Principal Investigator: Rustem Kh. Kadyrbekov
Implementation period: 2025–2027
IRN: BR28712767
The Institute of Zoology of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a co-executor of the targeted funding program “Study of the Ecological, Socio-Demographic, Economic-Geographical, and Paleobiogeographical Aspects of the Ural Region and Assessment of Its Natural Resource Potential” within Section II: Bioecological Research and Biodiversity Monitoring. The main executor of the program is Makhambet Utemisov West Kazakhstan University. The scientific supervisor of the program is Dr. Talshen Y. Darbayeva.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
The study area covers the Ural Region in the middle and lower reaches of the Zhaiyk (Ural) River basin, including the territories of West Kazakhstan and Atyrau Regions, as well as the northern part of Aktobe Region within the Zhaiyk River basin (Ilek, Or, and Khobda rivers). The total area of the region is 351,591 km².
A comprehensive study of the regional fauna will help fill gaps in knowledge about its biodiversity. The fauna of the Ural Region has been studied fragmentarily, and existing data are scattered across numerous taxonomic publications. The lack of systematic studies of the region’s arachnofauna, acarofauna, entomofauna, and ichthyofauna leaves significant gaps in understanding its composition and structure and complicates further ecological and biogeographical research. Insufficient information on faunal composition limits the ability to assess the influence of environmental factors on the structure of animal communities, thereby hindering the development of effective biodiversity conservation measures.
PROJECT RELEVANCE
For the first time in the region, an assessment of the resource potential of hunting management will be conducted. Previous studies mainly focused on describing game species and issues of their protection. However, the specific features of modern hunting management, its efficiency, and economic aspects have remained insufficiently studied. A series of studies will be devoted to this issue.
For the first time, a systematic study will be conducted on the role of certain representatives of the regional fauna as indicators of ecosystem changes, considering their biodiversity, trophic niches, and resistance to anthropogenic impacts. Innovative methods for analyzing the distribution and population dynamics of fauna will be proposed to assess ecosystem resilience to climate change and anthropogenic pressure.
An important task is the monitoring of rare species of the regional herpetofauna, including those listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the development of conservation measures under conditions of climate and anthropogenic change.
In parallel, an electronic database for the regional fauna cadastre will be created, including data on both recent and fossil species and integrated with GIS.
OBJECTIVES:
- Develop a set of scientific and innovative methods for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, taking into account the natural and climatic features of the region, compile biodiversity catalogues, and conduct metagenomic studies of rare and endemic environmental objects;
- Create an electronic GIS-integrated database for the regional fauna cadastre, including data on recent and fossil wild animal species;
- Study the biodiversity of modern and fossil amphibians and reptiles and all aspects of their biology using advanced methods in collaboration with leading international herpetological centers;
- Conduct biodiversity monitoring, including identification of habitats of rare and endemic animal species;
- Establish modern research infrastructure in the fields of arachnology, entomology, and hydrobiology.
EXPECTED RESULTS:
– Development of innovative methods for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use;
– Creation of a GIS-integrated electronic database for the regional fauna cadastre;
– Study of the biodiversity of modern and fossil amphibians and reptiles;
– Monitoring and identification of habitats of rare and endemic species;
– Establishment of modern research infrastructure in arachnology, entomology, and hydrobiology.
IMPLEMENTERS:
The project involves 11 specialists from the Institute of Zoology of the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Responsible executor of the program section – Rustem Kh. Kadyrbekov, Chief Researcher, Doctor of Biological Sciences, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-0550-3697, Scopus Author ID: 15729394100, h-index 2
Tlepayeva A.M., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9754-2177, Scopus Author ID: 57195611234, h-index 2
Dujsebayeva T.N., Leading Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-0127-3604, Scopus Author ID: 22634360000, h-index 10
Malakhov D.V., Senior Researcher, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-7844-6569, Scopus Author ID: 36794244500, h-index 8
Yeszhanov A.B., Senior Researcher, PhD, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-6572-5668, Scopus Author ID: 56891752100, h-index 6
Nekhaeva A.A., Senior Researcher, Candidate of Biological Sciences, ORCID ID: 0000-0002-4972-2122, Scopus Author ID: 54891966800, h-index 4
Titov S.V., Senior Researcher, Doctor of Science (Sc.D), ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2196-280X, Scopus Author ID: 54390454100, h-index 3
Plakhov K.N., Senior Researcher, ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8627-2311, Scopus Author ID: 56728663500, h-index 3
Linnik A.S., Senior Researcher, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-4472-2307
Kim L.V., Junior Researcher, Master’s degree, ORCID ID: 0000-0003-1916-7639, Scopus Author ID: 59350923800, h-index 1
Kurbanova R.A., Junior Researcher, Master’s degree, ORCID ID: 0009-0008-6273-0523, Scopus Author ID: 58868159100, h-index 1
WORK RESULTS:
Brief results of 2025
Work on the project began on October 14, 2025. During the reporting period, an analysis of literature sources devoted to the fauna of the region was carried out.
As a result of the analysis, the following data were obtained for various animal groups.
The total species richness of spiders in the western regions of Kazakhstan amounts to 382 species from 24 families. The greatest diversity is characteristic of the families Gnaphosidae (75 species, 19%) and Salticidae (63 species, 16%). Thus, despite significant progress in the study of spiders in the West Kazakhstan Region, the overall level of knowledge of western Kazakhstan remains insufficient, especially with regard to Aktobe and Atyrau Regions. The available data indicate a high similarity of faunas between the regions; however, there is an obvious need for additional studies covering various biotopes and seasons. This will make it possible to clarify the composition and structure of the araneofauna, which is important for identifying patterns of spider distribution and understanding the regularities of fauna formation.
At present, 1,813 insect species belonging to 918 genera, 108 families, and 11 orders have been identified in the study region. The level of study by region is as follows: Atyrau Region – 799 insect species recorded; West Kazakhstan Region – 1,028 insect species; Aktobe Region – 994 insect species belonging to 486 genera and 34 families within 5 orders. The most complete picture of entomofauna study is currently observed in the West Kazakhstan Region.
The diversity of the ichthyofauna of the Ural Region is represented by 51 species belonging to 21 families and 12 orders. The ichthyofauna can be classified according to zoogeographical criteria (marine or freshwater) and ecological groups: anadromous and resident species.
The current list of the herpetofauna of the project area reliably includes 26 species, of which 5 amphibian species – the fire-bellied toad, Pallas’s spadefoot, eastern green toad, marsh frog and moor frog; two turtle species – the European pond turtle and the Central Asian tortoise; 9 species of lizards: squeaky gecko, grey gecko, steppe agama, toad-headed agamas – vertikhvostka, takyr and earless forms, racerunners – variegated and swift, the sand lizard; and 10 snake species – sand boa, smooth snake, whip snakes: Caspian, Pallas’s and patterned, grass snakes – common and dice, arrow snake, the Karagan pit viper and the eastern steppe viper. Species mentioned in the literature of the 19th – early 20th centuries, whose presence in the project area has not yet been confirmed, were not included in the list. Analysis of the history of herpetological studies made it possible to identify issues and highlight areas requiring priority attention within the framework of this project.
The database has begun to be populated with materials on all animal groups involved in the research.
Hunting management studies will begin in 2026.