Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors

Sayenko E.M., Nakonechnaya O.V.

Freshwater bivalves Sinanodonta sp. (Bivalvia: Unioniformes: Unionidae) are recorded in the Chagan Lake basin (Jilin Province, Northeast China) for the fi rst time. Their species affi liation is discussed and original photographs of three species of the genus are provided.

Yudin V.G., Yudina E.V.

Between 1990 and 2017 the authors carried out breeding and studied the biology of the Amur tiger at a research station in the Gayvoron village, Primorsky Krai, Russia. Since 1994, tigers have been kept in enclosures. Avoiding close contacts, we studied the habits, relationships in the family group, reproduction processes, growth of tiger cubs and other aspects of the biology of the Amur tiger. The article outlines the history of these events and summarizes the experience of enclosure keeping and breeding of this endangered species, listed in all Red Data Books.

Prozorova L.A., Barabanshchikov E.I.

Information on the distribution of large bivalves of the genus Middendorffi naia in Primorsky Krai has been clarifi ed. Both species of the genus are listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation: Middendorffi naia mongolica (Middendorff , 1851) and M. sujfunensis Moskvicheva et Starobogatov, 1973. Currently known populations of these species are listed, along with an assessment of their condition. A reduction in the number and area of distribution of the species is demonstrated. The main threats and ways for the Middendorffi naia species conservation in Primorsky Krai are discussed.

Grishin S.Y., Perepelkina P.A., Tsvetkov V.A., Lazarev A.G.

The strong eruption of Shiveluch volcano in April 2023 led to radical changes in the natural environment of a vast territory. Analysis of changes in the aff ected area using satellite images and during fi eld work in the summers of 2023 and 2024 revealed the features, depth and scale of the impact on forest vegetation. Multimeter layer of high-temperature pyroclastic deposits covered an area of more than 60 sq. km on the southern and southeastern slopes of the volcano. The main buried areas include a vast deposit fi eld measuring 38 sq. km, lying in the altitude range of 400–800 m and a series of pyroclastic fl ow tongues with a total area of 12.5 sq. km, descending to an altitude of 140–350 m, with a maximum length of 22 km from the eruption center. Before the eruption, there were coniferous (Larix cajanderi) and deciduous (Betula ermanii) forests, dwarf alder (Alnus fruticosa) covers, mountain meadows and volcanic badlands (legacy of previous eruptions). Woody vegetation, including valuable coniferous forests, was buried and destroyed over an area of approximately 24 km2. Burial of forests by thick (up to tens of meters) high-temperature strata occurred over an area of more than 20 km2. The pyroclastic surge and the peripheral parts of the pyroclastic fl ows turned forests and dwarf alder forests into dead stands over an area of several square kilometers. The cause of its death was powerful and rapid thermal damage by hot gas-sand vortices. Immediately after the eruption, surface watercourses begin to wash away pyroclastic deposits, transporting them, and burying forest areas with washed-out materials. As a result, the forest dies. Vegetation adjacent to pyroclastic deposit fi elds is aff ected by frequent and intense dust transports that occur in open areas above the tree line. The 2023 eruption was the largest explosive event in Kamchatka and the Kuril Islands in recent decades, and caused large- scale destruction of forests.

Voloshina I.V., Afanasyeva A.R., Myslenkov A.I.

Here we present an ecological and faunistic review of long-term observations of the state of populations, numbers and parasitic communities of 13 species of insectivores living in protected areas within the mountainous region of Sikhote- Alin. Data on the insectivorous fauna of the Ussuriysky, Lazovsky and Sikhote- Alin nature reserves (since their foundation in 1934–1935) and of the Botchinsky Nature Reserve (since 1994) have been analyzed. Maps of fi nds of insectivores in the Lazovsky Nature Reserve and some information on their distribution in national parks are also provided. The features of the distribution, biotopic occurrence, biology and parasitic communities of each species are shown.

Bukharova N.V., Kochunova N.A.

Information is provided on new locations of the rare fungus Bondarcevomyces taxi, protected in the Russian Federation, in the Amur Oblast and Khabarovsk Krai. In addition, morphological descriptions of Far Eastern specimens and their photographs are given. A map of the distribution of this fungus in the Russian Far East has been compiled. It has been established that there are at least 11 known locations of B. taxi on the territory of Russia.

Nazarenko A.A., Pavlenko M.V., Gamova T.V.

The Ryukyu robin (Larvivora komadori Temminck, 1835) is an endemic inhabitant of the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan. In 2018, we made several birding excursions to Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Within the 1100 Altitude Wetland protected area on May 28 and May 30 we encountered a pair of birds, which, according to reference literature and bird guides we identifi ed as Larvivora komadori. That was the fi rst visual sighting of the Ryukyu robin during the breeding season on Jeju Island, which is separated from the nearest breeding site by more than 200 kilometers of open sea. This fact can be regarded as a potential ability for this endemic island species to spread to new islands. Possible pathways for natural introduction of the Ryukyu

Bogatov V.V.

2023 marks the 100th anniversary of Pavel Andreyevich Lehr’s birth (09.27.1923–09.15.2005). He was an outstanding Soviet scientist, a leading expert on dipteran insects, a corresponding member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, director of the Institute of Biology and Soil Science of the Far Eastern Scientifi c Center/Far Eastern Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences during 1981–1991. The article highlights the contribution of P. A. Lehr to the organization and development of biological research in the Far Eastern region between 1988 and 1991, when he was deputy chairman of the Presidium of the Far Eastern Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. At the same time, Lehr led a temporary creative team to develop the Environmental Program of Primorsky Krai, which he managed to bring to completion and offi cial approval during the collapse of the USSR. Unique documents from the Archive of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the personal archive of the author are presented.

Gabyshev V.A.

New data are obtained on the species composition of algae (excluding diatoms and silicascaled chrysophytes) and cyanobacteria in water bodies of Kotelny Island of the New Siberian Archipelago. A species list is provided for the 12 studied water bodies of the island, including 124 species and varieties. A taxonomic revision of the previously existing species list based on collections carried out on the island in 1947 is accomplished and combined with new data. The general species list contains 233 taxa, including 93 new species and varieties. A relatively high diversity of desmid algae has been established. The studied communities are characterized by a large number of cosmopolitan forms, a predominance of attached organisms and eurythermal species, as well as species indiff erent to the water fl ow speed. The trophic status of the studied water bodies of the island, the degree of their mineralization and the pH level of the environment are characterized using algal indication.

Kholina A.B., Artyukova E.V., Khoreva M.G., Andrianova E.A.

Based on nucleotide polymorphism of cpDNA intergenic spacers psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, and trnS-trnG, we studied the genetic diversity and population structure of a mountain species Oxytropis vasskovskyi Jurtz., endemic to East Siberia. The populations were characterized by medium and high haplotype (0.524–1.000) and low nucleotide (0.0003–0.0008) diversity. Variability distribution analysis showed a moderate level of diff erentiation; the interpopulation component accounted for about 44% of the total genetic variation in O. vasskovskyi. We observed demographic expansion for three of fi ve O. vasskovskyi populations. The haplotypes of the fi ve studied populations form a single complex in the genealogical network, which is probably due to their common origin, relatively recent divergence and incomplete lineage sorting, as well as the existing gene exchange between populations. Thus, in four of the fi ve studied populations, a low level of nucleotide diversity and the absence of nucleotide substitutions were determined, which indicates the need to use certain measures to protect all known habitats, conduct regular monitoring of their state and search for new locations of the species.

Galanina I.A., Yakovchenko L.S.

This paper provides new locations of Rinodina subalbida based on the study of lichens of the genus Rinodina in Primorsky and Khabarovsk Krai. The species is widespread both on the insular and the mainland parts of the Russian Far East. The paper provides data on the morphology, anatomy, and ecology of R. subalbida based on the studied samples.

Prozorova L.A.

The fi rst data on spring macroinvertebrate fauna of the Southern Russian Far East are presented. Macrobenthos of a small forest spring classifi ed as helocrene includes at least 21 species from 20 genera and 17 families in Arthropoda and Platyhelminthes. Main groups of benthic organisms are amphipods, planarians, larvae of dipterous insects, caddisfl ies, stonefl ies and mayfl ies, small water beetles. The following invertebrates are defi ned to the species level: planaria Phagocata sibirica, stonefl y Skwala compacta, caddisfl y Glossosoma angarensis, aquatic beetles Hydraena riparia (imago) and Heterlimnius gapyeongensis (larvae), amphipods Gammarus koreanus and hypogean Procrangonyx primoryensis. The macrobenthos of the spring is also ecologically diverse. Here, rheo- and stagnophiles, highly specialized stygo- and crenobionts, and species with wide ecological niches, sharply diff ering in their preferences, closely coexist.

Khristoforova N.K., Dyurdeeva A.A., Masalyova K.R., Chernova E.N.

Heavy metal content in long-lived bivalves of the family Mytilidae in the Vostok Bay, Modiolus kurilensis and Crenomytilus grayanus is considered. These species prefer diff erent types of substrate, soft and hard, respectively. It is shown these mytilids contain metals in quantities close to the background concentrations of metals in the same species from the Peter the Great Bay. An increase in Cu concentrations and a decrease in Pb concentrations in both species is recorded at several stations compared to the background concentrations established according to 1990 data. From the standpoint of sanitary regulations of the Russian Federation, no excess levels of metal content are observed in these mytilids. The results obtained indicate the need to continue ecological monitoring of the bay using the indicated methods to obtain comparable data and observation of noted trends.

Lobkova L.E., Beljaev E.A.

An overview of geometrid moth species (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve is presented. Additionally, materials from the Bystrinsky and Nalychevo Nature Parks, the Yuzhno- Kamchatsky and Kol River protected natural areas, as well as from the Bering Island (Commander Islands National Park). An annotated list has been compiled, including 79 species, of which Biston betularia (Linnaeus, 1758) and Scotopteryx chenopodiata (Linnaeus, 1758) are listed for the fi rst time for Kamchatka. Seventy species have been recorded in the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, 39 of which are new to the reserve. About 80% of geometrid moth species known on the peninsula inhabit the reserve. For all 79 species, we provided data on the collected material, distribution in the reserve and Kamchatka Krai, relative abundance, food plants for caterpillars and other ecological features.

Kartavtseva I.V.

Literature data on the chromosomal characteristics of Soricidae, genera Crocidura and Sorex are analyzed. The importance of karyological studies for shrew taxonomy at the species level in the Russian Far East is shown. For each species, information on taxonomy, distribution, collection site of studied samples and the structure of karyotypes is provided. The intraspecifi c variability of shrew karyotypes in the Russian Far East is discussed based on a comparison of chromosomal characteristics from diff erent populations located in Russia and other geographical regions.