The Evolution of Biocoenoses of the Periglacial Zone in Late
Pleistocene Eastern Europe. Rekovets L. I., Nadachowski A. — Data on the fauna
and phytocoenoses of the periglacial zone in the late Pleistocene are analyzed.
Faunistic peculiarities, and the evolution of biocoenoses are characterized as
naturally formed structures of the biome. These biocoenoses were specific as they
are characterized by the living conditions of the species now inhabiting the tundra
and steppe zones. It is shown that these biocoenoses were functional and dynamic
ecosystems. These ecosystems had rich species diversity and specific character
of evolutionary processes.
Key words: Pleistocene, evolution, biocoenoses, fauna, flora, Europe.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
The Helminth Fauna of Gobies (Gobiidae) of
the Gulf of Odessa of the Black Sea. Kvach Yu. V. — In total, 10 helminth
species are found in gobiids of the Gulf of Odessa. The trematodes Cryptocotyle
concavum (Creplin), C. lingua (Creplin), nematode Dichelyne minutus (Rudolphi)
and acanthocephalan Acanthocephaloides propinquus (Dujardin) are the most widespread
species. Five parasite species infecting gobiids are confirmed to exist in the
Gulf. Also 5 helminth species are recorded for the first time in the Gulf of Odessa
fauna.
Key words: gobiids, helminths, Gulf of Odessa, Black Sea.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Invasive Mollusks (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Gastropoda)
in the Danube Delta. Son M. O. — Currently, seven species of non-indigenous
mollusks occur in the Danube Delta: Corbicula fluminea O. F. Mu#ller, C. fluminalis
O. F. Mu#ller and Sinanodonta woodiana (Lea) (main channel and branches of delta,
floodplain lakes, freshened area of avandelta and lagoons), Dreissena bugensis
Andrusov (Romanian part of the Danube Delta), Potamopyrgus jenkinsi (Smith) (paramarine
Lake Razim, temporary reservoirs, estuary lake Ialpug), Physa skinneri (Taylor)
(main channel and branches of delta, floodplain lakes, temporary reservoirs),
Physa acuta (Draparnaud) (main channel and branches of delta, floodplain lakes).
First specimens of Corbicula were found in the Danube Delta in 1995.
Key words: Danube, molluscs, alien species, Corbicula, Potamopyrgus.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
On the Occurrence of Abnormalities in Venation
of Dragonflies (Insecta, Odonata). Dyatlova E. S. — The frequency of occurrence
of wings abnormalities in the distant populations of Ñalopteryx splendens (Harris,
1782) is described. Odonata with abnormalities of the wing venation are recorded
in the populations of abundant species Platycnemis pennipes (Pallas, 1771), Ischnura
pumilio (Charpentier, 1825), Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837), Aeshna mixta
Latreille, 1805, Crocothemis erythraea (Brulle2, 1832) in the South-Western Ukraine.
Abnormal wings are figured and described. Possible causes of the wing abnormalities
are discussed.
Key words: Dragonflies (Odonata), wing’s venation, abnormalities, South-Western
Ukraine.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Morphological and Functional Adaptation of
the Pike (Esox lucius) of the Lakes in the Tundra and Wood and Tundra of the Kola
Peninsula. Berestovsky E. G., Yerokhina I. A. — The results of biological
analysis of pikes Esox lucius L. from tundra and wood-and-tundra lakes of the
Kola Peninsula are presented. Rate of body growth of fishes (especially young)
was low. The annual growth of length of pikes at the age of (3+)-(7+) was 4–15
cm, then it decreased down to 2–5 cm in the majority of populations. The weight
rate of body growth is also rather low. The fish has here usually minor value
in the feeding of this predator, and more often their low ration is based on the
Gammarus lacustris amphipodes make satiated with carotenoids, and this phenomenon
may be connected to adaptation of energy metabolism and reproductive function
for extreme living conditions. In the tundra lakes the majority of pikes has reddish
meat, and the total carotenoids content in 2–3 times exceeds that one for fish
in the wood-and-tundra lakes.
Key words: Esox lucius, pike, growth, age, feeding, carotenoids, Kola Peninsula.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Correlation Between Spring Arrival Data of
Birds and First Flowering Data of Plants in the Forest and Forest and Steppe Areas
of Eastern Europe. Communication 2. Comparison of Significance of Influence. Fesenko
H. V. — Significant correlations between the dates of spring arrival of birds
and dates of first flowering of plants were revealed both for bird species feeding
on plants and for some those preying only on invertebrates. It is caused by feeding
behavior of the insectivorous birds using special ecological niches. In most cases,
amounts of significant correlations are more in short-distance migrants than long-distance
migrants in all the feeding groups of birds. This fact points to the prevailing
influence of removing of birds wintering areas on frequency of significant correlations
between the studied phenological events, in comparison with characteristics of
their feed. Dates of spring arrival of short-distance migrants wintering north
of winter tract of polar climate front are more synchronized with dates of first
flowering of plants growing in the moderate latitudes of Europe than dates of
spring arrival of long-distance migrants spending winter in south of the tract.
Key words: correlation, factor, flowering, short-distance and long-distance migrants,
climate, Forest-Steppe and Forest zones, Eastern Europe.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Shell Morphology, Distribution and Some Peculiarities
of Ecology of Sinanodonta woodiana (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionidae) in the Reservoirs
of Danube Delta. Pavlyuchenko O. V., Melnychenko R. K., Garbar A. V. — The
new data on distribution and ecology of accidentally introduced Far Eastern mussels
are presented. The data on morphometry of the shells from 4 localities, biotopical
preferences of investigated populations, some of their quantitative characteristics,
the results of parasitological investigation are given. The high level of morphological
variability of the shells of Sinanodonta woodiana and relative distinction of
the sample from the River of Repida river are represented.
Key words: Unionidae, Sinanodonta woodiana, morphometry, ecology, introduction,
Ukraine.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Structural Ñhanges in the Tissues of Intermediate
and Definitive Hosts Infected with Protostrongylides. Kuchboev A. E., Azimov D.
A., Golovanov V. I., Akramova F. D., Tukhtaev K. R. — The work reveals cellular
and subcellular mechanisms of the reaction of tissues in intermediate (mollusks
Xeropicta candacharica) and definitive (Ovis aries) hosts infected with Protostrongylidae
helminths. The reaction of the tissue of intermediate host is manifested in the
lymphocytic and macrophage infiltration of the infected areas, which is aimed
at restriction of the damaging effect of this parasite, destruction and removal
from the organism. The histologial study and electronic microscopy of the infected
lungs revealed the activation of lymphocytic and monocytic-macrophage systems
in the lung tissue. An intensive fibroblastic reaction of the parenchyma, which
is aimed at the formation of the connective-tissue capsules around helminths and
tissue zones of the infection, is noted.
Key words: Protostrongylidae, nematode, Xeropicta candacharica, Ovis aries, mollusk
tissue, tissue of sheep lang.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Morphometric Characteristic of Glandular Stomach
and Gizzard of the Common Scoter Melanitta nigra (Aves, Laridae) Wintering on
the Polish Baltic Coast. Dzia/la-Szczepan2czyk E. — The material for studies
were stomachs of 52 individuals of the Common Scoter Melanitta nigra obtained
in winter in western parts of Polish Baltic coast. Six parameters of stomachs
were established: glandular stomach weight (GSW) and length (GSL), gizzard length
(GL) and width (GWi), combined length of both stomachs (GGL), and four measurements
describing the birds’ body size: body weight (BW) and length (BL), sternum length
(SL) and tarsus length (TL). Dimorphic differences connected with the birds’ sex
and age in concerning average values of stomachs parameters and indices of their
relative size were examined. Relationships among values of the stomach parameters
and relationships between the values of the stomach parameters and the measurements
describing the bird body size were analysed. Despite clearly marked sexual dimorphism
in the bird body size in favour of males, only in three parameters GWi, GW, GGL,
and in the index GGL/SL (both stomach length in relation to sternum length) drakes
achieved significantly higher values than ducks. Adult and immature birds, both
in the group of males and females, did not differ in body size and most average
values of the stomach parameters. Only in the group of females adult individuals
were characterised with heavier gizzard than immature individuals, and adult individuals
of both sexes had wider gizzard than immature individuals. Except GSL and GSW,
remaining parameters of the stomachs positively correlated with at least two body
parameters of the birds. A positive correlation for the relation of GL to BL,
TL SL; GWi to BW, BL; GW to BW, BL; GGL to BW, TL, SL were shown. No relationship
between GSL and gizzard measurements was noticed. But GSW was in a positive correlation
with GWi and GW.
Key words: Common Scoter Melanitta nigra nigra, morphometry, glandular stomach
(proventriculus) ventriculus glandularis, muscular stomach (gizzard, ventriculus),
ventriculus muscularis.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
A Review of Mites of the Family Canestriniidae
(Acari, Astigmata) Associated with the Leaf Beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)
in Ukraine with Description of a New Species of the Genus Pseudamansia. Trach
V. A., Khaustov A. A. — Three species of the mite family Canestriniidae (Acari,
Astigmata) were found on leaf beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) collected during
2000–2005 in Ukraine. Amansiella trilobata Khaustov et Eidelberg, 2001 and Paramansia
bicornis Khaustov et Eidelberg, 2001 are new for the continental part of Ukraine.
Chrysolina polita and C. fastuosa are new hosts for P. bicornis. Pseudamansia
decorata Tratsch et Khaustov, sp. n. occuring on Timarcha goettingensis in Odessa
and Vinnica regions is described and illustrated. P. decorata sp. n. females differ
from P. chrysomelinus by distinctly shorter and stiffer setae d1 and c1.
Key words: Canestriniidae, Chrysomelidae, Ukraine, Pseudamansia, new species.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Peculiarities of the Forewing Pattern of
the Diamondback Moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae). Kozhevnikova
V. A. — This paper describes 8 newly recorded variations of the diamondback
moth Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus, 1788). Based on the analysis of the material
in the collection of the Institute of zoology, NAS of Ukraine, eight variations
and the typical form of the forewing pattern in the diamondback moth Plutella
xylostella (Linnaeus, 1788) (Lepidoptera, Plutellidae) are described.
Key words: Plutellidae, Plutella xylostella, diamondback moth, forewing pattern,
variations.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
The Tiger-Beetles and Ground Beetles (Coleoptera,
Cicindelidae, Carabidae) of the Lugansk Nature Reserve. Kirichenko M. B., Babko
R. V., Foroshchuk V. P. — The literature data and results of own study of
tiger-beetles and carabids of the Lugansk Nature Reserve are summarized. In this
work are presented of 195 species (48 genera) from the families Carabidae and
Cicindelidae. 94 species (31 ge¬nera and 2 families) were found in Stanychno-Luganske
Section, 92 species (34 genera and 2 fa¬milies) — in the Striltsivskyi Steppe,
86 species (28 genera and 2 families) — in the Provalskyi Steppe. 46 species from
26 genera were found on the Luganskyi Nature Reserve, which are for the first
time indicated for Nature Reserve of the Steppe Zone of the Livoberezhnoyi Ukraine.
Key words: Cicindelidae, Carabidae, Luganskyi Nature Reserve, Steppe, Ukraine.
<<< Back to the Table of Contents...
Once More About Origin of Birds and Flight:
“Cursorial” or “Arboreal”? Bogdanovich I. A. — Despite the long-time history
of studies of origin and early evolution of the birds, some issues remain open.
One of them is the evolutional reasons for the hallux reversion in the bird foot.
Some functional sequences of such hallux orientation and its possible importance
in evolution of birds are shown. In our opinion, the functional universalism of
the anisodactyl foot with well-developed, low placed and opposable hallux allows
to unit, in certain sense, the theories of “arboreal” and “terrestrial” origin
of birds and flight.
Key words: birds, flight, evolution.