Memories of the life and creative path of Academician Vadym Topachevsky

Abstract

The article presents an analytical summary of the memories about Academician Vadym Oleksandrovych Topachevsky, a palaeomammalogist, whose creative path covers the second half of the 20th century. His contribution to the development of zoological science is highlighted and the qualities of his character are noted. The professor’s achievements in the field of palaeomammalogy, biostratigraphy, and palaeoecology, as well as palaeogeography are discussed. His role as a scientist in the formation of a holistic scientific direction of research—palaeomammalogy— in Ukraine and abroad is emphasized and substantiated. This was facilitated by his many years of activity as the director of the Institute of Zoology and the head of the Palaeontological Museum and the Theriological Society of Ukraine. Topachevsky substantiated morpho-functional dependencies in evolutionary morphology and defended the approach of Darwin’s theory. He asserted the relationship between morphology, function, and environment as the basis of the process of adaptation in his writings. He is author of new taxa of insectivorans (Lypotyphla), lagomorphs, and rodents (Rodentia). He presented revisions of the taxonomy and systematics of these groups, substantiated phylogenetic relationships in separate lines of Spalacidae, Cricetidae, Ellobius, Allophaiomys, and others. Topachevsky initiated innovative approaches to assess the role of mammalian assemblages in the dynamics of biocoenotic groups over time. He substantiated their chronological sequence depending on palaeoclimatic conditions and the manifestation of geological processes. His data formed the basis for the construction of the modern biostratigraphic scheme of the late Neogene and Pleistocene of Eastern Europe, which is successfully used today by practicing geologists. The main milestones of the social and personal life of the academician are also highlighted and the importance of his work in the formation of modern mammalogy in Ukraine and the training of zoologists is shown. The latter are today the basis of the Ukrainian Theriological Society, of which he was the president for many years. Under his leadership, palaeontological expeditions gathered notable collections of the mammal fauna, which are part of the National Heritage of Ukraine.