| Biological Stations \ Saratov Biological Station \ Goals and Tasks | |
| Goals and Tasks |  | Scientific Staff |
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SARATOV BRANCH SIEE OF THE RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCEDirector – Oparin Michael Lvovich, Dr. Biol. Sci.,
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 Laboratory for comparative ethology and biocommunication |
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At station the following researches are carried out:
Saratov branch SIEE of the Russian Academy of Science has been organized in 1995 for studying vertebrate ecology of a steppe zone and development of measures for protection of rare species. The branch has a biological research station in village Djakovka which is situated on the left riverside Volga in the south of the Saratov region. On the basis of a biological research station field and laboratory researches by employees of branch and various laboratories of Institute are carried out.
In 1998-2000 the Russian-German project «Development of scientific bases for the protection of Great Bustard in the Saratov region» has been executed at financial support Frankfurt zoological societies (Germany). For this period many questions of Great bustard ecology have been investigated, by means of satellite telemetry ways of migration on wintering and back on places of nesting are researched. Since 2003 on present time the project with Great Bustard Group (UK) on bustard reintroduction in the Great Britain is carried out. On the basis of a biological research station of branch it incubation and breeding of bustard nestlings from the eggs taken from perishing layings on fields is carry out.
Employees of branch carry out researches of restoration pasturable ecosistems on the set-aside land, changes of animal communities at vegetation demutation on set-aside lands and pastures at the extinction of grazing. Long-term consequences of anthropogenous transformation of landscapes during agricultural development of territory and climat changes on the vertebrate populations in steppes of a southeast of the European Russia are investigated. Inventory of terrestrial vertebrata fauna in steppes of the Bottom Volga region is carried out.
On the basis of the Saratov branch joint researches together experts from other divisions of Institute, and also colleagues from other research establishments of Russia and foreign countries are carried out. During 2006-2007 the joint project was undertaken together faculty of ecology of animals of Lund university of Sweden and Institute of zoology of the Bulgarian Academy of sciences «Experimental studying of migratory behaviour paddy-field warbler (Acrocephalus agricola)».
Besides on the basis of SB SIEE of the Russian Academy of Science course and degree works students of following leading High schools of the country are perform:
In 2001 and 2008 Saratov Branch together with other Institutes of the Russian Academy of Science and SPb the state university has organized and has lead school-seminars of young scientists. In 2004 the branch participated in the organization of conference « Mammals in arid ecosystems», and in 2005 was the organizer of conference « Bioresources and a biodiversity of ecosystems the Volga region: the past, the present and the future », devoted to the 10 anniversary of branch.
Saratov Branch SIEE takes part in the edition of scientific magazine « Volga region ecological magazine » which now is included in the list of leading reviewed scientific magazines recommended ÂÀÊ the Russian Federation for publications of the basic scientific results of dissertations on competitions of a scientific degree of the doctor and the candidate of sciences on biological, agricultural sciences.
The basic researches are spent on heights near Volga (right bank) (photo 1) and in Zavolzhye (photo 2).
Objects of studying are terrestrial nesting birds and steppe species of mammals (photo 3 - Great Bustard (Otis tarda) with the transmitter; a photo 4 - demoiselle cranes (Anthropoides virgo); a photo 5 - a calandra lark (Melanocorypha calandra); a photo 6 - Isabellinae wheatear (Oenanthe isabellina); a photo 7 – bobak (Marmota bobak); a photo 8 - the reddish suslik (Spermophilus major).