White Sea branch of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University

Temporary repositories on WSBS MSU: for storage of microscope slide samples, prepared SEM samples, formaldehyde-fixed type specimens, dried lichens, living split-gill mushroom cultures

Temporary storage cell in Moscow in the permanent repository of the Monitoring Invertebrate Collection of Russia’s Arctic Seas, branch of the Zoological Museum of Moscow University (Lomonosov building of MSU)

• All ethanol-fixed material is stored continuously at temperatures lower than -20°С
• DNA and material used for genetic research is stored at a temperature of -80°С
• Material is protected from drying, as specimen tubes and jars are stored in hermetic, stackable plastic containers
• For ease with carrying out standard requests, material is taxonomically organised, in large containers for families and small containers for species
• Each museum tube has a database number uniquely associated with the container number (address of storage)
• Internal alcohol-resistant labels are automatically generated and printed on a thermal transfer Datamax printer, and contain all necessary information about the specimen (unit number, barcode, taxonomic position, collection data, etc)
• The taxonomic section of the Specify information system allows for the storage of information on the synonymy and multiple identifications of an object
• Receipt and release documents of material are automatically generated in the Specify system

The White Sea branch of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University was founded in 2011 as part of WSBS taking part in the International Barcode of Life (IBOL) project — the majority of the marine invertebrates around WSBS were collected that same year, 5-6 specimens each. We assigned each animal an individual number, photographed them, stored them whole or their tissue fragments, extracted and preserved their DNA at -80°С, and uploaded the resultant sequences into IBOL. By 2012, the collection began to receive material from outside the White Sea that had been collected in expeditions by station employees and guests or kept in personal collections. In 2016, in order to organise the built-up “non barcoded” part of the collection, Specify managing software was implemented, which significantly eased and accelerated collection work, and by 2017, the current repository system was developed. Between 2018 and 2019, the museum’s White Sea branch participated in the Noah’s Arc project, setting up the current ethanol and formaldehyde storage areas as well as the automatically updating online collection database. In 2019-2020, following the White Sea branch model, a Monitoring Invertebrate Collection of the Russian Arctic’s Seas’ branch of the MSU Zoological Museum was founded in Moscow. At the moment, the White Sea branch of the MSU Zoological Museum is one of the largest modern collection centres in the Russian northwest, containing material not only from every sea in the Russian Arctic, but also from each of the Earth’s oceans.

The White Sea branch is a product of the work of many people: the employees and friends of WSBS, scientists and engineers, scientific personnel and students, and many, many more — more than can be counted. But the collection could not have become what it is if not for the help of volunteers coming to WSBS to participate in and support the museum’s work, and we owe them many thanks.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE MUSEUM’S VOLUNTEERS:

2018: Nika Frolova, Katia Nikitenko, Dasha Yurikova

2019: Vera Yemelyanenko, Dima Vinogradov, Misha Soloviov, Olia Ivanova, Fedia Plandin

2021: Tasia Petrushkova, Mitia Knorre, Dima Vinogradov, Sonia Sinelnikova, Adilia Suniayeva

2022: Ania Kapitanova

2023: Nastya Lyazgunova, Sonya Sinelnikova, Raul Mukhamediarov, Nastya Georgieva

2024: Vasilisa Tumskaya, Alexander Iovlev, Raul Mukhamediarov, Dmitriy Vinogradov, Daria Sidorenko, Jenya Konstantinova, Dasha Golofeeva, Diana Zhigir, Ekaterina Kozinina

As well as to the students of the Biological and Bioengineering and Bioinformatics faculties who participated in work on the collection.

2024:

• Grishina D. et al. Panmixia and local endemism: a revision of the Eubranchus rupium species complex with a description of new species // Invertebrate Systematics. — 2024. — Т.38. — С.1-25. https://dx.doi.org/10.1071/IS24032
• Ekimova I. A. et al. Integrative taxonomy and phylogeography of the genus Acanthodoris (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) in the Russian seas, with the description of a new genus // Zoosystematica Rossica. — 2024. — Т.33. — №2. — С.244-273. https://www.zin.ru/journals/zsr/publication.asp?id=1514
• Ekimova I. A. et al. Scaling the high latitudes: evolution, diversification, and dispersal of Coryphella nudibranchs across the Northern Hemisphere // Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. — 2024. — Т.201. — С.108214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2024.108214
• Koroleva A.S., Tzetlin A.B. Jaw apparatus of Scoletoma fragilis (Lumbrineridae, Annelida): fine structure and growth // Zoomorphology. — 2024. — Т.143. — С.329-345. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00435-024-00651-w

2023:

• Ekimova I. A. et al. Unity in diversity: morphological and genetic variability, integrative systematics, and phylogeography of the widespread nudibranch mollusc Onchidoris muricata //Systematics and Biodiversity. – 2023. – Т. 21. – №. 1. – С. 2246472. https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2023.2246472
• Fedorov D. et al. Mitochondrial genome of Pseudopotamilla reniformis (Annelida: Sabellidae) //Mitochondrial DNA Part B. – 2023. – Т. 8. – №. 1. – С. 149-151. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802359.2022.2164230
• Georgieva M. N. et al. A tale of two tubeworms: taxonomy of vestimentiferans (Annelida: Siboglinidae) from the Mid-Cayman Spreading Centre //Invertebrate Systematics. – 2023. – Т. 37. – №. 3. – С. 167-191. https://doi.org/10.1071/IS22047
• Grishina D., Antokhina T., Ekimova I. A. A new species of the genus Eubranchus (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from Vietnamese coastal waters //Ruthenica, Russian Malacological Journal. – 2023. – Т. 33. – №. 1. – С. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.35885/ruthenica.2023.33(1).1
• Kolbasova G. et al. Cryptic species complex or an incomplete speciation? Phylogeographic analysis reveals an intricate Pleistocene history of Priapulus caudatus Lamarck, 1816 //Zoologischer Anzeiger. – 2023. – Т. 302. – С. 113-130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.11.013
• Kolbasova G. et al. Holopelagic Annelida from the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean and adjacent South Atlantic with descriptions of three new species // Marine Biodiversity. – 2023. – Т. 53. – №. 6. – С. 75. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12526-023-01380-x
• Lavrov A. et al. The complex case of the calcareous sponge Leucosolenia complicata (Porifera: Calcarea): hidden diversity in Boreal and Arctic regions with description of a new species //Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. – 2023. – С. zlad104. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad104
• Syomin V. et al. Vermiliopsis striaticeps (Grube, 1862) (Annelida: Serpulidae) expands its range to the northeastern coast of the Black Sea //Regional Studies in Marine Science. – 2023. – С. 103026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103026
• Zhadan A. et al. New record and new species of Laubierpholoe Pettibone, 1992 (Annelida, Sigalionidae) from the soft bottom of submarine caves near Marseille (Mediterranean Sea) with discussion on phylogeny and ecology of the genus //European Journal of Taxonomy. – 2023. – Т. 875. – С. 47-69. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2023.875.2139
• У коллекционного набора данных на GBIF.org за 2023 год 42 цитирования.

2022:

• Borisova P., Budaeva N. First Molecular Phylogeny of Lumbrineridae (Annelida) //Diversity. – 2022. – Т. 14. – №. 2. – С. 83. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14020083
• Ekimova I. A. A new species of the genus Coryphella (Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from the Kuril Islands //Ruthenica, Russian Malacological Journal. – 2022. – Т. 32. – №. 1. – С. 41-48. https://doi.org/10.35885/ruthenica.2022.32(1).4
• Ekimova I. et al. High-level taxonomic splitting in allopatric taxa causes confusion downstream: a revision of the nudibranch family Сoryphellidae //Zoological journal of the Linnean Society. – 2022. – Т. 196. – №. 1. – С. 215-249. https://doi.org/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlab109
• Grishina D. Y., Schepetov D. M., Ekimova I. A. Hidden beauty of the north: a description of Eubranchus scintillans sp. n.(Gastropoda: Nudibranchia) from the Barents Sea and North-East Atlantic. – 2022. https://doi.org/10.15298/invertzool.19.4.03
• Kolbasova G. et al. Cryptic species complex or an incomplete speciation? Phylogeographic analysis reveals an intricate Pleistocene history of Priapulus caudatus Lamarck, 1816 //Zoologischer Anzeiger. – 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcz.2022.11.013
• Ptushkin et al. Genetic structure and morphological variability of the invasive polychaeta Polydora websteri in the Sea of Azov and Black Sea region [in Russian] // Proceedings of the XIth International conference «Marine Research and Education». – 2022. – C.68-71.
• Radashevsky V. I. et al. Canals and invasions: a review of the distribution of Marenzelleria (Annelida: Spionidae) in Eurasia, with a key to Marenzelleria species and insights on their relationships //Aquatic Invasions. – 2022. – Т. 17. – №. https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2022.17.2.04

2021:

• Kolbasova G., Neretina T. A new species of Pelagobia (Lopadorrhynchidae, Annelida), with some notes on literature records of Pelagobia longicirrata Greeff, 1879 //Zootaxa. – 2021. – Т. 5023. – №. 1. – С. 77-92.
• Syomin V. L. et al. Polydora websteri—A Commensal of Anadara kagoshimensis in the Azov-Black Sea Region //Russian Journal of Biological Invasions. – 2021. – Т. 12. – №. 3. – С. 309-316.
• Karaseva N. P. et al. A new genus of frenulates (Annelida: Siboglinidae) from shallow waters of the Yenisey River estuary, Kara Sea //Invertebrate Systematics. – 2021. – Т. 35. – №. 8. – С. 857-875.
• Parapar J. et al. A new species of Polyophthalmus (Annelida, Opheliidae) from the Arabian Gulf, with an insight on internal anatomy and diversity of the genus //Zootaxa. – 2021. – Т. 5052. – №. 4. – С. 501-528.

• Syomin et. Al. A Commensal of Anadara kagoshimensis in the Azov-Black Sea Region // Russian Journal of Biological Invasions. – 2021. – Т.12. – С.309-316 https://doi.org/10.1134/S2075111721030139