1st year undergraduates of the Institute of Animal Science and Biology, studying under the program "Resources of Vertebrate Animals (Protection, Reproduction, Rational Use)", completed an internship at the scientific and experimental base "Chernogolovka" of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS. Future biologists acquired practical experience of field zoological research and were introduced to the fauna of the Moscow region.
Practical training was preceded by theoretical training - undergraduates were presented with a series of lectures on the behavior and behavioral ecology of mammals, biology of reproduction of vertebrates, methods and technologies for keeping and breeding rare species of mammals. The lectures were conducted by experienced staff of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution RAS.
Under the guidance of teachers of the K.A. Timiryazev RGAU-MSHA the students conducted daily route counts of animals in the vicinity of the scientific and experimental base and on its territory. In practice, undergraduates studied representatives of the fauna of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. They learned the main methods of taking morphometric indicators on the example of amphibians of 4 families.
The students were given the opportunity to study a unique collection of vertebrates, which includes more than 2,000 individuals. Among them are predatory, insectivorous, rodents, lagomorphs and bats.
As Professor of the Department of Zoology Lyubov Malovichko noted, the students did an excellent job with all the tasks set, and the acquired the necessary skills for their further scientific and labor activities.