OBITUARY Rudolf Aleksandrovich KUBYKIN (August 16, 1937 - August 1, 2001)

August 1, 2001, Rudolf Aleksandrovich Kubykin died, one of the well-known herpetologists of Middle Asia of the recent time. He was born in Koturkul Village, Shchuchinskii District, Kokchetavskaya Province of Kazakhstan. After education in secondary school and service in the Soviet Army, he moved to Alma-Ata, the capital of Kazakhstan, where he lived before his death. There, whole his life was connected with the Institute of Zoology of the Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan. Since 1969, he worked there in the Laboratory of Ornithology where, in addition to the main duties, he started to collect materials on amphibians and reptiles. In 1971, he ended his graduation in the evening department of the Biological Faculty of the Kazakh State University.

Just in the beginning of his professional path, in 1969, R. A. Kubykin participated in field works jointly with herpetologists from the Zoological Institute of the USSR Academy of Sciences (N. B. Ananjeva, I. S. Darevsky, and E. D. Regel) in Alma-Ata and Taldy-Kurgan provinces of Kazakhstan, which made the start for his multiyear cooperation with this Institute.

Since 1972, Rudolf Aleksandrovich participates in herpetological studies on permanent basis. Being a keen field worker, he participated in various expeditions and, in addition, in short excursions. As a result, he searched for amphibians and reptiles in Mangyshlak, Kyzylkum, Muyunkum, Alma-Ata, and Taldy-Kurgan areas, as well as Zaissan Hollow. Valuable materials on fauna, ecology and ethology of amphibians and reptiles have been collected. The most important of them were included in more than 60 papers published in domestic and foreign journals.

His record of the Variegated Raceruner (Eremias vermiculata) in Kazakhstan has implemented the reptile fauna of the Soviet Union with a new species. The Central Asian Tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii) and the toad agamas from the genus Phynocephalus were favourite subjects in his studies. Rudolf Aleksandrovich has known these reptiles best of all. In particular, he devoted much attention to the status of populations of the Central Asian Tortoise, elaborating the biological basals for sustainable use of its resources. He provided the most realistic estimates of reasonable amount and mode of the tortoise annual collecting in Kazakhstan. His recommendations are critically important for avoidance of unsustainable overcollecting of this commercially exploiting species in Middle Asia.

Rudolf Aleksandrovich participated in conservation works on animals of Kazakhstan. He prepared some herpetological sections for the Red Data Book of this republic.

The Semirechensk Salamander (Ranodon sibiricus), one of the most endangered amphibian species of the world, was special subject of Kubykin's studies during many years. Data collected by him with Z. K. Brushko and S. P. Narbaeva provided the first information on overall trends in the long-term population changes in this species and its distribution range. Studies conducted by him jointly with D. Dolmen, J. Arnekleiv, and D. Mikutavicius led to a detailed description of microhabitats and population density of this species. Later, from 1996 to 1999, Rudolf Aleksandrovich was the key person from Kazakhstan participated in joint Russian-Kazakh-German works (with S. L. Kuzmin, B. Thiesmeier, and H. Greven) in extensive survey of the Semirechensk Salamander throughout its range. These works, partly supported by the Flora and Fauna International (Great Britain), Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (USA) and the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Russia), provided unique data on the overall conservation status of this species, causes of its total decline and habitat specialization, as well as on prospects for future. These data provided the basis for the inclusion of this species in the IUCN Red List.

R. A. Kubykin participated in the activity of the IUCN/SSC/Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force (DAPTF). In 1998 - 2000, he was the Chair of the Middle Asia and Kazakhstan Sub-Regional Group in the Working Group for the Commonwealth of Independent States within this international Task Force. Rudolf Aleksandrovich regularly participated in All-Union Herpetological Conferences (1973 - 1989) and Asiatic Herpetological Conferences (1995, 1998, and 2000, the last travel, to Chengdu, China, was supported by the Soros Foundation). He made valuable efforts in creation of the herpetological collection stored in the Institute of Zoology of Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences, whose catalogue was published by him jointly with Z. K. Brushko. He had also very large collection of slides, which he made in all his travels.

R. A. Kubykin did not limit himself with herpetological theme only. He also widened the knowledge of rare mammal species: Selevinia betpakdalensis, Salpignotus crassicauda, and Lagurus luteus.

Students from the Kazakh State University made several term and degree works under his guidance.

Being a researcher of the Laboratory of Wildlife Conservation, Rudolf Aleksandrovich conducted active work on popularization of ecological and zoological knowledge. He always aimed readers or listeners to inculcate in friendly attitude to the studying groups of animals. His popular accounts in the collections Zhivye Sokrovishcha Kazakhstana (1979) and Tropinki v Zagadochnyi Mir (1988) were marked with the 1st degree diploma in the All-Union contests of the scientific-popular books. These accounts are fascinating and full of curious facts. Kubykin is the co-writer and compiler of the collection Udivitel'nyi Mir Reptilii which, unfortunately, remains unpublished.

We worked jointly with Rudolf Aleksandrovich in expeditions many times. His great interest to amphibians and reptiles allowed him a deep insight in new and unusual aspects of their life. Creative approach to research techniques and treatment of materials was typical for him, while master's streak and technical skills always promoted very good organization of field works. His optimistic view on life, sense of humor, calm character and respectful attitude to people created light and friendly climate even in hard field travels. He never complained about his health, and participated as equals in expeditions even in elderly age.

The unexpected death of Rudolf Aleksandrovich is bereavement not only for his relatives and friends, but also for science and nature conservation. He will remain in our memory as highly qualified, true scientist and, at the same time, unpretentious and unselfish worker in science, faithful to his work to the limit.

Zoya K. Brushko, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Sergius L. Kuzmin, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
Natalia B. Ananjeva, Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia

MAIN PUBLICATIONS

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1981), "Population number of Agryonemys horsfieldi in several districts of Djambul Province," in: Problems of Herpetology [in Russian], Leningrad, pp. 24 - 25.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1983), "Reproduction of Phrynocephalus versicolor in the valley of the upper part of Ili River," Ékologiya [in Russian], No. 4, 70 - 72.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1986), "On the postembryonal growth of Steppe agama, Agama sanguinolenta, on the north-western coast of Kapchagai Reservoir," Izv. AN KazSSR. Ser. Biol. [in Russian], No. 1, 25 - 29.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1988), "On the biology of Eremias arguta in Kazakhstan," Izv. AN KazSSR. Ser. Biol., No. 3, 31 - 35 [in Russian].

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1988), "Reptiles," in: Vertebrates of Alma-Ata (Pozvonochnye Zhivotnye Alma-Aty) [in Russian], Alma-Ata, pp. 165 - 170.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1988), Catalogue of the Herpetological Collection of the Institute of Zoology of Academy of Sciences of Kazakh SSR (Katalog Gerpetologicheskoi Kollektsii Instituta Zoologii AN Kazakhskoi SSR) [in Russian], Nauka, Alma-Ata.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (1989), "Recent distribution and population number of Rana amurensis in Kazakhstan," in: All-Union Conference on the Problem of Cadastre and Census of Animal World (Vsesoyuznoe Soveshchanie po Probleme Kadastra i Ucheta Zhivotnogo Mira). Vol. 3 [in Russian], Ufa, pp. 263 - 265.

Brushko Z. K. and Kubykin R. A. (2000), "Distribution and ecology of the Steppe Ribbon Snake (Psammophis lineolatus Brandt, 1838) in Kazakhstan," Selevinia [in Russian], No. 1 - 4, 130 - 137.

Brushko Z. K., Kubykin R. A., and Matveyeva T. N. (1992, 1993), "Siberian salamander (Ranodon sibiricus Kessler, 1866) in Kazakhstan," in: Proc. Asian Herpetol. Meet., Huangshan, 1992, p. 25; Proc. First Asian Herpet. Meet. Beijing, 1993, p. 333.

Brushko Z. K., Kubykin R. A., and Narbaeva S. P. (1988), "Recent distribution of Siberian salamander Ranodon sibiricus (Amphibia, Hynobiidae) in Dzungar Alatau," Zool. Zh. [in Russian], 67(11), 1753 - 1755.

Dolmen D., Arnekleiv J. V., and Kubykin R. A. (1997), "Habitat and abundance of the Semirechensk salamander (Ranodon sibiricus) at a site in the Borokhujir River valley, Kazakhstan," in: Advances in Amphibian Research in the former Soviet Union. Vol. 2, pp. 45 - 70.

Dolmen D., Arnekleiv J. V., Kubykin R. A., and Mikutavichus D. (1993 - 1994), "Habitat and threats to the red list species Ranodon sibiricus (Hynobiidae)," in: Abstrs. of the Second World Congr. Herpetol., Adelaide, p. 74.

Dolmen D., Kubykin R. A., and Arnekleiv J. V. (1995), "Diel rhythms of Ranodon sibiricus (Hynobiidae)," in: Abstrs. of the Second Asian Herpetol. Meet., Ashgabat, Folium, Moscow, p. 20.

Dolmen D., Kubykin R. A., and Arnekleiv J. V. (1999), "Diel activity of Ranodon sibiricus (Amphibia: Hynobiidae) in relationship to environment and threats," Asiatic Herpetol. Res., 8, 29 - 37.

Kordikova E. G., Brushko Z. K., and Kubykin R. A. (1998), "On distribution of some fossil amphibians and reptiles in Kazakhstan and their extant geographic range," Vestn. Kaz. Gos. Univ. Ser. Biol. [in Russian], No. 6, 35 - 54.

Kubykin R. A. (1973), "On the record of Natrix natrix on the islands of Alakol Lake (Eastern Kazakhstan)," in: Problems of Herpetology [in Russian], Leningrad, pp. 109 - 110.

Kubykin R. A. (1975), Ecologo-faunistic survey of reptiles of the islands of Alakol Lake (Eastern Kazakhstan)," Izv. AN KazSSR. Ser. Biol. [in Russian], No. 3, 10 - 16.

Kubykin R. A. (1977), Ecological observations on the capture-recaptured toad agamas Phrynocephalus guttatus, in the lower part of Ili River, Southern Balkhash Lake area," in: Problems of Herpetology [in Russian], Leningrad, pp. 122 - 123.

Kubykin R. A. (1978), "Influence of frosts and precipitation on the breeding of the Green Toad in Zailiiskii Alatau Ridge," Izv. AN KazSSR. Ser. Biol. [in Russian], No. 3, 21 - 23.

Kubykin R. A. (1984), "A new species for the USSR fauna - the lizard Eremias vermiculata Blanford, 1875 from Eastern Kazakhstan," in: Ecology and Faunistics of Amphibians and Reptiles of the USSR and Adjacent Countries [in Russian], Leningrad, pp. 143 - 144.

Kubykin R. A. (1985), "Population number of Agryonemys horsfieldi in several districts of Chimkent region," in: Problems of Herpetology [in Russian], Leningrad, pp. 112 - 113.

Kubykin R. A. (1986), "On the ecology of Ranodon sibiricus," in: Rare Animals of Kazakhstan (Redkie Zhivotnye Kazakhstana) [in Russian], Alma-Ata, pp. 187 - 191.

Kubykin R. A. (1988), "The Green Toad," in: Vertebrates of Alma-Ata (Pozvonochnye Zhivotnye Alma-Aty) [in Russian], Alma-Ata, pp. 175 - 183.

Kubykin R. A. (1989), "Agryonemys horsfieldi: number and resources in the South-Eastern Kazakhstan," in: Problems of Herpetology [in Russian], Kiev, pp. 127 - 128.

Kubykin R. A. (1991), "Rana amurensis," in: Red Data Book of Kazakhstan. Vol. 1. Animals (Krasnaya Kniga Kazakhskoi SSR. Tom 1. Zhivotnye) [in Russian], Alma-Ata, pp. 278 - 290.

Kubykin R. A. (1996), "The Green Toad on islands in Lake Alakol, southeastern Kazakhstan," in: Advances in Amphibian Research in the former Soviet Union. Vol. 1, pp. 217 - 220.

Kubykin R. A. and Brushko Z. K. (1977), "The molting of the Steppe Agama, Agama sanguinolenta (Pall.) in Southern Balkhash Lake region," in: Herpetological Collected Papers, Leningrad, pp. 69 - 72.

Kubykin R. A. and Brushko Z. K. (1989), "New data on the distribution of reptiles in Kazakhstan," Byull. Mosk. Obshch. Isp. Prirody. Otdel Biol. [in Russian], 94(3), 32 - 35.

Kubykin R. A. and Brushko Z. K. (1990), "Phrynocephalus versicolor," in: Rare Animals of Kazakhstan (Redkie Zhivotnye Pustyn') [in Russian], Alma-Ata, pp. 217 - 229.

Kubykin R. A., Dolmen D., Arnekleiv J. V., and Mikutavicius D. (1995), "Influence of cattle-breeding on density of Ranodon sibiricus (Hynobiidae) in spawning places (Dzhungarski Alatau Mts.)," in: Abstrs. of the Second Asian Herpetol. Meet., Ashgabat, Folium, Moscow, p. 35.

Kubykin R. A., Kuzmin S. L., Thiesmeier B., and Greven H. (1997), "The influence of mud flows on the reproduction of Ranodon sibiricus (Hynobiidae) in south-east Kazakhstan," in: Herpetology'97, Prague, p. 118.

Kuzmin S. L., Kubykin R. A., and Thiesmeier B. (1998), "Current status of populations and perspectives of conservation of the Semirechensk salamander (Ranodon sibiricus)," in: Abstrs. of the 3rd Asian Herpetol. Meet., Almaty, pp. 25 - 26.

Kuzmin S. L., Kubykin R. A., and Thiesmeier B. (1998), "Current status of populations and perspectives of conservation of the Semirechensk salamander (Ranodon sibiricus)," in: Abstrs. of the 3rd Asian Herpetol. Meet., Almaty, pp. 25 - 26.

Kuzmin S. L., Kubykin R. A., Thiesmeier B., and Greven H. (1997). "The Semirechensk salamander (Ranodon sibiricus): a candidate for extinction?" in: Herpetology'97, Prague, p. 120.

Kuzmin S. L., Kubykin R. A., Thiesmeier B., and Greven H. (1998), "The distribution of the Semirechensk salamander (Ranodon sibiricus): a historical perspective," in: Advances in Amphibian Research in the former Soviet Union. Vol. 3, pp. 1 - 20.