Relict species are important targets for biodiversity conservation and biogeographical research. The rock ptarmigan, Lagopus muta, which is distributed across the circumpolar region, is also found as relict populations in high mountain areas of mid-latitude regions worldwide. In Japan, isolated populations occur in the high mountain areas of Honshu Island. The Japanese L. muta japonica is threatened with extinction due to its fragmentation into multiple distribution areas, including regions where populations have already become extinct. To clarify the phylogenetic origin of the Japanese population, we conducted a mitochondrial genome-based phylogenetic analysis using museum specimens, including samples that are over 100 years old. A literature survey of the distribution areas near Japan suggested that the northern Kuril Islands represent the closest distribution area, although an alternative theory proposes that Primorsky Krai, on the eastern edge of the Eurasian continent, is nearest. Although the extracted DNA fragments were very short, we successfully determined the complete mitochondrial genome for all 18 individuals. Among the various mitochondrial regions, the control region and ND5 exhibited the greatest diversity. Network analysis of the control region from 209 individuals across all distribution areas worldwide indicated that the Japanese population is endemic, whereas no clear regional differentiation within Japan was observed in either the control region or the entire mitochondrial genome. Divergence time estimation suggests that the Japanese population diverged approximately 80,000-120,000 years ago, before the Last Glacial Maximum. This study demonstrates that useful genetic information can be recovered from degraded DNA even from specimens stored under high-temperature and high-humidity conditions in Japan, and provides a basis for re-evaluating the evolutionary history and regional genetic independence of L. muta.

In the first part of the article (Fish farm. and Fisheries, No. 12, 2025), the authors provided a fishery and biological description of silver carp and grass carp spawners from the cages of the Luchogorskaya Fish Hatchery Station of the TINRO Research Institute in Primorsky Krai. In the second part of the article, the authors summarized and analyzed the results of the last 25 seasons of growing fingerlings of these species and provided a description of natural population from the cooling pond. The body weight and survival rate of herbivorous fish grown in fry ponds under conditions of polyculture with carp fish and Amur predators were studied. The average weight of silver carp fry varied from 9.7 to 15.3 g when fed, and from 16.4 to 19.3 g for grass carp. The minimum weight of 4.5–5.5 g was recorded when the fish were kept without feeding and the ponds were fertilized with active sludge. The maximum weight of fingerlings is 20–80 g, and low survival rates are observed when feeding fish in seasons with a 10–25-day difference in the timing of planting carp and herbivorous fish and when fry of Chinese perch and Amur catfish weighing 0.3–1.7 g are released into ponds. The average survival rate of silver carp fingerlings over the years of research was slightly higher than that of grass carp, amounting to 16.1% and 14.7%, respectively. The herbivorous fish population of the cooling pond was formed as a result of regular stocking for 30 years and consists of individuals weighing from 5 g to 25 kg. The sex cycles of spawners from cages and cooling pond are significantly different. Silver carp reduced the number of phytoplankton, and grass carp almost completely destroyed macrophytes in the cooling pond. The population of herbivorous fish of the Amur line, living in the cooling pond of the Primorskaya power plant, is a reserve for replenishing the number of herbivorous fishes in the nearby Bikin and Ussuri rivers. The work is relevant in connection with the need to preserve, reproduce and keep clean the Amur line of herbivorous fish in Russia

The article presents a comparative study of the sanctions policy of Japan and the Republic of Korea towards Russia after February 2022 and the assessment of the impact of their sanctions on the development of Russian-Japanese and Russian-South Korean cooperation in the Russian Far East. Based on the results of the study of the economic ties of Russia, Japan, and South Korea (in the areas of trade, investment, finance, tourism, and transport) and their interaction in the educational and cultural-humanitarian spheres under sanctions restrictions, the authors come to the conclusion that the sanctions policy of Japan and South Korea towards Russia has a common basis due to their belonging to the “collective West,” and the anti-Russian measures they take are aimed at weakening the industrial and technological potential of the Russian Federation.At the same time, like most of their Western partners, Japan and South Korea are not ready to impose such sanctions that could cause significant damage to their own economic and strategic interests. There are important differences in the sanctions approaches of Japan and South Korea – Japan pursues a much tougher policy towards Russia, not only limiting exports to Russia, but also imposing a ban on imports of a number of goods from Russia. South Korea is much more willing to maintain ties with Russia and its Far Eastern territories, despite the unfavorable political situation, which is expressed, in particular, in the ongoing oficial contacts between Primorsky Krai and Vladivostok and a number of provinces and municipalities of the Republic of Korea. The authors suggest that ties between the Russian Far East and South Korea can be quickly restored once the situation around Ukraine is resolved, while the prospects for restoring relations with Japan look much less certain.

The Forest-Steppe Grouping of the Red-Backed Vole (Myodes rutilus) Variability in Primorsky Krai according to mtDNA Data

A new genus of fern, Vachrameeviopsis, Volynets gen. sp. nov., is described with the type species V. auriculatus, sp. nov., from the Aptian, Early Cretaceous, in the Razdolnaya Coal Basin, Primorsky Krai, Russia. This fern genus demonstrates a combination of vegetative and reproductive characters. Ferns of this genus are characterized by single- or double-pinnate fronds, dense venation in pinnules, symmetrical to asymmetrical auricular bases, and the basal lateral veins forming venation in the auricles. Fertile pinnules are slightly reduced, and the sori are unfused and located along the midrib of the pinnule on both sides. The new genus is compared with modern representatives of the subtropical/tropical family Blechnaceae, to which it shows the greatest similarity with the genus Brainea and Doodia, as well as with some other representatives of the genera Blechnum, Blechnopsis, Cranfilla, etc.

Inflammatory periodontal diseases are among the most common dental pathologies and remain one of the leading problems in practical medicine. The high frequency of severe periodontitis, accompanied by pronounced clinical manifestations and systemic disorders, emphasizes the need to study pathogenesis and search for pathogenetically justified therapeutic approaches. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dynamics of clinical indicators, microbiological status, and cytokine profile during the treatment of severe periodontitis in patients from Primorsky Krai. The study included 27 patients (11 men and 16 women) aged 39 to 47 years with a confirmed diagnosis of generalized severe periodontitis. All patients were evaluated twice (before treatment and after 7 days) for clinical indicators of periodontal tissue condition such as simplified oral hygiene index (OHI-s), papillary bleeding index (PBI), papillary-marginal-alveolar index (PMA), approximal plaque index (API), tooth mobility index, and periodontal pocket depth. Bacterial composition was studied using PCR method. Cytokine profile was studied in periodontal pocket exudate using solid-phase ELISA. Statistical data processing was performed using StatTech v. 4.8.11 software. Results showed that the main group of microorganisms in periodontal pocket contents consists of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Tannerella forsythia, and Treponema denticola. After the therapy, a statistically significant increase in the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 (2.5-fold) and IL-10 (2-fold) was noted (p <0.001), reflecting the restoration of regulatory mechanisms of local immune response. Important is the identified correlation between periodontal pocket depth and IL-10 level (ρ=0.397; p=0.04), which allows considering this cytokine as a possible prognostic marker of treatment effectiveness. The obtained results are important not only for clarifying the mechanisms of this pathology development, but also for developing pathogenetically justified approaches to the therapy of generalized severe periodontitis

The collection of woody plants of the Botanical Garden-Institute of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Q. robur was not represented. There have been no previous successful attempts to introduce this species in the Far East. Therefore, we have started a study on the possibility of introducing Q. robur in Primorsky Krai. Acorns for sowing were collected in the green areas of Yerevan, Armenia (Poplavok ark). The acorns were harvested 2 months after their mass fall on November 29, 2023. The sample size is more than 100 pieces. The oak species has been identified as Q. robur f. praecox. The sowing qualities of acorns have been studied. The mass of 1,000 acorns in our study was 8370 g. Their diameter ranged from 16 to 23 mm (on average 21 mm), height 39.4 (36-43) mm. The indicator germination of acorns was determined at different terms of storage from 60 to 90%. The germination of acorns after storage at low plus temperature increased (up to 90%), which indicates the high quality of acorns. The results of the study of the development of seedlings at the early stage of ontogenesis are presented. The root begins to grow immediately after planting, reaching 250 mm in length by 2 months (by the time of emergence of seedlings) with lateral roots 10-30 mm long each. 2.5 months after sowing, the epicotyle height average 60-70 mm. Transplanting seedlings delayed shoot growth and/or stimulated the formation of additional shoots, the second shoot formed in 30%, the third in 10% of acorns. The shoot height of one-year-old seedlings, when grown indoors, was 20.8 (11-35) cm, in those planted in open ground 15 (6-25) cm. Leaf fall in plants planted in the ground occurred in the last decade of October, with a steady decrease in the average daily air temperature to +12 °C. In indoor conditions, the leafless period lasted 20 days in January. The data were obtained over a period 1.5 years. Phenological observations were conducted from November 2023 to the present. A portion of the oak seedlings were planted in the open ground in the first year to determine the possibility of their overwintering in the region. The photographs presented in the article were taken by the authors.

Tuberculosis incidence in the Far Eastern Federal District and Primorsky Krai, 2016–2023

The paper considers the site of the Far Eastern Carbon Landfill (FECL), located on the shore of the Bukh River. Ajax is located in the Sea of Japan in the temperate monsoon climate zone. The main feature of the FECL is its seaside location, which allows for a comprehensive study of coastal and marine ecosystems. The site consists of 20 ha of marine water area and 4 ha of land area on the campus of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) in Vladivostok and is part of a larger landfill in Primorsky Krai with an area of 304.23 ha. The paper presents the results of a study of the coastal zone of the Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) Vladivostok campus. The possibilities of using remote sensing of the earth (remote sensing) in the framework of work to assess the sequestration potential of coastal marine ecosystems—their ability to absorb and retain carbon. The experience of combining ground-based laser scanning and aerial photography with a multispectral camera is presented, which significantly expands the possibilities of assessing ground objects. Based on the results of the survey from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and the addition of ground-based laser scanning data, the site’s territory is classified by type of land use and types of facilities. Digital models of terrain and relief, orthophotoplans, including the NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) vegetation index, have been obtained. A quantitative assessment of trees, shrubs, grass, and buildings was performed based on a combined point cloud and raster files. Tree heights relative to open databases have been clarified. Preliminary calculations of the content of aboveground biomass and carbon reserves have been performed. A detailed cartographic framework has been created, which will be used for further work with the spatial data of the carbon polygon.

In mid-May 2025, the presence of the Wrinkled Frog Glandirana emeljanovi (Nikolskii, 1913) was reliably confirmed for the first time on Russian territory. More than twenty subadult individuals of this species were found under stones on the bank of the Levaya Novgorodovka River (a tributary of the Tesnaya River, Khasansky rayon, Primorsky Krai), several kilometers from the border with China. The location coordinates are 42°42’45.97’’ N 130°33’57.34’’ E, with an elevation of 57 m a.s.l. The average size of the amphibians was 28.6 mm (26.6 – 32.4 mm; n = 11). The site of the species’ discovery is located on the border of one of the parts of the «Land of the Leopard« National Park», and, thus, part of the population of G. emeljanovi is under the protection this protected area. With this find, the amphibian fauna of Russia has expanded to include new genus and new species.

A new seismological data information system has been developed and is being implemented at the Sakhalin Branch of GS RAS. The goal of the system is to consolidate all data obtained from seismic monitoring in the Sakhalin Region, Primorsky Krai, Khabarovsk Krai, Amur Oblast, as well as the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Sea of Okhotsk, and the Sea of Japan into a single information space. The new expanded version is called “The Far East Region Seismicity Monitoring Database”. The article describes the database’s organizational principles, functionality and key features. Currently, the database includes a number of functions: automatic email sending, advanced map queries, automated query-based reports and near-real-time monitoring tools for emergency services. The main result is the compilation of an operational earthquake catalog and the provision of operational data to interested organizations.

On the relationship between bitterlings of the genus Rhodeus Agassiz, 1832 (Cyprinidae) and unionid bivalve mollusks in the Razdolnaya River basin (Primorsky Krai)

An analysis of partial sequences of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene from 39 specimens of Emplectonema ex gr. gracile from the Sea of Okhotsk, Sea of Japan, and Yellow Sea has shown that almost all the studied specimens from the first two seas belong to Emplectonema viride, which is also distributed along the Pacific coast of North America. In the Sea of Okhotsk and Sea of Japan, only three haplotypes for this species have been identified, all differing from the haplotypes sampled from off the North American coast. One specimen from the Sea of Japan (Spokoinaya Bay, southern Primorsky Krai, Russia) and all the specimens from the Yellow Sea belong to E. gracile. Of the six haplotypes of Pacific E. gracile, four are also found in the Atlantic Ocean. It has been suggested that E. gracile is an invasive species to the Pacific Ocean.

This paper presents the construction and verification of an econometric model assessing the impact of key environmental factors on economic and environmental security at the mesoscale (using Primorsky Krai as an example) for the period 2008–2023. The explanatory variables used include investment in environmental protection, air pollutant emissions, and wastewater discharges into surface water bodies. The dynamics and relationships of these indicators with aggregated indicators of the region's economic and environmental security are analyzed, including GRP per capita, disease incidence, investment attractiveness, natural resource status, and environmental burden. Correlation analysis, multiple linear regression, and hypothesis testing using Python libraries (Pandas, NumPy, Statsmodels, Seaborn, Matplotlib) are used. The main hypothesis of the study was confirmed: environmental and economic security at the meso-level are closely interconnected, ignoring environmental risks creates systemic threats to the sustainable socio-economic development of the region.

An integrative analysis of morphological, structural, and biochemical characteristics was performed for the first time in buckwheat seeds of several varieties grown in contrast conditions, namely, a monsoon climate of Primorsky Krai and a temperate continental climate of Central Russia. The intention was to develop important practical recommendations on the use of the new seed assessment method. Minor differences were observed in the color and weight of seeds and the weight and structure of seed coats. The total protein content in seeds was almost the same in all varieties, and differences in only minor components were detected in the protein composition. Total phenolic compound (TPC), phenylpropanoid (PhP), flavan (FL), and proanthocyanidin (PA) contents in seeds were similar between the varieties and were lower than in seed coats in most cases, with the exception the new-generation variety Desire. A significant accumulation of PAs (polyphenol oligomers with high antioxidant activity) was observed in buckwheat seed coats, suggesting their potential application in various industries.

The study was conducted to understand the complex of fungal infections affecting soybeans and monitor their development dynamics in Primorsky Krai to improve pest control systems. The work was conducted from 2020 to 2024. Farms in eight districts (Khankayskiy, Khorolskiy, Pogranichnyy, Ussuriyskiy, Mikhaylovskiy, Kirovskiy, Chernigovskiy and Dalnerechenskiy) were selected to assess the phytosanitary condition of crops, covering a total survey area of 116.1 thousand hectares. Root rots of complex etiology are widespread in Primorskiy Krai. The disease develops epiphytotically, with plant infestation rates ranging from 9.9% to 36.3%. During the research, a complex of leaf spots affecting the crop was identified: septoria leaf spot (Septoria glycines Hemmi.), downy mildew (Peronospora manshurica (Naum.) Syd.), cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora sojina Hara.), ascochyta leaf spot (Ascochyta sojaecola Abramov) and purple cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora kikuchii (T. Matsu & Tomoyasu) Gardner). Among all the pathogens, septoria leaf spot occupied a leading position in the region with an annual development intensity in crops from 20.6 to 34.9%, while the distribution reached 100%. Downy mildew manifested itself with great variability from 0.4 to 7.2%. The level of cercospora leaf spot damage ranged from 2.0 to 4.1%. Ascochyta leaf spot was noted in isolated cases without mass distribution. In 2020 and 2024 the quarantine pathogen purple cercospora leaf spot was recorded with a development rate of 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Laboratory phytopathological testing of 298 batches of soybean seeds provided by seed testing laboratories in Primorskiy Krai revealed a high infection load of fusarium and bacterial blight in the seed material.

The study was conducted to understand the complex of fungal infections affecting soybeans and monitor their development dynamics in Primorsky Krai to improve pest control systems. The work was conducted from 2020 to 2024. Farms in eight districts (Khankayskiy, Khorolskiy, Pogranichnyy, Ussuriyskiy, Mikhaylovskiy, Kirovskiy, Chernigovskiy and Dalnerechenskiy) were selected to assess the phytosanitary condition of crops, covering a total survey area of 116.1 thousand hectares. Root rots of complex etiology are widespread in Primorskiy Krai. The disease develops epiphytotically, with plant infestation rates ranging from 9.9% to 36.3%. During the research, a complex of leaf spots affecting the crop was identified: septoria leaf spot (Septoria glycines Hemmi.), downy mildew (Peronospora manshurica (Naum.) Syd.), cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora sojina Hara.), ascochyta leaf spot (Ascochyta sojaecola Abramov) and purple cercospora leaf spot (Cercospora kikuchii (T. Matsu & Tomoyasu) Gardner). Among all the pathogens, septoria leaf spot occupied a leading position in the region with an annual development intensity in crops from 20.6 to 34.9%, while the distribution reached 100%. Downy mildew manifested itself with great variability from 0.4 to 7.2%. The level of cercospora leaf spot damage ranged from 2.0 to 4.1%. Ascochyta leaf spot was noted in isolated cases without mass distribution. In 2020 and 2024 the quarantine pathogen purple cercospora leaf spot was recorded with a development rate of 1.5% and 0.4%, respectively. Laboratory phytopathological testing of 298 batches of soybean seeds provided by seed testing laboratories in Primorskiy Krai revealed a high infection load of fusarium and bacterial blight in the seed material.

Introduction . The article examines digital transformation as a tool for reducing migration outflow from the Russian Far East, based on the experience of Primorsky Krai. The goal is to identify the potential of digitalization for retaining human capital in the region through remote employment and adaptation to labor automation. The scientific novelty lies in empirically demonstrating the competency gap between technological challenges and the population’s low adaptability. The study analyzes respondents’ experiences in upskilling in digital literacy and artificial intelligence. The relevance is argued through systemic depopulation, demographic age imbalance, and unrealized opportunities of the digital economy. Methodology and sources . The research uses the Frey-Osborne model for predicting occupational automation. Empirical data were derived from a 2024 Q2 door-to-door survey across all municipalities of Primorsky Krai (n = 3484), conducted by the authors via the Primorsky Research Center for Sociology and Civil Initiatives. Quota sampling ensured sociodemographic and geographic representativeness. Analysis focused on labor activity, digital literacy, and migration attitudes. Results and discussion . Findings reveal an adaptation crisis to digital transformation. While most respondents are aware of AI, few received relevant training. Despite Frey-Osborne’s high-risk automation forecasts, a significant share of respondents denies that their occupations are susceptible to automation. Paradoxically, those planning career shifts target high-risk sectors (services, trade, construction), exacerbating unemployment risks. The discussion highlights the mismatch between technological readiness and implementation capacity. Conclusion . Overcoming the adaptation crisis requires infrastructure development, educational program modernization, and regional branding. Digitalization is considered as a key "anchor" capable of migration outflow from the Russian Far East due to the development of remote employment and overcoming geographical isolation.

Bulldozer operations at coal mining companies are regarded as auxiliary activities; however, improper operation of this type of equipment results in up to 25% of productivity losses for primary mining transport equipment. The primary objective of the study is to determine the standards for bulldozer operations using the SHANTUI SD60-S5 machine as a case study. The study was conducted in the Primorsky Krai region of the Russian Federation at the Luchegorsk coal mine. The study focuses on technological parameters of bulldozers in terms of the volume of work performed and their motion. The subject of the study is the effect of the bulldozer motion parameters on its performance. The specific features of the bulldozer operation on a dump site are shown. It consists in a large number of the motion cycles typical for the specific operating conditions. A quantitative assessment is presented of the results of using this technique and the cost of the main types of resources such as time and fuel. The following values were adopted as the pilot norms for the SHANTUI SD60-S5 bulldozer at the Luchegorsk coal mine: productive time per shift – 8 hours for a moderately skilled operator; volume of work per productive hour – 1,451 m3, specific diesel fuel consumption – 57.4 l per 1 thousand m3 of rock mass under normal weather conditions. This methodological approach to rationing bulldozer work on the dump site can also be applied to other types of auxiliary work performed by the tractor-and-bulldozer equipment and used by managers at various management levels when planning, organizing, accounting for, and controlling the work of auxiliary equipment operators.И

Heavy-textured soils in monsoon-affected regions face challenges related to waterlogging and structural degradation, yet the long-term efficacy of biochar as a physical soil amendment under such conditions remains inadequately understood. This two-year field study (2018–2019) therefore evaluated the transient impacts of birch-derived biochar (360–380 °C pyrolysis; 0, 1, 3 kg/m2), subsurface drainage systems, and fertilizer regimes on key physical properties of Endoargic Anthrosols (clay loam) in coastal Primorsky Krai, Russia. Granulometric composition remained stable (silt loam: sand 42–48%, silt 38–44%, clay 12–16%), though drainage significantly increased the silt fraction by >7.5% (p < 0.05). Biochar induced short-term reductions in bulk density (ρb; max −12% at 3 kg/m2, 2018) and aggregate density (ρa; max −9.3%, 2018), but these effects dissipated by 2019 due to tillage redistribution and monsoonal fragmentation, as verified by SEM. Total porosity fluctuated seasonally (0.50–0.65 cm3/cm3), peaking post-tillage but declining under monsoon saturation, with no significant sustained biochar contribution. Crucially, intra-aggregate pore architecture (2–50 nm) resisted amendment-induced changes; N2 adsorption showed treatment-invariant mesopore dominance (65–75% volume; mean pore diameter 17–21 nm), attributable to biochar’s physical exclusion (>1 µm particles from sub-0.5 µm pores) and inert fragmentation. Drainage dominated structural dynamics, modulating pore volume seasonally (−15% in 2018; +18% in 2019), while organic fertilizer enhanced porosity through polysaccharide-stabilized microaggregation (+22%, 2019). We conclude that biochar’s physical benefits in clay loams under monsoon climates are transient and dose-dependent, operating primarily through inter-aggregate macroporosity rather than intra-aggregate modification, necessitating reapplication for sustained improvements.