GEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONS OF DARKLING BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) OF THE PALAEARCTIC TETHYS DESERT-STEPPE REGION WITH THE HISTORICAL REVIEW

Aim. The aim of the work is to analyze the geographic relationships of the family Tenebrionidae, which should be the basis of faunogenesis of the Tethys region of Palaearctic. Methods. The work is based on the material collected by the authors in the various regions of the Caucasus, the south of the European part of Russia, Kazakhstan and North Africa during 50 years (from 1961 to 2016), as well as the extensive literature data. We used the cluster analysis based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient which considers the positive coincidences for analysis the Tethys region tenebrionid faunas. Invasive species are not included in the analysis. Results. Extensive review of the history of study of Western Palaearctic Tenebrionidae from the mid-19th Century to the present day is given. The main directions of contemporary research are marked. Four hundred three genera of darkling beetles are distributed in the Tethys region including dendrophilous groups with tropical origin,  transpalaearctic  and  cosmopolitan  species,  that  represent  63%  of  all  known  Palaearctic  tenebrionid  genera (640 genera). Three quarters of them (304 genera or 75%) combining 5674 species include mainly xerophilous genera that are not found outside the region or presented only by very small number of species in the neighboring territories. Evidences of a common historical development of tenebrionid fauna appear in the 24 common widespread Tethys genera, which may be slightly spread beyond the boundaries, but have a very high diversity of species and infrageneric (probably a center of the origin) diversity within the Tethys region. The significant part (61%) of common Tethys genera, the high diversity of large Palaearctic genera of Tenebrionidae in the western and eastern parts of Tethys region, as well as the presence of complex of supralittoral relics of marine paleobassins (Western Tethys and Eastern Paratethys) from the genus Ectromopsis, indicates a single area of faunogenesis of darkling beetles, which is historically related with epicontinental Paleogene Tethys Ocean. Two super-regions (with western Tethys and eastern Tethys complexis of taxa) are allocated. These two regions are divided on several subregions which differ by high level of taxonomic diversity. The division is based on the analyses of species and generic abudance and level of an endemism. Claster analyses of common to the region genera, Tethys genera, common to the region species and the genus Blaps shows similarity of Anatolia and the Balkan region faunas; the Caucasus is similar to Iran. Two early allocated super-regions are more or less clearly revealed on all dendrograms. The Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have ancient relations with both super-regions based on the analyses of Tethys genera, and the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East have ancient relations with both super-regions using analyses of all tenebrionid species of the Tethys region. Conclusion. The faunogenesis of several subregions of the Tethys region was formed as island type. Analysis of the distribution and taxonomic diversity of darkling indicates a long-time development of the tenebrionid fauna in coastal and island ecosystems of the Tethys Ocean, and later an independent prime of this fauna in different areas of the Tethys desert-steppe region with the retreat of ocean water, aridity and orogeny. At the same time, faunistic elements of relic type of Paleogene origin are preserved and evoluted in the mountain island forests in Anatolia, the Middle East and the Atlas with the Late Tertiary relict flora

COMPOSITION AND FEATURES OF GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION OF FAUNA OF ORIBATID MITES (ACARIFORMES, ORIBATIDA) IN THE TETHYS DESERT-STEPPE REGION

Aim. The aim is to identify the similarities and differences of fauna of oribatid mites (Acariformes, Oribatida) in the Tethys desert-steppe region and analyze geographic relationships of the studied area.Methods. For the research, we used the materials collected for 5 years (2008-13) by the members of the stuff of the Department of Biology and Biodiversity (Grikurova A.A.) in the territory of the Republic of Dagestan. In addition, we referred to personal collections and publications including" Catalogue of oribatid mites of the Caucasus" by Shtanchaeva U.Ya., Subias L.S. To analyze the similarities of fauna of the Tethys region we made a comprehensive analysis based on Jaccard similarity coefficient.Results. As a result of the research we gave the composition of fauna, held a brief overview on oribatid mites and their resettlement and migration. In Tethys region, we identified 381 genera of oribatid uniting 1506 species, one third of which is endemic (501 species). Despite the fact that the fauna of the oribatid in the Caucasus is studied unevenly, the greatest variety of species is observed here. The smallest amount of diversity compared with the Caucasian species is observed in the Mediterranean countries and Central Asia, which shows the peculiarities of the genesis and geographic distribution.Conclusion. The dendrogram of similarity of the oribatid mites genera in the Tethys region demonstrates the tremendous role of coastal and island ecosystems of the Tethys Ocean, followed by the enrichment of the diversity as well as independent species shaping

EVALUATION OF THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ON THE EXAMPLE OF RURAL SETTLEMENTS OF DAKHADAYEVSKY DISTRICT OF THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN

Aim. Analysis of the quality of environmental education for sustainable development on the example of educational institutions of villages of Dakhadayevsky district in Dagestan. Methods. The basis for research is the results of the surveys and testing among the schoolchildren of 5-11 grades and teachers of rural settlements of Dakhadayevsky District. The research is conducted using a special surveys designed at the faculty of ecology and geography of Dagestan State University. Statistical analysis was based on the general principles of statistics and carried out with the use of Statistica and Excel application packages. Results. The obtained data clearly reflect the situation of environmental education in Russian schools: unbalanced presentation of separate sections in the content of education. As follows from the results, the content of environmental education in schools is dominated by the knowledge gained in the course of learning biology and to a much lesser rate of geography. Analysis of the results showed that in schools the ecological knowledge is gained insufficiently. The comparative analysis of individual components of environmental training of pupils of the region showed varying results in different populations. Conclusions. The pro-file of environmental training for primary school students is analyzed, considering Russian educational standards. An attempt was made to explain these results and make recommendations to improve the learning environment

THE USE OF THE ELEMENTS OF MORPHOECOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS OF ORGANISMS TO THE ENVIRONMENT UNDER PALEOGEOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTIONS OF BIOTAS OF TETIYSKY DESERT-STEPPE REGION (BUILDING SCHEMES OF HISTORICAL FORMATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA)

Aim. The question of life forms (morpho-ecological adaptation of the organism to the environment) is an actual problem of ecological morphology. Different approaches in the study of Coleoptera life forms, including comparative morphological, ontogenetic and ecological faunal approaches, have identified the main trends of the morpho-ecological evolution of the studied fauna, and the spectrum method of life forms helped find out the laws of their landscape-zonal distribution.Methods. Electron microscopy scanning was performed at the Institute of Arid Zones of the Southern Scientific Center of RAS (Rostov-on-Don), using a microscope SEM EVO-40 XVP (LEO 143OVP).Results. In this article, for the first time, the life form to be used for some reconstructions of the fauna of the age of certain ecosystems of the discussed territory. In this paper, morphological adaptation of the feet is considered closely related to the features of lifestyle and environmental conditions, mainly the soil. The structure of the feet of Tenebrionidae is closely related to their living conditions and patterns of behavior. Convergence in the structure of the feet of phylogenetically distant species is the result of a match in their evolutionary development of the living conditions and behavioral characteristics. The structure of fossorials (digging legs) of Tenebrionidae and Scarabaeidae is in a thin line with a certain type of soil conditions. As a result, among the examined groups of Coleoptera the structure of fossorials is the most reliable indicator of soil conditions. The analysis of the biological diversity of coastal and island ecosystems of the Caspian Sea has shown the failure of the existing reviews for Caspian water level regime and the age of biota of islands.Conclusion. Thus, the presence of the ancient highly specialized life forms, communities and systems in any particular area, with great certainty will allow conceding the continuity of the existence of this biota during the time required for the formation of structural units of the community, the individual species, subspecies and supra species taxa. The analysis of the life forms of individual taxonomic groups, species, communities, modern biological diversity of coastal and island ecosystems does not confirm the periods of "strong" transgressions flooding vast areas of the Caspian and the islands of Turan. They contradict these assumptions

THE USE OF THE ELEMENTS OF MORPHOECOLOGICAL ADAPTATIONS OF ORGANISMS TO THE ENVIRONMENT UNDER PALEOGEOGRAPHIC RECONSTRUCTIONS OF BIOTAS OF TETIYSKY DESERT-STEPPE REGION (BUILDING SCHEMES OF HISTORICAL FORMATION OF FLORA AND FAUNA)

Aim. The question of life forms (morpho-ecological adaptation of the organism to the environment) is an actual problem of ecological morphology. Different approaches in the study of Coleoptera life forms, including comparative morphological, ontogenetic and ecological faunal approaches, have identified the main trends of the morpho-ecological evolution of the studied fauna, and the spectrum method of life forms helped find out the laws of their landscape-zonal distribution.Methods. Electron microscopy scanning was performed at the Institute of Arid Zones of the Southern Scientific Center of RAS (Rostov-on-Don), using a microscope SEM EVO-40 XVP (LEO 143OVP).Results. In this article, for the first time, the life form to be used for some reconstructions of the fauna of the age of certain ecosystems of the discussed territory. In this paper, morphological adaptation of the feet is considered closely related to the features of lifestyle and environmental conditions, mainly the soil. The structure of the feet of Tenebrionidae is closely related to their living conditions and patterns of behavior. Convergence in the structure of the feet of phylogenetically distant species is the result of a match in their evolutionary development of the living conditions and behavioral characteristics. The structure of fossorials (digging legs) of Tenebrionidae and Scarabaeidae is in a thin line with a certain type of soil conditions. As a result, among the examined groups of Coleoptera the structure of fossorials is the most reliable indicator of soil conditions. The analysis of the biological diversity of coastal and island ecosystems of the Caspian Sea has shown the failure of the existing reviews for Caspian water level regime and the age of biota of islands.Conclusion. Thus, the presence of the ancient highly specialized life forms, communities and systems in any particular area, with great certainty will allow conceding the continuity of the existence of this biota during the time required for the formation of structural units of the community, the individual species, subspecies and supra species taxa. The analysis of the life forms of individual taxonomic groups, species, communities, modern biological diversity of coastal and island ecosystems does not confirm the periods of "strong" transgressions flooding vast areas of the Caspian and the islands of Turan. They contradict these assumptions

SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS OF PERSPECTIVE WAYS OF ECOLOGICAL-BIOLOGICAL RESEARCHES OF BASIN OF THE CASPIAN SEA

This article is devoted to the topical issues of ecological-biological researches of the Caspian Sea. There some materials about necessity of creation of the united data system are presented as well as some economic aspects of this problem are discussed

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE TERRESTRIAL FAUNA AND FLORA OF THE TETHYS DESERT-STEPPE REGION OF PALEARARTICS, BIOGEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARIES OF THE CAUCASUS. MESSAGE 1. TERRESTRIAL FAUNA

Aim. The aim is to conduct a comparative analysis of the composition of the terrestrial fauna of the Tethys desert-steppe region of the Palearctic.Materials and methods. The work was based on the materials collected in different republics and regions of the Caucasus and the south of the European part of Russia during 50 years (from 1961 to 2016) which are kept in various domestic and foreign institutions. Catalogs on the studied model groups were also used to conduct the research. In making the dendrograms, a cluster analysis based on the Jaccard coefficient was used.Results. A detailed analysis was carried out by model groups of the animals of the Eastern and Western Thethys complexes of the desert-steppe region of the Palearctic. Comparative analysis has shown that a significant number of species and genera of the discussed territories is characterized by an exceptionally high ratio of endemic species and superspecies taxa. Indicators of endemism in model groups fluctuate depending on the population's ability to resettle. High endemism of faunas of darkling beetles, ground beetles, click beetles and land snails in the Eastern Tethys complex was noted.Conclusion. The Caucasus (in a new interpretation) is characterized by a high percentage of endemism for the studied model groups. A large number of the common Tethys genera and species in all model groups attests to their fundamental role in the overall composition of the biota against the background of powerful autochthonous centers of species-formation and, most importantly, the formation and functioning of the Palaearctic desert-steppe belt as the Tethys ocean reduced