In 1946, one of the first departments of zoology, anatomy, human and animal physiology was organised at the Faculty of Physics, Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Institute of Teacher Education. In 1963 the Department of Zoology was separated as an independent unit. The Department of Zoology and Ecology opens up various professional areas, namely school and university teachers, biologists, ecologists and zoologists, laboratory assistants, medical technologist and forensics analysts. Graduates may be employed by the Centre for Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, Biological Diagnostics Laboratory, nature management institutions and environmental institutions (for example state reserves and national parks).

Practical classes are organised in the equipped facilities of the department. In 2006, the department established the Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Animals Systematics, where students may explore molecular genetics of various vertebrate animals in the fauna of the Russian Federation and even Eurasia. In 2012, the Laboratory of Microorganisms Ecology began its work on the ecology and taxonomy of the main groups of free-living heterotrophic eukaryotic microorganisms. Using the existing research laboratories and available equipment, students and staff of the department, together with scientists from other cities and countries, conduct the most advanced research of a fundamental and applied nature.

Since 1979, the Department of Zoology and Ecology has been carrying out a unique form of research, namely student zoological expedition. This involves the most enthusiastic students and teaching staff, who are writing papers in the relevant areas. Some projects are awarded scholarships from the President of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Russian Federation for their findings. The department runs a biostation in the Shemysheysky district on the banks of the Penza Reservoir. It is used for field practices, where students obtain research skills and perform individual tasks. They also get camping skills, as they live in tents, cook on a fire and learn to help each other, gradually becoming a friendly team. Field practices are also held in the Volga Forest-Steppe Reserve and in other areas of the Penza Region and neighbouring regions. The geography of research sometimes even spans neighbouring countries, in particular, Kazakhstan.

The department actively campaigns and raises awareness among zoologists, ecologists and lovers of natural science. Its staff members contribute to the activity of the regional branches of the Mammalogy and Herpetology Society of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the Union for Birds Protection of Russia and the Russian Entomological Society. As part of implementing joint projects and providing expert assistance, the department maintains long-term relations with environmental institutions of the city and region: Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources, All-Russian Alliance of Public Associations of Hunting and Fishing, Wildlife Management Agency, Fish Protection Service and Penza Zoo.

Since 1977, the Zoological Museum has become an important methodological base for training future teachers, ecologists, biologists and zoologists, as well as for informing general population. Three halls of the museum with a total area of 120 square metres house the richest collection exhibiting animals of various species from many natural areas in the Russian Federation. The collection includes more than 10,000 exhibits, and about 5,000 people visit it every year.

DEGREE PROGRAMMES

Bachelor

06.03.01 Biology: Bioecology and Biochemistry
06.03.01 Biology: Molecular Biology and Genetics

Master

06.04.01 Biology: Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
06.04.01 Biology: Molecular Biology and Genetics
06.04.01 Biology: Ecology

Post-graduate

1.5.12 Zoology
1.5.15 Ecology

RESEARCH

Research topics

•    Chiroptera in the Volga region and adjacent territories: fauna, taxonomy, ecology.
•    Genetic, morphological, ecological and ethological aspects of hybridization of mammals (study of Spermophilus)
•    Organization of communities of free-living protozoa, freshwater zooplankton and macrozoobenthos
•    Organization of communities of terrestrial molluscs
•    Karyosystematics of small mammals
•    Monitoring of fauna
•    Hybrid zones of mammals: spatio-temporal dynamics, genetic structure and population mechanisms of long-term existence (study of Spermophilus)
•    Role of rivers as geographic barriers in the genetic differentiation of Eurasian ground squirrels (Spermophilus)
•    Cryptogenic and hybridogenic speciation in green frogs (Pelophylax esculentus complex): molecular genetic approach
•    Polymorphism of population systems as a mechanism for sustainable existence of ecosystems
•    Population factors and genetic mechanisms for maintaining intraspecific polymorphism and structuredness of animal populations in strongly transformed environment

Collaboration

M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
N.G. Chernyshevsky Saratov State University
Samara State University
Kazan Federal University
Ulyanovsk State Pedagogical University
Orenburg State Pedagogical University
N.P. Ogarev Mordovia State University
Tuva State University
Annamalai University (India)
Ocean University of China (China)
Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (China)
Lyceum of the Penza Region
Kuznetsk Gymnasium no. 1
Zoological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences
A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute of Ecology of the Volga Basin, Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Russian Academy of Sciences
N.K. Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences
A.D. Papanin Institute of Biology of Inland Waters, Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
P.P. Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, Russian Academy of Sciences
Institute of Biology of the Southern Seas, Russian Academy of Sciences
Zoological Museum of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University
Zhigulevskii Nature Reserve
Opukskii Nature Reserve
Samarskaya Luka National Park
Volga Region Forest-Steppe Reserve
Bagdinsko-Baskunchakskii Reserve
Astrakhan State Reserve
Mordovian Reserve
Dagestansky Nature Reserve
Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources
All-Russian Alliance of Public Associations of Hunting and Fishing
Ministry of Forestry, Hunting and Nature Management of the Penza Region
Penza Zoo
Fish Protection Service of the Penza Region

CONTACTS

Prof. Dr. Sergei Titov
Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor
Head of the Department of Zoology and Ecology

37 Lermontova Street, building 15, floor 1, office 121
Tel: +7 (8412) 64-39-16
E-mail: natvibys@mail.ru
Web-page of the Department of Zoology and Ecology (in Russian)