Vol 102, No 3 (2023)

In the framework of a comprehensive study of arthropods taking part in the primary successions of the periglacial landscapes in the North Caucasus, spiders were collected from 10 sites of different ages (ranging from 1 to 170 years) in the upper reaches of the Tsei Gorge at altitudes of 2071 to 2336 m a.s.l. As the glacier retreats, meadow communities are formed at the site of bare near-glacial areas, these being first replaced by shrubs in areas aged 10–14 years, and then by forest communities on 30–35-year old surfaces. Spiders appear almost immediately after the retreat of the glacier, and representatives of at least three families are found already in the area that was freed from ice just a year ago. This pioneer complex consists not only of representatives of the alpine fauna, but it also includes species without pronounced altitudinal preferences. However, the primary assemblage is short-lived, being completely replaced in 10–15 years, especially sharp rearrangements of the spider populations being noted during the transition from meadow to the forest stage of succession. In 30–35 years following the retreat of the glacier, the spider complexes reach a level of diversity that is quite comparable with that in developed communities of the mountain forest belt. A comparison of the periglacial assemblages of Caucasian spiders with those formed under similar conditions in the southern and northern mountains of Western Europe indicates a profound regional specificity not only at the level of species, but even at the level of families.

Miniaturization constrains insects with the task of preserving vital body functions in spite of significant reductions in body size. The effects of miniaturization on the functioning of the insect nervous system were investigated in the parasitoid Trichogramma telengai. Despite a decreased number of neurons and their volume, T. telengai demonstrated the ability for associative learning and memory retention for up to 6 h after training. Our thermal setup, in which we trained and tested the microinsects, based on the Morris water maze principle makes it possible to compare the associative learning abilities of animals from different taxonomic groups. Our data expand the understanding of the effects of miniaturization on the cognitive abilities of animals and will allow us to determine which structural factors limit the minimum size of the functional insect brain.

Thinodromus (s. str.) excisius sp. n. is described from Pahang state, Malay Peninsula, Malaysia. The new species belongs to the Thinodromus lunatus group which is widespread in Southeast Asia. Based on the structure of the unpaired anterior scutum of the aedeagus sac, within the lunatus group it seems to be especially similar to the following species: Thinodromus (s. str.) cattiensis Gildenkov 2017; Thinodromus (s. str.) spotus Gildenkov 2017; Thinodromus (s. str.) batuensis Gildenkov 2021, and Thinodromus (s. str.) bruneiensis Gildenkov 2021. However, it differs well from them and other species of the lunatus group by the structure of the parameres which show a characteristic notch.

In 2017–2020, 3833 birds representing 103 species were captured at two localities in the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve, Primorye Territory, Russian Far East. All birds were ringed and released on site. The research team recorded the presence of louse flies in 646 birds representing 62 species (51 nestlings, 11 migrants), while 41 species from two orders, Charadriiformes and Apodiformes, were found to be uninfested. A total of 1184 specimens of louse flies from two subfamilies, Ornithomyinae (3 genera, 6 species) and Lipopteninae (1 genus, 2 species), were revealed. Forty-seven species of birds were recorded to be infested by Ornithoica momiyamai Kishida 1932, most of these serving as hosts new to this louse fly. Forty-two bird species were infested by Ornithomya avicularia (L. 1758) s. l., 11 bird species were found hosts to O. fringillina (Curtis 1856). Ornithoica unicolor Speiser 1900 was revealed on 11 bird species, being the most abundant on the Ural owl (Strix uralensis). Ornithomya comosa (Austen 1930) and Crataerina hirundinis (Curtis 1856) were found on Hirundinidae birds and Parus palustris. Lipoptena cervi (Linnaeus 1758) and L. fortisetosa Maa 1965 were recorded as uncommon bird parasites, as both species were only found on six bird species.

In 2001 to 2020, for each Long-eared owl nest in the Crane Homeland Nature Reserve territory with an area of 48 km², the following microhabitat parameters were determined using standard field methods: the nest type built by different bird species, the presence of a nest roof, the nesting tree species, and the nest height above the ground. In most cases, for nesting the Long-eared owl reused magpie nests (Pica pica) (77%), and half of the nests were found on willow trees (family Salicaceae) (50%). The nest height above the ground varied from 1.5 to 22 m. Vegetation on the nesting area with a radius of 500 m was determined using the “Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin” automatic vegetation classifier of QGIS software. Five habitat types were so classified: forests, shrubs, meadows, arable land, and satellite image mistakes. Village areas were allocated separately. The average shares of the largest habitat types for over 20 years on the nesting sites included meadows (51.1%) and shrubs (16%). From 2001 to 2020, a habitat change in the breeding area was observed: forest and shrub areas decreased, while the meadow, village and arable land areas increased. An analysis of the effect of habitat types on the nesting success was evaluated by means of the “gbm” and “dismo” modules in the R program using the Boosted Tree classifier algorithm. The presence of such habitat types in the nesting area as villages (24.2%), shrubs (19.3%), meadows (11.8%), and habitat heterogeneity (11.6%) most strongly affected the probability of owl successful nesting. That owls tend to use anthropogenic and agricultural territories is associated with the diversity, easy foraging and more effective protection from predators during the breeding season.

The effect of multiple paternity on the development of the humoral immune response in Syrian hamster pups was studied. The paternity type was found to be determined by 10 microsatellite markers. Pups were immunized with T-dependent antigens (fissurella hemocyanin, KLH) at 33 days of age, with the level of specific antibodies (anti-KLH IgG) measured in blood samples at 5, 10, 20 and 25 days after immunization. As much as 24% pups from multiple paternity litters and 25% from single paternity litters were revealed to develop no immune response. At the same time, in all pups that responded to immunization, the level of anti-KLH IgG significantly increased over time, starting with the 5th day after immunization. However, there were significant differences in the concentration of anti-KLH IgG in the blood serum of pups derived neither from litters with multiple paternity nor litters obtained from one male. Therefore, our results fail to support the hypothesis that multiple paternity enhances the immunity of Syrian hamster pups.