The species composition of earthworms of different ecosystems in Kazakh upland (Kazakhstan) representing different soil types was assessed for the first time. This eco-region encompasses a large dry steppe area. It is considerably higher than the surrounding Western Siberian plains and Turgay plains. It features elevated plains, melkosopochniki (the local name for highly eroded plateaus), and low mountains. Habitat types characteristic to this area include petrophitic steppes with shrubs and brushwoods, granite rock pinewoods in the low mountains, and micro-phyllous woods associated with lakes and wetlands. Well represented intrazonal communities include wetlands and associated forests. Pine, birch, and aspen woods are found. Earthworms from Kazakh upland belong to seven genera, nine species, and three subspecies. These earthworms are widespread, a majority of which have an antropochoric dispersion however there are several native Asian species and subspecies as well. Development of a hydrological network promotes preservation of some forest species from the past, e.g., Dendrobaena octaedra and Eisenia norden-skioldi pallida. Moreover the boreal species of soil fauna specify the connection of area of research with the West-Siberian plain, Altai and southern Urals Mountains in the past. The epigeic D. octaedra and Dendrodrilus rubidus tenuis play a key role in the structure and function of the earthworm assemblages in the biotopes studied. The earthworm fauna is more diverse in forests of the northern and the southern parts of Kazakh upland than elsewhere in this arid zone of the country.

We assessed true bugs among aboveground and soil inhabitants of four different biocoenoses of pine forests representing the intrazone flora and fauna areas of the Kazakh Upland. True bugs were collected from litter according to the methods of soil zoological studies. The results of a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences of the dominant and ecological structures of Heteroptera complexes of aboriginal and derived forest types are presented. Fourteen species and subspecies of three families were listed for the Central Kazakhstan region for the first time. The species Eremocoris podagricus was not previously registered for the territory of Kazakhstan. Fifteen species (50%) were true aboveground inhabitants or live on grass, whereas other species use soil surfaces and ground litter as temporary habitats. Drymus brunneus and Eremocoris fenestratus play a key role in the structure and function of the true bug assemblages in the studied biotopes. The ecological success of typical forest and boreal inhabitants in biotopes of arid regions is explained by the relict nature of forests and ancient connections with the taiga zone of Western Siberia and the mountain forests of the Urals and Altai.

50 years have passed since the publication of the work of Nikolay Georgievich Skopin, Professor of the Department of Zoology, Karaganda State University «Darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae). Questions of comparative morphology and system. A review of the fauna of Kazakhstan». This is a sufficient period of time to understand, overestimate or forget the scientific works of the scientist. In this article, we have made a modest attempt to highlight the scientific heritage of our senior mentor and scientist, the teacher of our teachers. The first rector of the Karaganda State University, Evney Buketov, highly appreciated the entomological research of N.G. Skopin and initiated the preparation of the mentioned final work. Skopin's research focused on the systematics of a very complex group, and as a tenebrionidologist, he was both talented and authoritative in his field. His name is forever associated with the history of the study and classification of darkling beetles. The effectiveness of his system of identification by larval characteristics and male genitalia has been demonstrated in the distinction between separate genera and species. N.G. Skopin described 32 superspecies taxa and even more species. It is important to note that a number of these taxa while remaining valid, retain the surname Skopin in their nomenclature. Foreign specialists turned to him for his expert opinion on the identification of Tenebrionidae species and other coleopterological material. The world's most prominent entomological museums boast a plethora of specimens amassed and identified by Skopin.

We assessed true bugs among above-groundand and soil inhabitants of four different biocoenosis of pine forests representing the intra-zone areas of flora and fauna of the Kazakh upland. 15 species of three families were listed for the Central Kazakhstan region for the first time. Species Eremocoris podagricus was not registered for the territory of Kazakhstan earlier. Fifteen species (50 %) were true above-ground inhabitants or ones living on grasses, whereas other species use soil surface and ground litter as temporary habitats. Drymus brunneus and Eremocoris fenestratus play a key role in the structure and function of the true bugs assemblages in the in biotopes studied. The ecological success of typically forest and boreal inhabitants in biotopes of arid region is explained by relict nature of forests and ancient connections with the taiga zone of Western Siberia and mountain forests of the Urals and Altai. The results of a comparative analysis of the similarities and differences of the dominant and ecological structures of Heteroptera complexes of aboriginal studied forests and derived type of forest are presented.

Борис Николаевич Мухачев, декан факультета естествознания Карагандинского педагогического института (1958–1963), был необыкновенным человеком, изобретателем, агрономом-новатором, одержимым своим делом. Еще в начале работы в сельском хозяйстве он начал конструировать механические устройства для ускорения и облегчения процесса опыления зерна агрохимикатами, получил два автор-ских свидетельства. Как молодой рационализатор, Б.А. Мухачев был участником первой Всесоюзной сельскохозяйственной выставки (1939). Исторические испытания, выпавшие на долю биологов в СССР в 30–40-е гг. прошлого века, оставили и в его биографии глубокий след и проявился в качестве колоссального трагического труда среди таких же 200 передовых агрономов Карлага. Мухачев занимался селекцией озимых культур в Казахстане. Возглавлял борьбу с саранчой и малярией в Карагандинской области. Успешно развивал опыт новаторской работы с сельскохозяйственными растениями и вредными насекомыми на полях Центрального Казахстана. Занимаясь педагогической деятельностью в Карагандинском педагогическом институте, он оставался практиком и ученым, организовавшим Агрохимическую лабораторию и Курсы повышения квалификации в области химизации сельского хозяйства для агрономов из разных областей Казахстана. Агробиологическая станция (сначала факультета есте-ствознания КарПИ и позже биологического факультета КарГУ), созданная под его руководством, за 30 лет своего существования сыграла важнейшую роль в проведении методической, научно-образовательной работы в области растениеводства, зоологии, физиологии, ботаники, декоративного садоводства, селекции растений, охраны природы, метеорологии.

The few-bristled worms is an extremely important taxonomic group in terrestrial ecosystems. These worms did not receive earlier the attention they deserve and now we have some deficiencies in the knowledge about their taxonomy, distribution, biology and ecology. Experiments with species of different morphoecological groups of Lumbricidae were spent. We considered that the differences in amplitude and frequency of gizzard smooth muscles contractions between species of Lumbricidae have adaptive character. The contractive activity of the muscles was studied according to the method of isolated preparations. The greatest amplitude and the least frequency of contractions ofvisceral muscles was recorded in detritophages worms of mineral soils. The near-surface species showed the smaller amplitude of muscles contractions, and more greater frequencies of contractions. These physiological distinctions support ideas of the ecological heterogeneity of earthworms. The parameters of contractive activity of smooth muscles of gizzard are the specific physiological variable integrated with the morpho-ecological differentiation of earthworms in natural habitats.