The Chernobyl Catastrophe from Zoologist’s Point of View.
Kryzhanivskij V. I. — The ecological status of the Chernobyl exclusion zone
and its fauna over 20 years after the nuclear catastrophe from the viewpoint of a
zoologist is evaluated. Investigations of population dynamics of higher invertebrates
in the exclusion zone show that the main factors, which determine the status of animals
and trends in animal wildlife are secondary ecological effects connected with the
absence of human activity. Ecological radioresistance of animal populations contributes
to the renewal of faunistic complexes of the Polessie biogeographical region, favoring
rare and endangered species too. A process of ecological rehabilitation of the polluted
area is now underway. It is inferred that the largest ever in human history nuclear
catastrophe has turned out to be an ordinary local catastrophe for nature, which has
not inflicted much harm to the ecosystems and fauna. The exclusion zone and zone of
absolute resettlement is the sole vast deprived of regular human population area located
in the centre of Europe that may support genetically harmless populations of rare
large herbivore and carnivore mammals. This area must be turned over into a biosphere
reserve or a national park with extended functions such as of a core element of the
ecological network of the Polessie.
Key words: exclusion zone, Chernobyl catastrophe, ecological radioresistance, radioactive
pollution, ecological rehabilitation.
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Zelotes kukushkini sp. n. (Aranei, Gnaphosidae)
and Close Related Species from Palaearctic. Kovblyuk M. M. — Zelotes kukushkini
Kovblyuk, sp. n. from the South of Ukraine is described. It differs from related Palaearctic
species — Z. subterraneus (C. L. Koch, 1833), Z. fratris Chamberlin, 1920, Z. pyrenaeus
Di Franco et Blick, 2003 and Z. sula Lowrie et Gertsch, 1955 by the shape of the embolus
(shorter than in Z. subterraneus and Z. fratris, but longer than in Z. pyrenaeus and
Z. sula — by the structure of embolar division of bulbus, and by the shape of epigyne
and spermathecae canals. The structure of the epigyne and spermathecae of Zelotes
kukushkini sp. n. are similar to those of Z. fratris. All the species (except Z. pyrenaeus)
are redescribed and figured.
Key words: Aranei, Gnaphosidae, Zelotes, Palaearctic, new species.
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Review of Macronychiinae (Diptera, Sarcophagidae)
of the World. Verves Yu. G., Khrokalo L. A. — The faunistic and ecological
data on 19 species of Macronychia based on 269 specimens and literature are given.
Macronychia dolini Verves et Khrokalo, sp. n., M. substriginervis Verves et Khrokalo,
sp. n., M. richterae Verves et Khrokalo, sp. n. and M. xuei Verves et Khrokalo, sp.
n. are described. The monotypic subgenus Thomaspapeia Verves et Khrokalo, subgen.
n. is established for Macronychia malayana Kurahashi et Pape. The original key to
all species is provided.
Key words: Diptera, Sarcophagidae, Macronychia, review, new taxa, world fauna, ecology.
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Elements of the Avifauna of the Crimea Mountain
in Artificial Isolated Wood Areas of Kerch Peninsula. Tsvelykh A. N. — The
species composition and number of birds is investigated in the remote artificial wood
areas in steppes of Kerch Peninsula. Certain bird species (Aegithalos caudatus, Anthus
trivialis, Phylloscopus sibilatrix, Coccothraustes coccothraustes, Buteo buteo, Pernis
apivorus) formerly absent here, have been recorded now in artificial wood areas of
the Steppe Crimea and neighbouring areas of the steppe zone of Ukraine. Distribution
of other species of the tree and bush complex (Luscinia megarhynchos, Turdus merula,
Sylvia atricapilla, Parus caeruleus, Parus major, Fringilla coelebs etc.) in the artificial
wood areas is considered. Analysis of the “rain-call” of chaffinch's inhabiting Kerch
Peninsula shows that they belong to the Crimean subspecies F. c. solomkoi. However,
several individuals of the Caucasian origin are also registered. The remoteness of
artificial wood areas in the steppe zone is not an essential obstacle for colonization
by some species of birds. Appearance of these species in the wood areas depends on
avail-ability of habitats potentially suitable for breeding. The source for colonization
of artificial wood areas in the Steppe Crimea by forest birds is the avifauna of the
Mountain Crimea.
Key word: avifauna, artificial wood area, steppe zone, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea.
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Ñharacteristic of Reproduction Ability of
Mouflon, Ovis musimon (Bovidae), which is Acclimatized under the Semi-Free Conditions
of the South Ukraine. Steklenev E. P. — Sexual behavior of the European mouflon,
Ovis musimon Pallas, 1811, which is acclimatized under the semi-free conditions of
the South Ukraine is characterized by distinct seasonal impression of sexual reflexes,
productive mating and progeny bearing. The period of sexual activity impression and
productive mating of European mouflon females is restricted on the whole by autumnal
and winter months with maximal conceptions indexes in November–December. By the favorable
climatic and fodder conditions of some females who have lost their progeny can express
sexual activity and mate in spring. The summer period of mouflon females is characterized
as a period of sexual repose with fading gametogenesis, whose gradual activation begins
in the end of the summer in the course of the daylight reducing. Strict seasonality
of spermatogenesis in the mouflon males is not observed and they can mate in any period
of the year. Mouflon males and females reach their puberty as a rule on the 3rd year
of the life in the season of highest sexual activity; well developed animals may display
sexual activity in the end of 2nd year of life. The reproductive ability of mouflon
males and females is bound by 10–12 years of life.
Key words: mouflon, acclimatization, sexual season, reproduction, gametogenesis, mating,
South of Ukraine.
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The Temperature Adaptation of Microsporidia.
Êilochitskiy P. Ya. — The Microsporidia thermal preference — it is a temperature
adaptation span within certain species with their specific hostal characteristics
and life cycle, but not in the whole phylum Microsporidia. The extreme temperatures
influence oppressively on the poikilotherm animals’ microsporidia diseases of stopping
or retarding sporogony process of the protozoa. In the case of mixtinvasions under
the conditions of extreme temperatures another pathogens take over the microsporidia
due to their own temperature adaptations. The opportunity of invasion of poikilotherm
and homoiothermal animals by microsporidia during their one life cycle proves the
existence of labile mechanism of their thermo-resistance.
Key words: microsporidia, temperature adaptation.
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Mosesia riparia sp. n. (Trematoda, Pleurogenidae)
— the Parasite of Intestine of the Sand Martin in Ukraine. Malega A. M. —
Mosesia riparia Malega, sp. n. is described from the intestine of the sand martin
(Riparia riparia L.) from Ukraine. Morphology of genital and excretory systems is
studied by standard and histological methods. The new species differs from the closely
related M. monedulae Oschmarin, 1965 by larger body and inner organs size. The new
species was found in Vinnitsya Oblast (Ukraine), in sand martins only; it is absent
in other martins and swallows occurring in that area. Both adult and young birds are
found to be infected.
Key words: Trematoda, Pleurogenidae, new species, intestine, sand martin, Ukraine
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Life Cycle of the Trematodes Catatropis
hisikui (Notocotylidae) in Primorskiy Kray (Russia). Besprozvannykh V. V.
— By the experimental studies, the life cycle of the trematode Catatropis hisikui
Yamaguti, 1939 is shown to involve the snails of the family Bithyniidae as intermediate
hosts. In Primorskiy Kray, these hosts are gastropods of the genus Boreoelona. Adult
helminthes were grown up in chicken.
Key word: Trematoda, Notocotylidae, Catatropis hisikui, life cycle, cercaria, marita.
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Wild Ungulate, as the Reserve of Trichinellosis
in Polesie and Western Part of Ukraine. Didyk Yu. M. — Six regions of Ukraine
(Chernigiv, Kyiv, Zhytomir, Rivne, Ternopil and Transcarpathian) were observed for
the trichinellosis occurrence among wild ungulates. Endemic trichinellosis pestholes
are discovered by studies of wild boars in Transcarpathian and Rivne Regions. The
average prevalence rate of trichinellosis among wild boars in these regions was 4.35%.
Trichinella in roe deer and spotted deer was not found.
Key words: wild boar, roe deer, spotted deer, Trichinella, Polesie, western part of
Ukraine.
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Orthetrum coerulescens anceps (Odonata,
Libellulidae) in Odessa and its Vicinities (Ukraine). Dyatlova E. S. — Data
on dragonflies which belong to the Orthetrum coerulescens complex are analyzed. The
absence of O. c. coerulescens (Fabricius, 1798) and the presence of O. c. anceps (Schneider,
1845) in Odessa and its vicinities are shown. Some morphological characteristics of
males are discussed.
Key words: Odonata, Libellulidae, Orthetrum coerulescens, South-Western Ukraine.
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Two New Palaearctic Species of the Subfamily
Metopiinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae). Tolkanitz V. I. — Triclistus tauricus
Tolkanitz, sp. n. from Ukraine and Chorinaeus rugosus Tolkanitz, sp. n. from Uzbekistan
are described. T. tauricus differs from other densely haired and punctuated species
of the genus by the large round spiracle of propodeum. C. rugosus is similar to C.
scrobipalpae Aeschlimann and C. spiracularis Tolkanitz in the absence of longitudinal
carinae on the 3rd abdominal tergite and in the face yellow and the hind leg dark,
differing from them by wrinkled sculpture of the 2nd abdominal tergite, and also from
C. scrobipalpae by the larger body and by coloration of anterior part of the head
in female, and from C. spiracularis by the smaller round spiracle of propodeum.
Key words: Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Triclistus, Chorinaeus, new species, Ukraine,
Uzbekistan.
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A Description of the Encyrtid Male (Hymenoptera,
Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) with Archaic Structure of Metasoma from Rovno Amber. Simutnik
S. A., Perkovsky E. E. — Eocencnemus vichrenkoi Simutnik, sp. n. is described.
The genus Eocencnemus Simutnik (type species E. sugonjaevi Simutnik from Rovno amber,
described based on a female), is characterized by archaic structure of metasoma with
apical position of paratergites, absence of special locking setae on distal margin
of bare oblique stripe (linea calva), tridentate mandibles and long venation of the
fore wing. The newly found male has all from the characters and preliminarily attributed
to the genus. The new species differs from E. sugonjaevi by shorter postmarginal vein
and absence of notauli. Taxonomic position of this genus in the subfamily Tetracneminae
remains uncertain. The type material is deposited in the collection of the Schmalhausen
Institute of Zoology (Ukraine, Kyiv).
Key words: Encyrtidae, Eocencnemus, Eocencnemus vichrenkoi, Rovno amber, Eocene.