The "Flora of Russia" project on iNaturalist brought together professional scientists and amateur naturalists from all over the country. Over 10,000 people were involved in the data collection. Within 20 months, the participants accumulated 750,143 photo observations of 6,857 species of the Russian flora. This constitutes the largest dataset of open spatial data on the country’s biodiversity and a leading source of data on the current state of the national flora. About 87% of all project data, i.e. 652,285 observations, are available under free licences (CC0, CC-BY, CC-BY-NC) and can be freely used in scientific, educational and environmental activities.

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Приводятся итоги изучения видов сем. Orchidaceae Juss. флоры Южного Урала в пределах Республики Башкортостан на охраняемых и иных территориях. Комплексные исследования ведутся по одной схеме с применением единых подходов и методов. Изучены распространение, численность, популяционная структура (размерный и возрастные спектры и др.), экология, репродуктивная биология 29 видов разных жизненных форм (всего 286 ценопопуляций). Итогом исследований является выявление стратегий жизни видов и разработка на этой основе мер и способов их охраны.

The larches of Kuzhanovo (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) are protected trees with a round crown growing in the Southern Urals. In 2020 vandals sawed the sapwood of these trees, which exposed the problem of insufficient conservation measures. Their origin and genetic characteristics have been of particular interest to breeders and scientists. The larches of Kuzhanovo were screened for polymorphisms using SSR and ISSR analyses and the sequencing of genetic markers and genes GIGANTEA and mTERF, associated with wider crown shape. A unique mutation was discovered in the atpF–atpH intergenic spacer of all protected trees, but it was absent in some of their descendants and larches with similar crown shape. Mutations were discovered in the rpoC1 and mTERF genes of all samples. Flow cytometry did not reveal any changes in genome size. Our results suggest that the unique phenotype arose from point mutations in L. sibirica, but they are yet to be found in the nuclear genome. The concurrent mutations in the rpoC1 and mTERF genes may indicate that the round crown shape originates from the Southern Urals. The atpF–atpH and rpoC1 genetic markers are not common in studies of Larix sp., but their wider use could help to establish the origin of these endangered plants. The discovery of the unique atpF–atpH mutation also allows for stronger conservation and crime detection efforts.

The article presents information about the findings of rare species of plants and animals on the territory of Mount Kushtau (Republic of Bashkortostan). During the period from 2014 to 2019, six representatives of the flora of the species and eight representatives of the fauna listed in the Red Book of Russia were discovered. Their brief characteristics and population characters are given. Based on that studies we recommend that Shihan Kushtau be given the status of a specially protected area.