A. N. BRAGIN

Our sobkor in Ethiopia

Russia-Ethiopia Keywords:, Russian-Ethiopian joint ecological expedition, academician Yu. Y. Dgebuadze, biologist A. A. Darkov

A Decade of Russian-Ethiopian scientific cooperation in the field of biology was held in Addis Ababa on November 2-12, 2012. This event was timed to coincide with the 125th anniversary of Academician N. I. Vavilov, the 85th anniversary of his scientific expedition to Abyssinia, as well as the 25th anniversary of the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition, which is a clear example of successful scientific cooperation between the two countries.

Due to its geographical location, Ethiopia is known for its high mosaic landscape. Here you can find Afro-Alpine landscapes, various types of mountain and lowland forests, and a variety of savannas. This mosaic is also associated with the high endemism of the flora and fauna of this East African country - many plant and animal species are not found anywhere else in the world.

For more than a quarter of a century, the Joint Russian-Ethiopian Biological Expedition has been operating in Ethiopia on a permanent basis. During its existence, the expedition has gone through a difficult path-from the initial difficulties with launching the project to the recognition by Ethiopians of the importance of the research performed and the involvement of Russian experts in applied economic projects.

The agreement on the establishment of a joint scientific project aimed at conducting biological research in the territory of this African country was signed on January 17, 1987 between the USSR Academy of Sciences and the Commission on Science and Technology of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The main tasks of the expedition, in particular, included finding out the species diversity of living organisms of different systematic groups (fish, mammals, birds, insects, soil and aquatic invertebrates, plants) of the main natural complexes of Ethiopia, as well as conducting environmental studies to develop scientific foundations for the rational use and protection of the country's biological resources.

The Ethiopians were interested in collecting basic information about the country's biological resources, which had not been properly explored until then.

More than 100 Russian scientists representing a number of institutes of the Academy of Sciences and Russian universities have participated in its research during the entire period of its work. It also employs Ethiopian specialists on a permanent basis-representatives of local universities and agricultural research structures, as well as environmental agencies at the federal and regional levels.

On December 10, 2012, an anniversary scientific conference was held in Addis Ababa. In the course of negotiations with the Ethiopian side, a new agreement was signed on the continuation of joint scientific activities for the next five-year period.

On the Russian side, the document was signed by Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Deputy Director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution (IPEE). RAS Yu. Y. Dgebuadze. In an exclusive interview with our magazine, he stressed that the longevity of the expedition is largely due to the enthusiasm of Soviet / Russian scientists. "In the early 90's, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the funding of the ERB was almost suspended, but the expedition not only survived, but also made a significant contribution to the development of domestic and world science. For example, participants discovered and described 9 new fish species found in the waters of Ethiopia. In addition, another 19 new species are in the process of being described, " he said.

According to Yu. Y. Dgebuadze, currently the most interesting research for Russian scientists is related to the description and identification of the morphological and genetic diversity of living organisms, the structure, function and evolution of ecosystems: "In the next 5 years, we plan to continue working on the following areas:

five priority areas: the study of fish fauna and diversity mechanisms; the study of small mammals, their diversity and distribution; the study of soil biology and entomology; the study of the dynamics of ecosystem development in Ethiopia; and the study of the genetic variability of Ethiopian grain crops."

He also stressed that the participants of the EREBE published about 200 scientific articles ¹ in leading domestic and international scientific publications, published 9 monographs based on the research materials of the expedition, defended several candidate and doctoral theses, including by Ethiopian colleagues. The materials of the expedition were repeatedly presented at regional and international scientific symposiums, conferences and seminars.

For the past 25 years, the permanent head of the Russian representative office of the REBE in Addis Ababa is PhD Andrey Anatolyevich Darkov, who also acts as a project coordinator. According to him, the following results of the expedition's activities can be distinguished::

- pioneering work on describing the diversity of a number of animal groups: soil invertebrates, insects, fish and mammals, during which new species were described for science and new species were first found for the fauna of Ethiopia and Africa;

- studies of the mechanisms of formation of fish and small mammals;

- experimental studies of the morphological development of different species and forms, demonstrating possible mechanisms of evolutionary processes;

-indicator species of invertebrates for high-altitude landscape belts and main soil types are identified; the general anthropogenic dynamics of changes in soil biota in typical areas of Ethiopia is characterized; detailed seasonal dynamics of the animal population of soils in each high-altitude landscape belt of the Ethiopian Highlands is given for the first time;

- historical ecology methods based on zoogenic and plant remains were used to reconstruct the dynamics of vegetation cover and climate and the influence of anthropogenic factors on the ecosystems of the Ethiopian Highlands in the Holocene.

A. A. Darkov also added that the expedition participants conducted environmental assessments of hydro-reclamation projects in the Baro-Akobo interfluve (southwestern Ethiopia) and on the Awash River (eastern Ethiopia). The fish fauna of the Omo River was studied in connection with the design of the integrated development of its floodplain. Considerable material has been collected on such areas of Ethiopia as Gambella, Shoa, and Gonder; on the basins of the Gibe, Blue and White Nile Rivers, and Rift Valley lakes; and on the Nechesar, Awash, and Bale National parks. Lists of species of the main groups of organisms are compiled. New species are described and data on the mechanisms of speciation in mammals are obtained. The expedition members participated in the environmental assessment of a number of technical projects in Ethiopia.

According to A. A. Darkov, the main types of ecological systems of the country were examined during the field work. An exhaustive list of native species has been compiled for all regions, many of which are described for the first time. Foci of biodiversity and centers of animal speciation have been identified. Based on the obtained data, a hypothesis is formulated about the evolutionary mechanisms of the emergence of "cluster of forms" and the correspondence of the observed situation to the theoretical model of sympatric speciation is shown. The results of these studies, our biologist stressed, are important for developing a global strategy for protecting biodiversity in Ethiopia.

"The research carried out by the expedition members, especially in the field of soil properties and fisheries, is important in terms of contributing to the economic development of our country," State Minister of Science and Technology of Ethiopia Mohammuda Ahmed Gaas ² said during the conference. According to him, despite the existence of vast water resources in Ethiopia, little has been done regarding their sustainable development, use and conservation, "aquaculture is virtually non-existent in our country."

M. A. Gaas stressed that the results of the work of the NEB will help to implement the" Growth and Transformation Plan " for the period 2010-2015.

Special attention is paid to research in the field of fishing, which, according to the State Minister, contributes to the growth of welfare and poverty reduction of the population. This is all the more important because, said Alayu Yalei, director of the Bahr Dar Fisheries and Aquatic Life Research Center, Ethiopia is one of the few countries in Africa with the lowest per capita consumption of fish per year-less than 1 kg, compared to the average in other countries. in some countries of the continent is 15 - 18 kg.

Gyrma Yosef, coordinator of the EEDC from the Ethiopian side, representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology, said that as a result of joint work, a significant amount of fundamental knowledge has been accumulated, which is planned to be used for economic development. "For Ethiopia," he said, " this project is a good opportunity to ensure the rational use of the country's natural resources, as well as to promote the development of its own science and technology."

¹ The list of works can be found at: http://www.sevin.ru/mcnuesl/index_eng.html?../expeditions_eng/jubilcc.html

² Biological Expedition to discuss scientific findings // The Ethiopian Herald, 4 December 2012.

Постоянный адрес данной публикации: