Russian Journal of Biological Invasions

2025, issue №4

CONTENTS

FIRST RECORD OF POLYCHAETES DODECACERIA CONCHARUM ORSTED, 1843 (POLYCHAETA: CIRRATULIDAE) IN SHELLS OF SCALLOP CHLAMYS ISLANDICA O.F. MULLER, 1776 (BIVALVIA: PECTINIDAE) IN THE BARENTS SEA - Botnev D.A., Mugue L.N., Plaksina M.P. - The first finding of the boring polychaete D. concharum in the shells of the Icelandic scallop C. islandica from the Barents Sea is reported. The species identification of the polychaete was established using molecular genetic analysis. It was found that the polychaetes form Y-shaped passages in the shells of the mollusks in the overwhelming majority of cases, which can lead to a violation of the integrity of the shell and a decrease in their physiological activity. It was found an association between the polychaete infestation and the presence of boring sponges of the genus Cliona indicating a complex destructive effect on mollusks. The results obtained emphasize the need for further research into the dynamics of scallop infestation and assessment of its consequences for the commercial population.

VARIABILITY OF NORTHERN ISOLATED OUTPOST POPULATION OF LESSER WHITE-TOOTHED SHREW CROCIDURA SUAVEOLENS (PALLAS, 1811) (EULIPOTYPHLA: SORICIDAE) IN THE SOUTHERN URALS AS AN INVASIVE SYNANTHROPIC SPECIES - Vasilev A.G., Chernousova N.F., Chibiryak M.V., Didkovsky I.P. - Geometric morphometrics methods were used to study the manifestations of various forms of variation in the outpost, isolated from the main range of the northern population of the lesser white–tooth shrew Crocidura suaveolens (Pallas. 1811) of the Southern Urals using the example of variation in centroid size (CS – centroid size) and the shape of the mandible. Chronographic variability and sexual dimorphism in the Chelyabinsk outpost population were compared with geographical variability in comparison with two remote Kabardino-Balkarian and Krasnodar populations from the central part of the range. The assessment of developmental stability was carried out by analyzing the pattern of the nearest neighboring points of the withingroup morphospace (MNND – mean nearest neighbour distance). The nutritional features of shrews were assessed by morphofunctional mandibular indices. In the outpost population of the lesser white tooth shrew, in the years contrasting in climatic conditions (2005–2006), changes in the age structure and sex ratio, instability in the development of mandibles, as well as changes in their shape and functions during mechanical processing of feed were detected. Significant chronographic variation of the mandible was revealed, which was greater than the range of sex differences in the outpost population. The geographical variation between the isolated Chelyabinsk and two remote populations from the center of the range exceeded the scope of chronographic variation in the Chelyabinsk outpost population. The index of withingroup morphological disparity (MNND) of mandibles in males and females samples (with the exception of females of 2005) is significantly higher than the expected random values, which proves the manifestation of destabilization of morphogenesis of both sexes in the outpost population in both years. In the rainy 2006 year, the values of the MI, MM and AM mandibular indexes in males and females differ significantly, indicating that they use different components of the diet during this year, which can reduce trophic competition between the sexes. The revealed high phenotypic plasticity and synanthropic properties of the species make it possible to predict the possibility of further invasion of the lesser white tooth shrew to the north of the Southern Urals with climate warming, which is important to consider due to its ability to transmit vector-borne diseases dangerous to humans.

INVASIVE POTENTIAL OF GM RAPESEED - Viktorov A.G. - The review examines the nearly 30-year-long history of cultivating biotechnological varieties of oilseed rape (Brassica napus), sold under the brand name «canola». Transgenic constructs conferring resistance to non-selective herbicides have enhanced the high invasive potential of rapeseed, giving GM varieties a selective advantage over common weeds. Self-seeded populations of GM rapeseed have become a permanent trait of transport infrastructure in countries where rapeseed is grown, in countries where its seeds are imported, and in countries through which this transit occurs. Transgenes are transferred from GM rapeseed to related Brassica species. Weed populations have been discovered in which transgenic constructs for resistance to non-selective herbicides circulate. These populations eventually acquire resistance to other herbicides. For example, in Argentina, where GM rapeseed has never been grown, a population of transgenic B. rapa, resistant to five herbicides, is spreading widely. In 2024, the global rapeseed crop area (including canola) equaled 42.9 million hectares, of which 10.5 million hectares (24.3%) were occupied by transgenic varieties. It is significant that from 2012 to the present, the area planted with transgenic rapeseed (canola) varieties has remained at 10-11 million hectares. The cessation of growth and stabilization of this indicator in the early 2010s correlates with the emergence of a major body of data on the high invasive potential of GM varieties of this crop.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE INVASIVE MOLLUSK VIVIPARUS VIVIPARUS (LINNAEUS, 1758) (MOLLUSCA, GASTROPODA) ON THE BIOCHEMICAL QUALITY OF FISH FOOD RESOURCES IN THE LOWER REACH OF THE OB RIVER RESERVOIR - Gladyshev M.I., Andrushchenko S.V. - The impact of the invasion of Viviparus viviparus (Linnaeus, 1758) into the lower reach of the Ob River reservoir on the biochemical quality of the fish food resources was assessed. In the invasion ofV. viviparus, a decrease in the weighted average content of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids—eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) — was observed in the biomass of zoobenthos. However, the biomass, production, and productivity of EPA and DHA in native zoobenthos remained unchanged, as the invasive mollusk occupied a vacant trophic niche. In the studied river area, benthivorous fish after the invasion of V. viviparus can potentially receive the same amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids—essential for their growth and development—from zoobenthos production as before.

PINK SALMON ONCORHYNCHUS GORBUSCHA (WALBAUM, 1792) (SALMONIFORMES, SALMONIDAE) AS A TARGET SPECIES IN THE RUSSIAN NORTH: VALUE, DISTRIBUTION, CATCH DYNAMICS AND CONDITIONS FOR STOCK ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT - Zubchenko A.V., Alekseev M.Yu., Tkachenko A.V. - The results of the long-term research on pink salmon introduction into the new area were generalized. The catch statistics data from commercial, coastal and recreational fisheries in the White Sea basin are given. Based on one’s own information and literature data, a conclusion was made that a limited number of areas appropriate for spawning, temperature at the primary stage of the ontogenesis and during smolts downstream migrations, as well as food supply in feeding grounds are the major factors that limit the abundance of the introduced species in a new area. It is considered that pink salmon is valuable as a target species and that it is necessary to restore ranching and adaptation of even year spawners.

THE POTENTIALLY INVASIVE SPECIES PHYTOLACCA ACINOSA ROXB. (PHYTOLACCACEAE) IN RUSSIA: HISTORY OF DISPERSAL, CURRENT DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGICAL FEATURES - Zueva M.A., Stogova A.V., Mamontov A.K., Vinogradova Yu.K. - Phytolacca acinosa Roxb. is a plant of East Asian origin, actively naturalizing on the territory of Russia. The initial pathway of invasion of the species is “escape from cultivation”. Data from herbariums, digital databases and field studies were analyzed, which made it possible to construct a map of the species′ current distribution range. The lag phase of P. acinosa lasted from 1985 to the mid-2010s. At present, the species has successfully adapted to the environments of the European part of Russia, its invasiveness is increasing, and the number of new spontaneous populations is growing rapidly. The main site of invasion is Moscow, where the first spontaneous population was found in 2016, and by 2025, 115 local naturalizing populations have already been recorded, and the species occupies up to 20% of potentially suitable areas. A description of phytocenoses with P. acinosa is given, in which 45 species of vascular plants with a predominance of weedy species and a high proportion of alien species. The data on the structure of P. acinosa populations are presented, which is characterized by a high proportion of juvenile and immature plants – from 40% in the absence of disturbance and high herbage closure to 92% in anthropogenically disturbed habitats. Since P. acinosa is a synanthropic species, and the area of landscapes under strong anthropogenic impact continues to grow, it is possible to predict further spread of the species and an increase in its abundance in the secondary distribution range.

THE EMERALD ASH BORER AGRILUS PLANIPENNIS FAIRMAIRE, 1888 (COLEOPTERA: BUPRESTIDAE) IN ROSTOV REGION: RESULTS OF FOUR-YEAR MONITORING - Kasatkin D.G., Meshcheryakova I.S. - The results of the four-year monitoring (2022–2025) of the emerald ash borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire in the Rostov Region are presented. During this period, the pest widely spread across the region, infesting ash stands in 18 (primarily in the western part) of the region's 43 administrative districts (i.e., 40% of the region's area). As a result, quarantine phytosanitary zones were established in the region over a total area of 3.186 million hectares. By the end of 2025, more than 90% of ash trees of three species (Fraxinus pennsylvanica, F. excelsior, and F. ornus) were damaged significantly in shelterbelts, roadside forest belts, recreational areas, and street plantings; 30 to 60% of the trees were dying, and about 20% were already dead. The infestation of ash trees varied: 0.1 to 1.9 exit holes per 1 dm² of bark surface were recorded on ashes in shelterbelts and from 0.1 to 1.6 per dm² in urban landscapes. A study of 68 model trees in the Neklinovsky District and in the city of Rostov-on-Don demonstrated no significant differences in the density of exit holes across trunk height from 0 to 2 m. Three cases of tree roots infestation by EAB were documented in park stands in Rostov-on-Don. In the studied stands, mature trees of F. pennsylvanica exhibited more intense bark cracking than F. excelsior—in 90% of cases, the bark appeared trimmed, with significant light-colored areas visible from a distance. In the forest belts of the region, a mass infestation of young shoots with a diameter of 3.18–7.6 cm and epicormic branch with a diameter of 1.75 cm has been detected. A negative forecast has been given for the plantings of Fraxinus spp. in the Rostov Region.

SCORING INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES OF EUROPEAN RUSSIA BY THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS - Morozova O.V., Popchenko M.I. - Understanding the impacts of alien species on nature and man is crucial to setting priorities for managing invasions, and classification by impact type and ranking of species on this basis is a prerequisite for such decisions. The impact on native species, natural communities and human life was assessed for 147 invasive alien plant species of European Russia using the Generic Impact Scoring System (GISS). The GISS protocol includes both ecological and socio-economic criteria and is based on literature data (in this study, 689 publications were used for scoring), taking into account the maximum impact in the secondary range. Among all the indicators, the impact on agriculture (crop production) prevails, while among the ecological indicators, the highest scores are for the impact on ecosystems and indirect impact on different biotic groups, including competition. An assessment of species invasiveness is proposed taking into account the spread of the species as invasive in the regions of European Russia. Ranking of species by the obtained indicators revealed a relatively good correspondence with the list of species recommended by experts as the most dangerous alien species in Russia, but the choice of priorities among them is difficult without an objective impact assessment. In general, the use of standardized impact scoring schemes and a transparent procedure for determination of the impact status of alien species provide a more reliable approach to setting priorities in management and assessing the risks of invasions than expert opinion alone. A list of species has been suggested for which legislative and practical measures in order to limit their distribution are necessary first of all.

POPULUS LONGIFOLIA FISCH. (SALICACEAE) – THE ONLY INVASIVE SPECIES OF POPLAR ON THE RUSSIAN PLAIN - Nasimovich Yu.A., Kostina M.V., Murataev R.A., Garin E.V., Borkhert E.V., Pushkova E.N., Melnikova N.V. - An overview of literature and herbarium data on Populus longifolia Fisch drawing on our own floristic, morphological, and molecular data is presented. It is shown that P. longifolia originated in one of the botanical gardens in the northern half of the Russian Plain as a result of hybridization between the American P. balsamifera and the East Asian P. suaveolens, at that the contribution of P. balsamifera to the hybridization was significantly higher (probably a reversion hybrid). This has been proven by molecular genetic and morphological studies (including the discovery and study of capsules, which turned out to be bare and 2-3-valved). In interaction with humans, P. longifolia has spread widely across the northern part of the Russian Plain, which is associated not only with its cultivation, but also with its ability to occupy independently disturbed habitats near rural settlements, roads, and rivers. The absence of local species of poplars of the subgenus Tacamahaca within the relevant range, as well as some of the initial morphological features of the hybrid (especially abundant root suckers, leaves hanging on relatively long petioles, etc.) were probably important for the successful spread of this hybridogenic species. The suggested union of P. longifolia with P. trichocarpa is false, and with P. tristis – premature, since we know too little about this taxon.

MORPHOSPATIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POPULATION OF AN ALIEN FISH SPECIES IN THE VOLGA DELTA – THE EUROPEAN COMMON BITTERLING RHODEUS AMARUS (ACHEILOGNATHINAE) - Podolyako S.A., Litvinov K.V., Perkovskaya P.A., Degtyareva L.V., Biryukova M.G., Gavrilova D.A. - For the first time, the data on meristic and plastic indices of the population of an alien fish species in the Volga Delta - the European common bitterling Rhodeus amarus - are presented. In 2018–2025, this population expanded its range in the western part of the Volga delta front – between the Volga-Caspian Sea Shipping Canal and Zyudev Island. Based on the morphospatial analysis of plastic indices of samples from the Volga delta front (Astrakhan Region), Yakhroma Reservoir (Moscow Region) and Sazalnitskoye Lake (Krasnodar Region) according to the Euclidean metric, a hypothesis about the North Caucasian route of penetration of the bitterling population into the Volga avandelta is substantiated.

GREAT CORMORANT PHALACROCORAX CARBO SINENSIS (BLUMENBACH, 1798) (PELECANIFORMES, AVES) IN IRKUTSK AREA: REVERSE COLONIZATION AND EXPANSION - Pyzhyanov S.V., Mokridina M.S., Salovarov V.O., Alekseenko M.N., Tupitsyn I.I., Demidovich A.P. - The article gives a detailed description of the secondary (reverse) settling the western coast of Lake Baikal by Great Cormorant after its long-term absence. It is shown that its appearance and fast increasing in number is stipulated by deterioration of conditions in other parts of the range (long-time dryness in the north-east region of China and Mongolia) and migration of big number of cormorants from these regions. Successful occupation of Baikal helped these birds to move to other water basins of Irkutsk region, first of all to the water reservoirs of the Angara River cascade.

ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF VEGETATIVE SHOOTS OF THE ACER NEGUNDO L. (SAPINDACEAE) - Tsyrenova D.Yu., Borzenkova T.G. - The article presents the results of an anatomical study of vegetative shoots of the North American Acer negundo L., found in Khabarovsk. It was found that annuals remain covered with epidermis during the winter and are not replaced by periderm. Formation of periderm is observed in shoots starting from the second year of vegetation. The formation of phellogen is noted in the subepidermal layer. Periderm appears in separate fragments, and not as a continuous ring around the circumference of the shoot. It was concluded that the studied species lacks complete maturation of the integumentary tissues of annual shoots. Presumably, this feature is constitutional and taxon-specific.

INVASIONS OF CAVE CAMEL CRICKETS OF THE GENUS TACHYCINES ADELUNG, 1902 (ORTHOPTERA: RHAPHIDOPHORIDAE) INTO RUSSIA: A HISTORICAL ASPECT - Lapteva S.V., Sergeev M.G., Molodtsov V.V., Storozhenko S.Yu. - The invasion of the species of the genus Tachycines into Russia occurred at the end of the 19th century, when T. asynamorus was discovered in St. Petersburg. Almost 100 years later, another species of this genus, T. coreanus, was found in the Russian Far East. Data on the history of the distribution of these two synanthropic species are presented, as well as information about their behavior, biology and ecology.

IMPACTS OF PROSOPIS JULIFLORA (FABACEAE) INVASION LEVEL ON NATIVE PLANT DIVERSITY, BIOMASS, AND STRUCTURE IN THE LOWER OMO VALLEY, SOUTH ETHIOPIA - Ardi N., Shibru S., Gatew S. - The invasion of Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC increased at alarming rate devastating native plant diversity. This study aims to investigate the impacts of P. juliflora on native plant species in the Lower Omo Valley, South Ethiopia: A stratified systematic sampling technique was used to collect vegetation data. The study area was stratified into four strata based on the level of invasion of P. juliflora, as High, Medium, Low and Negligible invasions. In each stratum, 10 × 10 m quadrats were laid systematically to collect data on trees and shrubs, whereas 3 × 3 m sub-quadrats were established at the four corners and the center of 10 × 10 m quadrats to collect data on saplings, and seedlings. Within each 3 × 3m sub-plots, 1 × 1 m sub-quadrats were laid to collect data on herbaceous plants. The findings revealed that most plant species were recorded from negligible and low invaded levels (46.66% and 34.78%). The true diversity (effective number of species) and Evenness were higher in negligible and low invaded levels (17.81 and 17.64) and (0.62, in each). The low and negligible invaded levels had the highest aboveground biomass. At highly invaded levels (HIL), all native woody species exhibited markedly reduced diameters at breast height (DBH), forming a J-shaped population structure. Thus, native plant species had poor regeneration status. A notable reduction in native species was observed with increasing P. juliflora invasion area. To protect biodiversity, comprehensive ecological and botanical studies are necessary, examining species composition, diversity, and distribution in relation to environmental and edaphic variables.

GENETIC DIVERSITY OF THE BROWN BULLHEAD AMEIURUS NEBULOSUS (LESUEUR, 1819) (ICTALURIDAE, ACTINOPTERYGII) IN AN INVASIVE RANGE - Okhremenko Y.I., Gajduchenko H.S., Zhukov M.Y. - The study shows a wide spread of A. nebulosus in Belarus, which also extends its range further to the east into the water bodies of Belarus and Karelian Isthmus, Russia. Analysis of genetic diversity by the COX gene showed that all samples from this study belong to the one haplotype. Low genetic diversity in the invasive range confirms a single import of individuals of brown bullhead to Belarus.

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