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In Russian studies, a protocol for assessing the state of populations of invasive plant species is presented for the first time as a description form. Its development and application are important steps in systematic documentation of invasive plant species findings at the regional, national, or international level. The protocol takes account of the main criteria used for a comprehensive impact assessment: environmental impact, species distribution rate, and management complexity. The protocol comprises some additional information to be considered in the studies implemented at transport routes, in introduction institutions, agriculture, and protected areas (SPNAs). We provide the examples of the protocol application in the invasive plant species inventory along the Trans-Siberian Railway (Siberia, Russia) and in the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow, Russia). The application of the proposed protocol will allow (1) to create the unified system for invasive plant monitoring, (2) to develop the general approaches and criteria for assessing the risk caused by invasive plants, and (3) to unify the data on the protocol application in assessing invasive species populations for their further use by different stakeholders.

The matter of presence of Sisymbrium orientale in the flora of Middle Asia long known in the region based on the single gathering from Turkmenistan is clarified. Occurrence of the species in the latter country is not confirmed because of incorrect identification of relevant collection which belongs to S. septulatum. At the same time, S. orientale is a novelty for the region based on its recent (2023) finding in Uzbekistan first reported here. Alien character of the gathering is proposed and further spread of the species in the Middle Asia is assumed.

The Trans-Siberian Railway connects Europe and Asia making the flora at this intersection of particular interest. When studying five railway stations and several spans of Perm Krai, 134 species of vascular (19 woody and 115 herbaceous) plants were identified. For comparison of local floras of the regions located along the Trans-Siberian Railway and adjacent to Perm Krai, we used the Sørensen’s similarity coefficient. The Perm section (Perm – Kungur) showed the best flora similarity with the European one and by the aboriginal fraction – with the West Siberian site.

The study of the aphid fauna in Kaliningrad Region (Russia) started in 60s of the 20th century, but a regional checklist has not been published yet. Based on material deposited in the collection of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Belarusian State University and data scattered in various scientific publications, we compiled the first comprehensive list of aphids recorded from Kaliningrad Region. The list includes 61 genera, 110 species and two subspecies of which 30 species and one subspecies are recorded in the region for the first time. The recorded taxonomic diversity is lower than in the nearby countries – Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. At least 11 species (10% of the faunal list) are alien for the regional fauna.

Solidago × niederederi (Asteraceae) is a natural hybrid of the native S. virgaurea and the alien invasive S. canadensis, originated in Europe. Its naturalisation potential is still questionable. One of the largest (more than 20 ramet clusters, treated as individuals) known population of this nothospecies, is located in the «Aleksin Bor» Natural Monument (Aleksin town, Tula Region, Russia) in the floodplain of the River Oka. We studied its genetic structure with the help of chloroplast and nuclear markers. Analysis of sequence of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer ITS 1–2 showed that all individuals with intermediate morphology are actually hybrids. Data on the intergenic chloroplast non-coding spacer rpl32–trnL showed that S. canadensis is the maternal species in 60% of the studied individuals. It was shown that even closely located individuals were not clones; therefore, they were results of sexual, rather than vegetative reproduction. Analysis of ISSR markers showed that the studied individuals of S. × niederederi in this population are not only F1 hybrids, but also their descendants (F2 hybrids and/or backcrosses, mostly with S. canadensis). We conclude that S. × niederederi has successfully been naturalised in the studied community and, possibly, is outcompeting its native parental species, S. virgaurea, through introgression.

The invasive species Megabruchidius tonkineus (Pic, 1904) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) was emerged from seeds of Gleditsia sp., collected in urban belts in Kutaisi (Georgia). This is a new record for the fauna of Georgia. This is the second representative of the genus Megabruchidius Borowiec, 1984 and the fourth alien species of the subfamily Bruchinae, recorded on the territory of Georgia for the fve last years. This species develops in seeds of Gleditsia triacanthos L. and Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K. Koch in the invasive range. In the North Caucasus, M. tonkineus was first found in Krasnodar in 2005 and additionally in Stavropol Region and the Republic of Adygea in 2011. Te sharp reduction of the number of M. tonkineus was observed since 2016 contemporary with the increasing of the number and expansion of the range of M. dorsalis (Fåhraeus, 1839), which was frst recorded in the region in 2013. Megabruchidius tonkineus was not found on the territory of Ciscaucasia and the North Caucasus during targeted feld research in 2015–2021. At the same time, M. dorsalis became a mass species, occurring everywhere in the host plant area and it extremely reduced the remaining seed production of Gleditsia triacanthos.

Starfish Asterias rubens was found as the first record from the Anatolian coast of the Black Sea (Sinop). This alien starfish was reported in 1996 in the Bosporus Strait (the Marmara Sea). In 2009, A. rubens was registered off Karasu and Sakarya coasts in the Western Black Sea. A. rubens (8 cm in diameter; wet weight 12.970 g) was sampled by a commercial demersal trawl on the sandy-mud bottom at 85.5-m depth on 12 February, 2022, on the Anatolian coast of the Black Sea, which indicates further expansion of its areal in the sea.

The article presents new records for five alien species previously unknown from the flora of United Arab Emirates (UAE): Euphorbia cyathophora Murr. (Euphorbiaceae), Samolus valerandi L. (Myrsinaceae), Oldenlandia umbellata L. (Rubiaceae), Cardiospermum halicacabum L. (Sapindaceae), and Corchorus aestuans L. (Malvaceae s. l. / Tiliaceae). All of them have been recorded for the first time from the emirate of Fujairah in eastern part of the UAE. Euphorbia cyathophora, which is rare in the country, was found only in “Green Oasis Nursery” at Al Dibba town, Oldenlandia umbellata– found at the beginning of the seefront at Fujairah City, and they are new for the flora of the Arabian Peninsula. Samolus valerandi was found only in the “Desert Nurseries Group store 1 (palms)” at village Al Bidiya, Corchorus aestuans – in private nursery at Al Dibba town, and Cardiospermum halicacabum was found in the Masafi friday market, they are new for the flora of Fujairah and UAE. Accepted names, synonyms, spatial distribution, habitat preferences, and species taxonomy with remarks on identification and differentiation from the most similar taxa occurring in the study area, as well as the list of localities are presented. The herbarium materials were transferred to the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE, Saint-Petersburg, Russia), the duplicates – to the Herbarium of Altai State University (ALTB, Barnaul, Russia) and the Scientific Herbarium of Fujairah (FSH, Wadi Wuraya national park, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates).

Biological invasions in freshwater ecosystems are one of the main threats to the preservation of natural biological diversity. Due to the large number of species intentionally and accidentally introduced into the Balkash basin, the native ichthyofauna was pushed into small reservoirs. Sustainable existence in such reservoirs is difficult due to random unpredictable influences. In 2021 and 2022 in small reservoirs of the river basin .19 species of fish were observed in the Ile within the Almaty region, which belong to 8 families and 4 orders. The species diversity of the studied reservoirs consists of native (25%) and alien (75%) fish species. The greatest species diversity was observed in the pond of the Kapshagai spawning farm (11 species), the least species diversity was noted in the Terenkara (2 species) and Lep (1 species) rivers. Based on a comparison of the species composition of the fish population, all the studied reservoirs are divided into three clusters. Kapshagai NVH, the Maly Charyn, Kainazar, Talgar, Issyk Rivers and the No. 3 river make up the first group of the cluster, the similarity of species diversity between the reservoirs was 54.5%. The Terenkara and Lep rivers make up the remaining 2 groups and differ from all the studied reservoirs by the poverty of the species composition of the ichthyofauna. Of the native fish species, the spotted sponge Triplophysa strauchii dominates in number and distribution. Small species are the balkhash minnow (0.06%) and the tibetan stone loach (0.02%). Thus, the data obtained indicate a significant reduction in the ranges of native fish. Of the alien fish species, the topmouth gudgeon, rosy bitterling and false gudgeon dominated, which have no economic value, and also pose a threat to the preservation of the native ichthyofauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During floristic research in 2017–2022 in the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the authors discovered new alien species that complement the species composition of the flora of vascular plants in the Emirate and the UAE as a whole. The article presents new records of five alien species previously unknown from the flora of UAE and Fujairah: Gomphrena serrata L. (Amaranthaceae), Portulaca pilosa L., P. grandiflora Hook., P. umbraticolaKunth (Portulacaceae), and Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth (Piperaceae). Gomphrena serrata which is rare in the country was found only in one place in the mountainous region of Fujarah, and it is a novelty for the flora of the Arabian Peninsula as a whole, while Portulaca pilosa was observed in several different areas of Fujairah Emirate and is also known for Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Oman. Peperomia pellucida was found only in a single locality in the “Alamarey plant nursery” in Dibba town but in large number of individuals. For every species, synonyms, overall distribution, habitat preferences, affinity and taxonomic remarks as well as the list of localities are given. The herbarium materials were deposited in the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE, Saint-Petersburg, Russia), duplicates were sent to the Herbarium of Altai State University (ALTB, Barnaul, Russia) and the Scientific Herbarium of Fujairah (FSH, Wadi Wuraya National Park, Fujairah, UAE).

In July 2018, during Black Sea hydrobionts sampling, a crab of the family Pilumnidae was detected in the coastal area of the southwestern Crimea. Bottom sediments in the spot of crab finding are represented by a solid substrate. At the time of sampling, the water temperature was +24 °C, and the salinity was 18.0‰. According to morphological characteristics, the specimen we found was classified as a hairy crab Pilumnus cf. vespertilio (Fabricius, 1793) – a representative of the Indo-Pacific. In the work, photographs of alive and fixed crab are given.

The paper gives information on the invasion of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas, 1773) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) into the north of the European part of Russia. The Asian ladybird is recorded for the first time from the Novgorod and Yaroslavl Regions. All records of this alien species from European Russia and the Northern Caucasus are listed.

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the early 2010s, the alien polychaete worm Marenzelleria neglecta Sikorski & Bick, 2004 invaded the Sea of Azov. In few years, the species has widely spread over the desalinated sea area. Moreover, it was recorded in the Don delta and in the Sea of Azov–Kuban estuaries. This alien species formed a stable and numerous colony localized in the northeastern Sea of Azov; the history of this formation is traced based on material of complex hydrobiological and hydrological surveys of 2010–2020. The colony of this species developed against the backdrop of an increase in water salinity. Obviously, this factor had a decisive effect on the invasive process. An outbreak of abundance observed in the western Taganrog Bay in 2012 and 2013 was followed by a sharp decrease in abundance – down to complete absence of this polychaete worm in the samples. A drop in abundance was accompanied by a reduction of its range and a shift in the core of abundance towards sea areas with the lowest salinity. To date, there is a stable M. neglecta population in the central and eastern Taganrog Bay. Changes in the structure of prevalence in benthic communities during invasion were analyzed. As shown, the ratio of alien polychaetes in the periods of their mass development reached 92 % of the total abundance of benthos at individual stations.

For the first time, a complete inventory and analysis of the taxonomic composition of the flora of the phytogeographic plot “Central Asia” in the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine were conducted. The plot “Central Asia” was established in 1953 for the directed introduction and naturalization of plants from Central Asia. Over 1,000 plant species have been tested here during all this time, which indicates a large amount of experimental work. The structure of the flora on the study plot has certain features of the flora of Central Asia. According to the inventory results, 308 valid taxa (species and subspecies) of higher vascular plants from 168 genera and 66 families have been recorded on the plot. Of these, 183 taxa belong to the natural flora of Central Asia. The structure of the flora of plants on the study plot has certain features of the flora of Central Asia. However, in the conditions of Kyiv, the plants of Central Asian flora requiring more temperate habitats (e.g., plants originated from northern steppes, valley and lowland forests) have taken root best. The geographical structure of the flora of the plot is dominated by ergasiophytes with Central Asian (25.0 %), Eurasian and Paleoarctic (together 34.2 %), and sub-Mediterranean (10.9 %) types of ranges. From this number, 42 species of ergasiophytes are endemic to Central Asia. The biomorphological structure of the flora of the plot is dominated by perennials (47.3 %), and the share of woody plants is 26.4 %. According to Raunkiaer’s classification of life forms, hemicryptophytes (28.4 %), phanerophytes and cryptophytes (25.1 % each) predominate on the plot. In the conditions of Kyiv, phanerophytes from mountainous regions appeared to be the most resistant plants. While among ergasiophytes of Central Asian origin, plants growing in forests, steppes, shrubs, and edges appeared the most represented. Among the ergasiophytes growing on the plot “Central Asia”, 24 species are listed in the red books of Central Asian countries. Currently, there are some problems related to the state of phytocoenoses on the phytogeographical plot “Central Asia” and its flora in general (e.g., death of many ergasiophytes of Central Asian origin due to inconsistency of climatic conditions, expansion of invasive organisms, growing anthropogenic load, etc.) However, thanks to the large-scale introductory work, the collection of plants on the plot has a unique composition and remains one of the most attractive decorations of the M.M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden.

Three new alien species of Chenopodiaceae s. str. (Amaranthaceae s. l.) are reported for the flora of Russia, the North American Chenopodiastrumsimplex and Australian Dysphania carinata and D. pumilio. The identification of the specimens of Chenopodiastrum simplex from Moschny Island in the Leningrad Region (European Russia) was confirmed using both morphological and phylogenetic analyses. Morphologically, C. simplex is very similar to C. badachschanicum having the same fruit and seed characters. A single specimen of Dysphania carinata from Primorye Territory (the Russian Far East) was previously identified as Chenopodium pumilio (≡ Dysphania pumilio) incorrectly. Only recently, the latter species has been indeed found in Beslan town, Republic of North Ossetia – Alania (the North Caucasus). For each species, the possible degree of naturalization is discussed.

The Sea of Azov is a semi-enclosed and relatively shallow water basin, with lower salinity than in the Black Sea. Salinity values vary within 9–14 ‰ and depend mainly on the volume of river flow. Increasing salinity is a favorable factor for penetration and development in the Sea of Azov of some Black Sea species; this was noted in the 1970s, with a mean rise in salinity up to 13–14 ‰. After a period of decline down to 9–10 ‰, a steady salinization of the water basin is recorded since 2007; salinity averaged 13.37 ‰ in 2015. The aim of the work was to assess taxonomic composition and biocoenotic organization of the bottom macrofauna in the southwestern Sea of Azov based on the results of benthic surveys carried out in 2016–2017 in 84th, 86th, 90th, 96th, and 100th cruises of the RV “Professor Vodyanitsky”. Sediments were sampled with an “Ocean-50” bottom grab with a capture area of 0.25 m². Bottom sediments were washed through sieves with the minimum diameter of 1 mm. In total, 46 macrozoobenthos species were recorded; out of them, 15 Polychaeta species, 12 Mollusca, and 13 Crustacea. Four species well known for the Black Sea were found in the Sea of Azov for the first time – Molgula euprocta, Phoronis psammophila, Gouldia minima, and Iphinoe elisae. Out of species recorded, 14 % were alien to the Sea of Azov–Black Sea basin. These were bivalves Anadara kagoshimensis and Mya arenaria and polychaetes Polydora cornuta, Streblospio gynobranchiata, and Marenzelleria neglecta. In the area studied, A. kagoshimensis biocoenotic complex was registered in all the seasons, with mean abundance and biomass values (4,818 ± 1,019) ind.·m−2 and (878.4 ± 129.5) g·m−2, respectively. Three biocoenotic complexes were identified which could be the variants in the manifestation of the dynamic state of Anadara community. Seasonal dynamics in macrozoobenthos biomass mainly depended on fluctuations of its dominant species – A. kagoshimensis and Cerastoderma glaucum – and was determined by their different physiological and biochemical adaptations to hypoxia which is frequent for the Sea of Azov in summer. Maximum macrozoobenthos abundance was recorded in October 2016 ( 6,600 ind.·m−2) and was associated with reproduction of several species (including alien ones) in summer and autumn and enrichment of the benthic complex by their juveniles. In this period, at individual stations, abundance of A. kagoshimensis reached 14,000 ind.·m−2, and abundance of an alien polychaete S. gynobranchiata reached 2,300 ind.·m−2. A. kagoshimensis juveniles were recorded in the Sea of Azov June to October, peaking in October. The maximum length of A. kagoshimensis registered was 52.7 mm. The ratio of mature molluscs (shell size > 10 mm) in the studied A. kagoshimensis population varied from 6 % (October 2016, the period of mass replenishment with juveniles) to 85 % (December 2017). Well-developed C. glaucum settlements were registered at the inshore stations, peaking in July. The ratio of mature molluscs (shell size > 6 mm) in the studied C. glaucum population varied from 7 % (July 2017, the period of mass replenishment with juveniles) to 100 % (December 2017). Under lack of solid substrate, A. kagoshimensis – an alien species for the Sea of Azov – formed a new consort community of biofiltrators which supplemented a benthic biofilter zone in the Sea of Azov previously based on bivalve C. glaucum.

During floristic research in 2017–2020 in the Emirate of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the authors made new findings of species from family Urticaceae that complement the species composition of the flora of vascular plants in the territory of the emirate and the UAE as a whole. The article presents data on 4 new to the UAE alien ergasiophytes from Urticaceae – Laportea interrupta (L.) Chew. (a weed in the plant nursery in Al Bidiya), Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. (a weed in nurseries in Al Dibba and Al Bidiya), Pouzolzia zeylanica (L.) Benn. (a weed in the seaside promenade of city of Al Fujeirah), and Pilea microphylla and Pouzolzia zeylanica also for Arabia in general. A preliminary assessment of the species diversity of family Urticaceae in the Arabian Peninsula is also given. Taking into account new records, 7 species from 6 genera belonging to this family have been identified in the UAE. The herbarium materials were transferred to the Herbarium of the Komarov Botanical Institute (LE, Saint-Petersburg, Russia), the duplicates – to the Herbarium of Altai State University (ALTB, Barnaul, Russia) and the Scientific Herbarium of Fujairah (FSH, Wadi Wuraya, Fujairah, United Arab Emirates).

The topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva Temminck et Schlegel, 1846, has become one of the most widespread piscivores on the Eurasian continent [1]. The natural habitat of the species is inland water bodies of Japan, Taiwan, Hainan, China, and Korea. The species dispersed into the Balkhash-Ili basin during large-scale acclimatization of herbivorous fish from water bodies of China. The article presents the results on the study of the variability of morphological and biological parameters of the Amur chebok Pseudorasbora parva from different types of reservoirs in the Balkhash basin. Materials for the studies were caught from the irrigation canal near the Bakanas settlement, from the pond near the Beskainar settlement and from Lake Alakol. According to the results of the trapping, the wide distribution of this species in the most different conditions was established. At comparison of dimensional – weight parameters of 3 samples from the investigated reservoirs, the maximal values for a sample from the reservoir of settlement Beskainar are established. The big variability is shown in position and the sizes of dorsal, pectoral, pelvic fins. According to the position of anal fin, the sample from the pond near Beskainar differs from the other two. Significant differences in the shape of the head and body were also found between the samples studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper we studied the helminth fauna of the digestive tract of Perca fluviatilis (Perciformes) of the water bodies in the Samarskaya Luka National Park (Russia) in 1990–2016. In the early 1990s, nine species of intestinal helminths were registered for P. fluviatilis. Life cycles of 78% of them were associated with zooplankton organisms. We found correlations between fish invasion by certain helminth species and the abundance of zooplankton organisms. By 2012–2016, the proportion of parasites associated with zooplankton has decreased to 67%. Of helminths found in P. fluviatilis in 1990–1992, seven species are known there nowadays. Since 1996, we identified 12 new parasites, including two alien species. We found a double change of dominant species in the 1990s. Recently, a new factor has been added to the historical set of factors. It is the introduction, naturalisation and inclusion of alien hydrobiont species into both trophic chains of fish communities and parasitic systems of the studied water bodies. The helminth fauna of P. fluviatilis adequately reflects both features of host's ecology and changes occurring in water bodies during the last 30 years. We identified the tendencies of structural-functional ecosystem restructuring caused by both alien species introduction and, associated, changes in trophic chains of fishes with it. We predict changes in the strategy of fish behaviour, an increase in abundance and more active participation of invasive species (fish, freshwater molluscs, parasites) in trophic chains of water bodies in the Samarskaya Luka National Park connected with the reservoir, and, finally, expanding the range of consumers / hosts of alien parasites.

Climate change contributes to the invasion of earthworms into new lands. While invading, the invasive species alter the chemical composition and properties of the soil, which leads to the alteration of nutrients availability for plants. In the South of the Western Siberia there has been found a new exotic species Eisenia nana (Perel, 1985), which can become a competitor of the native species Eisenia nordenskioldi nordenskioldi (Eisen, 1879), spread mainly in natural habitats; and synanthropic Lumbricus rubellus (Hoffmeister, 1843). The aim of this research is to study and compare the influence of earthworm species: native, synanthropic and exotic, on the alteration of the cations NH4 +, K+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+ availability in the three types of soil: haplic chernozem, calcic chernozem and greyic phaeozem. For the purpose of the research, a laboratory experiment has been conducted in microcosms in the conditions of constant climate chambers. The quantity content of water-soluble cations has been determined using capillary electrophoresis system Capel-104T. The data on the influence of E. nana on the cation composition of soils has been presented for the first time. Earthworms change the availability of cations in all the three types of soils under study. With that, the character of the changes depends on the initial qualities of earthworms. It has been established that the exotic species influences on the cations composition in a similar way to that of the native E. n. nordenskioldi, but differs in the pH value. The biggest difference has been observed between the exotic and synanthropic species in K+ in the two soils and in one type of soil in the content of NH4 +, Na+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions. Therefore, the invasion of E. nana does not incur any potential danger of altering the cation composition of soils for natural habitats of E. n. nordenskioldi, but might probably alter the cation composition of the disturbed habitats, where L. rubellus has been noted.

Uroleucon cichorii (Insecta: Hemipteroidea: Rhynchota: Sternorrhyncha: Aphididae) is an invasive alien species in the fauna of Belarus. In 1854 the species has been described by C. L. Koch from Germany. For the first time U. cichorii has been noted in Great Britain in 1876, in Estonia – 1894, in Romania – 1896, in Italy – 1900, in Belgium – 1901, in Crimea – 1903, in Latvia – 1924, in Poland –1930, in Netherlands – 1939, in Finland – 1941, in Ukraine – 1945, in France – 1948, in Sweden – 1949, in Norway – 1953, in Denmark – 1954, in Moldavia – 1955, in Austria – 1956, in Czech – 1958, in Hungary – 1959, in Bulgaria – 1960, in European Russia – 1962–1964, in Bosnia and Herzegovina – 1963, in Serbia – 1963, in Lithuania – 1963–1980, in Macedonia – 1964, in Switzerland – 1967, in Spain – 1971, in Sicily –1973, in Corsica – 1973, in Balearic Islands (Mallorca) – 1982, in Belarus – 1986 and Greece – after 1992. It is obvious that this chronological list describes a history of aphidological research rather than spreading of the invider across the European regions. As considered, the species has Mediterranean origin. Outside of Europe the species is known from Near East as well as Central Asia, Korea and North America. As host plants U. cichorii s.str. uses common chicory (Cichorium intibus L.) and related species of Cichorieae (Asteraceae). The species is known as a pest of common chicory (including leaf chicory) and endive. For the first time U. cichorii has been registered in 1986. At present the species is common for C. intibus growing on roadsides and in other ruderal biotopes. During 1986–2018 U. cichorii has been registered in the all regions of the Republic of Belarus. The map of geographic points of registrations is given. It is obvious that the invider’s expansion in the regions of Belarus is finished. The species is holocyclic and monoecious. Feeding on forage plants contributes to the loss of a significant amount of plastic substances, which leads to their dehydration and slow growth, and, as a result, a slight deformation of the stem. U. cichorii does not initiate the deformation of leaf blades and the premature dying off of the inflorescences, and also does not lead to the formation of galls. Perennial data show the appearance of fundatrices from overwintering eggs in the third decade of April – the first decade of May. Further a series of successive parthenogenetic generations and the growth of colonies occur. The winged females are recorded in July–August. The appearance of winged males and normal females occurs in September – the first decade of October. The eggs are deposited in the end of October. The largest peak in the number of U. cichorii registrations occurs in July–August.

To control the dispersal of invasive species and reduce the damage from the introduction of undesirable plants into the natural plant communities, it is necessary, first of all, to conduct an inventory of the alien flora fraction and investigate the biomorphological features of alien plants. The purpose of the study is to determine the number of spontaneous populations and to identify the biological characteristics of Adenocaulon adhaerescens (Asteraceae) that are actively settling in the Moscow. The goals of the work are mapping A. adhaerescens in the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (GBS RAS) and Shchukinsky Forest Park (Moscow), identifying the amplitude of variability of the generative organs of the plants and determining their seed productivity in order to predict further expansion into the secondary distribution range. Using the route method we revealed the number of A.adhaerescens generative individuals in both localities. Morphological features were investigated using a KEYENCE VHX-1000 digital electronic microscope. The total number of generative plants was 5891 in the territory of the Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and up to 1500 plants in the Schukinsky forest park. Annually, 1.5 million seeds are formed in the GBS RAS, and 127 thousand seeds – in the Shchukinsky Forest Park. Considering the morphological features of the seeds, which possess glandular trichomes, capable of clinging to animals and humans, the possibility of the rapid dispersal of this alien species by the seeds is not excluded. This gives grounds to attribute this species as a potentially invasive plant and take measures to control its numbers.

Objective – to study the current distribution of Sedum pallidum in Ukraine, to analyze its state in the alien flora of Ukraine. Material and methods. The studies were conducted in 2008–2019 in the plain part of Ukraine and in the Crimean Mountains. Literature information, several national herbarium collections and other sources were analyzed. Special attention was paid to the delimitation of synantropic locations of S. pallidum from cultural ones. Results. S. pallidum is a sub-euxine species, which range occupies the Crimean Mountains. It is widely cultivated throughout Ukraine and is prone to naturalization, thanks to its vegetative and generative reproduction. In general, about 30 synantropic locations of S. pallidum have been recorded, mainly in the Middle Prydniprovia and Western Ukraine. Urban lawns and roadsides on light substrates are favorable ecological niches for S. pallidum. Соnclusions. S. pallidum is the alien species in the flora of the plain part of Ukraine and ergasiophyte in its origin. A potential secondary synanthropic range of this species occupies the whole country except the Carpathian highlands. It has been established that S. pallidum in the culture of the Forest-Steppe is a perennial herb. Two races identified in its composition (var. pallidum and var. bithynicum) are probably ecads, and have no systematic importance. In the culture, S. pallidum is characterized by successful vegetative and generative reproduction, which contributes to its naturalization. S. pallidum is often confused with other species of the genus, what does not contribute to its study in adventive floras. A key for S. pallidum determination has been proposed.

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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.

The article presents data on the species composition of fish in the waterbodies of the Mordovo floodplain of the Saratov Reservoir in the territory of the Samarskaya Luka National Park. The ichthyofauna of the investigated reservoirs was studied for the first time. The species structure of fish catches in five floodplain lakes and in one channel was analysed. Typological habitat conditions in waterbodies (for example, the flowage of floodplain waterbody and its connection with the Reservoir) effect the species diversity of fish. In four of the six investigated bodies of water, an alien species, the Chinese sleeper, was discovered. The biotope of the species is confined to the thickets of aquatic vegetation, regardless of the depth and place of its growth in the reservoir.

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.

The tradition to categorize species by their origin into “local, native” and “introduced, alien” is rooted in the pre-Darwin era based on the concept of biotic “nativeness”. Some species (“native”) inhabit the given territory “by right” and can be referred to as “good”, while others (“strangers”) do not have such rights and, consequently, are “bad”. This division is based on the principle “guilty until proven innocent”, which is currently applied to environmental management of non-native species. This and other “dogmas” of modern invasion ecology are briefly summarized in the paper. It has been shown that opposing views on the solution of problems associated with biological invasions have been increasingly expressed in recent years, and the scientific community is being urged to judge species not by their origin, but by their functions. It is obvious that the avalanche-like accumulation of new facts about the transfer of organisms from one to others, changes that they cause, social reactions to them, political context of the “struggle” with alien invasive species, etc. leads to the need to revise the research paradigm of invasion ecology. One of the most urgent tasks is to learn to objectively evaluate the impact, both adverse and positive, of invasive species on human health, economy, ecosystem functions and environment in order to develop clear criteria for decision making on management of biological invasions.

The article contains information about the records of 43 species of alien vascular plants made in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Field surveys were carried out in 2012-2016. The detected invasive species were growing on wasteland, abandoned and new lawns, in ditches and on roadsides. A majority of the reported species (Avena fatua, A. sativa, Barbarea vulgaris., Brassica rapa, Bunias orientalis, Cannabis sativa, Cirsium arvense, Crepis tectorum, Cyanus segetum, Dactylis glomerata, Erodium cicutarium, Fallopia convolvulus, Geum aleppicum, Glechoma hederacea, Helianthus lenticularis, Lappula squarrosa, Lathyrus pratensis, Lepidium ruderale, Lycopersicon esculentum, Medicago falcata, Plantago media, Potentilla norvegica, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rubus idaeus, Rumex pseudonatronatus, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Secale cereale, Silene tatarica, Solanum tuberosum, Sonchus arvensis, Trifolium hybridum, T. medium, Triticum aestivum, Tussilago farfara, Typha latifolia, Urtica dioica) have been previously known from a few locations in the district. Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. and Echium vulgare L. are new for the regional flora. There is little information in the literature and in herbaria about Hordeum jubatum, Lepidotheca suaveolens, Senecio vulgaris, Melilotus albus and M. officinalis in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. However, these species are getting successfully naturalized, turning into common synanthropic plants in settlements of the district. Data from the herbarium label, information on the distribution in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District and, if necessary, brief comments on the distribution in Siberia with specification for Western Siberia are provided for each species.

The transportation and translocation of species beyond their natural habitats is considered to be one of the major causes of biodiversity loss these days. Concerns are growing also about urbanization and the resulting destruction of natural habitats. At the same time, the integration of urban environments into nature protection efforts has brought along the intent to apply the ecological alien species paradigm in cities. Yet, as the practices of urban landscaping demonstrate, this objective has not been achieved. In this article, we propose that the reasons behind it are largely related to the specifics of the city as a semiotic system. Multiplicity of codes and subjects of various origins is contested by the ecological alien species paradigm, yet characteristic of the urban semiotic environment. The city often serves the function of a cultural model, embodying the principles of setting the borders between Self and the Other. Also in this case, the ecological alien species paradigm has to face a different complex of meanings attributed to the Other. We demonstrate how two different models of the city are expressed in the interpretations of alien trees by using pyramid oaks and poplars in Estonia as an example.

Climatic changes and anthropogenic impact have resulted in numerous cases of introduction and range expansion of hydrobionts. In the late 20th century and in the early 21st century some species, previously not observed in the Vistula and Curonian lagoons (brackish waterbodies with well-developed port infrastructure and active navigation) were recorded more than once in the study area. The aim of this study was to characterize cases of alien polychaete introductions in the Russian part of the South-Eastern Baltic Sea, including shallow lagoons. Samples of zoobenthos, collected in the Russian exclusive economic zone in the South-Eastern Baltic Sea (139 sampling sites, 2001–2016), the North-Eastern Vistula Lagoon (45 s. s., 1997–2016) and the Southern Curonian Lagoon (24 s. s., 2001–2016), were studied. The material is stored in the IO RAS zoological collection. The south-western (Polish) part of the Vistula Lagoon and the northern (Lithuanian) part of the Curonian Lagoon were characterized using previously published data. In the Vistula Lagoon since the 1880s for over a century polychaetes were represented by the only species – Hediste diversicolor. Since the end of the 20th century, new species for the region have been registered: Marenzelleria neglecta (since 1988); Streblospio benedicti, Manayunkia aestuarina, Alkmaria romijni (since middle 1990s); Boccardiella ligerica (since 2008 in the Polish waters and since 2013 in the Russian waters); Laonome cf. calida (since 2014). In the Curonian Lagoon polychaetes (the only species, M. neglecta) occur in the northern (Lithuanian) part only. In the Russian part of the South-Eastern Baltic polychaetes of Marenzelleria genus have been registered since 1988, while M. arctia – since 2001, S. benedicti and B. ligerica have been recorded since the beginning of the 21st century. Thus, in the marine waters of the South-Eastern Baltic, three alien polychaete species have been recorded, while in the Vistula Lagoon – five, and in the Curonian Lagoon – one species. These introduced species belong to a group of estuarine, brackishwater infaunal organisms, whose native areals are in the Western or Eastern Atlantic and the south-western part of the Pacific Ocean. Salinity conditions have been shown to be the most favorable for aliens in the marine part of the study area, while trophic conditions – in the lagoons. The optimal combination of environmental factors for the aliens has been found to be in the shallow Vistula Lagoon due to an existence of the aria with bottom salinity not lower then 3.7–5.9 ‰, predominance of soft silty sediments, abundance of organic matter, and insignificant competition for food resources. Information on distribution, occurrence, abundance and status of alien populations is given.

The first record of bivalve mollusc Corbicula fluminea (O. F. Müller, 1774) in the basin of the river Don occurred in the area of Warm channel of Novocherkasskaya hydropower station in January, 2017. Subsequent hydrobiological studies resulted in re-discovery of three living specimens of the Asian Clam in September, 2017 in the aquatoria below the mouth of the river Manych, located 34 km downstream from the site of the mollusk first record. New materials indicate the expansion of the areal of this invasive species within the Lower Don river system.

D. wrightii Regel is reported for the first time for the alien flora of Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan (MW, MHA). The species had previously been erroneously identified as D. innoxia Mill. Herbarium collections of D. wrightii in Russia are indicated, the diagnostic traits are discussed.

Data on two vascular plant species new to Russian flora and other 32 notable regional records made in seven regions of European Russia (Vologda Region, Kostroma Region, Leningrad Region, Pskov Region, Yaroslavl Region, Saint-Petersburg and Udmurt Republic) are given. The presented material is derived from the floristic inventories conducted in 2006-2017, and critical study of the available herbarium. Euphrasia micrantha Rchb. and Senecio inaequidens DC. are reported as new to Russia, the first species as native and the secong one as alien. Bupleurum falcatum L. is reported as a new alien species for the flora of NW European Russia. Bidens frondosa L. is new for the Pskov Region. Cardamine flexuosa With. is reported for the Yaroslavl Region for the first time. Eight taxa are reported as new to the Kostroma Region, five of them (Alnus x hybrida R. Br. ex Rchb., Carex bohemica Schreb., Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl, Sedum maximum (L.) Hoffm. and Urtica galeopsifolia Wierzb. ex Opiz) considered native, and three others (Collomia linearis Nutt., Gypsophila elegans Bieb. and Silene armeria L.) as alien. Dryopteris x uliginosa (A. Br. ex Doll) Kuntze ex Druce is a new hybrid for the Kostroma Region, Leningrad Region and Udmurt Republic. In addition, 20 species with lacking regional records are reported to. The data presented points to a continuing spreading of alien plants across European Russia. On the other hand, the native flora of some regions is still poorly investigated.

The floraof the Russian Far Easthas 676 alien species, accounting for 15,1% of the natural floraof vascular plants.Distribution ofthe 20 most aggressive invasive plant speciescan lead to catastrophic and irreversible changesin ecosystems and become aserious environmental problem.

The species composition in the mammal fauna of Ukraine for the last three centuries has been analyzed. Estimates of species richness were presented for families, superfamilies, suborders and orders. The data were grouped into superorders: Glires (58 species, 52 of them in the modern fauna), Lipotyphla (14, 12), Chiroptera (29, 28), Ferae (23, 21), Ungulata (22, 18). The modern mammal fauna includes 131 species (among them 23 alien species); in addition, 15 species became extinct during the last 300 years. Thus, the complete list of Ukrainian mammal fauna (including extinct mammals) includes 146 species. There are also 9 “phantom” species which were not included in diversity indices or fauna changes calculations. The index of fauna changes (IFR) is 15.4 %; it has the maximum in Ungulata (42.9 %) and Ferae (23.5 %), and the minimum in Lipotyphla (7.1 %) and Chiroptera (5.6 %). The rates of fauna changes are increasing over time, and they reached the highest values in the last few decades.

Lessepsian invader Anadara kagoshimensis is one of the important elements in the adaptive transformation of the Black sea shelf ecosystem in the second half of the XX century. The aim of the work is to analyse the Black Sea spatial and temporal colonization by this species according to the benthic database of Benthos Ecology Department of IMBR RAS (for the Crimean coasts) and literary sources for the whole Black Sea basin. The phases of this process are considered. A 10-year latency period followed after the first detection anadara in 1968 at Caucasian shelf. The main wave of anadara colonization in the Black Sea covered the Western and Eastern parts of the sea and fall within the period from second half of 1970s to 1980s. During that time period the extended development of A. kagoshimensis lead to forming own reproductive potential for next steps of expansion of this species to Anatolian and Crimean coasts in 1990s. About 20–25 years delay in detection of introduced species at the Northern and Southern parts of the Black Sea shelf, in presence at the Western and Eastern parts, could be an evidence of existing hydrological barrier between far distant nearshore areas of the Black Sea shelf. The reasons of the fluctuations in development of this species settlements are discussed. The phenomenon of introduction and mass development of A. kagoshimensis in the Black Sea during its the “most demand” period as a consumer of excess amount of organic matter, in conditions of eutrophication’s peak in the Black Sea basin at the end of 1980s – the beginning of 1990s is marked. Estuarine areas of the Black Sea shelf enriched by organic matter are the most favourable conditions for the mass development of this species. This quantitative rising is due to wide ecological plasticity and stress tolerance of A. kagoshimensis, which are determined by its physiological and biochemical adaptations to a hypoxic conditions often appearing during eutrophication. Based on parameters of abundance and biomass the actual implementation of A. kagoshimensis biotic potential in the Black Sea is revealed at least within Eastern and Western areas of the shelf, where peaks of its quantitative development is already passed in previous years. This conclusion for the Crimean sector is not obvious because of more recent invasion by anadara of this region. A decrease and stabilization of A. kagoshimensis development, with the exception of local zones near organic ”pollution” sources should be expected under maintaining the tendency of the basin deeutrophication.

The species composition in the mammal fauna of Ukraine for the last three centuries has been analyzed. Estimates of species richness were presented for families, superfamilies, suborders and orders. The data were grouped into superorders: Glires (58 species, 52 of them in the modern fauna), Lipotyphla (14, 12), Chiroptera (29, 28), Ferae (23, 21), Ungulata (22, 18). The modern mammal fauna includes 131 species (among them 23 alien species); in addition, 15 species became extinct during the last 300 years. Thus, the complete list of Ukrainian mammal fauna (including extinct mammals) includes 146 species. There are also 9 “phantom” species which were not included in diversity indices or fauna changes calculations. The index of fauna changes (IFR) is 15.4 %; it has the maximum in Ungulata (42.9 %) and Ferae (23.5 %), and the minimum in Lipotyphla (7.1 %) and Chiroptera (5.6 %). The rates of fauna changes are increasing over time, and they reached the highest values in the last few decades.