Dryocoetiops krivetsae sp. n. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae: Dryocoetini), the northernmost species of the genus: conflicts between molecular and morphological data in the tribe Dryocoetini

A new species of bark beetle, Dryocoetiops krivetsae Kerchev, Mandelshtam, Bykov et Ilinsky, sp. n., from the southern part of Primorsky Krai (Russian Far East), is described. This is the northernmost discovery of the Oriental genus Dryocoetiops Schedl, 1957, and the first record of the genus in the Russian fauna. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial genes i) confirms an independent lineage of Dryocoetiops krivetsae and ii) indicates numerous conflicts of genera relationships in the tribe Dryocoetini.

Impacts of environmental change on biodiversity and vegetation dynamics in Siberia

Biological diversity is the basis for, and an indicator of biosphere integrity. Together with climate change, its loss is one of the two most important planetary boundaries. A halt in biodiversity loss is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Current changes in biodiversity in the vast landmass of Siberia are at an initial stage of inventory, even though the Siberian environment is experiencing rapid climate change, weather extremes and transformation of land use and management. Biodiversity changes affect traditional land use by Indigenous People and multiple ecosystem services with implications for local and national economies. Here we review and analyse a large number of scientific publications, which are little known outside Russia, and we provide insights into Siberian biodiversity issues for the wider international research community. Case studies are presented on biodiversity changes for insect pests, fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds, mammals and steppe vegetation, and we discuss their causes and consequences.

Context-Dependent Acoustic Signals in the Four-Eyed Fir Bark Beetle, Polygraphus proximus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)

Invasion of Polygraphus proximus (Blandford) has caused an extensive destruction in the aboriginal forest ecosystems of South Siberia. The goal of this study was to better understand the acoustic communication of P. proximus by analyzing the beetles' sound-production mechanisms and comparing sounds produced during different behaviors. Comparisons applied waveform analysis and quantitation of temporal parameters such as syllable, chirp duration, interchirp interval, number of tooth-strike per chirp, strike rate, and the duration of intervals between strikes. We recorded the acoustic signals of the bark beetle in three behavioral contexts: stress (handling), rivalry (male-male interactions), and courtship (male-female interactions). Acoustic signals produced during stress, rivalry behavior, and courtship chirps have very similar waveforms but are distinguishable according to temporal parameters (e.g., number of strikes in chirps and duration of intervals between them). During courtship, males produce two types of chirps. The first type was produced in all three contexts. The second chirp type was registered only in male-female interactions just before copulation. Precopulation signals produced by rubbing of the tibia against the elytral margin were registered for the first time in a bark beetle. The role of the precopulation signal was the clearest. The established modulations of signals in stress trials in comparison with the similar courtship and rivalry chirps are apparently due to effects of insect body movement against restraint. We hypothesize that the chirp temporal parameters in courtship and rivalry may be used by the sender to reveal his presence or physical characteristics to a receiver (female or rival male).