Date of birth:
1893
Date of death:
1942
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Vadim Sergeevich Poretzky was born in Vezo, Estonia, and grew up
in St. Petersburg. Early in his life he became interested in the
natural sciences thanks to his father Sergei Aleksandrovich, who
was an enthusiastic naturalist and educator. Poretzky studied biology
at the Department of Physics and Mathematics of Petrograd (St. Petersburg)
University. The topic of his master thesis was phytosociology of
grasslands in the Voronezh province. In 1917 Poretzky graduated
from the University and moved to Perm', a large town in the Urals.
In 1917-1921 he taught at the Perm' University. There Poretzky met
Valentina Sergeevna Sheshukova, who in 1917 was only 18 and just
started her undergraduate studies. Many years later she became his
wife.
In 1921-1922 Poretzky moved back to Petrograd (St.Petersburg) and
started to work at the Petrograd Agricultural Institute with Prof.
S.M. Visloukh, who at this time was a major "diatom authority"
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Under his supervision Poretzky completed a study of diatoms from
the saline waters near Solikamsk, in the northern Ural Mountains
(1, 2). Poretzky and Visloukh were mostly interested in the ecology
of diatoms, but also described 13 new infrageneric taxa. From this
time, relation of diatoms to salinity was one of the central themes
of Poretzky's studies (11, 17, 28, 29). In 1922 Poretzky began working
at the Main Botanical Garden, where he studied diatoms of rivers
(6, 8, 9, 14), ponds (7), and saline water bodies of the North-West
Russia (17). Poretzky dedicated a considerable time studying phytoplankton
of the Neva River, which was the main water source for the city
of Leningrad/St.Petersburg. He was intrigued by the life cycles
and seasonal patterns of the dominant planktic diatoms of the Neva
and the Ladoga Lake, which is the river source.
In 1923 Poretzky was elected a lecturer of the Department of Plant
Morphology and Systematics of the Leningrad University, where he
worked until his death in 1942. Students and colleagues of V.S.
Poretzky recalled his exceptional lecturing style and the immense
popularity at the University. He taught several courses to biology
students and a botany/paleobotany course for geologists. At the
University, Poretzky organized the new school of stratigraphic and
paleogeographic diatom studies. He was especially interested in
quaternary diatoms (16, 18-27, 30) and organized numerous expeditions
to study quaternary deposits around Leningrad, to Valdai Uplands
(Upper Volga basin), Volga region, Karelia, Kola Peninsula, Caucasus,
Ural Mountains, Western Siberia, and other regions of Soviet Union.
These studies began in 1926, when Poretzky was approached by a quaternary
geologist Konstantin Markov, who realized that diatoms could be
an indispensable tool in paleogeographic reconstructions. Poretzky
was excited by the opportunity to use diatoms as paleoecological
markers, and enthusiastically learned the subject of quaternary
geology, which was new to him. Soon, Poretzky and Markov started
a productive collaboration that led to important discoveries in
the quaternary history of the Baltic, White and Barenz Sea, and
the Ladoga Lake (16, 18, 20-22). Poretzky also studied Neogene-Quaternary
diatomits of the Caucasus (33, 34). 1930-ies were the years of extensive
geological explorations in the USSR. Poretzky was able to organize
a number of research laboratories at various geological institutions
with the goal of using diatoms as stratigraphic and environmental
indicators. He invited the best Russian phycologists of this time
(A.P.Jouse, V.S.Sheshukova, M. M. Zabelina, E.I. Kiseleva, E.V.
Shlyapina, N.V. Anisimova) to study fossil diatoms at those laboratories,
and trained several doctorate students who later actively worked
in diatom research.
Poretzky had a special interest in the diatoms of the Russian North.
It was tough previously that high concentration of humic substances
in these waters is harmful for algae. He was first to report diverse
and abundant diatom communities from the flowing waters of Karelia
(8). As many other diatomists, Poretzky reflected on species concept
in diatoms. Having observed very polymorphic populations of Didymosphenia
geminate in the Karelian waters, Poretzky concluded that numerous
described varieties of this species are the result of morphologic
plasticity. In 1934 Poretzky together with his colleagues published
a large study of recent and fossil diatoms of the Kola Peninsula
(19). They studied samples of plankton, benthos and sediments collected
from more than 50 lakes and rivers. Poretzky began to work on a
taxonomic account of diatoms from the Russian North, but completed
only the first part of the paper dealing with centric diatoms (32).
V.S. Poretzky died from famine during the siege of Leningrad. After
the war, his former graduate students A.P. Jouse, V.S. Sheshukova,
and others continued his work and published some of his unfinished
studies (31-35).
References:
Chernov, V.K. 1952. Poretzky as a Professor of the Leningrad University.
Diatomovyi sbornik, 10-12, Leningrad University, Leningrad.
Proshkina-Lavrenko, A.I. 1952. On the scientific activity of V.S.
Poretzky. Botanicheskyi zhournal USSR, 6, 883-890.
Shishkin, B.K. 1952. Scientific research of V.S. Poretzky. Diatomovyi
sbornik, 5-9, Leningrad University, Leningrad.
Voronikhin, N.N. 1942. Vadim Sergeevish Poretzky. (Obituary). Sovetskaya
Botanika, 4-5, 88-90.
Selected publications of V.S. Poretzky:
1. 1924. On the diatoms of saline and brackish water bodies of
the town of Solikamsk, Permskaya province (preliminary communication).
Proceedings of the Russian Hydrological Institute, 9, 53, Leningrad.
O diatomovykh solenykh I solonovatovodnykh vodoemov goroda Solikamska,
Permskoi gubernii (predvaritel'noe soobshenie). Izvestia Rossiiskogo
gidrologicheskogo instituta, 9, 53, Leningrad.
2. 1924. Diatoms of saline and brackish water bodies of the town
of Solikamsk, Permskaya province. Proceedings of the Leningrad naturalists'
society, 53(3), 108-148, Leningrad.
Diatomovye solenykh i solonovatovodnykh vodoemov goroda Solikamska,
Permskoi gubernii. Trudy Leningradskogo obshestva estestvoispytatelei,
53(3), 108-148, Leningrad.
3. 1925. Diatoms of the sediments of the Svinoe Lake. In: Proceedings
of the I All-Russian hydrological congress, 524-526, Leningrad.
Diatomovye gruntov Svinogo ozera. In: Trudy I Vserossiiskogo gidrologicheskogo
s'ezda, 524-526, Leningrad.
4. 1925. On the methods of diatom studies. In: Proceedings of the
I All-Russian hydrological congress, 522-523, Leningrad.
K metodike izuchenia diatomovykh vodorslei. In: Trudy I Vserossiiskogo
gidrologicheskogo s'ezda, 522-523, Leningrad.
5. 1925. (With N.N. Voronikhin) On the algal flora of the North
Caucasus. Proceedings of the North-Caucasus hydrobiological station,
1(1), 42-43, Vladikavkaz.
K flore vodoroslei Severnogo Kavkaza. Raboty Severo-Kavkazskoi gidrobiologicheskoi
stanzii, 1(1), 42-43, Vladikavkaz.
6. 1925. Observations of phytoplankton of the Bol'shaya Nevka River
in the winter 1923-1924. Russian Journal of Hydrobiology, 4(10-12),
201-213, Saratov.
Nablyudenia nad diatomovym planktonom reki Bol'shoi Nevki v zimnii
period 1923/24 godov. Russkii Hydribiologicheskii Zhournal, 4(10-12),
201-213, Saratov.
7. 1926. Some biological observations on the pond of the Main Botanical
Garden related to 1924 flood. Russian Journal of Hydrobiology, 5(7-9),
182-188, Saratov.
Nekotorye nablyudenia nad zhisn'yu pruda v parke Glavnogo botanizheskogo
sada v svyazi s navodneniem 1924 goda. Russkii Hydribiologicheskii
Zhournal, 5(7-9), 182-188, Saratov.
8. 1927. Studies of the attached algae in the waters of Karelia.
I. Attached algae in the flowing waters. Proceedings of the Borodinskaya
freshwater biological station in Karelia, 5, 101-134, Leningrad.
Materialy k izucheniyu obrastanii v vodoemakh Karelii. I. Obrastanie
v tekuchikh vodakh. Trudy Borodinskoi presnovodnoi biologicheskoi
stanzii v Karelii, 5, 101-134, Leningrad.
9. 1928. Periodicity of the phytoplankton development in the Bol'shaya
Nevka River. In: Proceedings of the All-Union Botanical Congress,
159-160, Leningrad.
Periodichnost' v razvitii diatomovogo planktona reki Bol'shoi Nevki.
In: Dnevnik Vsesoyuznogo s'ezda botanikov, 159-160, Leningrad.
10. 1929. (With V.K. Chernov) To the morphology and biology of
Nostoc planctonicum n. sp. Newsletter of the Main Botanical Garden,
28(6), 549-560, Leningrad.
K morphologii i biologii Nostoc planctonicum n. sp. Izvestya Glavnogo
Botanicheskogo sada, 28(6), 549-560, Leningrad.
11. 1930. (With N.V. Anisimova) To the biology of saline water
bodies of Berdyansk. In: Proceedings of the II All-Union Hydrological,
part III, 254-255, Leningrad,.
K biologii solenykh vodoemov goroda Berdyanska. In: Trudy II Vsesoyuznogo
gidrologichskogo s'ezda, III, 254-255. Leningrad.
12. 1931. Studies of the benthic diatoms of the Ob' River. Newsletter
of the State Hydrological Institute, 32, 114-115.
Materialy k izucheniyu diatomovykh obrastanii reki Obi. Izvestia
Gosudarstvennogo Gidrologicheskogo Instituta, 32, 114-115.
13. 1931. Studies of the benthic diatoms of the Ob' River. Proceedings
of the State Hydrological Institute, 4, 29-34, Leningrad.
Materialy k izucheniyu diatomovykh obrastanii reki Obi. Zapiski
Gosudarstvennogo Gidrologicheskogo Instituta, 4, 29-34, Leningrad.
14. 1931. Observations on the planktic diatoms of the Bol'shaya
Nevka River in 1923-1926. Proceedings of the Botanical Garden of
the USSR Academy of Sciences, 44, 245-347, Moscow, Leningrad.
Nablyudenia nad diatomovymi planktona reki Bol'shoi Nevki v 1923-1926
gg. Trudy Botanicheskogo sada AN SSSR, 44, 245-347, Moscow, Leningrad.
15. 1933. Diatoms of the mountain lakes in the vicinity of the
Lake Telezkoe, Altai Mountains. In: Studies of the lakes of USSR,
State Hydrological Institute, 3, 107-120, Leningrad,.
Diatovovye gornykh ozer okrestnostei Telezkogo ozera (Altai). Issledovania
ozer SSSR, Gosudarstvennyi Gidrologcheskii Institut, 3, 107-120,
Leningrad.
16. 1933. (With A.P. Jouse and V.S. Sheshukova) Diatoms of the
late-glacial and post-glacial sediments of the North-Western part
of the Leningrad District. Proceedings of the INQUA conference,
3, 161-167, Leningrad, Moscow, Novosibirsk.
Diatomovye pozdne- i poslelednikovykh otlozhenii severo-zapadnoi
chasti Leningradskoi oblasti. Trudy II Mezhdunarodnoi konferenzii
assotsiatsii po izucheniyu chetvertichnogo perioda Evropy (INQUA),
3, 161-167, Leningrad, Moskva, Novosibirsk.
17. 1933. (With V.N. Anisimova) Ecology of diatoms in the saline
water bodies of Staraya Russa. In: Studies of the lakes of USSR,
State Hydrological Institute, 2, 31-60, Leningrad.
Materialy k ekologii diatomovykh starorusskikh solenykh vodoemov.
In: Issledovania ozer SSSR, Gosudarstvennyiu gidrologicheskii institute,
2, 31-60, Leningrad.
18. 1933. (With K.K. Markov) Post-glacial history of the environs
of Leningrad. Priroda, 5-6, 99-103, Leningrad.
Poslelednikovaya istoria okrestnostei Leningrada. Priroda, 5-6,
99-103, Leningrad.
19. 1934. (With A.P Jouse and V.S. Sheshukova). Diatoms of the
Kola Peninsula and microscopic composition of the Kola diatomites.
Proceedings of the Geomorphological Institute, USSR Academy of Sciences,
8, 95-209, Leningrad.
Diatomovye Kol'skogo poluostrova v svyazi s microscopicheskim sostavom
kol'skikh diatomitov. Trudy Geomorphologicheskogo Instituta AN SSSR,
8, 95-209, Leningrad.
20. 1934. (With K.K. Markov and E.V. Shlyapina) On the fluctuations
of water level in the Ladoga and Onega lakes in the post-glacial
time. Proceedings of the quaternary studies commission, 4, 71-429,
Leningrad.
O kolebaniyakh urovnya Ladozhskogo I Onezhskogo ozer v poslelednikovoe
vremya. Trudy komissii po izucheniyu chetvertichnogo perioda, 4,
71-429, Leningrad.
21. 1935. (With K.K. Markov) Die spat- und postglaziale Geschichte
des nordwestlichen Teiles des Leningrader Gebietes. Zeitschr. f.
Gletscherkunde, 22(1/5):109-141, Berlin.
22. 1935. (With K.K. Markov) Pollen- und diatomeenanalytische Untersuchungen
uber die Geschlichte des Finnischen Meersbusens, Ladoga- und Onegasees.
Beihefte z. Botan. Cantralbl., 52, B, 3, 389-446, Dresden.
23. 1937. (With A.P. Jouse) Diatoms of the interglacial sediments
on the Vaga River. Proceedings of the Soviet section of the INQUA
commission, 1, 178-203, Leningrad, Moscow.
Diatomovye mezhlednikovykh otlozhenii po reke Vage. Trudy sovetskoi
sekzii Mezhdunarodnoi assotsiatsii po izucheniyu chetvertichnogo
perioda Evropy (INQUA), 1, 178-203, Leningrad, Moskva.
24. 1937. Studies of diatoms from the quaternary sediments of the
Kola peninsula. Proceedings of the INQUA commission, 5(1), 37-44,
Leningrad, Moscow.
Materialy k izucheniyu diatomovykh iz chetvertichnykh otlozhenii
Kol'skogo poluostrova. Trudy Mezhdunarodnoi assotsiatsii po izucheniyu
chetvertichnogo perioda 5(1), 37-44, Leningrad, Moskva,.
25. 1937. Microplaeobotanic analysis of the quaternary sediments
of the Kolguev Island. Proceedings of the INQUA commission, 5(1):
45-46, Leningrad, Moscow.
Micropaleobotanicheskii analiz chetvertichnykh otlozhenii o. Kolgueva.
Trudy Mezhdunarodnoi assotsiatsii po izucheniyu chetvertichnogo
perioda, 5(1): 45-46, Leningrad, Moskva,.
26. 1937. (With N.V. Anisimova) Microplaeobotanic studies of the
Lower Volga quaternary sediments. Proceedings of the Soviet section
of the INQUA commission, 3, 52-59, Leningrad, Moscow.
Micropaleobotanicheskie issledovania nizhnevolzhskikh chetvertichnykh
otlozhenii. Trudy sovetskoi sekzii Mezhdunarodnoi assotsiatsii po
izucheniyu chetvertichnogo perioda Evropy (INQUA), 3, 52-59, Leningrad,
Moskva.
27. 1939. The enigma of "Petrozavodsk marine post-Pliocene"
of K.A. Vollasovich. Newsletter of the State geographic society,
5, 690-695, Moscow, Leningrad.
Zagadka "Petrozavodskogo morskogo post-pliotsena" K.A.
Vollosovicha. Izvestia Gosudarstvennogo geographicheskogo obshestva,
5, 690-695, Moskva - Leningrad.
28. 1939. Diatoms of the floating ice in the Pechora Sea. Newsletter
of the State geographic society, 10, 1536-1552, Moscow, Leningrad.
Diastomovye plovuchikh l'dov Pechorskogo morya. Izvestia Gosudarstvennogo
geographicheskogo obshestva, 10, 1536-1552, Moskva - Leningrad.
29. 1940. Diatoms of the barabinskie lakes (Western Siberia). Proceedings
of the Leningrad State University, biological series, 62(14), 31-44,
Leningrad.
Diatomovye barabinskikh solenykh ozer (Zapadnaya Sibir'). Uchenye
zapiski LGU, ser. biol. nauk, 62(14), 31-44, Leningrad.
30. 1940. Preliminary data on the microscopic composition of diatomites
of the Nurnus deposit. Proceedings of the Sevanskaya hydrobiological
station, USSR Academy of Sciences, Armenian branch, 6, 71-77, Erevan.
Predvaritel'nye dannye o microscopicheskom sostave diatomite nurnusskogo
mestorozhdenia (Armenia). Trudy Sevasnkoi gidrobiologicheskoi stanzii,
izdatel'stvo AN SSSR, Armyanskii filial, 6, 71-77, Erevan.
31. 1949. (With A.P. Jouse, M.M. Zabelina, I.A. Kiselev, A.I. Proshkina-Lavrenko,
V.S. Sheshukova) Diatom Analysis, part 2, Gosgeolitizdat, Leningrad,
Diatomovyi analiz, 2, Gosgeolitizdat, Leningrad.
32. 1951. Diatoms (Bacillariophyta) of the European North of the
USSR. Order Centrales. Proceedings of the Botanical Institute of
the USSR Academy of Sciences, series II. Cryptogamic plants, 7,
713-832.
Diatomovye vodorosli (Bacillariophyta) Evropeiskogo severa SSSR.
Poryadok Centrales. Trudy Botanicheskogo institute AN SSSR, ser.
II. Sporovye rastenia, 7, 713-832.
33. 1952. Fossil diatoms from Kisatibi, Akhaltsikhskui District,
Georgia, USSR. In: Diatom studies, 13-54, Leningrad State University,
Leningrad.
Iskopaemye diatomovye vodorosli Kisatibi Akhaltsikhskogo raiona
Gruzinskoi SSR. Diatomovyi sbornik, 13-54, izdatel'stvo Leningradskogo
universiteta, Leningrad.
34. 1952. Fossil diatoms from Nurnus and Arzni, Erevan District,
Armenia, USSR. In: Diatom studies, 55-106, Leningrad State University,
Leningrad,
Iskopaemye diatomovye vodorosli Nurnusa I Arzni Erevanskogo raiona
Armyanskoi SSR. Diatomovyi sbornik, 55-106, izdatel'stvo Leningradskogo
universiteta, Leningrad.
35. 1952. (With V.S. Sheshukova) Diatoms of the Telezkoe Lake and
rivers of its watershed. In: Diatom studies, 107-172, Leningrad
State University, Leningrad.
Diatomovye Telezkogo ozera I svyazannykh s nim rek. Diatomovyi sbornik,
107-172, izdatel'stvo Leningradskogo universiteta, Leningrad.
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