Distribution of shell gastropods in the open parts of the Barents Sea: a preliminary analysis

Species composition and distribution of shell-bearing gastropods in the Barents Sea has been described only for coastal regions. We used material from 247 stations (530 samples) remoted from the coast. In some cases, the distribution of mollusks depended on the type of substrate, and in others, only geographic location was revealed. The latter is probably due to hydrological factors or the presence of historically formed faunal complexes. The use of different approaches to the removal of uninformative samples during analysis gives similar results.

Inventory of vascular spore plants and gymnosperms of the Kabardino-Balkar State Highland Reserve

The Kabardino-Balkar State Highland Reserve (KBGWZ) was established in 1976 to protect the alpinefloristic and faunal complexes of the Central Caucasus. The flora of the reserve includes about 1000 species of vascularplants. The inventory showed the presence in its flora of 40 species of vascular spore plants belonging to the divisionsLycopodiophyta (5 species, 2 families), Polypodiophyta (35 species, 12 families). Gymnosperms are represented by thedivisions Pinophyta, containing 3 families and 7 taxa of the species rank and below, as well as the division Gnetophytawith one representative of the genus Ephedra. Among the protected plants in the Red Book of the Russian Federation(2008), Taxus baccata is included. Asplenium scolopendrium (sub nom. Phyllitis scolopendrium), Ceterach officinarum andPolystichum lonchitis are in the Red Data Book of Kabardino-Balkar (2018). Among gymnosperms, Abies nordmannianaand Picea orientalis are also regionally protected species.

Vadym Topachevsky, an outstanding zoologist and manager of science (to the re-searcher’s 90th anniversary)

The life of Vadym Oleksandrovych Topachevsky and his contribution to the development of science is considered. V. O. Topachevsky was the most famous palaeomammalogist of Eastern Europe, long-term head of the palaeontological department of the now National Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, director of Schmalhausen Institute of Zoology of the Ukrainian SSR, founder and editor-in-chief of a number of important Ukrainian zoological publications, and academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Vadym Oleksandrovych was at the origins of systematic palaeontological expeditions to key sites of the Quaternary period, participated in the development of serial collections of small mammals and of the research techniques of faunal complexes based on the analysis of samples characterising the micromammal fauna of a particular section. Research by V. O. Topachevsky is devoted to such fundamental branches of zoology as taxonomy, phylogenetics, historical faunistics, evolutionary morphology, and zoogeography. The scientist paid much attention to biostratigraphy and palaeogeography. He solved complex issues of taxonomy and parataxonomy in relation to extinct and modern representatives of fauna, justified the establishing of a number of new to science taxa of extinct mammals. Among the outstanding achievements of Vadym Topachevsky of great importance is the creation of a comprehensive association scheme of development of communities, which explains the changes in the fauna of small mammals of the late Pliocene, Eopleistocene and Pleistocene of the Northern Black Sea Region, as well as the development and justification of the biozonal stratigraphic scheme of the late Miocene and Pliocene of the Eastern Paratethys. He is the author of 8 monographs and supervisor of 11 candidate and 2 doctoral dissertations. Vadym Oleksandrovych formed a powerful scientific department and prepared a worthy scientific change, the works of which are well known to specialists. His achievements were awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor, the titles of Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Honoured Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine, and he won the I. I. Schmalhausen Prize of the NAS of Ukraine. The palaeontological exhibition of the National Museum of Natural History NAS of Ukraine was named after the scientist in 2005. The list of Vadym Topachevsky’s main scientific works is given as well.

Characteristic of Combined Natural Foci of Clonorchiasis, Metagonimiasis and Nanophyetiasis in the Ecosystem of the Amur River and the Risk of Infestation in the Population

The objective of the study was to identify patterns of formation of combined natural foci of clonorchiasis, metagonimiasis and nanophyetiasis in the ecosystem of the Amur River, to analyze their structure, and to determine the risk of infection of the population by the pathogens of these invasions. Materials and methods: Landscape, ecological and malacological methods of studying faunal complexes of floodplain reservoirs were used. The study of fish for contamination with trematode metacercariums was carried out by the compressor method. Results: The studies helped characterize combined natural foci of clonorchiasis, metagonimiasis and nanophyetiasis, which were predetermined subject to the existence of a population of two common hosts in conjunction with the population of the pathogen and the formation of parasitocenosis or parasitocenosis of coinciding parasitic systems of “twin species”. In the floodplain-river ecosystem of the middle and lower reaches of the Amur River there remains the risk of infecting the population with the pathogens of these trematodoses when eating fish of various families caught in the river, its tributaries and floodplain reservoirs. Conclusions: The risk of infestation is attributed to loymopotential of the natural foci of these trematodoses. The areas with the highest risk for the population include the zones of removal of pathogens of clonorchiasis, metagonimiasis, and nanophyetiasis such as riverbeds and fairly large reservoirs permanently associated with rivers.

Short communication: Ecological and faunal complexes of insectivorous mammals of the Republic of Mordovia, Russia

Andreychev A. 2020. Short communication: Ecological and faunal complexes of insectivorous mammals of the Republic of Mordovia, Russia. Biodiversitas 21: 3344-3349. In this study, reports that the species composition and occurrence of species in geo-ecological districts are not the same. 12 insectivorous mammals species have been recorded in the territory of Mordovia. The largest number of species in the region belongs to those living in coniferous and broad-leaved forests (42%). In the second place in terms of representation are species widely distributed in several natural areas (33%). They are slightly inferior to the types of taiga fauna (25%). For each geo-ecological district, the features of the rodent fauna are given and rare species are identified. The forest-steppe region of Mordovia is compared in insectivorous mammals fauna with other regions of Russia with different typical faunal complexes.

Late Pleistocene and Holocene small mammal (Lipotyphla, Rodentia, Lagomorpha) remains from Medvezhyi Klyk Cave in the Southern Russian Far East

Late Pleistocene-Holocene faunal complexes of small mammals (Lipotyphla, Rodentia, and Lagomorpha) from the Russian Far East are described for the first time. We used material from the Medvezhyi Klyk Cave, located in Southern Sikhote-Alin. The numerous fossil findings from the cave display a remarkable taxonomic diversity and high degree of preservation. AMS 14C dating used for determination of deposits age. The Holocene sediments were divided into three periods: Early, Middle, and Late. The Pleistocene deposits age was not exactly determined, but under approximately estimation it can reach 50–60 ka. Thirty-nine species were found, including one member of the extinct genus of arvicolins. There are six faunal complexes identified from the studied Late Pleistocene and Holocene deposits. In general, the faunal complexes characterized by the dominance of Craseomys rufocanus within rodents, Sorex caecutiens within lipotyphlans; and relatively stability composition of most number of the dominant, codominant and subdominant species. Accordingly, the faunal complexes were described by means of two determining criteria only: relative number of species; and presence or absence of certain species. The dominant species are eurytopic and so they cannot use for reconstruction of the paleoenvironment.

CURRENT STATE OF ICHTHYOFAUNA OF LAKE BOLSHOE TOKO

Aim. The aim of the research is to identify and characterize the current composition and state of the fish fauna of the Lake Bolshoe Toko. Methods. Age determination was conducted based on the annual rings on the scales, taken under the back fin above the lateral line; coefficient of fatness was determined on a six-point scale by Fulton and Clark, respectively. The rest of the material was also processed according to the generally accepted methods in ichthyology. Results. As a result of the research, for the first time was obtained updated data on age, height, sex ratio, spatial distribution of fish species in the lake, relative dominant species in this lake; some data on nutrition and helminth infection is also given in this article. Conclusions. Lake Bolshoe Toko is represented by fish of three faunal complexes, of which two species of fish are not typical representatives of the lake ichthyofauna; stuntedness and a high level of infection of the Siberian whitefish by helminthes is due to a high probability of overpopulation in the lake. Small and valuable breeds of fish that live in the lake need protection throughout the basin adjacent to the lake reservoirs.

Ecological analysis of faunal complexes western region of Ukraine

The paper present result of research on the ecological analysis of faunal complexes of the Western region of Ukraine. The animal world of this region is distinct from the other zones. The variety of the landscape determines the variety of the animal world. Ukrainian Carpathians are one of the last area in continental Europe to support viable populations of large carnivores. Established that the endemic to the Western region of Ukraine are carpathian squirrel, carpathian newt, spotted salamander, golden eagle. The most rare animals are: bison, brown bear, lynx, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, common muskrat, european gopher, forest cat. The Brown bear population in the Ukrainian Carpathian reach approximately 150–200 individuals. The lynx population is officially estimated to be about 350–400 individuals. In Ukraine there are about 300 species of bison. Only 33 nimals left in Ukrainian Skolivsky Beskydy. We can also find noble deer, roe, wolf, moose, hare, squirrel, wild cats and pigs, hamster, field mouse and so on. Some fur animals (nutria, mink, silvery-black fox, muskrat, stone marten, badger) were brought in from afar, and they acclimatized themselves well to the environment. The diverse habitats in the Carpathians support a wide variety of bird species, using the region for nesting, migrating and wintering. Overall, more than 300 species are found in the Zakarpattia. Bird life includes golden eagles and black wood peckers, carrion eagle, black griffons, white-tailed eagle, sparrow, titmouse, owls, gulls, partridge. The golden eagle nests in all the major mountains of Europe, in the Ukrainian Carpathians – 10–15 pairs. The rivers and lakes are home to ducks, geese, storks, swans and cranes. Rivers, lakes and manmade reservoirs of the Western region of Ukraine are inhabited with perch, bream, zander, pike, crucian carp, sazan, carp, sturgeon, trout. Among reptiles, one can come upon vipers, grass-snakes, and lizards. The spotted salamander and three types of tritons are entered in the Red Book. It was found that the most Red species are in Zakarpattia (168) and the least – in Rivne (85 species). The main factors of influence on the biodiversity of the Western region of Ukrain are identified. It is shown that poaching, anthropogenic and recreational activities have the most influence on faunal complex studied region.

Assessing the occurrence of Stegodon and Elephas in China and Southeast Asia during the Early Pleistocene

The fossil record is assumed to point to different ecologies, extinction times and ’last stands’ in different regions of the world for Proboscideans, and in some regions, human-proboscidean interaction may theoretically have covered a time span of up to two million years. This paper focuses on the Early Pleistocene of China and Southeast Asia, where the Ailuropoda-Stegodon complex is considered to be a chronologically significant faunal association in the following period. However, the stratigraphic contexts of these local faunal complexes require clarification. Indeed, after one century of research to establish a regional biostratigraphy and in spite of the recomandations provided in the 1980s, many geochronological surveys were undertaken in the 1990s but many problems still exist. Thus, as a first step, taking into consideration the uncertain nature of the geological, taphonomic and chronological data, this paper proposes a critical review of the validity of the associations of Stegodon and Elephas during the Early Pleistocene for this geographical area. Finally, it was necessary to expose what are the current problems before to try to solve them rather than to pursue an unfounded headlong rush. This review concludes that very few reliable data are available and that high-level resolution (MIS) palaeoecological modelization is almost impossible, severely hindering any discussions of strict interaction between humans and proboscideans.