippova  V.V.,  Zakharova N.N.  - This paper discusses the results of the introduction of the muskrat and American mink in Yakutia (Russia). The time course of harvesting of muskrat skins during an eighty-one-year period (1941–2021) is also analyzed. A map of quantitative distribution of muskrats in Yakutia was constructed on the basis of the harvesting data. The work on muskrat introduction was described within the framework of hunting activities of unitary enterprise of Sakhabult Financial Agro-Industrial Concern in 2002–2004, when 975 muskrats were resettled in the republic, including 60 animals brought from Altai Krai. Data on the abundance and occurrence of the American mink in Yakutia are provided, and the modern geographic range of this animal is outlined. Information about the introduction of 337 American minks in 1985–1986 by Ust-Mayskiy State Hunting/Fishery Enterprise in the basins of the rivers Maya and Khamna is given.

DISTRIBUTION OF AN INVASIVE SPECIES OF HERACULUM SOSNOWSKYI MANDEN. (APIACEAE) IN THE LENINGRAD REGION - Kaplin  V.G.  - In the Leningrad Region, Heracleum sosnowskyi hogweed prefers well-developed fertile light and medium loamy sod-podzolic and sod-carbonate soils; it is practically absent in swamps and wetlands, in territories occupied by spruce forests, as well as pine forests with infertile low-power soils on sandy and rocky substrates. The most favorable hydrothermal, orographic, hydrological, soil, and ecological conditions for the development and spread of Sosnovsky hogweed are observed in the western, agriculturally developed areas (Slantsevsky, Kingisepp, Lomonosov, Volosovsky, Gatchina) with dismembered hilly relief, cultivated fields, occupying 7–13% of their territory, fallow lands. To the south, east and north of the area the conditions for development and spreading of hogweed become markedly worse that is stipulated mainly to the south and east by flat-low character of relief, its waterlogging, the spread of spruce and pine forests that are little and unfavorable for hogweed, low-power and poor soils on rocky substrates, especially to the north on the Karelian Isthmus and in the Podporozhsky district in the northeast.

PHYCITODES SUBCRETACELLA (RAGONOT) (LEPIDOPTERA: PYRALIDAE: PHYCITINAE) – A NEW PHYTOPHAGE OF THE QUARANTINE SPECIESAMBROSIA ARTEMISIIFOLIA L. IN THE SOUTH OF THE FAR EAST OF RUSSIA - Malysheva  S.K.,  Markova  T.O.,  Maslov  M.V.,  Ponomarenko  M.G.  - In Primorsky Krai, on the invasive naturalized species of ragweed (Asteraceae: Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), the species Phycitodes subcretacella (Ragonot, 1901) was found for the first time. The ragweed is recorded as a host plant for moth Ph. subcretacella for the first time, and this fact broadens the list of phytophages of this weed plant. New data on the biology of Ph. subcretacella are given and photographs of the genitalia of both sexes with indication of diagnostic characters are shown for the first time, which make it possible to distinguish the species from related taxa. It has been established that the larvae of Ph. subcretacella damage the apical parts of the stems on which the generative organs of the plant are located that can significantly reduce the reproductive potential of ragweed.

THE FIRST RECORD OF CEPAEA NEMORALIS (LINNAEUS, 1758) (MOLLUSCA: GASTROPODA: HELICIDAE) IN THE DONBASS AND THE PHENETIC STRUCTURE OF THE FOUND COLONY - Martynov  V.V.,  Nikulina  T.V.  - The phenetic composition of Cepaea nemoralis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Helicidae) colony found in an area of continuous high-rise buildings in the center of Donetsk in 2022 is described. The area of the colony is 2.5 ha, the number reaches 15 ind./m², the age is at least 10 years. Individuals with a pink ground colours (81.5%) and one central band in 64.7% of yellow-coloured and 76.8% of pink-coloured shells are clearly dominated. The absence of unbanded shells and shells with reduced 1, 2, 4 and 5 bands was a distinctive feature of the Donetsk colony. The trend of dominance of phenotypes with fused bands is traced for five-banded shells with the relative frequency of 69.7%. Morphs with fusion types of bands, namely F(45) – 13.2% and F(23) – 12.8% dominate. The colony is characterized by a relatively high degree of polymorphism (u = 4.78±0.039) and proportion of rare morphs (h±Sh = 0.47±0.026) showing no similarities with the colonies in Eastern Europe available for meta-analysis. Cepaea nemoralis is likely to remain one of the elements in the urban fauna, not showing any tendency to expand into natural ecosystems.

THE FIRST FIND OF TWO SPECIES OF ASIAN POND MUSSELS (SINANODONTA) IN THE REFTINSKY RESERVOIR (CENTRAL URAL) - Pavluk  T.E.,  Tretyakova  A.S.,  Kovalev  S.Yu.,  Grudanov  N.Yu.  - This study presents the data on the first record of Sinanodonta woodiana and S. lauta in artificially heated site of Reftinsky reservoir by warm water discharge of the Reftinsky thermal power plant (Sverdlovsk Region, the Reft River, Ob-Irtysh River Basin). This find is the northernmost habitat of these mussels of all known. The population of this species shares the invasive haplotypes: E3 (S. woodiana) and C3 (S. lauta). The population of the mussels includes individuals of various size and different age groups, and this fact could be an indirect evidence of successful naturalization of the species. The group of older specimens (over 10 years old) is more numerous in the population of S. woodiana (56%). The group of specimens of middle age (3–6 years) is more numerous in the population of S. lauta, their share is 48%. Specimens of Sinanodonta younger than 1-year-old (shell length less than 25 mm) are absent, and specimens of 2–3 years old are not numerous. Based on molecular data and archival records on fishery use, we assume that the invasion of S. woodiana and S. lauta in the Reftinsky reservoir is associated with introduction of food fish delivered from the Volga fish-farms at the end of the 20th - the beginning of the 21st century.

KELLICOTTIA BOSTONIENSIS (ROUSSELET, 1908) AND K. LONGISPINA (KELLICOTT, 1879) (ROTIFERA: BRACHIONIDAE): THE PATTERN OF THE OCCURRENCE AND SPREAD IN THE LAKES IN THE UPPER AND MIDDLE VOLGA - Podshivalina  V.N.,  Semenova  A.S.  - In lakes of the Upper Volga (Yaroslavl district) and in the lower course of the Sura River (Middle Volga), closely related rotifers – common for both studied regions native K. longispina and alien K. bostoniensis – were found. Both species occur all year round and more frequently in spring or autumn, when they are the most abundant. Alien rotifer K. bostoniensis occurred not only simultaneously with indigenous species, but also separately, in more shallow waterbodies. Alien species is more tolerate to bathymetry, basin form, transparency and the trophy state of the waterbody. This likely facilitates wider distribution of the K. bostoniensis in the Sura basin waterbodies compared to indigenous species. Alien species K. bostoniensis spread relatively quickly in the Sura basin without any harm to closely related indigenous species, to which it is not a competitor.

CHANGES IN A NUMBER OF CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMON DANDELION (TARAXACUM OFFICINALE WIGG) DURING INVASION INTO ANTROPOGENICALLY DISTURBED AREAS OF THE HIGHLANDS  - Reutova  N.V.,  Mallaeva  M.B.,  Dreeva  F.R.,  Reutova  T.V.,  Dzhambetova  P.M. - Chromosome count, plant height, number of inflorescences per plant, number of seeds per inflorescence, seed weight, germination and germination energy of plant seeds growing at altitudes of 200, 600, 1300, 2050, 2700 and 3050 m above sea level (Central Caucasus) were studied. The studies were conducted in 2013, 2014 and 2018 at the same sampling points. Chromosome counts were determined by cytogenetic method. In the T. officinale species, high ploid individuals predominate in populations when invading anthropogenically disturbed territories of the highlands. Polyploid plants are larger in size compared to their low ploid predecessors, but in high-altitude, selection is aimed at preserving smaller phenotypes. The increase in seed mass characteristic of polyploid plants was supported by natural selection and in conditions of highlands. Germination and germination energy did not change with the increase of altitude.

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF INVASIONS OF PESTS AND PATHOGENS OF TREES IN ST. PETERSBURG  - Selikhovkin  A.V.,  Nekhaeva  M.Yu.,  Melnichuk  I.A. - An economic assessment of the damage caused by invasive tree insect pests and pathogens in urban plantings of St. Petersburg is given. Between 2001 and 2020, the invasion of elm bark beetles Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham), S. scolytus (Fabricius) and S. pygmaeus (Fabricius) and the concomitant spread of Dutch elm disease caused by the fungi Ophiostoma ulmi (Buisman) Nannfeldt and O. novo-ulmi (Brasier) (Ascomycota: Ophiostomataceae) resulted in the death of at least 37 000 elms in the city. The total damage exceeded 50 billion rubles. Compulsory sanitary cutting of the infected elms raised significant public concern. Plantations of common use, especially historical parks and gardens, lost most important landscape compositions, in which exactly elm trees had a key role. In two years, 2022–2022, the economic losses associated with the invasion and spread of Emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis, reached 270 million rubles. Detection of infested ash trees and their timely felling was effective. However, not all infested trees were spotted and removed and the pest reproduction continued. Urgent measures are needed to prevent further spread of Emerald ash borer and other invasive pests and pathogens in St. Petersburg and adjacent territories.

EXPANSION AND NATURALIZATION OF ADVENTIVE BUTTERFLY SPECIES (LEPIDOPTERA: PAPILIONOIDEA) ON THE NORTHEASTERN PART OF THE RUSSIAN PLAIN)  - Tatarinov  A.G.,  Kulakova  O.I. - Data on composition and naturalization patterns of more than twenty adventive butterfly species expanded to the northeastern part of the Russian Plain during the period of 1990–2021 are compiled. It is shown that lines of transport communications such as highways, railways, power lines, gas and oil pipelines serve as main immigration corridors for butterfly species from southern regions. Anthropogenic transformation of indigenous taiga forests through industrial logging operations, largely expanding areas of open habitats, which are more suitable for butterflies, promotes successful naturalization of adventive species. Linear systems of technical and industrial constructions together with river valleys play a role of semi-natural corridors for the expansion of adventive species. Furthermore, secondary small-leaved and mixed forests surrounded by a network of forest edges and meadows represent a kind of staging areas for the establishment of adventive species’ populations. Groups of adventive species are delineated based on their naturalization status that was estimated on the basis of an integral assessment of their biocenotic stability and landscape activity. It is drawn a conclusion that ongoing expansion and naturalization of adventive butterfly species on the northeastern part of the Russian Plain will increase changes in the composition of local and zonal faunas and the spatial and typological structure of their populations.

ALIEN MAMMALS IN THE ECOSYSTEMS OF THE CENTRAL PART OF THE NORTH CAUCASUS  - Tembotova  F.A.,  Emkuzheva  M.M. - The list of invasive mammals in the central part of the North Caucasus (Stavropol Krai, Kabarda-Balkar Republic, North Ossetia-Alania), including 18 taxa belonging to 4 orders (Chiroptera, Carnivora, Rodentia, Artiodactyla) is presented. The largest group according to the vectors of introduction into the fauna of the region is formed by intentionally introduced taxa: Sciurus vulgaris, Capreolus pygargus, Cervus nippon, Cervus elaphus, Dama dama, Bos grunneins, Bison bonasus bonasus, Procyon lotor, Nyctereutes procyonoides, Mustela vison, Ondatra zibethicus. The group of self-settling species includes the 5 ones: Canis aureus, Pipipipstrellus kuhlii, Capreolus capreolus, Canis familiaris and Rattus norvegicus. According to the degree of impact on the regional ecosystems, the most dangerous species among invasive mammals of the region are: spotted deer, non-native subspecies of red deer, domestic yak, jackal, American mink, raccoon dog, and raccoon-crawler. This occurs due to their number, impact on native fauna, flora and soil cover.

DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF TREMATODES IN A LARGE SETTLEMENT OF THE PONTO-AZOV MOLLUSK LITHOGLYPHUS NATICOIDES (C. PFEIFFER 1828) (GASTROPODA, HYDROBIIDAE) FROM THE UPPER SECTION OF THE UGLICH RESERVOIR (UPPER VOLGA BASIN)  - Tyutin  A.V.,  Morozova  D.A.,  Pryanichnikova  E.G. - The Ponto-Azov gastropod mollusk Lithoglyphus naticoides (C. Pfeiffer, 1828) naturalized in the Uglich Reservoir relatively recently (in 2013–2015). The main objective of this study is a comparative analysis of the species diversity and structure of trematode communities in different biotopes, occupied by L. naticoides after the initial phase of its spread in the upper section of this water body (downstream the city of Dubna), characterized by a complex hydrological regime. Approximate coordinates of the geographical center of the large settlement of L. naticoides are 56°53’N, 37°25’E. It is found that by 2019–2021 the average density of L. naticoides in this settlement reached a consistently high value of about 450 ind./m². Judging by the variability of shell height in adult mature L. naticoides individuals, even within the same settlement, optimum habitat conditions for this mollusk differ significantly in different biotopes. In a comparative aspect, data from two main hydrobiological sampling locations are considered: in the open part of the reservoir and at the mouth of a large tributary – the Dubna River. It is shown that at both locations the species composition of trematodes in L. naticoides is similar and includes, in particular, parthenitae of Apophallus muehlingi (Jägerskiöld, 1899), Apophallus (=Rossicotrema) donicus (Skrjabin et Lindtrop, 1919), Parasymphylodora markewitschi Kulakowskaja, 1947, Nicolla skrjabini (Iwanitzky, 1928). However, Sanguinicola volgensis (Razin, 1929) parthenitae, dominant in L. naticoides in the open part of the reservoir, is not found in the sample of mollusks from the mouth of the Dubna River. As compared to the sampling site in the open part of the reservoir, at the mouth of the Dubna River the level of infection with parthenitae of other species is significantly lower: N. skrjabini and P. markewitschi – 7 times, Apophallus spp. – 8 times, Xiphidiocercaria sp. – 13 times. The ratio of males to females among mature individuals of L. naticoides turns out to be close to 1:1, which is usual for many freshwater mollusks. In general, the high occurrence (the infection prevalence – the proportion of infected individuals in the host sample P±SE, %) in the open part of the reservoir indicates the presence of prerequisites for serious outbreaks of helminthoses: Xiphidiocercaria sp. (9.16±2.52%), Apophallus spp. (11.45±2.78%), P. markewitschi (7.63±2.32%), N. skrjabini (7.63±2.32%), S. volgensis (63.36±4.21%). At the same time, according to the data obtained, further spread of L. naticoides in some tributaries of reservoirs in the Upper Volga basin may not have such serious parasitological consequences.

THE UPDATED CHECK-LIST OF ALIEN PLANT SPECIES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MORDOVIA: A PATH FROM 2010 TO 2023  - Khapugin  A.A.,  Esina  I.G.,  Silaeva  T.B. - The monitoring and inventory of the composition of alien plant species is an important step towards obtaining complete information about the biological diversity in a study area. By February 2023, the backbone reference on the alien flora composition in the Republic of Mordovia was the book “Vascular plants of the Republic of Mordovia (synopsis of flora)” published in 2010. This study was aimed to update the list of alien plant species for both the Republic of Mordovia and each municipal district by the nowadays (February 2023). The study was mainly focused on species (69 taxa) replenished the alien flora of the Republic of Mordovia in 2010–2023, and formation of the updated list of the alien flora of the region. The largest number of new species was found in the Saransk urban district (29 species), Temnikov district (25 species), Romodanovo district (11 species), and Ichalki district (10 species). The largest number of these species (74.6% of all floristic novelties) is ergasiophygophytes and xeno-ergasiophygophytes escaping to the wild. The main part of xenophytes is not naturalised plants (i. e. colonophytes and ephemerophytes). Four species (Amaranthus paniculatus, Dianthus chinensis, Malva neglecta, Rosa dumalis, R. pratorum) previously considered as aliens in the Republic of Mordovia were excluded from the list of the alien flora. As a result of the study, the alien flora of the Republic of Mordovia currently includes 456 species from 271 genera and 70 families. The highest number of alien species was found in the Saransk urban district (342 species), Ruzaevka district (272 species), and Temnikov district (244 species). At the same time, floras of Elniki district (133 species), Dubenki district (132 species), Atyuryevo district (124 species), and Bolshoe Ignatovo district (117 species) include the lowest number of alien species. This is probably caused by an underestimation of their alien flora, and this fact underlines the need for additional special investigations of aliens. Lists of the alien flora of both the Republic of Mordovia and each municipal district are available as a dataset in Zenodo. This material is intended to serve as a backbone reference for further studies of the alien flora in the Republic of Mordovia.

THE MOST DANGEROUS INVASIVE NEAR-WATER MAMMALS IN RUSSIA: ENSEMBLE MODELS OF SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION  - Khlyap  L.A.,  Warshavsky  A.A.,  Dergunova  N.N.,  Osipov  F.A.,  Petrosyan  V.G. - The potential ranges of three near-water mammals included in the list of the 100 most dangerous invasive species of Russia (Сanadian beaver, Muskrat, American mink) were presented. Maps of suitable habitats of species were created by ensemble modeling of spatial distribution of species (eSDM) based on global species occurrence records in native and invasive range, bioclimatic variables characterizing the current climate. The efficiency of the construction of ensemble models as compared to individual models (iSDM) is evaluated. The results of analysis of consequences of invasions of near-water mammals are presented and the features of control of number and limitation of their distribution in the future on the territory of Russia are considered. The patterns of formation of the invasive part of the range of alien near-aquatic mammals are summarized and suitable regions for their future invasions are predicted.

TRACE ELEMENT СONTENT IN THE PINK SALMON FROM THE RIVERS OF THE BARENTS AND OKHOTSK SEAS BASINS  - Khristoforova  N.K.,  Litvinenko  A.V.,  Alekseev  M.Yu.,  Tsygankov  V.Yu. - The concentrations of Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn were determined in the invasive pink salmon that came to spawn into the Kola and Tuloma rivers of the Kola Peninsula, flowing into the Barents Sea, in July 2019. The content of trace elements in the organs and tissues of pink salmon introduced in the Euro-Arctic waters of Russia was compared to those of the pink salmon from its natural range, which returned to spawn in the rivers of the Sakhalin and Iturup Islands in 2016–2018. It has been established that concentrations of Zn, Cu and Ni noticeably predominate in all organs and tissues of introduced pink salmon, whereas Pb and Cd - in the Sea of Okhotsk pink salmon. Obviously, the differences in the microelement composition in fish are caused by environmental conditions. In the Barents Sea, they are formed under the influence of the Gulf Stream, as well as the anthropogenic impact of the Kola Peninsula, which is characterized by the extraction, processing and smelting of a number of metals, primarily Ni and Cu, as well as Zn. In the Sakhalin-Kuril basin, the specificity of the environment and the microelement composition of salmon are due to the influence of natural factors - volcanism and upwellings. Herds of pink salmon during feeding and migration in the Pacific Ocean cross a high-nutrient and at the same time geochemically impact natural zone formed by the Kuril Ridge and the Kuril-Kamchatka depression, which supplies chemical elements to surface waters. Here, the concentration of Pb is most markedly increased in fish. The development of the introduced pink salmon in the new area is facilitated by the recent increase in temperature in the waters of the North Atlantic, so the amount of fish production in it will increase. The mastering of pink salmon in new feeding places sets before scientists the task of monitoring the dynamics of its abundance, taking adequate measures for fishery regulation and fish quality control.

CHANGES IN FLORA SPECIES COMPOSITION AND SOIL ENZYME ACTIVITY IN COMMUNITIES OF ACER NEGUNDO IN THE KEMEROVO REGION  - Tsandekova  O.L.,  Sheremetova  S.A.,  Ufimtsev  V.I.,  Khrustaleva  I.A. - The article presents the study results of the species composition of vascular plants and soil activity in communities dominated by Acer negundo. The studies were carried out on accounting sites located in the mountain-taiga and forest-steppe zones of Kuzbass. The selection of trial plots was made taking into account the horizontal differentiation of space into under-crown (registration plots) and external zones (control) of phytogenic fields. Floristic descriptions and analysis of the soil by the level of activity of enzymes (invertase, protease, phosphatase) were carried out using standard methods. The species diversity of vascular plants in the areas under study constituted 64 species. The dominant plant species in the ash-leaved maple communities were identified. Under the canopy of A. negundo, ruderal species – Cirsium setosum, Elytrigia repens, Lamium album, Urtica dioica, and Taraxacum officinale – dominate, while in the outer zones, the proportion of meadow species increases – Achillea millefolium, Dactylis glomerata, and Festuca pratensis. It has been established that the floristic composition of communities does not affect significantly the level of activity of soil enzymes. In the undercrown space of A. negundo, an increase in the activity of hydrolytic enzymes by an average of 11% was noted, compared with the outer zones.