Amazing people of the North: 100 years since the birth of O.V. Egorov

Today, on February 25, 2021, it is the 100th anniversary of Oleg Vasilievich Egorov’s birth.

Oleg Vasilievich Egorov was a famous zoologist, a war veteran, a passionate lover of nature, who stood at the origins of the Institute of Biological Problems of the North, and devoted most of his scientific career to the North. A person, remembered with love and pride by all friends and colleagues.

Here we represent materials prepared by V.L. Kontrimavichus, the first director of IBPN FEB RAS, a friend and colleague O.V. Egorov, in memory of Oleg Vasilievich.

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Oleg Vasilievich Egorov was born on February 25, 1921 in the family of a teacher in the village of Samolova, Seredkinskiy district, Leningrad region. He spent his childhood and school years in the countryside, close to nature of the forest region, which cultivated a thoughtful attitude and even love in the boy. Oleg Vasilievich was also greatly influenced by his father, a teacher, who also loved the native nature.

In 1938, Oleg Vasilyevich graduated from the secondary school in Pskov and entered the first course of the biological faculty of the Leningrad State University. However, the study was prevented by the war. O.V. Egorov volunteered for the Finnish front in 1939 and fought in the ski squad against the White Finns. He managed to graduate three courses before the start of the Great Patriotic War and then volunteered for the partisan detachment formed in the Vasileostrovsky district, Leningrad, in July 1941. Later in August of the same year, he was transferred across the front line to the territory occupied by the enemy. On his way back after the assignment, he was arrested and cast into the Gestapo jail, escaped, fought in the partisan brigade named after German as a platoon commander and troop political instructor, took part in battles of the Leningrad, Baltic and 3rd Belorussian fronts, was wounded. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star, medals For Courage, For the Capture of Konigsberg, For the Defense of Leningrad and For Victory over Germany.

After demobilization in 1945, Oleg Vasilyevich continued to study at the University of Leningrad, and graduated from it successfully in 1948. His diploma "Ecological and faunistic survey of birds in the mountainous part of the Dzhety-Oguz river basin", defended with excellence at the Department of Vertebrate Zoology, determined his further scientific interests. Oleg Vasilievich devoted the first stage of the scientific activity to the fauna of the mountainous regions of Central Asia.

In 1949, O.V. Egorov entered the postgraduate course at the Zoological Institute of the USSR AS. His research advisor was Professor B.S. Vinogradov, one of the outstanding representatives of the Leningrad zoological school. After excellent theoretical training, Oleg Vasilyevich successfully completed and defended in 1952 his Candidate thesis, Ph.D., on the topic "Ecology of the Siberian ibex", published in "Proceedings of the ZIN USSR AS" in 1955. Bright talent of Oleg Vasilyevich and his versatile approach to highlighting the biological characteristics of animals were brilliantly manifested even in this first major scientific work. Field studies of the ecology of the Siberian mountain goat in the Tien Shan are closely related to the study of its adaptive morphological characteristics. The synthesis of functional morphology and ecology can be traced in many studies by O.V. Egorov.

All further life and scientific activities of Oleg Vasilyevich are closely related to the North. He was working at the Institute of Biology of the Yakutsk branch of the SB RAS USSR AS from 1953 to 1967; and since 1968 he headed the laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology at the Department of Biological Problems of the North, NEISRI, in Magadan.

Zoological research of Oleg Vasilyevich was developed in the taiga and tundra landscapes of Yakutia and North-East Asia and covered a wide range of issues related to the study of fauna and taxonomy, ecology, paleontology, zoogeography, age and functional morphology and principles of rational economic use of game birds, rodents and ungulates.

The long-term exploration in the Yakut ASSR allowed Oleg Vasilyevich to study entirely the biology of the Yakut squirrel, summarized in the monograph "Ecology and Hunting of the Yakut Squirrel" (1961). The principles of forecasting the number of squirrels, developed as a result of this study, were applied by hunting organizations throughout the taiga zone of Eastern Siberia.

A significant contribution to domestic and world science was made by O.V. Egorov as a result of a long and comprehensive study of the biology of ungulates in Northeast Asia. Numerous publications on this issue, summarized in the monograph "Wild Ungulates of Yakutia" (1965), translated into English, are well known to specialists. The collected materials on the fauna, biology, taxonomy and zoogeography of ungulates in Yakutia served as the basis for Oleg Vasilyevich's doctoral dissertation, which he successfully defended in 1968. The aerovisual counts of the number of animals were widely developed in the Yakutsk Republic due to the initiative and efforts of O.V. Egorov. In particular, the aerovisual counts of ungulates covered the entire territory of Yakutia’s plains with his direct participation, the stocks of commercial species were determined, and ways of their rational use were outlined. These studies were continued in the Magadan region.

During the last years of his work at the Institute of Biology of the Yakutsk branch USSR AS, Oleg Vasilievich studied the ecology and morphology of the wild reindeer in the mainland tundra of Yakutia and on the Novosibirsk Islands. He paid special attention to the need of dramatically increase in the protection of these valuable animals, which now are "the last of the Mohicans", and even two - three centuries ago had inhabited the tundra regions of the north of Eastern Siberia and Chukotka in large number.

O.V. Egorov did a great deal of public work, widely popularized scientific knowledge in newspapers and magazines, and spoke on radio and television. He actively participated in all events of the Yakut Republican Society for Nature Conservation and the Commission for Nature Conservation under the Presidium of the Yakutsk Branch; often appeared in print with specific proposals aimed at preserving and enriching natural resources. In particular, he was the initiator of the creation of the first Tokkinsk Reserve in Yakutia and substantiated the need to create a State Reserve in the Lena river delta.

Oleg Vasilyevich constantly subordinated his scientific activity to the interests of the hunting economy development in the North of our country and creatively collaborated with the hunting organizations and administrations, local branches of the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of Animal Raw Materials and Furs. O.V. Egorov initiated the creation of a Center for Biological Research in Magadan and put a lot of effort to organizing a laboratory of Vertebrate Zoology.

Broad erudition, lively mind and personal charm of Oleg Vasilyevich won the deep respect of his colleagues, co-workers and friends. He was a big-hearted man. He never refused to help, to give an advice, to express personal support. Oleg Vasilievich was an example of selfless service to science with a real, thoughtful and loving attitude to his native nature for young zoologists.

From the materials of the BIOLOGICAL PROBLEMS OF THE NORTH, author V.L. Kontrimavichus, 1971

Igor Viktorovich Dorogoi, a famous ornithologist, passed away

We inform you with deep regret that on February 19, 2021, at the age of 65, after a long and serious illness, Igor Viktorovich Dorogoi, a famous scientist-zoologist, a specialist in the fauna and ecology of mammals and birds of the Northeast of Russia, Candidate of biological sciences, Ph.D., passed away ...

Igor Viktorovich was born on September 23, 1955 in Magadan. He graduated from the Far Eastern State University in 1978.

Igor Viktorovich Dorogoi worked at the IBPN FEB RAS since 1978. His scientific interests were related to the study of interspecific relationships between birds and mammals in tundra ecosystems. His Ph.D. thesis defended in 1985, focused on the ecology of myophagous predators on Wrangel Island and their role in lemmings population dynamics. He published a monograph on this topic in 1987.

Igor Dorogoi paid much attention to the study of the distribution features of birds and mammals in the North-East, the dynamics of their ranges, ecological relationships, and the distribution peculiarities of rare bird species. Expeditions and field research of Igor Dorogoi covered almost the entire territory of the Far North-East. A keen interest in fauna and a deep knowledge of avifauna, a thorough knowledge of the literature, thoroughness and scrupulousness when working with the material allowed Igor Dorogoi becoming one of the most authoritative experts in the distribution of many rare species of birds.

Many people knew him as an outstandingly talented photographer, as well as a journalist, popularizer of science and conservationist.

Igor Viktorovich Dorogoi was our friend, colleague, highly professional scientist.

The team brings condolences to the family of Igor Viktorovich and deeply bewail with it.

Bright memory….

May he rest in peace!

IBPN FEB RAS team

Today it is the 60th anniversary A.V. Kondratyev!

Today it is the anniversary of Alexander Vladimirovich Kondratyev , a remarkable person and scientist, Deputy Director for Science at the Institute of Biological Problems of the North.

Alexander Vladimirovich Kondratyev is a well-known ornithologist in Russia and abroad who has devoted himself to the study of northern nature and birds in the Arctic.

Colleagues know and love Alexander Vladimirovich as a talented, enthusiastic researcher, a thorough and conscientious scientist, sensitive to details and avoiding mistakes, a loyal and reliable friend, which is ready to help any time.

Dear Alexander Vladimirovich, we sincerely congratulate you on your anniversary! Please, be healthy, successful, we wish you new discoveries and great prospects! In response we guarantee reliable friends nearby and support in the implementation of the most ambitious ideas!

IBPN FEB RAS team