The historical dynamics of the avifauna in Minsk are analyzed in the context of the division of species into ecological avifaunal complexes. Qualitative changes in the ecological structure of the avifauna have been established. The breeding avifauna of Minsk is comprised of 140 species from six avifaunal complexes, with a predominance of the forest (55 species; 39.3 %) and the water-coastal complex (35 species; 25.0 %). The dynamics of each avifaunal complex and the main trends in changing the ecological structure of the urban avifauna as a whole are revealed based on the representation of each of them in different historical periods, starting from the mid-20th century. A predictive assessment of its future changes under conditions of progressive synurbization of individual species is also given. The synanthropic (84.2 %) and dry open spaces (75.0 %) avifaunal complexes are the most fully represented in the urban area relative to the overall composition of avifauna in Belarus. The dynamics of the avifaunal structure of Minsk since 1946 is attributable to the expansion of the city’s area and changes in its habitat structure, which had an impact on the representation of different avifaunal complexes. Another factor was the synurbization of certain bird species. Over the course of a 70-year period, there was an increase in the relative share of the water-coastal (+8.6 %), marsh (+4.2 %) and forest (+2.5 %) avifaunal complexes, while the relative contribution of the other avifaunal complexes decreased: synanthropic (–7.4 %), trees and shrubs (–4.2 %) and dry open spaces (–3.8 %). In the future, changes in the structure of the avifauna of Minsk can be expected to occur due to the presence of species from the forest and water-coastal avifaunal complexes, which possess a reserve of species suitable for colonizing urban landscapes.

The effect of aqueous plant extracts on the growth of test cultures exhibits a dependence on both the plant species and the con centration of the aqueous extract. Extracts obtained from various organs of invasive plant species primarily exert an inhibitory effect on the germination energy, germination and growth of test crop seedlings. The intensity of inhibition increases with the increasing extract concentration. With decreasing extract concentration, the inhibitory effect diminishes and tends to stimulate the germination processes of test crops. By varying the concentration of aqueous extracts obtained from invasive plant species and the type of plant material (rhizome, roots, rhizome, stem, leaves, inflorescences, seeds), it is possible to form biologically active preparations with specified properties (inhibitory, stimulating).

The article presents the results of a study on the genetic diversity and structure of seven populations of Salvinia natans L. in Belarus, in both the natural (Pinsk, Mukhavets, Strelsk, and Rogachev) and progressing (Kamenets, Krivoshin, and Shchara) parts of the range. Using molecular iPBS markers, the study found that the natural populations of Pinsk and Mukhavets populations have the highest level of genetic diversity, and the island population of Kamenets is characterized by genetic impoverishment. Low rates of genetic diversity are also characteristic of other populations located in island localities (Krivoshin, Shchara) and on the northern (Rogachev) border of the Salvinia natans L. range. The study revealed that the level of interpopulation variability was lower than intrapopulation variability (22 and 78 %, respectively). The PhiPT value of 0.22 indicates significant genetic differences among the populations. For the studied species, the gene flow level is 0.80, which is an average value and is probably due to the specificity of reproduction of this species as a spore plant. Analysis of genetic distances showed that the lowest Nei distance (0.11) was observed between the Pinsk and Shchara populations, and the highest (0.21) between the Strelsk and Krivoshin populations. This is generally consistent with their geographic location. The ward.D2 analysis, based on Nei’s distance matrix, confirms these results and demonstrates that the studied populations are divided into two main clusters, corresponding to their location in the Pripyat and Zapadnyj Bug river basins. The obtained experimental data show that, given global warming, the range of Salvinia natans L. will continue to expand northward. However, the probability of expansive properties of this species in newly developed territories remains low due to the insignificant genetic diversity of border populations and a fairly low level of gene flow between them.

Freshwater shrimp species with a shortened larva development period are suitable for acclimatization into cooling ponds of energy facilities, both to enrich their food base and for cultivation. Siberian shrimp Exopalaemon modestus (Heller) are characterized by a wide range of ecological plasticity and a high survival rate of larvae with two zoea stages, making them a promising object for this purpose. In this regard, the anatomo-morphological indices, body structure, size characterization of zoea stages 1 and 2, as well as the postlarvae stage, when reared on discharged heated water of a thermal power plant, are described in detail. The larvae were reared in production conditions of the hatchery in aquaria equipped with drainage devices, where water was continuously supplied from the warm channel of Berezovskaya Thermal Power Station (TPS) (Brest region, Belarus) at a temperature of 20–22 ℃ and an initial planting density of 10 eggs/liter. In these conditions, the mean duration of larval development was 7 days, which is 1 day longer than during rearing in laboratory conditions in brackish water (3.12–4.03 ‰) and at temperatures of 26–28 ℃. In this regard, anatomo-morphological parameters, body structure, and size characteristics of the 1^st and 2^nd stages of zoea and postlarvae stages during rearing on the discharge heated water of the thermal power plant are described in detail. The average length of larvae of the first zoea stage was 4.08 ± 0.12 mm, of the second stage was 4.47 ± 0.23 mm, and of the postlarvae stage was 4.70 ± 0.26 mm. On average, the inter-larval period for the 1^st and 2^nd zoea stages lasted two days, while the postlarvae stage, it averaged at three days. The general identifying characteristics for these stages of ontogenesis were: the structure of the eyes, antennules, pereopods, pleopods, rostrum, and carapax. The original drawings and lengths of rostrum, eyes, carapax, antennae, antennules, mandibles, maxillae, maxillapedes, pereopods, pleopods, and telson are provided.

This article provides information on the genetic determinants, the products of which underlie both pathoge- nesis and the mechanism of stimulation of plant growth and development by Pseudomonas amygdali pv. lachrymans 8 bacteria. In particular, genes presumably responsible for the manifestation of phytopathogenic properties, encoding the synthesis of lipopolysaccharides, components of secretion systems, enzymes destroying the plant cell wall, flagellar apparatus, and chemotaxis system, were identified within the genome of strain 8. Furthermore, bacteria of strain 8 have genetic determinants whose products of which can positively affect plants. These determinants include genes for the biosynthesis of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase, tryptophan and anthranilate, riboflavin (vitamin B2), as well as genes encoding products that determine the solubilization of inorganic phosphates. In the genome of the strain P. amygdali pv. lachrymans 8, 12 loci responsible for the synthesis of secondary metabolites (nonribosomal peptides, hydrogen cyanide, furan, arylpolyene, N-ace- tylglutaminyl glutaminamide, homoserine lactone and pyoverdine) were identified. These loci have the capacity to impede the effects of other phytopathogenic microorganisms or provide a response to stress effects.

At present, the pondweed family (Potamogetonaceae) within the Pukhovichy Plain includes 13 species and 8 hybrids. The taxonomic diversity of the family was determined using the grid mapping method from 2018 to 2023. Three new taxa have been identified for the flora of Belarus: Potamogeton × franconicus G. Fisch., P. × olivaceus Baagøe ex G. Fisch., P. × grovesii Dandy et G. Taylor. The homogeneity of the species of the family in ecological and biological terms was de- monstrated. The species were predominantly freshwater perennial grasses (61.5 %), hydrophytes (34.2 % of the species of the aquatic core of the flora), cryptophytes-hydrophytes, scioheliophytes, neutrophils (61.5 %) or moderate acidophiles (38.5 %), mesotrophs (76.9 %) or mesoeutrophs (23.1 %), dominants and subdominants of phytocenoses. The most prevalent and stable species and hybrids in the flora of the plain (P. natans L., P. lucens L., P. perfoliatus L.), which belong to the group of broadleaved pondweeds, have been identified. 57.7 % of their localities are connected to the river network. The rarity and reduction in the growth locations of almost all linear-leaved pondweed taxa (P. obtusifolius Mert. et W. D. J. Koch, P. pusillus L., P. acutifolius Link) and their vulnerability due to being confined to artificial and transformed water bodies by 57.6 % have been established. А relatively high hybridogenic activity of linear-leaved pondweeds and the continued reproduction of hybrids in the absence of parental species have been revealed.

The present study investigates the impact of lyophilized chitosan conjugates with ferulic (Сh30-FA) and caffeic (Ch30-CA) acids on the morphometric and biochemical parameters of a cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus L.) Malyshok variety cultivated prior to the onset of fruit development under sodium chloride salinity conditions. The seeds and plants were treated with conjugate solutions during the stage of first true leaf appearance. The creation of soil salinization conditions involved the soil application of sodium chloride solution. The results demonstrated that treatment with conjugates, particularly Ch30-CA, enhanced plant growth during the process of leaf development and formation of lateral shoots under optimal conditions. Additionally, it facilitated the plants adaptation to salt stress by increasing proline levels and maintaining water balance in the leaves. The application of Chitosan–Hydroxycinnamic Acid Conjugates has been demonstrated to stimulate cucumber plant growth under both optimal and stressful conditions, thereby accelerating the transition to the generative phase of development. Furthermore, the application of Ch30-CA and Ch30-FA has been demonstrated to mitigate the sodium chloride salt stress experienced by cucumber plants. The inhibition of reactive oxygen species formation and the maintenance of plasma membrane integrity, as evidenced by low levels of electrolyte leakage from cucumber plant leaf cells and low proline content during fruit development, were also demonstrated.