Summer field practice in zoology

2nd year students of specialty 6В05107 - “Biology” of the Department of General Biology and Genomics from May 24 to June 12, 2021 passed a summer field practice in zoology remotely.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the usual educational process at the university was suspended, however, modern means of communication between students and teachers allowed to continue classes and practices of students remotely. This year, students also underwent field practice in zoology individually, often without even leaving their place of residence.
In the 2020–2021 academic year, three groups of the 2nd year students studied in specialty “6В05107 -Biology”. The total number of students is 77. Since students at the L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University live in almost all regions and regions of Kazakhstan, practice sites are unusually diverse in their natural features and composition of the animal world. This allowed observing the species of animals of various ecosystems - from semi-desert and steppe, to freshwater and saline reservoirs. If students could not leave their city or village, they had the opportunity to observe the synanthropic fauna, or the animals of local parks, zoos and migratory birds
.


Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) on Lake Shchuchye, Borovoe. Photo of the BG-22 group student Ksenia Kirichenko.

 

Students observed invertebrates and vertebrates, their species and ecological composition, color, morphology and behavior.
Especially many species of spiders and insects were found.


A diverse world of insects. Photos of students.

 

Fishermen have helped to catch various types of fish near ponds: pike, perch, pikeperch, catfish, asp, tench and many others.

A student of the BG-23 group Tursynbai Ersayyn studying fish. Sozak district, Turkestan region.

 

Among the amphibians, green toad (Bufo viridis), moor frog (Rana arvalis), and marsh frog (Pelophylax ridibundus) were found. Among reptiles, students met various species of lizards, snakes and turtles.

Russian tortoise (Testudo horsfieldii), Kyzylorda, photo of a student of the BG-23 group Alpysbay Aitolkyn.

 

Among birds, there were many waterfowl species (shelducks, mallards, mute swans, lake gulls and others), steppe species (the great and little bustards, kestrels and others), as well as various birds of prey and passerines.

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Novocherkasskoye village, Astrakhan district, Akmola region. Photo of a student of the BG-22 group Maduakhasova Arina.

 

Among mammals, species such as the common hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), the fox (Vulpes vulpes), the marmot (Marmota bobak), and the European hare (Lepus europaeus) were found.

Fox (Vulpes vulpes), Nur-Sultan, photo of the student of the BG-23 group Asabayeva Zhanerke.

 

Students sent the pictures and videos to the general group in Watsapp, as well as to e-mail, remotely engaged in determining species under the supervision of a teacher, and kept field diaries.
Thanks to photographs and entries in the field diaries, valuable information was obtained on the distribution of various animal species. Based on the results of the practice, students wrote reports and prepared presentations.

A page from the field diary of a student of the BG-22 group Ibragimova Milana.

 

As a result of summer field practice, students consolidated their knowledge of zoology, got acquainted with the fauna of their region, gained experience in identifying animals and got a pleasant experience from communicating with wildlife.

Teachers: Daniyar Tagayev, Meruert Salkymbayeva