A Forum for Taxonomists: amendments to be done in the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature

2008·0.51 MB·

© Zoological Institute, St. Petersburg, 2008
Izyaslav Moiseyevich Kerzhner
(6 March 1936 – 29 May 2008)
Izyaslav Moiseyevich Kerzhner – entomologist, Professor and Chief Researcher of the
Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a Commissioner of the International
Commission on Zoological Nomenclature.
Izyaslav Moiseyevich Kerzhner died on 29 His expertise was recognised by the staff of the
May, 2008, at the age of 72 in St. Petersburg. scientifi c library of the Zoological Institute of
the Russian Academy of Sciences, and he was an
Izyaslav Moiseyevich loved insects and math- indispensable adviser on the subject of dates of
ematics from early childhood. In 1953 he enrolled publication of rare books and papers. Even during
in Kishinev University, but unfortunately their his last illness he regularly came to the institute’s
Department of Entomology closed shortly there- library with colleagues to resolve bibliographic
after. He managed to move to Leningrad – a very problems. He also loved zoological collections
diffi cult feat at that time – and became a student at and could spend days and months deciphering
the Department of Entomology of the Leningrad illegible labels. These skills made him an out-
State University and studied under the famous Pro- standing nomenclaturist.
fessor A.S. Danilevsky, then Head of Department. A Commissioner of the International Commis-
It was Danilevsky who suggested that he study sion on Zoological Nomenclature from 1996, he
the systematics of Hemiptera, which remained relished the challenge of nomenclatural puzzles,
the primary focus of all his scientifi c activities and through his dedication and energy solved a
and the central objective of his life. In 1958, after vast number of problems concerning the nomen-
graduation, Izyaslav Moiseyevich was employed clature of many groups of animals, not only his
at the Zoological Institute and started work under beloved Heteroptera. The other commissioners
the supervision of Professor A.N. Kirichenko, and considered him among the leading lights in
soon became a recognised expert. He contributed zoological nomenclature. Izyaslav Moiseyevich
to the Key for the Identifi cation of Insects of the participated in international debates on the In-
European USSR, which was a huge multi-vol- ternational Code of Zoological Nomenclature
ume project that lasted several decades. In 1965 right up until the time of his death. He translated
Izyaslav Moiseyevich, defended his Candidate of two editions of the International Code of Zoo-
Science (Ph. D.) thesis on predatory Heteroptera logical Nomenclature into Russian, an immense
of the family Nabidae (damsel bugs) of the USSR. contribution to the development of taxonomy
He was an excellent expert in taxonomy of most and systematics in countries with Cyrillic-based
of the Palaearctic terrestrial Heteroptera fauna languages. His linguistic skills were remarkable;
and considerably contributed to our knowledge he knew Latin and Greek, English, German and
of Miridae, Pentatomidae, Coreidae and other French, and could read Italian, Spanish and basic
families. However he continued to work on the Chinese!
Nabidae throughout his whole career. In 1990 A third major fi eld of Izyaslav Moiseyevich’s
I.M. Kerzhner obtained the degree of Doctor of work was his editorial activity; it was mostly
Sciences with his book “Hemiptera of the Fam- through his efforts that the 11 collected volumes
ily Nabidae in the Fauna of the USSR”, a major of “Insects of Mongolia” were published over
contribution to the systematics, zoogeography, many years. He was a founder and Editor-in-Chief
biology and morphology of the damsel bugs. of the journal “Zoosystematica Rossica” which
The scientifi c interests of Izyaslav Moiseyevich became the only Russian journal specialising in
were extraordinarily wide. Like his scientifi c su- the taxonomy of animals. This role earned him
pervisor A.N. Kirichenko he became an expert on tremendous respect all over the former USSR for
the history of entomology and zoology in general, his readiness to help colleagues to prepare and
and was especially passionate about the history publish taxonomic papers.
of fi eldwork by Russian travellers and collectors. Izyaslav Moiseyevich was a very skilled insect
He also developed a deep knowledge of the ento- collector. He participated in numerous expedi-
mological literature; library activities played an tions throughout the USSR and Mongolia, and
important role in Izyaslav Moiseyevich’s work. further afi eld to Cuba, Mexico, USA, and Israel.
2 Obituary (cid:129) ZOOSYST. ROSSICA Vol. 17
He collected extensive and rare material of many quainted with Izyaslav Moiseyevich knows that he
insect orders. devoted much of his time to his colleagues helping
Izyaslav Moiseyevich’s scientifi c-organization them in their research, assisting them in resolv-
work was multifaceted. He was a member of the ing questions of zoological nomenclature and
Scientifi c Council and Library Council of the editing scientifi c editions. The many colleagues
Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of who sought his advice, whether on taxonomic or
Sciences, Council and Presidium of the Russian nomenclatural matters, received deep, careful and
Entomological Society, a member of the Interna- exhaustive answers.
tional Hemipterists’ Society, Honorary Member of Izyaslav Moiseyevich’s everyday work as a
the Russian Entomological Society and Hungarian scientifi c editor, and his generous and expert
Entomological Society. advice on taxonomy, nomenclature and entomo-
It is impossible to list all of Izyaslav Moiseyev- logical literature brought him deep respect and
ich Kerzhner’s activities and achievements, and gratitude.
one cannot help admiring his high professional- He was a person of rare talent, generosity, fi del-
ism and his multitude of accomplishments. In ity to principle, and selfl essness. His death is an
all that he did his strictly logical frame of mind, irreparable loss to entomology, nomenclature, and
excellent memory, outstanding linguistic ability, to everyone who knew him closely.
broad outlook, remarkable honesty, and fantastic The memory of Izyaslav Moiseyevich Kerzhner
effi ciency shone through. Everyone who was ac- will always live in our hearts.
Alexander Emeljanov, Gleb Medvedev, Nina Bogutskaya,
Boris Korotyaev, Svetlana Nikolayeva