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Wildfires considerably affect forest ecosystems. However, there is a lack of data on the post-fire status of insect communities in these ecosystems. This paper presents results of a study conducted in 2019 which considered the post-fire status of the insect fauna in a Protected Area, Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Republic of Mordovia, centre of European Russia), considered as regional hotspot of insect diversity in Mordovia. We sampled insects on intact (unburned, control) and fire-damaged (burnt in 2010) sites and compared the alpha-diversity between sites. In total, we sampled and analysed 16,861 specimens belonging to 11 insect orders, 51 families and 190 species. The largest orders represented in the samples were Coleoptera (95 species), Diptera (54 species), Hymenoptera (21 species), and Neuroptera (11 species). Other insect orders were represented by between one and four species. The largest four orders (Coleoptera, Lepidoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera) represented 96.7% of all studied specimens. We found that in the ninth year after low intensity surface fire damage, the insect diversity had returned to a similar level to that of the control (unburned) sites. Sites damaged by crown wildfire differed considerably from other sites in terms of a negative impact on both species diversity and the number of specimens. This indicates the serious effect of the crown fires on the biodiversity and consequent long-term recovery of the damaged ecosystem.

Ruchin AB, Antropov AV, Khapugin AA. 2019. Distribution, abundance, and habitats of rare species Parnopes grandior (Pallas 1771) (Hymenoptera, Chrysididae) in Mordovia and adjacent regions, Russia. Biodiversitas 20: 303-310. The study of biological and ecological characteristics is essential in conservation efforts of threatened and locally rare species. Obtaining the comparable data in different regions of a species range allows developing a conservation strategy. We aimed to study the distribution, acquired characteristics of the abundance and habitats of the biology of a rare species Parnopes grandior (Pallas, 1771) in the Republic of Mordovia (European Russia). As a result of our study, the biology of Parnopes grandior found in the Republic of Mordovia and in five adjacent regions (Volga River Basin, Russia) is described. In the Republic of Mordovia in 2008-2018, 18 habitats of this species were identified. In all cases, it was found next to the host wasp colonies of Bembix rostrata (Linnaeus, 1758). The species population was low (no more than five individuals per study site). In all the sites surveyed, it inhabited xerophytic plant communities on sandy disturbed substrate. In these habitats, the coverage of plants is low and does not exceed 20%. The list of plants visited by the adults of Parnopes grandior is given. In the adjacent regions, the species abundance is also not high, but the number of records and abundance increases significantly to the south of the Ulyanovsk region.

The paper characterizes the ethnic and demographic situation in the Siberian Federal District (SFD) with respect to migration processes. The population in the region and in particular ethnic communities is decreasing as a result of so-called “western trend.” The general conclusion is that it is impossible to stop this situation and to compensate for demographic losses, as well as the lower qualitative characteristics of the human potential that it produces. The result is a higher ethnic variability of the region with the orientalization of ethnic cultural values and higher competition in the labor market and in the sociocultural sphere, including due to the ethnic factor. Taking into account the increasing migration factor, these changes can be related to the category of risks. The ethnic risks accumulate the socioeconomic contradictions, thus still more deteriorating the human potential. The general conclusion is made about the level of the human potential remaining both in Siberia and nationally rather low. The future of this macro region depends on the attainment of a number of mutually relating objectives directed at creation of the conditions able to provide the sustainability of the qualitative demographic and labor potential and the stabilization of the situation in this multiethnic community.

The article discusses protection methods for coastal areas of large Russian reservoirs from flooding. The object is the Saratov water reservoir which has a significant destructive effect on the adjacent territories. The methods of land monitoring and land management are applied to protect real estate objects from flooding. Recommendations for improving territorial planning schemes of municipalities adjacent to reservoirs are suggested.

The article describes the zoning of Russia as part of strategic planning. The draft project “Spatial Development Strategy” developed by the Ministry of Economic Development is analyzed. The composition of the zones of this project is compared with authors’ zoning results based on land and property development indicators and influencing factors. The conclusion about poor accounting of land resources and land relations in strategic planning was drawn.