Theriological research by Leonid Hirenko

Information on research directions, developed by a Ukrainian researcher of rodent ecology L. Hirenko (1918–1975) is presented. This scientist worked at the Institute of Zoology of the USSR Academy of Sciences from 1947 to 1975 in the Department of Animal Ecology, Department of Vertebrates, and later at the Museum’s Department and the Department of Scientific and Technical Information. His relatively small scientific contribution (about 20 publications) is offset by their importance and value of the samples he collected. His most important works are the studies of ecology and distribution of the European pine vole, black rat, garden dormouse, and articles on fur coloration of ground squirrels and regulation of rodent abundance using poison baits. Within Hirenko’s legacy, there are two memorial articles, dedicated to Prof. V. Vasilenko and Prof. M. Sviridenko. He also contributed the organizing and curation of zoological collections of the National Museum of Natural History of Ukraine and exhibitions (windows) on the display in the hall of mammals, the first 7 years of the journal "Vestnik Zoologii", where he was a scientific editor, establishing of Laboratory of Protection of Terrestrial Vertebrates.