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Information × Registration Number 0225U005133, (0124U001960) , R & D reports Title Valuable animal species in the fauna of Ukraine based on archaeological materials: taxonomic composition, population dynamics and spatial distribution popup.stage_title Динаміка чисельності цінних видів тварин фауни України упродовж голоцену, розробка рекомендацій щодо збереження їхніх популяцій, повоєнного відновлення біоресурсів і антропогенно трансформованих екосистем Head Gorobets Leonid V., Доктор біологічних наук Registration Date 25-12-2025 Organization National Museum of Natural History National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine popup.description1 To establish the presence of valuable species of animals (fish, birds and mammals) in the territory of Ukraine in the historical past based the study of archaeozoological material, to find out the influence of various factors on the spatial distribution and number of their populations, and to develop scientifically based principles for the post-war restoration of biological resources. popup.description2 The remains of sturgeons, birds of prey, galliform birds, and hoofed mammals from zooarchaeological materials across the territory of Ukraine have been examined. A methodology for species identification of sturgeons based on skeletal elements has been developed. In the historical past of Ukraine, five species were present (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. nudiventris, A. ruthenus, A. stellatus, Huso huso). The Russian sturgeon, sterlet, and stellate sturgeon were the most frequently recorded. Beluga was less abundant, and the stellate sturgeon played a secondary role. Zooarchaeological materials from Ukraine yielded 28 species of birds of prey. Several raptors were widely distributed in the historical past of the region and occurred in higher numbers compared to the present. Skeletal remains the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) were found outside its modern distribution. A reduction in the range of the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) was also recorded. Owl remains are especially numerous in Neolithic, Eneolithic, and Bronze Age settlements. During the Late Pleistocene–Holocene, populations of seven extant Galliform species occurred in the territory of Ukraine, having entered the region without human involvement: hazel grouse (Tetrastes bonasia), willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus), rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), western capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus), black grouse (Lyrurus tetrix), grey partridge (Perdix perdix), and common quail (Coturnix coturnix). Throughout the Holocene, under conditions of gradual climatic warming, the moose range in Europe shifted westward. Although the area of suitable habitat increased over the last 8,000 years, the reduction of the European range of Alces alces was caused by anthropogenic landscape changes and excessive hunting during the Late Holocene. Excavations at the Medzhybizh fortress uncovered animal bones dating to the 11th–12th, 17th, and 18th–19th centuries. These findings made it possible to determine the role of these animals. Product Description popup.authors Kovalchuk Oleksandr M. Volynskyi Tyt P. popup.nrat_date 2025-12-25 Close