Akimov, Igor Andreevich

Igor A. Akimov was born on July 19, 1937 in Kiev . In 1960 he graduated with honors from Kiev State University. T. G. Shevchenko . In 1965 he defended his thesis, and in 1979 - his doctoral dissertation. Since 1987, he has been the director of the Institute of Zoology named after I. I. Schmalhausen of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

Akimov is a zoologist of a wide profile, a specialist in many areas of fundamental and applied acarology , evolutionary and functional morphology , ecology and evolution of animals and parasitology .

He developed and substantiated the concept of evolutionary and adaptive identity of functional effects arising on a different morphological basis and in different modes of organogenesis . Based on this concept, a hierarchy of adaptation levels was constructed in accordance with different taxonomic ranks.

As a result of research, the ecological and physiological substantiation of the evolutionary directions of various systems of organs of acaroid ticks was first given and the ecological and physiological basis of the harmfulness of these arthropods was revealed. Developments in functional and evolutionary morphology are summarized in a series of articles and monographs “Biological Foundations of the Harmfulness of Acaroid Mites” (1985). The study of the biological characteristics of predatory, parasitic and herbivorous ticks allowed Akimov, together with his students, based on the principle of sharing weakly competing for the difference of life strategies (K and R-strategies) of two types of predators against one type of pest, to bring the principles of selection and application of perspective for biological method of plant protection ticks acarifagus. The results of these theoretical developments and practical implementation are reflected in a series of articles, practical recommendations, and two monographs, “Predatory and parasitic tick-heyletides” (1990) and “Predatory ticks in closed ground” (1991).

When studying the tick of varroa , the causative agent of the dangerous parasitic disease of bees, varroosa , I. Akimov discovered and studied general environmental problems such as mechanisms to overcome the harmful effects of inbreeding , seasonal polymorphism , variability, and its significance as a mobilization reserve of the species and the like. The results of these fundamental and applied zoological studies are reflected in a series of articles, monographs “The tick of varroa is the causative agent of bee varroosis” (1988), which is translated into English, and “The bee tick of Varroa jacobsoni” (1993), which has become an encyclopedia on the problem of varroosis and covers everything aspects of the biology of the causative agent of this disease.

Akimov is the author of more than 200 scientific publications, including 5 monographs united by the problem "Biological features of practically important tick groups."

He founded the laboratory of acarology. Through the efforts of the scientist, the Ukrainian school of acarologist was created, aimed at solving the fundamental and applied problems of acarology.

Igor Andreevich, leading the institute's projects on biodiversity conservation and conservation, put forward a number of important ideas regarding the inclusion of protected areas in the network of protected lands, the environmental conversion of military training grounds. As a specialist and expert in this matter, he actively participates in the creation of relevant draft laws of Ukraine. For many years he headed the Kiev Society for the Conservation of Nature .

Member of the Bureau of the Department of General Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Deputy Chairman of the National Commission on Red Book of Ukraine, Chairman of the Scientific Council on Problems of Conservation and Nature Reserves under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of NAS of Ukraine. I. A. Akimov is the President of the Ukrainian Scientific Society of Parasitologists .

I. A. Akimov - editor-in-chief of the journal Vestnik Zoologii , is a member of many scientific councils and societies, has repeatedly participated in the work of organizing committees and commissions of the National Academy of Sciences and international scientific organizations. The scientist was awarded the honorary title “ Honored Worker of Science and Technology of Ukraine ”.

• Newsletter of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. - 2007. —№ 7.

• About I. A. Akimov on the website of the Institute of Zoology named after I. I. Schmalhausen, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
• About I. A. Akimov on the website of the National. Scientific Library V.I. Vernadskog