Academician Mariya Pavlova on the historical development of post-tertiary elephants from tiraspol gravel

Abstract

Academician M.V. Pavlova successfully conducted her research in several scientific fields. She was interested in the problems of paleozoology, studied the causes of extinction of animals in past geological epochs, investigated the fossil remains of elephants, rhinos, tapirs, ungulates, lower Cretaceous ammonites, described numerous fossil remains of mammals of Tiraspol gravel. Her talent was clearly manifested in the field of science, unusual were her abilities in the history of science, and in the promotion of paleozoological knowledge. Pavlova made a significant contribution to the treasury of world science by her many-sided scientific, social and pedagogical activity. Her merits in creating a national paleozoological school are invaluable. Her paleozoological works are known far beyond our country. Encyclopedism and theoretical thought are characteristic features of M.V. Pavlova, born as a result of the continuous work of a scientist. Her works mark a deep knowledge of history and a belief in the succession of all things progressive. She interestingly and publicly taught the most difficult questions, wrote her works with great pedagogical skill. A special place among scientific works of Pavlova is occupied by those studies that resulted from the generalization, critical rethinking of new concepts: studies of fossil elephants, phylogenetic rows of ungulates, environmental impact on ungulates. An analysis of these concepts has allowed her to draw very important conclusions that are consistent with our time.