M. A. Kryzhanovska’s scientific contributions

The article discusses the main stages of life and scientific activities of the renowned and respected academician-breeder Vasyl Yakovych Yuriev. His name is inextricably linked with the activities of the Ukrainian Research Institute of Plant Breeding, Selection, and Genetics (now Yuriev Plant Production Institute of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine). It is shown that in his scientific work, Vasyl Yakovych paid special attention to the collection of initial material, the selection of parental forms for crossing, developed methods for testing hybrids and varieties at different stages of the selection process, and demonstrated the advantages of the method of selecting pure lines from local wheat populations compared to the ineffective method of mass selection. Based on this method, under his leadership, many high-yielding valuable varieties of winter and spring wheat, rye, millet, barley, and corn were developed. To study the patterns of inheritance of important valuable traits in wheat, V. Ya. Yuriev used intervarietal and interspecies crosses of the diallel type. Many studies have been conducted in the field of breeding varieties for disease and pest resistance and immunity. In recognition of his scientific achievements, the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine established the Vasyl Yakovych Yuriev Prize, which is awarded for the highest achievements in the field of selection and genetics.

Aim. The aim of the study was to establish the species composition of the extinct herpetofauna of reptiles in the European continent, identify plesiomorphic, apomorphic characteristics, autapomorphies, and idioadaptations, as well as to analyze the patterns of morphogenesis of the class Reptilia. Methods. Used methods of literature analysis, mapping of places of discovery of dinosaurian paleontological remains in Europe, comparative, mathematical-statistical, and correlation analysis methods of metric measurements of the detected species. Results. It was established that in the extinct fauna of the class Reptilia of the European continent, with taxonomic richness (equal to 27); the species composition consisted of seven species. A correlation dependence between ontogenetic growth parameters of animals was revealed. In particular, in the pair of absolute (length - mass) and relative (growth per year) growth parameters, a strong functional relationship is traced, while the correlation between growth (L) and age parameters is medium, and between body mass (M) and animal age is weak. Conclusions. According to the hypothesis of additive typogenesis, it has been confirmed that new morphological structures (apomorphies) do not arise as a result of simultaneous changes in all organ systems but are the result of individual gradual mutations that arise within narrow limits, possibly in separate populations of reptiles.

Species of Lepidoptera are specific indicators of the state of biotic communities and ecosystems, playing a crucial role in the functioning of phytocenoses and holding significant scientific, cognitive, and aesthetic value. Diurnal butterflies are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic influences and belong to one of the animal groups that is in danger of extinction. The article presents original data on the current status of the Pieridae family based on the analysis of collection materials gathered during April-October 2021–2023 in the Zakarpattia, Lviv, Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, Ternopil, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Species identification was conducted under laboratory conditions according to scientific requirements. The list of species of this family was formed from taxa according to Nieukerken et al. (2011). Entomological collection of Lepidoptera was conducted in accordance with nature conservation legislation norms. It was established that in 2021, 8 species were identified (168 individuals), in 2022 – 5 species (71 individuals), and in 2023 – 6 species (84 individuals). The studied insects belong to 6 genera: Leptidea, Anthocharis, Pieris, Pontia, Colias, Gonepteryx. Based on the analysis of relative abundance, it was determined that Pieris rapae was the most abundant species throughout the studied years, while Pieris brassicae, Pieris napi, Colias hyale, and Gonepteryx rhamni were common species, and Leptidea sinapis, Anthocharis cardamines, Pontia daplidice, and Colias croceus were rare. For a detailed study of the Pieridae family and conducting comprehensive ecological-faunistic insect identification, we plan to conduct annual entomological surveys of fauna of Ukraine. These data can be used for the further analysis of the changes of species diversity of this family taking into account biodiversity conservation.

Aim. The Colorado potato beetle population is characterized by a high degree of polymorphism. This provides a high level of adaptability to the most diverse distribution conditions. The aim is to the study of the variability of the pattern of Leptinotarsa decemlineata pronotum in June 2021 and June 2022. Methods. The analysis of the phenotypic variability of L. decemlineata population of Kamianka-Buzka city based on studying the presence or absence of certain phens, their number and placement according to Tauer method. Results. 22 variations of phens belonging to A, B, C, D, E, G, K, L, M, P groups were found. The dominant were phens of A, B, C, D, E, F groups. The most variable were the phens of A and E groups. The phenotypic structure of the colorado beetle population was determined according to Kohmaniuk’s classification. It was found that the dominant morphs in 2021 and 2022 were U (42 % and 27 %), UP (13 % and 18 %) and V (23 % and 21 %), respectively. Conclusions. The analysis of the frequency of phenoforms according to the Fasulati method showed that in the population of 2021 and 2022, phenoforms 3, 6 and 9 were dominant. They form the basis of the population and ensure the resistance of the population to the insecticides. The study of the intrapopulation diversity indicates an unbalanced population structure of L. decemlineata.

Систематизовано і узагальнено результати моніторингу поширення американського білого метелика (Hyphantria cunea Drury, 1773) у Тернопільській області й в Україні загалом за 2018–2021 рр. Цього небезпечного шкідника із класу Комахи відносять до організмів, які є карантинними. У період 2016–2021 років на території України H. cunea було заселено 22 області (791 карантинна зона станом на 1.01.2022 р.). Впродовж останніх років швидкість поширення Hyphantria cunea знизилась. Слід зазначити, що залишається стабільним приріст нових площ розселення американського білого метелика, хоча в початкових місцях максимального ураження спостерігаться позитивна динаміка зниження його чисельності. Відзначено, що у Тернопільській області кожного року площа заселення Hyphantria cunea збільшувалася приблизно на 50 га (згідно даних за 2018–2021 рр.). Середньорічні температурні показники у Тернопільській області, очевидно, сприяли адаптації й поширенню американського білого метелика всією областю у 2018–2021 рр. Згідно спостереження за АБМ на присадибній ділянці у с. Джуринська Слобідка (Чортківський район, Тернопільська область) у 2020–2022 рр., було встановлено, що погодні умови 2022 р. були несприятливими для його розвитку і розселення. У Тернопільській області є значна кількість зелених насаджень, садів, лісництв, де ростуть рослини-живителі Hyphantria cunea, а також наявні фермерські угіддя, які займаються вирощуванням і заготівлею фруктів і ягід, що, очевидно, сприяє подальшому розселенню АБМ на території області. У результаті опитування мешканців Білобожницької ОТГ (Тернопільська обл.) щодо обізнаності про наявність і шкодочинність американського білого метелика встановлено, що 83 % не знають про існування шкідника. Нами проведено інформування населення цієї громади щодо його шкідливості і необхідності обмеження його розселення.

K. A. Tatarinov was a multifaceted personality, he made a significant contribution to the development of paleozoology, hunting science, ornithology and teriology in Ukraine. The article describes the main events of the Kremenets period of the scientist's life and work. The described period dates from August 1958 to August 1963. While working in Kremenets, he not only a scientist, but also develops as a manager, starting his career in August 1958 as a senior lecturer at the Department of Zoology Kremenets Pedagogical Institute, after two years - an associate professor, and since February 1961 - head of the specified department. Konstantin Adrianovych during his work at the Kremenets Pedagogical Institute, showed himself as a talented teacher with deep theoretical knowledge, hardworking and persistent scientist. Already at that time he understood the need for domestic and foreign creative scientific cooperation scientists with the aim of developing a unified program of stationary faunistic and zoogeographic studies. During the short 6 years of work at the Department of Zoology of the Kremenets Pedagogical Institute, Kostyantyn Adrianovych systematically organized annual educational field trips, worked on the creation and replenishment of the educational (museum) collection of bird and mammal skins, and conducted intensive speleozological research. At this time the scientist begins the cycle paleozoological studies, in particular the study of the fossil fauna of caves Podillia, modern and fossil vertebrate fauna of the mountain system Prykarpattia and Ukrainian Carpathians. In general, the field of scientific research in this period is very diverse from paleontology, zoogeography, zoology to phenology nature and ecology of vertebrates. During this time, he prepared and published the textbooks "Textbook of Zoology" and "Vertebrate Zoology", published a number of scientific works on fossil birds, small mammals and dolphins of Podillia (60 publications in total). Scientific results studies quite fully represent faunal diversity and faunal wealth of vertebrate animals of Kremenets and its surroundings and cover the forest massifs of the Eastern Carpathians and Hologoro-Kremenetskyi highlands, dry meadows, cave groups of mammals. In his pedagogical activities, he pays a lot of attention to highlighting contemporary achievements of zoology, the role of Ukrainian scientists in the study of the species and zoogeographic diversity of the vertebrate fauna of Kremenech region.

There are original data on the current state of Pieridae family in the regions of Western Ukraine in this article. The entomological materials were collected during the own expedition and the teacher training of the students of the Faculty of Chemistry and Biology of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University in 2021. These insects are in the collections of The Botany and Zoology Department. The species composition of the collected insects was analyzed. 8 species of Pieridae family were identified in the studied regions. We studied 168 individuals of Pieridae family. The investigated insects belong to 6 genera: Leptidea, Anthocharis, Pieris, Pontia, Сolias, Gonepteryx. We identified that some species of Pieridae family are common in Ukraine. The largest number of individuals in this family was calculated. The most popular were Pieris brassicae L., Pieris rapae L. і Pieris napi L. (Pierinae subfamily) and Сolias hyale L. (Coliadinae subfamily). There were several individuals of Leptidea sinapis L. (subfamily Dismorphiinae) and Anthocharis cardamines L. (subfamily Pierinae) in the entomological collection. We will conduct systematic entomological studies of the fauna of Ukraine in order to do a detailed analysis of Pieridae family and to do the ecological and faunal inventory of the insects. These data can be used for the further analysis of the changes in species diversity of Pieridae family.

The species diversity of the insects of Nimphalinae subfamily (Lepidoptera order), which are stored in the entomological collection of The Botany and Zoology Department of Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University were studied. The insects were collected by the students during their teacher training and also by the amateur entomologists during 2000–2020. These insects are in the collections of The Botany and Zoology Department. The species composition of the collected insects was analyzed. There are 202 individuals of Nimphalinae subfamily. Identified insects belong to five genus (Vanessa, Inachis, Agаlis, Polygonia, Nymphalis). The largest number of individuals of this subfamily was calculated (Inachis io –75, Vanessa atalanta – 52, Cynthia cardui – 45). Also 13 individuals of Agаlis urticae and 12 individuals of Polygonia c-album were found. All species of Rhopalocera of European fauna are in The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Most of them are classified as Least Concern (LC). Widespread, numerous and common species of the Nimphalinae subfamily were found in the funds of The Botany and Zoology Department. Identified species belong to the LC category of The IUCN Red List. The Compton tortoiseshell (Nymphalis vaualbum) is included in The Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009). Its conservation status is invaluable. Nymphalis vaualbum was not found in the entomological collections of The Botany and Zoology Department of TNPU.