Nature Conservation Research

2–12

Authors: Nenov D.I., Zlatanova D.P., Stoynov E.H., Peshev H.V., Grozdanov A.P.

A group of griffon vultures in Kresna Gorge was studied for its visit on the feeding station next to Rakitna Village after being reintroduced in the area. A camera trap method was used for a better understanding of the breeding behaviour of the griffon vulture, including the intra- and inter-species relations. A statistically significant difference was found between the independent feeding events during the pre-incubation and incubation periods of vultures. The duration of those events also differs, the ones in the second period being longer. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was observed between the number of vultures per photo for the two sample periods, as a result of a different number of unmarked wild birds and different activity patterns of the nesting pairs. In spite of the fact that the terrestrial predators are also active during the night, their daytime presence leads to a high enough overlap between the two ecological groups, showing that the carnivores are a disturbance factor for the scavengers. The raven is the most abundant species at the feeding site and thus is a food competitor to the griffon vulture. The two species have adapted their behaviour to use the feeding station more successfully during the different biological periods. A significant decrease in the activity overlap between the individuals of the successfully nesting pairs was observed on the feeding station after the beginning of the incubation period. On the other hand, the activity overlap of the unsuccessfully nesting pairs increased in the second sample period. Camera traps can be used in further studies of the mating ecology for individual breeding pairs, when a direct observation on the nest is hard or impossible. This can be a cheap alternative of the time-consuming field observations.

26–35

Authors: Ngama S., Korte L., Johnson M., Vermeulen C., Bindelle J.

In Central Africa, Gabon is a forested country with a rich biodiversity where conflict between wild animals and humans is common and causes innumerable damage to crops. The worst crop raiders are elephants, which can destroy an entire crop in a single night. These raids threaten people's livelihoods as well as elephants because angry farmers often retaliate with killing campaigns against crop raiding elephants. To keep elephants out of farms the use of chilli pepper is recommended as a non-lethal method. But only a few studies have tested methods to use chilli pepper to deter elephants in Gabon. Results from this study give a starting point for understanding how forest elephants react to devices using chilli pepper as a deterrent based on sequential camera trap photos. A chilli pepper device that resulted in splashing concentrate on the elephant face proved to be the most effective at deterring elephants. Surprisingly, chilli pepper concentrate directly applied to mango fruits did not deter elephants from eating the fruits, although it probably caused some discomfort. To make effective deterrent devices with chilli pepper future works need to focus on exploring practices to reach the elephant face with the least, safe quantity of chilli pepper and which will have enough strong deterrent effect.

47–56

Authors: Sidorchuk N.V., Rozhnov V.V.

The European badger's (Meles meles) daily activity was studied in two regions of European Russia with camera traps. The results of the study show that the daily activity of the European badger on settlements does not differ in the compared populations inhabiting Darwin Reserve and Meschera National Park. The badger appears on surface often during the daylight contrary to the classical idea of nocturnal activity of the species. More than half of all animal registrations occur at daylight during the summer. The moderate climate of the study areas and low level of human persecution are considered among the possible reasons of this type of activity. The daily activity of the European badger undergoes markedly seasonal changes in both populations. Badgers more often came out from their setts during daylight in summer and at night in autumn. The results have practical application in the organisation of the census of badgers by means of camera traps.

68–88

Authors: Ogurtsov S.S., Zheltukhin A.S., Kotlov I.P.

Here are presented the results of the analysis of daily activity patterns obtained from the data of camera traps for five large mammals (elk Alces alces, wild boar Sus scrofa, brown bear Ursus arctos, grey wolf Canis lupus, Eurasian lynx Lynx lynx) and three medium ones (European badger Meles meles, raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides, mountain hare Lepus timidus) for the territory of the Central Forest Nature Reserve, Valdai Upland, Russia. Data were collected in the period 2010–2017 and the trap effort was 30 158 camera days from 21 locations. Most of the mammals surveyed showed activity at night and twilight hours (71% of the pictures). The hare was most active among all and dominant at night. In many respects it is similar to the activity of a raccoon dog, which type can be defined as nocturnal too. Unlike a hare, a raccoon dog has a weak peak in the daytime and less activity in the night. Badgers movements are confined to the twilight and nighttime. The share of nocturnal activity of large ungulates such as elk and wild boar was approximately the same and amounted to about 45% of all registrations. The wild boar is slightly more active during the day and in the evening and is not active at all in the morning. The elk is active in the morning, and in the daytime and to a lesser extent in the evening. The lynx and the bear have similar cathemeral activity patterns: almost half of all their meetings occurred at daylight hours and only slightly – less than 40% – at night. The brown bear had the maximum number of registrations in the daytime among all the studied species. Despite the fact that the main object of lynx feeding in the reserve is the hare, there was no high degree of overlap between them (γˆ = 0.75). In the group of large carnivores, the wolf was noticeably distinguished, more than half of its registrations were at night, and a third – on daytime. Daily activities of the wolf and its main prey elk showed a large overlap (γˆ = 0.89). The seasonal variations of daily activity of all species were also shown. According to the results of factor analysis, each of the studied species was divided into one of three separate groups. The first group included species with a tendency to nocturnal activity (wolf, elk, hare, badger, and raccoon dog), the second group – cathemeral animals (bear and lynx). In the third group was only the wild boar, whose activity was associated with the evening hours. This is the first long-term continuous camera trap survey in Russia and it provides detailed daily activity patterns for multiple large and medium-sized sympatric mammals.

100–103

Authors: Samsonov S.V., Makarova T.V., Shitikov D.A.

The study was conducted in the southern part of the «Russky Sever» National Park during 2016–2017 as a part of the research on the life history and demography of songbirds breeding in abandoned fields. The nest fate was established by using motion-sensing trail cameras. Among 87 controlled nests, 36 were depredated and revealed at least seven predator species. Almost all predators were mainly attracted by nests with nestlings. But not all predation events led to fully depredated nests. Our data suggest that the local populations of ground-nesting passerines in national park «Russky Sever» are under the influence of several groups of nest predators.

1–20

Authors: Gebremedihin K.M., Birhane E., Tadesse T., Gbrewahid H.

Exclusion of grazing animals and tree plantations were among the methods used for the rehabilitation of degraded lands in tropical semiarid areas. Exclosures can foster secondary forest succession by improving soil conditions, attracting seed-dispersal agents and modifying microclimate for understory growth. This paper compares the woody species diversity and soil chemical properties under exclosure with increasing age and grazing land at different slope positions. The study has been conducted in northern Ethiopia from 12 exclosure sites paired each with adjacent grazing land with four treatments replicated three times. In the entire study 216 plots were examined of which 108 were in exclosures and 108 in communal grazing lands.There were four age classes and three slope positions in each of the landuses. Vegetation data were collected using plots measuring 100 m2. Soils for physicochemical properties were collected from the four corners and center of 5 × 5m plots which was inside the 10 × 10m plot. A total of 61 woody plant species belonging to 41 families were recorded. Diversity and species richness were higher in the exclosures than in grazing lands. Among exclosures these parameters were higher in exclosures older than 30 years and at the foot of the slope. Grazing lands, the youngest exclosures and upper elevation gradient recorded lower values. Chemical soil properties were significantly higher in the exclosures, among them in the oldest exclosures and at foot elevation (except for P) than these were in the grazing land, the youngest exclosures and upper parts of slopes respectively. Exclosures are instrumental to improve the woody species diversity and soil chemical properties in the drylands.

35–57

Authors: Adom D.

Cosmological belief systems play significant roles in the conservation of the biodiversity of the residents in the Kumawu Traditional Area of Ghana. It is regrettable to realise that they have been unjustly labeled as an obstacle to scientific progression, resulting in their low voice in the nature conservation initiatives in the area. Thus, the research was aimed at unearthing the conservation ethos of the cosmological belief systems, while justifying with substantial facts, why they must be utilised in modern conservation initiatives. A phenomenological study using Focus Group Discussions, personal interviews and direct observations assisted in the gathering of qualitative data which was rigorously analysed via data analysis spiral approach. The findings revealed that cosmological belief systems greatly influence the attitudes of the residents in the Kumawu Traditional Area toward the natural resource conservation in the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary. The study contends that nature conservation planners in Ghana must look in-depth into the cosmological belief systems in the area and tag them as a potential traditional biodiversity strategy and as a complement to the conventional scientific models to halt the menace of biodiversity depletion in the Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary.

65–79

Authors: Galkina M.А., Zueva M.А.

The exposition «Flora of Siberia» exists since the creation of the Main Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences and covers an area of 0.045 km². More than 100 species from 42 families and 84 genera of plants are cultivated on this territory. 65% species are successfully renewed, 80% species have been cultivated for more than 35 years. Meadow-forest plant species and species from lower mountain belt are most widely represented (31% and 23% respectively). The specifity of introduction in the climatic conditions of the centre of European Russia for many years were studied for some rare species – Melica altissima, Dasiphora fruticosa, Sibiraea laevigata etc. For a number of species from introduction populations characterised by an increase in the size of vegetative organs and an increase in the number of flowers in comparison with individuals of the same species from the natural phytocenoses of Siberia. The cultivation of new species is closely related to the problem of biological invasions. At the time of the foundation of the collection, in 1950s, the invasive species Sorbaria sorbifolia had not yet begun its expansion into natural phytocenoses of European Russia, and represented introductory value as a decorative species with an Asian area, but now there is strict monitoring of the number and area of the introduction population of Sorbaria sorbifolia at the exposition «Flora of Siberia». Currently, the collection is actively enriched, to include in its composition plant species from the botanical garden of the M.K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University in Yakutsk, seeds of several rare and protected species in many regions of Siberia were obtained: Alfredia cernua, Allium ramosum, Artemisia dracunculus, Filifolium sibiricum, Oxytropis pilosa, Draba sibirica, Silene amoena. Seeds of these species were germinated in three variants of conditions - with preliminary moist or dry cold stratification and without stratification. Our research has shown that Allium ramosum, Artemisia dracunculus and Silene amoena are most promising for seed introduction with a preliminary cold stratification.

88–91

Authors: Ruchin A.B., Egorov L.V.

The paper presents data on a new record of a very rare insect, Leptura aurulenta (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Russia). This is a third reliable registration of this species within Russia. It expands the range of this beetle to 600 km to the east. We have presented an original biotope description, data on distribution and biology of L. aurulenta.

97–99

Authors: Kabir M.T., Ahsan M.F., Khatoon A., Rahman M.M.

This report confirms the presence of the red giant flying squirrel Petaurista petaurista from the Idgarh Reserve Forest in Cox's Bazar (North) Forest Division in the southern part of Bangladesh. The chestnut-red dorsal body colour, white ventral surface, large and flesh-coloured nostrils, and gray long tail with blackish tip confirm the observed species as a red giant flying squirrel. Long-term monitoring, habitat protection and its ecology need to be studied for initiating further steps to conserve it in Bangladesh.

103–110

Authors: Shuyskaya E.A., Zavadskaya A.V., Sharaponova A.Yu., Belyaev D.A., Barsukova A.D., Strokan A.V., Vlasov E.A., Unkovskaya M.A., Nosov M.S.

Russia was represented by 9 participants from Biosphere Reserves at the MAB Youth Forum in Italy. The main question of the Forum was «How to involve the young in the work of biosphere reserves?» The debate resulted in a Declaration, elaborated by participants from around the world (282 delegates from 85 countries). Measures to improve scientific cooperation, data exchange in the sphere of educational tourism and administrative management, development of joint projects in environmental education were formulated. The article contains a number of recommendations for the network of biosphere reserves in Russia, based on Seville strategy and Lima Action Plan.

1–8

Authors: Benediktov A.А.

For the territory of Samarskaya Luka, at the village Bakhilova Polyana (I.I. Sprygin Zhiguli State Natural Biosphere Reserve), 25 species of Orthoptera were found in mid-July 2016. These species were identified basically by the analysis of male acoustic signals. This is 44% of the total species composition of Samarskaya Luka Orthoptera, specified in the Cadastre of invertebrates of Samarskaya Luka. The specimens belonging to the grasshopper Platychleis albopunctata (= P. intermedia auct.) are clarified. The cricket Melanogryllus desertus and the locust Chorthippus dorsatus were found for the first time in the Samarskaya Luka. The species composition of the cryptic taxa of the «Chorthippus biguttulus group» of the Middle Volga region is discussed. Based on the unstable amplitude-time structure of the signals of the supposed Ch. biguttulus males from Malaya Bahilova Mountain, it is assumed that they may have a hybrid origin.

19–27

Authors: Kataev G.D.

The population status of the small mammals, Micromammalia, was studied in the central mountain and taiga part of the Kola Peninsula in the Lapland Biosphere Reserve and its buffer zone. For this purpose, control groups of animals were selected at a different distance from the Severonikel' industrial complex which is considered as the largest metallurgical company in Europe. It produces nickel, copper and other non-ferrous metals. The study sites were located at 4–30 km from the local source of industrial pollution. The analysis of population dynamics, faunistic structure and biological parameters of mass species of Soricidae, Myomorpha has revealed the differences in habitats depending on the distance to the industrial complex. The results of the chemical analysis of organs and tissue samples of small rodents, their morpho-physiological and genetic characteristics within emission plume were analysed. The abundance of the studied Mammalia species was the lowest at 5 km north and 7 km south of the metallurgical industrial complex. According to our results, animals in a zone of increased industrial emission (sulfur dioxide, compounds of heavy metals) concentrations had more deviations from the biological norms in comparison with the same species from less polluted areas. Long-term (1936–2014) abundance dynamics of Clethrionomys glareolus was presented due to the new ecological situation in the region and reduction of the volume of sulfur dioxide emission by the Severonikel' industrial complex. This biotesting method using mammals as study objects may be applied for the definition of ecologically safe level criteria of heavy metal production and it may be used in studies of similar ecological situations.

43–55

Authors: Gorbunova I.A.

The article presents new data on agaricoid basidiomycetes of the Katunsky State Nature Reserve (Republic of Altai, Russia), including data on rare species. Besides the paper contains characteristics of some rare ascomycetes and basidiomycetes found in the Katunsky Reserve and in the Republic of Altai as well as about species recommended for inclusion in the new edition of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Altai. In total descriptions of 17 species of macromycetes are presented. These are Chroogomphus sibiricus, Cortinarius violaceus, Floccularia luteovirens, Ganoderma lucidum, Grifola frondosa, Lactarius lignyotus, Leucoagaricus nympharum, Leucopholiota lignicola, Gastrosporium simplex, Gyromitra sphaerospora, Laricifomes officinalis, Bovista acuminata, Hydropus atramentosus, Leucopaxillus rhodoleucus, Phallus costatus, Polyozellus multiplex and Polyporus rhizophilus. We present data on species' distribution throughout the Republic of Altai, Russia and the world; some ecological and biological features of species; major threats and their conservation status. Arguments for exclusion of Amanita echinocephala, Hericium coralloides, Cystoderma rugosoreticulatum, Leccinum percandidum, Mutinus caninus from the list of rare species of the region are presented.

66–76

Authors: Novenko E.Yu.

The paper presents reconstructions of vegetation and forest coverage dynamics in the area of the State Military-Historical and Natural Museum-Reserve «Kulikovo Pole» (Upper Don River basin) in the middle and late Holocene, based on modern and fossil pollen assemblages and remote sensing data (MODIS) using the «the Best Modern Analogue» technique for paleoecological studies. The data obtained showed that in the study area steppe vegetation was widespread in the period 7000–4500 cal. (calendar) years BP, forest coverage was 10–20%. Cooling and moistening of the climate around 4500 cal. years BP encouraged a shift of the forest-steppe boundary to the South; forest-steppe vegetation with the participation of pine and broad-leaved forests of Quercus, Tilia, Ulmus and Alnus occupied the Upper Don River basin. Meadow steppe plant communities persisted mostly on dry slopes and well-drained watersheds. The forest coverage increased to 30–40%, and around 2700 cal. years BP reached 45%. Significant changes in vegetation and reduction of the area covered by forest (to 15%) occurred at 2400 cal. years BP and were caused mainly by the anthropogenic factor. An extensive agriculture during the periods of human occupation resulted in a decrease in forest coverage, when the territory was abandoned forests recovered their areas.

83–88

Authors: Sundukov Yu.N., Kozlovski E.E.

As a result of field research in a remote and poorly studied area in the north-west of Kunashir Island, an unknown group of hydrothermal-solfataric post-volcanic activity was discovered on the western slope of the volcano Ruruy, named by the authors – Dal'nie springs. In total eight objects were examined: 1) two small solfataric fields, 2) a small lake and a small stream with «acid springs» and gas outlets, 3) two small glades with mofettes among the bamboo, on which a warm or fairly hot steam flows from small holes in the ground, 4) and two mountain lakes – Lake Vodopadnoe and Lake Khmuroe. Perhaps, the cup-like hollow in which the discovered objects are located is an ancient explosive crater formed on the western slope of volcano Ruruy as a result of a strong eruption.

92–104

Authors: Zryanin V.A., Mokrousov M.V., Mukhanov A.V.

Georgiy A. Anufriev, Doctor of Science, famous entomologist, leading expert in systematics of Cicadinea of Russia and Palearctics, adjunct professor of the Department of Botany and Zoology of Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod, died suddenly on May 13, 2017 after suffering a massive stroke without regaining consciousness. Georgiy A. Anufriev is the author of more than 230 scientific papers on fauna, systematics, and ecology of Cicadinea (Hemiptera: Cicadinea) and insects of other groups. The biography and a complete list of the published works of G.A. Anufriev are included in this review.

2–9

Authors: Ruchin A.B., Egorov L.V.

The paper presents overview of ten insect species of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve which are included in the animal taxa list of second edition of the Red Data Book of Russian Federation. Amongst them, three species (Calosoma sycophanta, Сeruchus chrysomelinus, Protaetia fieberi) were found in the last five years. Since the year 2008 to date, old records of another six species (Dytiscus latissimus, Trypocopris vernalis, Osmoderma barnabita, Protaetia speciosissima, Parnopes grandior и Parnassius apollo) were confirmed. And one species (Lucanus cervus) is for the time being known only according to literature data. Descriptions of some species are accompanied by data on their abundance, biology and ecology.

43–60

Authors: Zheltukhin A.S., Shuyskaya E.A.

The review presents data on 23 rare species of the Central Forest Reserve included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation. The state of their populations (groups of populations) is assessed. The characteristics of landscape and coenotic confinement are given. Their biological and ecological features are briefly described, and the limiting factors determining the reduction in the number of some species are indicated. Over 85 years, many species have remained their biological positions in the Reserve, and their quantity has remained stable. At the same time, species of sedentary birds (Bubo bubo, Lagopus lagopus rossicus) and birds nesting in the Protected Area (representatives of the Accipitridae family) are now few in number due to the changes in the main habitats and deterioration of the forage resources. It is noted that the Central Forest Reserve is the largest Protected Area in Central Russia for the rare lichens Lobaria pulmonaria and Menegazzia terebrata.

70–80

Authors: Bondarenko A.S., Zamotajlov A.S., Shchurov V.I.

Some biological features and distributional data on seven species of the ground beetles, registered in the Red Data Book of Krasnodarsky Krai, are presented, namely Carabus obtusus, Carabus kaljuzhnyji, Carabus miroshnikovi, Carabus caucasicus, Leistus spinibarbis, Poecilus lyroderus, and Harpalus petri. The results of the field researches, carried out by the authors in 2010–2015, expanded considerably the knowledge of their biological features and regional distribution areas; furthermore, life cycles were reconstructed for four of the above listed species.

100–112

Authors: Rutovskaya M.V., Onufrenya M.V., Onufrenya A.S.

The population of the Russian desman in all historical areas is currently no more than 8000–10,000 individuals. The estimated population size of the Russian desman is based on direct surveys during 2010–2016. We observed over 266 km of the coastline in eight regions where the desman lives. Since the early 20th century the number of specimens has been steadily declining. In addition to the previously described factors that determine the reduction of the population size, such as land reclamation, the construction of hydroelectric stations and the flourishing of poaching at the end of the last century, the status of the Russian desman population is adversely affected by periodic droughts and the absence of floods. Currently Protected Areas remain as the only passive measure to protect the Russian desman in the absence of a programme to species protection nor state support.

125–150

Authors: Puchnina L.V.

Population-based studies on Calypso bulbosa and Cypripedium calceolus in the Pinega State Nature Reserve (Arkhangelsk region, Russia) and adjacent areas have been carried out. Since 1997, the monitoring of populations has been conducted on 34 established plots (17 for each species). Studies have been carried out directly within the Pinega Reserve area (Sotka river valley) and in the Reserve's buffer zone (slopes of the karst logs). Different trends of abundance dynamics in Calypso bulbosa and Cypripedium calceolus populations were identified. From 2002 to 2016, a significant decrease in the C. bulbosa individuals' number was registered. In 2006 this declining stabilised at low level. The total individuals' number within the established plots has decreased from 530 (in 2001) to 184 (in 2016). This reduction in abundance of C. bulbosa individuals is caused by changes in climatic parameters over the study period: the increasing of temperatures in July and August together with frequent dry periods. Climatic changes have led to a change in the coenoses' structure, a change of dominants in low forest layers, and an increase in the projective cover of the herb-shrub layer. Apparently, these changes have caused the declining of the C. bulbosa individuals' abundance in conditions of special protection regime. Cypripedium calceolus individuals' abundance has increased from 1231 to 2504 plants on the established plots over the study period. The increase of the August temperature is one of the main reasons for this phenomenon. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.6) between the average August temperature of previous year and Cypripedium calceolus individuals' abundance at present.

164–189

Authors: Khapugin A.A., Silaeva T.B., Vargot E.V., Chugunov G.G., Grishutkina G.A., Grishutkin O.G., Pismarkina E.V., Orlova Ju.S.

The paper presents an estimation of taxa included in the first volume of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Each taxon is provided by a category and all criteria appropriate for it within the region. The paper contains the estimation results of 177 taxa of vascular plants, mosses and algae from the first volume Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (second edition). Of these, 137 are Threatened: 73 taxa are Critically Endangered (category CR), 41 taxa Endangered (category EN), 23 are Vulnerable (category VU), 31 taxa are Near Threatened (category NT). Nine taxa are in the category Data Deficient (DD), due to a lack of sufficient factual material needed for the evaluation. Another 59 taxa of the Red Data Book of the Republic of Mordovia (35 macromycetes and 24 lichens) were not evaluated in the present study, also due to the lack of sufficient data needed for an evaluation. Therefore, these taxa are temporarily in the category Not Evaluated (NE). But they could be assigned to one of the threatened categories when evaluated in the future, according to the Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria. This paper is considered as a base for establishing the Red List of plant taxa of the Republic of Mordovia in the future.

2–25

Authors: Tuniyev B.S., Timukhin I.N.

This article provides an overview of 167 alien species of vascular plants of the far south of the Russian Federation. Considered is the distribution of alien species of ecological-altitude belts of the southern macroslope of the western Caucasus, at the interfluve of the rivers Tuapse and Psou and their geographical origin. It shows the predominance of alien species from North America and Eastern Asia. The authors considered an increasing number of alien species and the speed of distribution of the most aggressive invaders. We identified the capability of interchangeability of invasive species during a certain time.

40–52

Authors: Khapugin A.A.

Protected Areas are considered as one of the most appropriate tool for biodiversity conservation. However, invasion of alien species is one of the main and widely known problems of these territories. Therefore, the timely detection and prevention of the invasive species dispersal is one of the main tasks of researchers in Protected Areas. The European species Hieracium sylvularum was found in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve in 2012. In the following years, new locations have been discovered there. That is why the main traits of the ecology and biology, invasiveness level of the alien species were studied. An investigation of the five known H. sylvularum locations has been carried out in the Mordovia Reserve. Attention has been paid to the age-structure of the populations, the accompanying floras' composition and morphometrical parameters of the generative individuals. The environmental conditions of habitats were revealed and compared using phytoindication methods. The mass and germination of seeds, harvested on different locations, were studied. The results indicate that H. sylvularum is not an invasive species. This alien plant is able to reproduce primarily vegetatively. Probably, the population area can extend gradually on each location. Seed dispersal is difficult due to low germinability of seeds, despite of their significant number per plant. Based on obtained results, dry and semi-dry light lichen-moss-Pinus-forests have a higher invasibility by H. sylvularum. Therefore, perhaps, its new locations may be found especially in these habitats. Annual monitoring of the currently known locations of this alien plant is necessary in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve.

78–89

Authors: Raíces D.S.L., Ferreira P.M., Mello J.H.F., Bergallo H.G.

The alien species Artocarpus heterophyllus, originally from India, was introduced to Brazil in the colonial period and has become invasive in some areas in the Atlantic Forest. Its fruits can weigh 35 kg and produce up to 500 seeds each. In their native range they are dispersed by turtles, rodents, monkeys, wild pigs and elephants. This study aimed to investigate the influence of mammals in jackfruit predation and seed dispersal, as well as the influence of jackfruit in native plant species dispersal by mammals, in the Ilha Grande State Park, Southeastern Brazil. Seeds with and without mesocarp were tied to thread spools and checked for predation and dispersion on 37 sites. We recorded mesocarp or jackfruit seed feeding on video. Six species of mammals were recorded feeding on jackfruit, but Trinomys dimidiatus, Didelphis aurita and Cuniculus paca accounted for 92% of all records. Cuniculus paca and Trinomys dimidiatus preyed and dispersed seeds while Didelphis aurita consumed mesocarp only. Seeds with mesocarp were more preyed on than seeds without mesocarp and its consumption was lower during more intense fruit production. Hence, jackfruit production can exceed the capacity of mammals to consume its seeds in areas where jackfruit density is high. Faeces of small mammals were collected in areas with (10 grids) and without jackfruits (8 grids) and analysed for the presence of native seeds. Twelve small mammal species were captured in areas with and without jackfruits, but faeces of 11 species were collected. Didelphis aurita dispersed proportionally more native seeds in area without jackfruits. Our results showed that mammals are playing a negative role helping to disperse jackfruit trees, and this is occurring in different ways depending on mammal species.

96–101

Authors: Orlova-Bienkowskaja M.Ja., Bieńkowski A.O.

About 20 alien species of Coccinellidae were released for biological control of pests in the Caucasus. Some of them were reported to be established, but no monitoring of their populations was conducted. So the current state of the populations is unknown. In particular, it was unknown what alien ladybirds occur in Sochi National Park. Survey of Coccinellidae in Sochi National Park and the city of Sochi in 2013, 2016 and 2017 has revealed that the following alien ladybirds occur in the region: Harmonia axyridis, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri, Serangium montazerii and Lindorus lophantae. Harmonia axyridis is an Asian species, which has recently become a global invader. It is a top-predator which has caused a decline of ladybirds in many regions of the world. In 2012 the first established population of this species was found in the Caucasus, namely in Sochi. Now H. axyridis has spread along the whole Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and has become abundant in the region. It is abundant not only in the city of Sochi, but also in the mountain forests of Sochi National Park. It could potentially have a serious impact on native ecosystems, especially on ladybirds. Probably the current population of H. axyridis in the Caucasus has appeared as a result of spread from Western Europe and releases of specimens for biocontrol. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Lindorus lophantae introduced from Australia and Serangium montazerii introduced from India have been found only in the city of Sochi and are not abundant. Probably they do not affect the ecosystems of Sochi National Park now. But the monitoring of populations of these alien species is necessary, since established populations exist in the region.