SUNDUKOV YU.N.
A.I.Kurentsov memorial lectures 2026; (37): 55-62
This article presents several examples of biological invasions, providing insight into the pitfalls a zoogeographer may encounter when characterizing the distribution of a particular taxon. The first two examples demonstrate that, under certain circumstances, a species can be introduced to a new territory, successfully survive there for an indefinite number of years, and even be recorded by specialists. However, this invasion ultimately proves unsuccessful. Examples involving Calathus species are examples of successful invasions, leading to the species establishment in a new territory and expansion of its range. However, such invasions cannot always be distinguished from the natural, historically established range. The stories of ground beetles on the Lesser Kuril Islands serve as an example of how invasive taxa can acquire a significant role in the fauna of a region, but it is not always possible to understand the direction of modern migration routes. An analysis of the modern distribution of Amara majuscula can serve as an example that in some cases our idea of the “foreignness” of a particular taxon may be erroneous.
