History of zoological research in the Crimean Nature Reserve: vertebrates

Abstract

The present work is a historical and biographical sketch of the formation and development of research in one of the first nature reserves in Russia. The article describes the main milestones in the study of vertebrates in the past and the stages of scientific research in the Crimean Nature Reserve in the XX-XXI centuries. It is shown that by 1925 the vertebrate fauna of the mountain Crimea was poorly studied, and the formation and operation of the biological station in the Crimean Reserve marked the beginning of comprehensive research not only in the mountains, but also in the steppe. The reorganization of the Reserve into a hunting Reserve in 1957 did not affect the level and scale of scientific research. In 1964-1968, a comprehensive theme on beechwood forests was completed, and in 1970-1974, a theme on birds and mammals of the Crimea was conducted as well. In 1974-1976 the work of the zoological group went to the international level in connection with the inclusion of Swan Islands in the number of the Ramsar Sites of the USSR. Since 1983, scientific research has been conducted under the program "Nature Records" within the boundaries of the reserve. In 1991, the institution was returned to the status of a nature reserve. Zoological research is carried out by full-time employees with the participation of scientists from various research centers working on international projects. After the reunification of the Crimea with Russia in 2014, the Crimean Reserve is undergoing a period of reorganization. And in September 2018 its mountain and forest part gets the status of a National Park. The “Swan Islands” ornithological branch becomes an independent nature reserve.