The dynamics of the standard deviation (SD) of the mean daily air temperature in the territory of Belarus in each season of the year from 1955 to 2022, had been analysed. The method of Singular Spectrum Analysis revealed a well-defined  cyclicity  in  the  multi-year  variations  of  the  standard  deviation  of  the  mean  daily  temperature  in  winter  and  spring  (8,25  and  8,5 years). An upward trend in summer temperature variability, especially since the 1990s, and a downward trend in spring  temperature variability over the entire period under consideration have also been identified. The values and features of spatial  variation of the standard deviation of mean daily temperatures in different seasons, calculated from data of meteorological stations for the period of climate warming (1991–2022) and the preceding period (1961–1990), had been considered. In a warming  on the territory of Belarus, the intraseasonal variability of the average daily temperature in winter and spring has decreased and  has increased in summer and autumn. In the 30-year periods used in the study, the standard deviation of mean daily temperatures increases in the submeridional direction – towards the north-east (winter), as well as towards the east of Belarus (spring,  autumn). In the summer season, spatial heterogeneity in the variability of mean daily temperature was revealed.

This study provides a quantitative assessment of the narrow-clawed crayfish (Pontastacus leptodactylus) pop­ulations in three major reservoirs of the Pripyat River basin: Krasnoslobodskoye, Loktyshi, and Lyubanskoye. Density mea­surements revealed Krasnoslobodskoye Reservoir maintained the highest average population density (0.087 ± 0.073 ind/mP), followed by Loktyshi (0.053 ± 0.026 ind/mP) and Lyubanskoye (0.039 ± 0.024 ind/mP). While Mann-Whitney U tests have shown no significant differences in crayfish density between reservoirs (p > 0.05), we found statistically significant variation in crayfish size among waterbodies. Notably, 62.2-76.1% of individuals exceeded the commercial size threshold (> 10.5 cm total length), indicating a substantial proportion of harvestable biomass. Population estimates suggest that large reservoirs belonging to the Pripyat River catchment may collectively support 4.2-18.9 million individuals, highlighting their considerable potential for sustai­nable commercial exploitation.

Studies of aquatic beetles (COLEOPTERA) were conducted in the spring and autumn between 1995, 2000 and 2024. Sampling was carried out using a standard hydrobiological net (25 × 25 cm, 500 µm) in the coastal areas of water bodies at depths of up to 0.5–0.7 m. Manual sampling was also conducted from rocks and other submerged objects in the coastal areas of water bodies. Samples were preserved in 70% ethyl alcohol, followed by analysis and identification of the animals in the laboratory. In the reservoirs of the Polesie State Radioecological Reserve, 106 species of aquatic beetles belonging to 9 families were identified: Haliplidae – 9, Noteridae – 2, Dytiscidae – 69, Gyrinidae – 7, Helophoridae – 3, Hydrochidae – 2, Hydrophilidae – 11, Hydraenidae – 2, Spercheidae – 1. An important system–forming role belongs to ponds and temporary reservoirs. A total of 66.7 % of all identified beetle species were found in these reservoirs. Their greatest numbers were also noted here – 46.67 % of all collected animals. A smaller number of species and their numbers were noted in large stagnant water bodies (lakes, quarries), rivers and canals. Among the identified aquatic beetles, the find of Graphoderes bilineatus (De Geer, 1774) should be noted. This species is protected in Belarus and is also included in the European Red List. Among the collected beetles in the reservoirs of the reserve, 21 species were protected and included in the Red Lists of a number of European countries. Haliplus laminatus (Shaller, 1783), Agabus bifarius (Kirby, 1937) and Gyrinus suffriani Scriba, 1855 were rare species in both Belarus and Europe. The distribution of these species has not yet been sufficiently studied. It was concluded that the fauna of the studied beetles in the reservoirs of the Polesie State Radiation and Ecological Reserve is relatively rich and is represented by rare and protected animal species not only in Belarus but also in Europe.

This study examined the habitat selection by the Common Quail in Belarus. The data were collected between 2021 and 2024. Our findings reveal that Quail exhibit a preference for specific habitat characteristics, including vegetation height ranging from 45 to 80 cm, vegetation density ranging from 148 to 532 stems/m2, and the proportion of bare ground (free from vegetation and litter) ranging from 25 to 60 %. This combination of factors creates the set of conditions that provide both protection from predators and favorable conditions for breeding and foraging. The vegetation height and density must be sufficient to provide overhead cover from predators and adverse weather conditions. However, excessively high and dense vegetation can hinder the bird’s ability to take flight from the ground, reducing their escape option. The bare ground is essential for quick movement. Additionally, the species prefers habitats with plants from the Persicaria genus, as their seeds are an important food source for the Quail.

Data about registration of invasive mammal species in the Narovlya part of Polesie State Radioecological Reserve (PSRER) are provided. Invasive teriofauna in the area surveyed is presented by two species, registered in Belarus: raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) and American mink (Neovison vison). The raсcoon dog was registered at almost all localities exa mined, that says about wide distribution of the species within the specified region of the PSRER. American mink was registered rarely. Main places of species’ concentration were timed to coastal territories of rivers and oxbows, where the American mink was registered in eight localities.

Based on the results of long-term research, the process of formation of mass wintering of large white-headed gulls (LWG) in the central Belarus in the first decade of the 21st century was analyzed. Global warming and increasing of thermal pollution of water bodies since the mid-20th century provided favorable conditions for wintering of large gulls in non-freezing areas of water bodies. LWG began to regularly stay for the winter in the Minsk city since 2006/2007, gradually increasing the number. During the last seven seasons (2018/2019–2024/2025), the size of their wintering group fluctuated from 3 to 7 thousand individuals depending on the weather conditions of a particular season – average winter and January temperatures. The growth of the LWG breeding population was very important for the formation of wintering, which is confirmed by the direct correlation of LWG wintering numbers in Minsk and breeding numbers in the Gatovo colony, the largest in the Minsk region and throughout Belarus. The number of wintering LWGs also correlates with the number of birds feeding in mid-winter at landfills, which are the main food source for them during the winter.

The article presents data on the species composition of lichens and closely related fungi in the oak groves of the Berezinsko-Predpolessky district of the hornbeam-oak-dark coniferous forests subzone of the republic. The lichen biota of the oak groves of the district is represented by 159 species: 150 species of lichens, 7 species of non-lichenized fungi: Chaenothecopsis pusilla, C. pusiolla, Microcalicium disseminatum, Phaeocalicium polyporaeum, Sarea difformis, S. resinae, and Stenocybe pullatula. In addition, two lichenicolous fungi where noted: Chaenothecopsis epithallina and Stigmidium microspilum. The article presents the substrate and phytocoenotic confinement of species and indicates new habitats of protected species: Calicium adspersum, Cetrelia olivetorum, Chaenotheca chlorella, Cladonia caespiticia, Hypotrachyna revoluta, Lobaria pulmonaria, Parmotrema stuppeum, Peltigera horizontalis, and Punctelia subrudecta. In the oak groves of the district, 37 indicator species of lichens and closely related fungi characteristic of old-growth forests of Belarus were noted.

The article emphasizes the importance of creating biodiversity gardens in an aggressive urban environment and their significance in educating a caring attitude towards natural world. The structural elements of biodiversity gardens are described. It is noted that modern methods of landscape design allow for the creation of a wide range of options for the improvement of public urban spaces. An important place among them is occupied by native plant species, the list of which can include a large number of different species adapted to local environmental conditions. A promising assortment of native species of Belarusian flora is given for the creation of biodiversity gardens in an urbanized environment.

Environmentally safe utilization of poultry manure requires a better understanding of how pre-composting duration and substrate composition affect the efficiency of the vermicomposting process. This study aimed to evaluate these factors based on the bio-ecological responses of the earthworm Eisenia foetida (survival and reproductive activity) and changes in substrate physicochemical properties. Five substrate treatments (T1–T5) with different proportions of chicken manure (50–100 % of the mixture) and structural additives (straw + peat) were co-composted aerobically for 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the survival of adult worms, numbers of cocoons and juveniles, as well as pH, moisture content, organic matter, total phosphorus and potassium in the substrate. As pre-composting time increased and the physicochemical properties of the substrate stabilized, the inhibitory effect of manure on earthworms decreased: mortality dropped, while cocoon production and juvenile output recovered. The best biological performance was obtained after 12 months and of pre-composting in treatment T2 (60 % manure, 20 % straw, 20 % peat), where the numbers of surviving worms, cocoons and juveniles were significantly higher than (p < 0.05) in the other treatments. These results confirm the ecological relevance of co-composting poultry manure with straw and peat and identify optimal pre-composting duration and substrate composition to ensure a stable vermicomposting process.

Decision-making in the field of conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, management of plant resources, and their involvement in economic activity is impossible without a quantitative and cost assessment of their raw material reserves and current state. An important tool for implementing measures for the sustainable use of plant resources is the Plant State Cadastre of the Republic of Belarus, which provides government agencies and procurement organizations with access to information on the condition, raw material reserves, and norms of removal of raw materials, and economic assessments necessary for making operational management decisions in the field of conservation, organization of rational use, and reproduction of medicinal plants. As part of the plant cadastre, the reserves and possible annual procurement volumes of 73 species of wild medicinal plants have been determined, the raw materials of which are included in the state pharmacopoeia of the Republic of Belarus. The total biological reserves of their raw materials amount to more than 831 thousand tons, the exploitation reserves – more than 385 thousand tons, and the possible annual harvest volumes – 148 thousand tons. According to expert estimates, the value of the raw materials of these species is more than 4.3 billion Belarusian rubles. As a result of the analysis of the materials received, 14 species were identified as promising for inclusion in the country’s economic turnover by increasing industrial harvesting of their raw materials.

The article presents the results of a tourist and recreational assessment of the natural potential of 372 sections of 166 rivers in Belarus, which differ in the structure of types and subtypes of their use in the field of water recreation and tourism. A comparative analysis of suitable river sections in the regions for their tourist and recreational use revealed a general trend of growth in their share in the direction from non-usable to limited-polyfunctional, which changes to the opposite when it changes from limited-polyfunctional to polyfunctional. Simultaneously, for the river sections of the five regions, 4 types of their use for water recreation and tourism were recorded, while for the rivers of the capital region only 3 types (there are no unsuitable sections). In addition, the distribution of 22 subtypes within 4 types for river sections in the context of regions is not identical, which varies from a maximum in the Mogilev region (17 subtypes) to a minimum in the Minsk region (8). The patterns and features of the placement of types and subtypes on the river sections of the regions of Belarus, identified as a result of typing can be used as a basis for the development of a regional strategy for the development of river tourism, which will increase the efficiency of the use of river arteries to meet the needs of the population in water recreation and tourism.