Distribution and Characteristic of PAHs in snow of the Urban and Reserve Areas of Southern Far East Russia.

The 16 priority PAHs were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed in snow samples collected at 9 stations in the City of Khabarovsk and at 3 stations in the Bol'shekhekhtsirsky State Nature Reserve during 2014-2015 and 2016-2017. The HPLC analysis revealed that the range of Σ13PAH concentrations detected in snow collected in the Khabarovsk City area during 2015 and 2017 were between 42.83 and 441.13 and 43.00-695.73 ng/L, while in the reserve area concentrations were 34.77-59.61 and 38.92-79.80 ng/L, respectively. The markers identified pyrogenic, petrogenic and mixed sources of emission. The toxic equivalent quantity varied in the urban and reserve areas from 0.89 to 40.62 ng/L and from 1.01 to 2.92 ng/L accordingly. BaP mainly contributed (56.4%-86.2%) to the total PAH toxicity. The transboundary transfer of BaP and anthracene was revealed in the reserve area. The quality of the snow polluted by polyarenes is satisfactory in the study areas except for city roads.

African Swine Fever in the Russian Far East (2019-2020): Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Implications for Wild Ungulates.

African swine fever (ASF) is an emerging viral contagious disease affecting domestic pigs (DP) and wild boar (WB). ASF causes significant economic damage to the pig industry worldwide due to nearly 100% mortality and the absence of medical treatments. Since 2019, an intensive spread of ASF has been observed in the Russian Far East region. This spread raises concerns for epidemiologists and ecologists given the potential threat to the WB population, which is an essential member of the region's wild ungulates and provides a notable share of food resources for predatory species. This study aims to determine the genotype of ASF virus circulating in the region, reveal the spatio-temporal patterns of the ASF outbreaks' emergence, and assess the potential reduction of the regional fauna because of expected depopulation of WB. The first historical case of ASF in the study region was caused by an African swine fever virus (ASFV) isolated from DPs and belonging to Genotype 2, CVR1; IGR-2 (TRS +). Sequencing results showed no significant differences among ASFV strains currently circulating in the Russian Federation, Europe, and China. The spatiotemporal analysis with the space-time permutations model demonstrated the presence of six statistically significant clusters of ASF outbreaks with three clusters in DPs and one cluster in WBs. DP outbreaks prevail in the north-west regions of the study area, while northern regions demonstrate a mixture of DP and WB outbreaks. Colocation analysis did not reveal a statistically significant pattern of grouping of one category of outbreaks around the others. The possible damage to the region's fauna was assessed by modeling the total body mass of wild ungulates before and after the wild boars' depopulation, considering a threshold density of WB population of 0.025 head/km2, according to the currently in force National Plan on the ASF Eradication in Russia. The results suggest the total mass of ungulates of the entire study region will likely decrease by 8.4% (95% CI: 4.1-13.0%), while it may decrease by 33.6% (19.3-46.1%) in the Primorsky Krai, thereby posing an undeniable threat to the predatory species of the region.

The genus Semicerura (Collembola; Isotomidae) in Asia.

Two new species, Semicerura bryophila sp. nov. and S. draconis sp. nov., are described from the Far East of Russia and north-eastern part of China. S. goryshini Martynova, 1969 is redescribed based on the type material and fresh materials from China and South Korea. The holotype of S. bishopi Maynard, 1951 (eastern areas of the U.S.A.) was studied and commented on. Taxonomic remarks to s-chaetotaxy and the labium of the genus are given.

Isotomidae of Japan and Asiatic part of Russia. II. The genus Tetracanthella of the Far East.

The paper considers new and little-known species of the genus Tetracanthella distributed in the Far East of Russia and in Japan. Sensillar chaetotaxy and labial palp, two less known morphological characters for the genus, are discussed. Two new species T.annulata sp. nov. and T.tardoki sp. nov. are described; T.manschurica Kutyreva, 1980 and T czernovae Kutyreva, 1980 are redescribed. For the latter species a lectotype and paralectotypes are designated. Remarks are provided for T.sylvatica Yosii, 1939. A second undescribed species is recorded for Japan. New records for T.orientalis Martynova, 1977 and T.sibirica Deharveng, 1987 are listed.

New Lipsothrix (Diptera: Limoniidae) from Korea.

Lipsothrix odaesana Podenas Petersen, sp. nov. from South Korea is described and illustrated. It is the only species of Lipsothrix Loew, 1873 recorded so far from the Korean Peninsula. Elevation range, period of activity, habitat information and a distribution map are presented.

Variability of fatty acid profiles in ferns: Relation to fern taxonomy and seasonal development.

Ferns are known to contain long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids which may provide health benefits. The objective of this study was to investigate ferns of Pacific temperate regions (Far East of Russia and New Zealand) as sources of valuable fatty acids: arachidonic (20:4n-6) and eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3). Fatty acids were analyzed in fronds of 23 fern species from 12 families. Major fatty acids include: 18:3n-3 (6-68% of total fatty acids), 16:0 (6-33%), 18:2n-6 (5-46%), 18:1n-9 (1-60%), 20:4n-6 (1-16%). Polyunsaturated fatty acids of fern fronds belong to the omega-6 (16:2n-6, 18:2n-6, 18:3n-6, 20:2n-6, 20:3n-6, 20:4n-6) and omega-3 (16:3n-3, 18:3n-3, 18:4n-3, 20:3n-3, 20:4n-3, 20:5n-3) families. For the first time, Δ5-unsaturated polymethylene-interrupted fatty acids were reported for ferns: sciadonic (5,11,14-20:3) and juniperonic (5,11,14,17-20:4) acids (up to 1.9% and 0.4%, respectively). Fatty acid profiles in fern fronds were unrelated to fern taxonomy, but affected by spore presence: fronds with sporangia/spores contained more 18:1n-9 and/or 18:2n-6. The absolute content of 20:4n-6 was found to be relatively constant for a species in different seasons. 20:5n-3 was a minor fatty acid (traces-5%) which accumulates during the vegetation period. Young fronds of the New Zealand ferns Phymatosorus pustulatus and Pteridium esculentum were enriched in 20:4n-6, while aged fronds of Cyathea dealbata had the highest level of 20:5n-3. The mature fronds of the Far Eastern ferns Phegopteris connectilis, Dryopteris expansa, and Athyrium sinense were also enriched in 20:5n-3.

Isotomidae of Japan and the Asiatic part of Russia. I. Folsomia 'inoculata' group.

The paper considers blind species of the genus Folsomia having two pairs of macrosetae on both meso- and metathorax and united in so-called 'inoculata' group, which is given a new, more laconic definition. Morphological characters important in the group's taxonomy are discussed and a further division into four subgroups is proposed. Eight new species, i.e., F. amurica Potapov & Kuznetsova, sp. n., F. breviseta Potapov & Kuznetsova, sp. n., F. calcarea Potapov, sp. n., F. imparis Potapov & Hasegawa, sp. n., F. laconica Potapov & Kuznetsova, sp. n., F. tertia Potapov, sp. n., F. trisensilla Potapov, sp. n., and F. tubulata Potapov & Babenko, sp. n., are described. F. hidakana Uchida & Tamura and F. inoculata Stach are redescribed basing on new material, for the latter species the Stach's individuals were also examined. A key to species of the group is given.