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.