Alex Rasnitsyn

Alexandr Pavlovich Rasnitsyn (Russian: Александр Павлович Расницын) is a Russian entomologist, expert in palaeoentomology, and Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation (2001).RASNITSYN Александр Павлович (www.paleo.ru)
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His scientific interests are centered on the palaeontology, phylogeny, and taxonomy of hymenopteran insects and insects in general. He has also studied broader biological problems such as evolutionary theory, the principles of phylogenetics, taxonomy, nomenclature, and palaeoecology. He has published over 300 articles and books in several languages. In August 2008 he was awarded the Distinguished Research Medal of the International Society of Hymenopterists.

Biography

Alexandr Rasnitsyn was born on 24 September 1936 in Moscow. As a schoolboy Alex was active in the Society of Young Biologists at the Moscow Zoo. In 1955 he became a student at the Biological Faculty of the Moscow State University and in 1960 he graduated with honors from the Department of Entomology. His Master thesis was "Hibernation in the ichneumon-fly subfamily Ichneumoninae". The same year Rasnitsyn joined the Laboratory of Arthropods at the Paleontological institute, Academy of Sciences of USSR. In 1967 he received his Ph.D. in biology from the Paleontological Institute with the thesis "The Mesozoic Hymenoptera Symphyta and the early evolution of Xyelidae". After defending in 1978 his Dr. hab. (doktor nauk) thesis "The origin and evolution of Hymenoptera" Rasnitsyn became Head of the Laboratory of Arthropods. In 1991 he received the title of a Biology Professor. In 1996 he resigned from heading the Laboratory and continued there as a principal research worker, but after the new leader, Vladimir Zherikhin, died in 2001 Rasnitsyn again became the acting Head of the Laboratory (2002—present).

Between 2001 and 2005 Rasnitsyn served as President of the International Palaeoentomological Society. Since 2007 he is serving on the Council of the Russian Entomological Society.

During more than 20 field seasons between 1956 and 2009 Rasnitsyn conducted field work in various regions of Russia and the former USSR, including Fergana Valley, Issyk Kul, Central Asia, Transbaikalia, Taimyr, Okhotsk, Sikhote-Alin, and other parts of Siberia, Far East, and Mongolia.

Family

Rasnitsyn has one son, Dmitri, who is from a previous marriage. Dmitri married a Masha Kreinin and Rasnitsyn now has three grandchildren; Alexandra, Shelly, and Jonathan Rasnitsyn, who all live in the US.

Research

One of the world's leading paleoentomologists, Rasnitsyn has described ca. 250Nomenclator Zoologicus
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He is one of the foremost authorities on the paleontology and systematics of Hymenoptera whose ideas have formed the foundation of the modern classification of that insect order. Instead of the traditional division into Symphyta and Apocrita, he divided the order into “sawflies” (Siricina) and “stinging and parasitic wasps’’ (Vespina), the latter suborder including the parasitic Orussoidea, traditionally placed in the Symphyta.

Rasnitsyn suggested his own hypothesis on the origin of insect flight. According to him, the wings first evolved, as a means to control gliding, in relatively large insects that had turned to feeding on generative organs of arboreal plants.

Rasnitsyn is one of the most consistent opponents of cladism. He develops an alternative approach to biological systematics, called “phyletics”, which differs from phenetics in taking into account genealogy in addition to similarities and hiatuses.

He also contributed significantly to the epigenetic theory of evolution and, in particular, has put forward the concept of “adaptive compromise” and the notion of macroevolution being irreducible to microevolutionary processes alone.

Rasnitsyn has also made a significant contribution to paleoecology and in collaboration with Vladimir Zherikhin developed the theory of ecological crises.

New taxa described by Alexandr Rasnitsyn

* Suborder †'' Eolepidopterigina'' Rasn., 1983 – a suborder of butterflies with the family ''Eolepidopterigidae'' Rasn., 1983Rasnitsyn AP (1983) First record of a moth in the Jurassic. Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR 269(2): 467–471 n Russian, with English translation in Doklady Biological Sciences [Transactions of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Biological Sciences Section 1983].
* Suborder †''Aneuretopsychina'' Rasnitsyn et Kozlov, 1990 – a suborder of Mecoptera with the family ''Aneuretopsychidae'' Rasnitsyn et Kozlov, 1990
* Superfamily †''Karatavitoidea'' Rasn., 1963 – a Mesozoic superfamily of the infraorder '' Orussomorpha'' Newman, 1834 with the family '' Karatavitidae'' Rasn., 1963
* Superfamily †'' Bethylonymoidea'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic superfamily of Hymenoptera Apocrita with the family '' Bethylonymidae'' Rasn., 1975. The ancestor group of Aculeata.Rasnitsyn AP (1975) Hymenoptera Apocrita of the Mesozoic. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 147: 1–134 n Russian
* Family †'' Parapamphiliidae'' Rasn., 1968 – later was included into '' Sepulcidae'' Rasn., 1968 as the subfamily '' Parapamphiliinae'' Rasn., 1968Rasnitsyn AP (1968) New Mesozoic sawflies (Hymenoptera, Symphyta). In: Rohdendorf BB (Ed) Jurassic Insects of Karatau. Nauka Press, Moscow, 190–236 otal pages 252 pp., +25 pls. n Russian
* Family †'' Xyelydidae'' Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily '' Pamphilioidea''
* Family †'' Gigasiricidae'' Rasn., 1968 – a Jurassic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily ''Siricoidea''
* Family †'' Xyelotomidae'' Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta from the superfamily '' Tenthredinoidea''
* Family †'' Pararchexyelydae'' Rasn., 1968 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Symphyta
* Family †'' Praeaulacidae'' Rasn., 1972 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Evanioidea''
* Family †'' Maimetshidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Cretaceous family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Ceraphronoidea''
* Family †'' Cretevaniidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Evanioidea''
* Family †'' Kotujellidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Evanioidea'' (later included into '' Gasteruptiidae'' Ashmead, 1900)
* Family †'' Anomopterellidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Evanioidea''
* Family †'' Baissidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily '' Evanioidea'' (later was included into '' Aulacidae'' Schuckard, 1841)
* Family †'' Ichneumonomimidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita. Systematic position uncertain, probably a relative of ''Ichneumonoidea''
* Family †''Angarosphecidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily ''Scolioidea''
* Family †'' Falsiformicidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Cretaceous family of Hymenoptera Apocrita from the superfamily ''Scolioidea''
* Family †'' Baissodidae'' Rasn., 1975 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita
* Family †'' Evenkiidae'' Rasn., 1977 – a Carboniferous family of the order '' Protortoptera''Rasnitsyn AP (1977) New Paleozoic and Mesozoic insects. Paleontologicheskiy Zhurnal 1977(1): 64–77 n Russian, with English translation in Paleontological Journal, 1978, 11: 60–72
* Family †'' Permonkidae'' Rasn., 1977 – a family of '' Miomoptera''
* Family †'' Palaeomantiscidae'' Rasn., 1977 – a family of '' Miomoptera''
* Family †'' Karataidae'' Rasn., 1977 – a Mesozoic family of Hymenoptera Apocrita
* Family †'' Electrotomidae'' Rasn., 1977 – a family of '' Tenthredinoidea'' from Baltic amberRasnitsyn AP (1977) A new family of sawflies (Hymenoptera, Tenthredinoidea, Electrotomidae) from the Baltic amber. Zoologicheskiy Zhurnal 56(9): 1304–1308 n Russian, with English summary
* Family †'' Praeichneumonidae'' Rasn., 1983 – a Lower Cretaceous family of the superfamily ''Ichneumonoidea''
* Family †'' Strashilidae'' Rasnitsyn, 1992 – a family of Mecopteroidea. Hypothetical ancestors of Anoplura
* Family †'' Saurodectidae'' Rasnitsyn et Zherikhin, 2000 – a Mesozoic family of Mallophaga
* Family †'' Andreneliidae'' Rasnitsyn et Martinez-Delclos, 2000 – a family of Hymenoptera Apocrita of the superfamily '' Evanioidea''
* Family †'' Tshekarcephalidae'' Novokshonov et Rasnitsyn, 2000 – a Paleozoic family of uncertain systematic position
* Family †'' Daohugoidae'' Rasn. et Zhang Haichun, 2004 – a family of Hymenoptera Symphyta of the superfamily ''Siricoidea''
* Family †'' Khutelchalcididae'' Rasnitsyn, Basibuyuk et Quicke, 2004 – a family of Chalcidoidea
* Family †'' Radiophronidae'' Ortega-Blanco, Rasnitsyn et Delclos, 2010 – a Mesozoic family of '' Ceraphronoidea''
* Subfamily †'' Archexyelinae'' Rsan., 1964 – a subfamily of '' Xyelidae'' Newman, 1834
* Subfamily †'' Dolichostigmatinae'' Rasn., 1968 – a subfamily of ''Anaxyelidae'' Martynov., 1925
* Subfamily †'' Karatavitinae'' Rasn., 1968 –a subfamily of '' Karatavitidae'' Rasn., 1963
* Subfamily †'' Sepulcinae'' Rasn., 1968 – was described as a subfamily of '' Karatavitidae'' Rasn., 1963, later was raised to the family rank, '' Sepulcidae'' Rasn., 1968
* Subfamily †'' Auliscinae'' Rasn., 1968 – a subfamily of '' Karatavitidae'' Rasn., 1963
* Subfamily †'' Praesiricinae'' Rasn., 1968 – was described as a subfamily of '' Karatavitidae'' Rasn., 1963, later was raised to the family rank, '' Praesiricidae'' Rasn. 1968
* Subfamily †'' Madygellinae'' Rasn., 1969 – a subfamily of '' Xyelidae'' Newman, 1834Rasnitsyn AP (1969) The origin and evolution of lower Hymenoptera. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 123: 1–196 n Russian, with English translation by Amerind Co., New Delhi, 1979
* Subfamily †'' Cleistogastrinae'' Rasn., 1975 – a subfamily of '' Megalyridae'' Schletterer, 1889
* Subfamily '' Proscoliinae'' Rasn., 1977 – a recent subfamily of Scoliidae
* Subfamily †'' Juralydinae'' Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily of''Pamphiliidae'' Cameron, 1890
* Subfamily †'' Mesorussinae'' Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily of '' Orussidae'' Mewman, 1834
* Subfamily †'' Cretogonalinae'' Rasn., 1977 – a subfamily of '' Trigonalidae'' Cresson, 1867
* Subfamily †'' Manlayinae'' Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of '' Aulacidae'' Schuckard, 1841
* Subfamily †'' Ghilarellinae'' Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of '' Sepulcidae'' Rasn., 1968Rasnitsyn AP (1988) Sepulcidae and origin of Cephidae (Hymenoptera: Cephoidea). Transactions of the All-Union Entomological Society 70: 480–497 n Russian obias VI, editor (1988) Taxonomy of Insects and Mites. Nauka Press, Moscow
* Subfamily †'' Trematothoracinae'' Rasn., 1986 – a subfamily of '' Sepulcidae'' Rasn., 1968
* Subfamily †'' Priorvespinae'' Carpenter et Rasnitsyn, 1990 – a subfamily of ''Vespidae'' Latrielle, 1802
* Subfamily †'' Archaeoscoliinae'' Rasnitsyn, 1993 – a subfamily of Scoliidae
* Subfamily †'' Karataoserphinae'' Rasnitsyn, 1994 – a subfamily of '' Mesoserphidae'' Kozlov, 1970
* Subfamily †'' Iscopininae'' Rasnitsyn, 1980 – a subfamily of '' Pelecinidae'' Haliday, 1840.
* Tribe †'' Angaridyelini'' Rasn., 1966 – a tribe of the subfamily '' Macroxyelinae'' Ashmead, 1898 of the family '' Xyelidae''
* Tribe †'' Cretodinapsini'' Rasn., 1977 – a tribe of the subfamily '' Megalyrinae'' of the family '' Megalyridae''
* Tribe †'' Gigantoxyelini'' Rasn., 1969 – a tribe of the subfamily '' Macroxyelinae'' Ashmead, 1898 of the family '' Xyelidae'' Newmann, 1834

A.P. Rasnitsyn has also described ca. 250 new genera and over 800 new species of arthropods, mainly fossil.

Animal names in honor of Alexandr Rasnitsyn

Over 50 species of animals have been named in honor of Rasnitsyn, as well as some taxa of higher rank:

* '' Rasnicynipidae'' Kovalev, 1996 (a replacement name for '' Rasnitsyniidae'' Kovalev, 1994)— a fossil family of Cynipoidea with the genus '' Rasnicynips'' Kovalev, 1996 (a replacement name for '' Rasnitsynia'' Kovalev 1994)
* '' Alexarasniidae'' Gorochov, 2011 — a fossil family of ''Polyneoptera'' with the genus '' Alexarasnia'' Gorochov, 2011
* '' Alexrasnitsyniidae'' Prokop & Nel, 2011 — a family of the Paleozoic order ''Diaphanopterodea'' with the genus '' Alexrasnitsynia'' Prokop & Nel, 2011
* '' Plumalexiidae'' Brothers, 2011 — a fossil family of Hymenoptera with the species '' Plumalexius rasnitsyni'' Brothers, 2011
* '' Rasnitsynaphididae'' Homan & Wegierek, 2011 — a fossil family of Aphidoidea with the species '' Rasnitsynaphis'' Homan & Wegierek, 2011
* '' Rasnitsynitini'' Kasparyan, 1994 — a tribe of the fossil subfamily '' Townesitinae'' of the family ''Ichneumonidae'' with the genus '' Rasnitsynites'' Kasparyan, 1994
* '' Rasnitsynella'' Krivolutzkii, 1976 — a fossil genus of Acarina
* '' Rasnitsynia'' Pagliano et Scaramozzino 1989 (a replacement name for '' Oligoneuroides'' Zhang 1985) — a fossil genus of '' Braconidae''
* '' Rasnitsynitilla'' Lelej, 2006 — a genus of ''Mutillidae''
* '' Alicodoxa rasnitsyni'' Emeljanov et Shcherbakov, 2011 — fossil genus and species of Fulgoroidea of the family '' Dictyopharidae''
* '' Palerasnitsynus'' Wichard, Ross et Ross, 2011 — a fossil genus of Trichoptera of the family '' Psychomyiidae''
* '' Rasnitsynala'' Zessin, Brauckmann et Groening, 2011 — a genus of Odonata from the family '' Erasipteridae''

Publications

A.P. Rasnitsyn is an author of more than 300 books and articles, including 17 monographs.

Major works

* Rasnitsyn AP (1969) Origin and evolution of lower Hymenoptera. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 123: 1–196 n Russian, with English translation by Amerind Co., New Delhi, 1979
* Rasnitsyn AP (1975) Hymenoptera Apocrita of the Mesozoic. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 147: 1–134 n Russian
* Rasnitsyn AP (1980) Origin and evolution of Hymenoptera. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 174: 1–192 n Russian
* Rohdendorf BB, Rasnitsyn AP, editors (1980) Historical development of the class Insecta. Trudy Paleontologicheskogo Instituta Akademii Nauk SSSR 175: 1–269, +8 pls. n Russian
* Rasnitsyn AP, Quicke DLJ, editors (2002) History of Insects. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, xii+517 pp. .
* Rasnitsyn AP (2005) Selected Works on Evolutionary Biology. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, Russia, iv+347 pp n Russian ollection of earlier papers, except for: “Dynamics of taxonomic diversity: An afterword of 2004”, pp. 247–248
* Zherikhin VV, Ponomarenko AG, Rasnitsyn AP (2008) Introduction to Palaeoentomology. KMK Scientific Press, Moscow, 371 pp. n Russian

References

External links

Personal web pagePalaeoentomology in RussiaInternational Palaeoentomological Society

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rasnitsyn, Alex
Living people
Russian paleontologists
Russian entomologists
Hymenopterists
1936 births
Soviet paleontologists
Soviet entomologists