Vestnik Zoologii

Volume 42, No. 4 (July-August, 2008)
abstracts

Dahurinaia transbaicalica sp. n. (Bivalvia, Margaritiferidae) a New Species of Pearl Mussels from Transbaikalia, with Remarks on the Natural History of Far Eastern Naiads. Klishko Î. Ê. — Dahurinaia transbaicalica sp. n. is described. The new species shows similarity with European Margaritifera and differs from other Dahurinaia by morphological and morphometric characters, including dentition and soft body. Natural history of the naiad fauna of Transbaikalia and South of Far East Russia is analysed. D. transbaicalica sp. n., together with 5 other species of the genus Dahurinaia, inhabits rivers Ingoda and Onon in the higher part of Amur and a blinddrainage Arey Lake (reservoir-refuge), which had river connection with Amur in the past.
Key words: Bivalvia, Margaritiferidae, pearlmussels, Transbaikalia, new species.

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Species Composition and Structure of Ant Communities (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) at Estuary Shores of North-Western Crimea. Stukalyuk S. V., Radchenko V. G. — 6 species of ants on the territory of coastline phytocoenoses at the estuaries of North-Western Crimea were revealed. Myrmica bergi Ruzsky, 1902 dwells in the associations of saltwort, and also in the area of wheat grass associations, in which Cardiocondyla stambuloffi Forel, 1892 and Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus, 1758) joins. In wormwood associations M. bergi occurs together with Formica imitans Ruzsky, 1902, Lasius psammophilus Seifert, 1992 and Plagiolepis tauricus Santschi, 1920. Forage area of M. bergi occupies 3 different phytocoenoses: saltworts associations (internal coastal area) are a main source of forage of animal origin; wheat grass associations (intermediate area) with a transit function; and wormwood associations (external area) with aphid colonies. The dynamic density of workers diminishes during transition from the internal to external area. The affected zones are interconnected by ant individuals, migrating from the internal to external via the intermediate area at the morning hours, and reverse in the evening. M. bergi dominated in the intermediate area, codominant L. psammophilus appeared in external area. Both species at the dynamic density maximal indexes do not penetrate on other species neighbouring colony territory. An activity peak of C. stambuloffi and T. caespitum in the intermediate area accounts for an activity decline of M. bergi. In the external area a peak of activity for P. tauricus accounts for an activity decline of M. bergi and L. psammophilus.
Key words: associations of ants, forage area, dynamic density.

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Road Mortality of Amphibians (Amphibia) in Lviv Region: Problem Status and Estimating Criteria. Reshetylo O. S., Mykitchak T. I. — 60 places of amphibian mortality on the main roads of Lviv Region were found out. 3555 individuals of 13 victim species were observed. The Common Toad Bufo bufo and Common Frog Rana (Rana) temporaria are the most numerous ones and make over 90% in total. Different factors of influence over the amphibian mortality were analyzed, but the emphasis is put on three key ones with the corresponding parameters that are proposed to be used for establishing of the influence level of roads on amphibian mortality. They are as follows: number of killed individuals, traffic intensity, distance between road and breeding place. The seasonal dynamics of amphibian migrations were investigated in details on one of the model areas within the region. By the example of typical species it was shown that migration features, even having some species peculiarities, keep general migration tendencies and display three peaks of amphibian migration activity during the season — second half of April, July, the end of September — October.
Key words: roads, amphibians, mortality, migrations, Lviv region.

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Characteristics of Distribution of the Common Dolphins, Delphinus delphis (Cetacea), in the Black Sea. Mikhalev Yu. A. — The data of the aircraft surveys (and partly from ships) of the Black Sea common dolphins D. delphis Barabasch, 1935 from March to November 1976–1987 are analyzed. The maps of the distributions by months are provided. It is shown that the common dolphins can be found through all area of the Black Sea, near coast and in deep waters, around gatherings of their primary food objects, first of all khamsa and sprat. As the medium size of the groups increases from 6.6 dolphins in May to 8.3 dolphins in September, there is a tendency of lower distribution index in September. The distribution of the common dolphins in coast area and deep waters was virtually the same: distribution indexes were respectively 24.6 and 26.5. In the western part of the sea the distribution was 25% lower than in average and 45% lower than in the eastern part.
Key words: air-shoot, common dolphin, frequency of occurrence, distribution, Black Sea.

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The Analysis of Morphological and Genetic Variation of the Snail, Lymnaea stagnalis s. l. (Gastropoda, Lymnaeidae), in Ukraine. Mezhzherin S. V., Garbar A. V., Korshunova E. D., Zhalay E. I. — Analysis of allozyme and morphological variation of Lymnaea stagnalis s. l. is done within Ukraine. It is established that in central and western populations, on the one side, and in the eastern ones, on the other, alternative alleles of Es-1, Es-4 loci are fixed, and in the Dnieper river-bed there are populations containing two alleles in equal proportion. The discovered situation corresponds to the model of two allospecies connected with rather narrow zone of gene introgression and contradicts the conception of two sympatric species (L. stagnalis and L. fragilis). The analysis of morphological characters variability shows differences between western and eastern allospecies in shell enlargement, turn quantity increase and coloring lightening in eastern forms in comparison with the western ones.
Key words: Lymnaea stagnalis, systematics, allozymes, morphological variation, phylogeography.

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Some Skeletal Peculiarities of Rhea americana (Rheiformes, Rheidae) with Respect of Ratitae Evolution. I. A. Bogdanovich. — Some peculiarities of Rhea americana pelvis and femur are analyzed in comparative and functional aspects. High level of correlation between the width of the pelvis and that of the sternum is shown to occur in representatives of 35 species and 10 orders of the carinate birds. In respect to pelvis morphology of Rhea and close related ratitae, it allows to suppose in particular the primary character of its flightlessness.
Key words: flight, evolution, ratitae.

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Description of Male and Redescription of Female of Anthoseius victorovi (Parasitiformes, Phytoseiidae). Kolodochka L. A., Omeri I. D. — The illustrated description of new male with redescription of female of phytoseiid mites Anthoseius (Mumaseius) victorovi Wainstein as well as measurements, diagnosis and habitat data are given.
Key words: phytoseiid mites, Anthoseius (Mumaseius) victorovi, Ukraine.

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The First Record of the Genus Pseudotolida (Coleoptera, Mordellidae) from Vietnam and Far East Russia. Odnosum V. K. — The mordelliid beetle Pseudotolida awana (Kono, 1932) of the genus Pseudotolida Ermisch, 1950 is recorded for the first time from Russia and Vietnam. The male is redescribed in details (including shape of the maxillar palpus, pygidium, elytra, male urosternite 8, and structure of the wing), and the female is described for the first time. New data on the distribution of the species are provided.
Key words: Coleoptera, Mordellidae, Pseudotolida, P. awana, Russia, Vietnam, fauna, register, description, male, female, geographic distribution.

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Description of the Old-Stage Larva of the Weevil Liparus tenebrioides (Coleoptera, Curculionidae). Nazarenko V. Yu. — Old-stage larva of the weevil L. tenebrioides (Pallas, 1781) is described in details using chaetotaxy. Keys to larvae of 4 species of Liparus and information about host plants are given.
Key words: Liparus tenebrioides, Coleoptera, Curculionidae, larva, morphology, chaetotaxy.

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Migrations of Fresh-Water Bivalves of Euglesidae è Pisidiidae (Bivalvia, Pisidioidea) on Tidal Zone of the Tuloma River Estuary. Frolov A. A. — Migration of fresh-water bivalves Henslowiana henslowana, Euglesa ponderosa, Pseudeupera subtruncata (Euglesidae) and Pisidium amnicum (Pisidiidae) was investigated in tidal zone of the Tuloma River estuary (Kola Peninsula). Daily and seasonal migrations of the mollusks in tidal zone were found. The main reason of daily migrations of the bivalve mollusks is tides. Seasonal migrations of the bivalves depend on their reproductive cycles. Features of locomotion of these bivalves are studied in a field and laboratory experiments.
Key words: bivalves, migration, locomotion, tidal zone, estuary, Tuloma.

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