News
September 9, 2024
This week, the results of research in ecology, physiology and biochemistry of plants, animals and humans will be presented and discussed at the Karelian Research Centre RAS. The conference “Basic and applied aspects of adaptation of living organisms to changing environments in the North” has gathered over 130 scientists from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan.
On 9th September, the All-Russian conference with international participation and the Young Scientists School “Basic and applied aspects of adaptation of living organisms to changing environments in the North” was opened at the Institute of Biology of the Karelian Research Centre RAS. The event has gathered over 130 participants from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Yakutsk, Ufa and other cities, as well as from Belarus and Kazakhstan. The conference themes include ecology, physiology and biochemistry of plants, animals and humans; ecosystem diversity and dynamics; sustainable nature management in the North, and biotechnologies.

KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet remarked that the thematic range of the conference permits presenting the extensive expertise of scientists from the Institute of Biology in the study of the adaptations of organisms, sharing ideas and exchanging experience with colleagues from other regions.

— Conferences on different dimensions of biological sciences are held every year. However, it was 20 years ago that such a large conference, gathering biologists specializing in different spheres, was last hosted by our institute. We have revived this conference, which is a good step. It is also a pleasure to see continuity between generations of scientists! — added Research Area Leader at KarRC RAS, RAS Academician Nina Nemova.

The first conference day was given to the plenary session with three keynote lectures: concerning research on adaptations in small mammals of the boreal zone; hemoglobin and its role in organism’s adaptation; ecological-biochemical adaptations in Arctic and sub-Arctic aquatic organisms.

RAS Academician Nina Nemova presented the research results of the Animal Ecological Biochemistry science school. Specialists at the Laboratory of Ecological Biochemistry study the adaptations of aquatic organisms of northern latitudes, which develop under relatively low temperatures, low water mineralization, constant seasonal fluctuations in environmental factors and long periods of poor food availability. The team studies the adaptive responses of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans based on more than a hundred biochemical and molecular genetic indicators.

The biochemist told about studies on the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L. Juveniles in different stages of the life cycle were analyzed and biochemical differentiation was detected in the populations already in the embryogenesis phase:

— The differentiation of biochemical qualities in salmonid young-of-the-year becomes obvious during embryogenesis already and further expressed in the larval stages, so when dispersing from the spawning redds, some of the hatched larvae have certain metabolic advantages enabling them to occupy the best nursery grounds, — explained Nina Nemova.

Owing to the knowledge derived from the study of wild salmon populations, the scientists could undertake a study of the development of salmonid young in aquaculture. These studies will enhance the survival rates of juveniles released from hatcheries engaged in artificial breeding and rearing of fish young, and will help work out some practical guidelines.

The Conference “Basic and applied aspects of adaptation of living organisms to changing environments in the North” will continue to 13th September. Eighty presentations will be made during the event, of which over 30 will be given by young scientists at the Young Scientists School.

See also:

July 7, 2025
A successful introduction: the zander has settled down in Lake Sundozero and continues to spread

Scientists of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS have published the results of long-term observations over the population of the zander (or pikeperch) introduced to Lake Sundozero more than a half-century ago. They confirm the species has become naturalized. Maintaining the population requires regulation of harvesting, protection during spawning, and tending of spawning grounds.
June 26, 2025
Ice-related phenomena on rivers emptying into the White Sea now last three weeks less than 60 years before

Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
June 23, 2025
Citizen science and web technologies help researchers study insects of Karelia

More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.