Mikhail Mikhailovich Pikulik (19.04.1948, Cherven, Minsk region – 24.01.2006), a scientist in the field of herpetology, ecology of animals, protection and use of the animal world. Corresponding Member of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1994). Doctor of Biological Sciences (1993), Professor (1998).

He developed the main provisions of landscape herpetology - a new scientific direction related to the study of the nature and extent of landscape differentiation of the fauna, range boundaries, population structure and intraspecific variability of amphibians and reptiles. He conducted a systematic study of the herpetofauna of Belarus and developed the concept of landscape-ecological determination of the variability of herpetocomplexes and populations of dominant species. He substantiated new approaches to the integrated use of herpetofauna as an object of environmental monitoring, developed recommendations for optimizing its protection. Under his leadership and with direct participation, studies have been conducted to assess the dynamics of the fauna and the state of zoocenoses in natural and anthropogenic landscapes of Belarus, to identify the role of mosaic landscapes and ecotyons of different types, as well as the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the formation of biological diversity of wild fauna.

Author of more than 230 scientific papers, incl. 9 monographs.

Major papers:

1. Земноводные Белоруссии. Мн.: Наука и техника, 1985.
2. Пресмыкающиеся Белоруссии. Мн.: Наука и техника, 1988 (совм. с В.А.Бахаревым, С.В.Косовым).
3. Совершенствование принципов и методов охраны и рационального использования животного мира. Мн.: БелНИИНТИ, 1990 (совм. с Л.М.Сущеней).
4. Животный мир и радиация. Мн.: БелНИИНТИ, 1991 (совм. с Л.М.Сущеней, А.Е.Плениным).
5. Атлас наземных позвоночных Березинского заповедника. Мн., 1994 (в соавт.).
6. Животный мир в зоне аварии Чернобыльской АЭС. Мн.: Наука и техника, 1995 (ред. с Л.М.Сущеней, А.Е.Плениным).