Chromosome polymorphism and regularities of the subpopulation organization of malaria mosquitoes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles</Emphasis> (Diptera,Culicidae) in biotopes of the Tomsk oblast

A biotopic subdivision was observed for the two closely related species Anopheles messeae and A. beklemishevi in larval biotopes of the Tomsk oblast. The regularities of the spatial distribution of A. messeae with various chromosomal inversions were determined. The A. messeae karyotypic structure proved to vary depending on the ecological conditions of wintering and reproduction sites. The frequencies of chromosome variants XL₀, 2R₀, 3R₀, and 3L₀ were maximal in villages, while forest biotopes were characterized by elevated frequencies of alternative inversions. A comparison of the chromosomal structure for larvae and adults confirmed the subdivision of spatial niches for adults with different karyotypes. The difference in spatial niches was assumed to reflect the ecological specialization of mosquitoes. At the interspecific level, such specialization allows closely related species to occur in sympatry regions. At the intraspecific level, a subdivision of spatial niches reduces the intraspecific competition, increases the population size, and improves the survival during unfavorable periods associated with changes in abiotic factors.     

Chromosomal polymorphism in the populations of malaria mosquito <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles messeae</Emphasis> (Diptera,Culicidae) in the Volga region

We studied the species composition and chromosomal variability of malaria mosquitoes in the Volga Basin (Upper, Middle, and Lower Volga regions). We investigated larvae karyotypes of sibling species of the Anopheles maculipennis group. We calculated the frequencies of chromosomal inversions in the local populations of the dominant species An. messeae. We discovered that karyotypic structure of An. messeae populations depends on landscape-climatic zones. Populations of the Upper, Middle and Lower Volga differ in frequency of chromosome inversions XL, 2R, 3R, and 3L.     

Genetic determination of succinate dehydrogenase activity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles messeae</Emphasis> (Diptera,Culicidae) larvae

The present study aimed to reveal differences in the activity of a mitochondrial enzyme, succinate dehydrogenase (SDG), in larvae of mosquito Anopheles messeae with various karyotypes. Four-instar larvae of malaria mosquito previously obtained in laboratory conditions from imagoes collected in a taiga population of Tomsk region served as material for the study. Assessment of SDG activity indices demonstrated its regular variation in mosquito larvae with different karyotypes. Maximum succinate dehydrogenase activity was detected in tissues of larvae carrying combinations of XL₁, XL₂, 2R₁, 3R₁, 3L₁ inversions, in which mostly inhabit the northeastern part of the species range. The lowest enzyme activity was observed in larvae with alternative chromosomal variants (XL₀, 2R₀, 3R₀, 3L₀), predominantly inhabiting the southwestern part of the range. Moreover, the studied physiologic-biochemical features of the mosquitoes were shown to depend on the set of inversions in the karyotypes: in the higher the number of variants of chromosomal aberrations in the karyotype characteristic of the northern latitudes, of the higher the activity index, and vice versa. The significance of the relationships between the nuclear and the mitochondrial genome functioning in adaptive regulation of the cell energy metabolism in A. messeae larvae is discussed.     

Molecular cytogenetic analysis of DNA from pericentric heterochromatin of chromosome 2L of malaria mosquito <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anopheles beklemishevi</Emphasis> (culicidae,Diptera)

Using the method of microdissection of polytene chromosomes, followed by in situ hybridization, chromosomal localization of region-specific DNA probe from pericentic heterochromatin of chromosome 2L of Anopheles beklemishevi Stegnii et Kabanova was examined on polytene chromosomes of Anopheles atroparvus van Thiel, An. messeae Fall, and An. beklemishevi. DNA sequences homologous to the probe used were found in all species examined on chromosomes 2 and 3 in pericentric regions and in attachment regions. The exclusion were the attachment regions of chromosome XL in An. beklemishevi and An. messeae, and pericentric region of arm 2R in An. messeae. Pericentric α -heterochromatin of arm 2L in An. messeae and arm 3R in An. atroparvus also contained no sequences homologous to the DNA probe. The data obtained were compared with the earlier obtained data on localization of species-specific probe from the segment of chromosome 2R of An. atroparvus on chromosomes of An. artoparvus, An. messeae, and An. beklemishevi. The differences between the species in the sites of probes localization and fluorescence intensity revealed pointed to the existence of individual sequence associations in the regions of chromosomes attachment.     

Dynamics of Malaria Mosquito Species Composition in Siberian Populations Detected by Restriction Analysis

The peculiarities of the dynamics of malaria mosquito species proportions were studied in natural populations. Twenty-one collections from five larval habitats of the Anopheles maculipennis complex malaria mosquitoes were taken in the vicinity of Novosibirsk (Russia). It was detected that the Anopheles messeae and An. daciae are dominant species in the collected samples. Three An. beklemishevi individuals were also detected. The dynamics of the species proportions within the reproduction seasons for a number of years and also the differences between localities in the species composition were studied. It was revealed that the An. daciae proportion is maximal in July and falls in August. The species proportions can change sharply from year to year. For example, the An. messeae species prevailed in localities on the left bank of Novosibirsk Reservoir in 2013 and 2014 with the frequency of 54–68%, while An. daciae began to prevail on this territory in 2016 with the frequency of 73–85%. Our data on the proportions of species in different reservoirs were compared with data of other authors for the collections of malaria mosquitoes of the Anopheles maculipennis complex in Russia (Tomsk oblast) and in Germany. A high correspondence of models provided by these authors for the territory that we studied was demonstrated. Thus, the ecological peculiarities of the An. messeae and An. daciae species are highly stable even in geographically and climatically distant localities. An increase in the portion of relatively anthropophilic An. daciae in the middle of summer can be a risk factor relative to malaria transmission in this period of time.     

Quantum Speciation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yersinia pestis</Emphasis> Plague Microbe in a Heteroimmune Environment: In the Populations of Hibernating Tarbagan Marmots (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Marmota sibirica</Emphasis>)

This review is devoted to the ecological mechanism for the transformation of the population of the psychrophilic saprozoobiont pseudotuberculosis microbe Yersinia pseudotuberculosis O:1b into the population of the obligate blood plague microbe Yersinia pestis in the host–parasite system of the marmot flea (Marmota sibirica–Oropsylla silantiewi). The correspondence of this mechanism to the evolutionary principle of quantum speciation has been shown. The most significant population–genetic microbial transformations took place in the populations of hibernating marmots. The main factor of rapid speciation was the heterothermic and, accordingly, heteroimmune state of host marmots during hibernation. During winter awakenings, the body temperature of marmots increases in an S-shaped manner from 5 to 37°C within a short period of time (from dozens of minutes to several hours). A drastic acceleration of metabolic and immune processes occurs in the temperature range of 20–30°C. Rapid adaptation to the “explosive” increase in the immune activity of the primary host (tarbagan marmot) during its regular winter awakenings was the essence of the process of Y. pestis speciation.     

Cytogenetic Analysis of Malarial Mosquitoes of Kaliningrad Oblast

Cytogenetic analysis of malarial mosquitoes is performed in Kaliningrad and its vicinity. Two species of Anopheles with biotopic specialization are identified: An. messeae and An. maculipennis. А relatively low level of inversion polymorphism at the sex chromosome and the right arm of the third autosome is established for An. messeae. This is quite natural for the northwestern peripheral populations of the species range.     

Climatic adaptation of chromosomal inversions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila subobscura</Emphasis>

Drosophila subobscura is a species with a rich chromosomal polymorphism which is adaptive to different climatic conditions. Five samples of the Font Groga population (Barcelona, Spain) were sampled in autumn during 5 consecutive years (2011–2015) to obtain their inversion chromosomal polymorphism, and climatic data of several meteorological variables were also collected. The aim was to analyze the adaptive potential of inversions with regard to climatic variables, being the most relevant: mean temperature (T_mean), maximum temperature (T_max), minimum temperature (T_min), humidity (Hm) and rainfall (Rf). As expected, no significant variation in inversion frequencies were detected over this short period of time. However, from a climatic point of view it was possible to differentiate ‘warm’ and ‘dry’ from ‘cold’ and ‘humid’ samples. The joint study of maximum (T_max) and minimum (T_min) temperatures was a key element to understand the effect on adaptation of many inversions. It was also observed that temperature had to be considered in conjunction with humidity and rainfall. All these factors would condition the biota of D. subobscura habitat, and chromosomal inversions could provide an adaptive response to it.     

Effect of entomopathogenic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Metarhizium robertsii</Emphasis> on non-target organisms,water bugs (Heteroptera: Corixidae,Naucoridae, Notonectidae)

The influence of the fungus Metarhizium robertsii Bischoff, Rehner and Humber on the mortality of four water bug species, Cymatia coleoptrata (Fabricius), Sigara assimilis (Fieber), Ilyocoris cimicoides cimicoides (Linnaeus), and Notonecta reuteri Hungerford, and bloodsucking mosquito Anopheles messeae Falleroni, was investigated under various concentrations of conidia and different treatment types. We found that the mortality of adults of the water bug species was similar or higher than that of A. messeae, with C. coleoptrata and S. assimilis being more susceptible to M. robertsii than N. reuteri, I. c. cimicoides, and the mosquito A. messeae. Treatment with dry conidia at concentrations of 5 × 10⁴ and 5 × 10⁵ conidia/ml caused higher mortality of the water bug species than did treatment at the same concentrations with conidia in an aqueous suspension. In contrast, higher concentrations (5 × 10⁶ conidia/ml) led to higher mortality after treatment with the aqueous suspension, relative to treatment with dry conidia. Our studies showed that water bugs exhibited the classical development of a mycosis with hemocoel colonization, mummification, and conidia formation on cadavers directly on the surface of the water. Possible changes in invertebrate communities in aquatic ecosystems after treatment with Metarhizium are discussed.     

Distribution and vertical fluxes of silicoflagellates,ebridians, and the endoskeletal dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actiniscus</Emphasis> in the western Arctic Ocean

Spatial and temporal variations in major phytoplankton populations such as diatoms in the changing Arctic Ocean have been well studied, whereas only a few monitoring studies have been conducted on minor siliceous flagellates. To discern the relationship between hydrographic conditions and the spatio-temporal distribution of silicoflagellates, ebridians, and the endoskeletal dinoflagellate Actiniscus pentasterias, we analyzed seawater and bottom-tethered sediment-trap samples from the western Arctic Ocean. Silicoflagellates and ebridians were commonly observed in shelf waters around the southern Chukchi Sea in September–October during 2010 and 2013. However, one mesoscale patch with abundant silicoflagellates and ebridians was observed in the southwestern Canada Basin during September–October 2010. This offshore patch reflected an unusual occurrence of a mesoscale eddy deriving from the Alaskan Coastal Water. The active lateral transport of shelf materials by eddies was also evident in high silicoflagellate and ebridian fluxes at station Northwind Abyssal Plain (NAP) (75°N, 162°W, 1975-m water depth) in November–December during 2010 and 2011. The summer silicoflagellate flux at station NAP was mainly composed of Distephanus speculum. During the sea-ice cover period, except for July, silicoflagellates D. medianoctisol and D. octonarius were relatively abundant in the assemblage. The spike in D. speculum flux during July 2011 was observed with fecal pellets containing abundant silicoflagellates, suggesting a temporal silicoflagellate contribution to some kinds of zooplankton. The common occurrence of A. pentasterias in settling particles at station NAP during the winter may indicate their tolerance to cold water under sea ice.     

Vertical migration in streams: seasonal use of the hyporheic zone by the spinous loach <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cobitis shikokuensis</Emphasis>

Vertical hydrological connectivity between the surface stream and benthic and hyporheic zones plays a key ecological role in the biodiversity of lotic ecosystems because it allows surface and benthic organisms to use the hyporheic zone as a seasonal habitat and refuge. Use of the hyporheic zone by surface/benthic organisms has been well studied in invertebrates, but little is known about the importance of this connectivity for fishes. We investigated streambed surface and hyporheic densities (5–10, 15–20 and 20–25 cm below the streambed surface) of a stream fish, Cobitis shikokuensis, over a 20-month period in the Shigenobu River, southwestern Japan, to test the hypothesis that it uses the hyporheic zone for spawning and overwintering. In total, 1,804 individuals (13–58 mm total length) were captured from 33 streambed surface samplings and 102 individuals (10–46 mm total length) were present in 1,147 samples of 57 hyporheic samplings. Population densities in both zones peaked in late summer–early autumn due to the recruitment of age 0+ fish and a female with eggs was found in the hyporheic zone during the reproductive season. Both 0+ and older fish were absent from the streambed surface during winter, and fish densities were also lower in the hyporheic zone at this time. However, the vertical distribution of the fish tended to be skewed towards the deeper hyporheic layers from autumn to spring. These findings indicate that C. shikokuensis vertically migrates between the streambed surface and the hyporheic zone for spawning, rearing and overwintering, suggesting that the integrity of vertical hydrological connectivity in lotic systems is crucial for certain fish species.     

First record of the non-indigenous jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Blackfordia virginica</Emphasis> (Mayer, 1910) in the Baltic Sea

Marine invasions are of increasing concern for biodiversity conservation worldwide. Gelatinous macrozooplankton contain members, which have become globally invasive, for example the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi or the hydromedusae Blackfordia virginica. B. virginica is characterised by a large salinity tolerance, with a brackish-water habitat preference, and by a metagenic life history strategy with an alternation between sexually reproducing planktonic medusae and asexually reproducing benthic polyps to complete the life cycle. In this study we analysed 8 years of ichthyoplankton survey data (2010–2017) from the Kiel Canal and 14 ichthyoplankton summer surveys in the central Baltic Sea (2008–2017). We report the first presence of B. virginica in northern Europe, namely from the southwestern Baltic Sea and the Kiel Canal. In the Kiel Canal, B. virginica was first sporadically sighted in 2014 and 2015 and has developed persistent populations since summer 2016. Changes in size-frequency distributions during summer 2016 indicate active recruitment in the Kiel Canal at salinities between 7 and 13 and temperatures?>?14 °C. Close vicinity to and direct connection with the southwestern Baltic Sea, where B. virginica was observed during 2017, indicate that the Baltic Sea and other brackish-water habitats of Northern Europe are at risk for colonisation of this non-indigenous species. Our results highlight that monitoring activities should consider gelatinous macrozooplankton for standard assessments to allow for the detection of non-indigenous species at an early stage of their colonisation.     

Dehydrin stress proteins in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L. needles under conditions of extreme climate of Yakutia

This is the first study to investigate stress proteins dehydrins with the use of specific antibodies in the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles and their changes in the annual cycle under extreme climate of Yakutia. No pronounced polymorphism of major dehydrins (14–15 and 66 kDa) has been found during the winter dormancy period of P. sylvestris. A clear correlation between the seasonal variations in dehydrins and changes in the water content in needles was revealed. Consistently high levels of dehydrins was retained throughout the period of low negative temperatures. It is assumed that dehydrins can participate in the formation of P. sylvestris L. resistance to the permafrost conditions.     

Geographic variability of the polytene chromosome banding sequence of non-biting midge <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chironomus pseudothummi</Emphasis> Str. (Diptera,Chironomidae)

The karyotypes and chromosomal polymorphism of Chironomus pseudothummi were investigated in different parts of its areal. It was established that chromosomal variability in the natural populations of this species was represented mainly by the inversion polymorphism of arm G. Only rare and unique inversions were found to be heterozygous in arms C, D, and E. In total, 14 banding sequences of polytene chromosomes form the banding sequence pool of C. pseudothummi. Geographic differences in the distribution of chromosomal banding sequences throughout the areal were established. The presence of banding sequences pstG1 and pstG2 is characteristic of European populations. The banding sequence pstG1 disappeared completely with a simultaneous increase in the frequency of pstG2 and with the appearance of a new inversion banding sequence pstG3 in Siberian populations. Differences in the set of rare and unique inversions in arms C, D, and E between the West-European and West-Siberian populations have been revealed.     

Changes in Formation and Localization of Phenolic Compounds in the Tissues of European and Canadian Yew during Dedifferentiation <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis>

Changes in formation and localizations of phenolic compounds, including flavans, were investigated in the tissues of European and Canadian yew (Taxus baccata L. and T. canadensis Marsh.) during dedifferentiation in vitro. Annual shoots of European yew had the highest capacity for synthesizing these compounds. During the summer growth period, the content of total soluble phenolic compounds and flavans in these shoots was 30–40% higher than in the winter. Cell dedifferentiation and growth in vitro was accompanied by enhanced synthesis of phenolic compounds, including flavans, the change in tissue localization of these compounds, and an increase in the number of cells containing phenolics. Significant accumulation of phenolic compounds in callus cells resulted in necroses following two subcultures in the European and Canadian yew cultures initiated from summer explants, and following seven subcultures of the European yew calli initiated from winter explants. These data allow us to suggest that a high level of phenolic compounds in yew calli could be the reason for their necrosis.     

Overwintering of the Argentine strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neoseiulus californicus</Emphasis> (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Overwintering and diapause are variable among mite species and strains. The aims of this study were to determine whether certain crops constitute overwintering sites for the Argentine strain of the predator Neoseiulus californicus and whether females underwent reproductive diapause in winter. Neoseiulus californicus was recorded monthly on the vegetables tomato, sweet pepper, eggplant, and artichoke, and on strawberry, among other crops in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. This mite was found at a lower percentage of crops in the winter than in the other seasons. Since the predator was quite frequent on artichoke, this crop could constitute a refuge during adverse environmental conditions. The mite’s frequency on several crops in other seasons and potential association with a strawberry pest is discussed. In the laboratory, individuals exposed to winter conditions throughout the life cycle exhibited a long pre-oviposition period and low oviposition rate, but did not diapause. After being kept under winter conditions from larva to adult, when individuals were transferred to the optimal spring temperatures and lighting, the pre-oviposition period was shorter and the fecundity higher than under winter conditions. When individuals remained under spring conditions from larva to adult and were then transferred to the winter parameters during the first 15 days of adulthood, the pre-oviposition period was long and the oviposition rate low. Once the optimal conditions were restored, the daily fecundity became similar to that of the individuals remaining under optimal conditions throughout the life cycle. Fecundity of N. californicus decreased significantly under winter conditions but reproductive diapause was not observed.     

Preliminary results on snow surveys of Pyrenean grey partridge (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Perdix perdix hispaniensis</Emphasis>) in the Cantabrian Mountains

Peripheral populations tend to be smaller and more prone to extinction than those in core areas. Grey partridge Perdix perdix in its southern-most edge occupies mountain habitats, which is unlike any habitat in its northern European range. This makes these mountain ecotypes especially susceptible to range contractions and population decrease is likely the result of the current global change process. In Iberia, the so-called Pyrenean grey partridge subspecies P. p. hispaniensis is considered to be declining but little is known about its real trends and numbers. We locally studied the abundance of the Pyrenean grey partridges in winter by direct observations in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), while driving on a paved road. In addition, we related observed partridge abundances to different context variables to find the ones better helping to detect this species. The paved road-based censuses were successful, and we detected the presence and abundance of the Pyrenean grey partridge. Individuals and groups were more easily detected from December to February while couples were observed at the end of the winter (i.e. February–March). Wherever open paved roads exist, we strongly recommend using direct observations from them during winter as an adequate tool for Pyrenean grey partridge monitoring. This easy and cost-effective method affordable to managers and conservationists can contribute to a better understanding of the European mountain’s changing ecosystems and help us understanding the population trends of this vulnerable subspecies.     

Conjugative chromosomal gene transfer in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bacillus subtilis</Emphasis>

Conjugative transfer of 20-kb chromosomal fragment carrying genes encoding tetracycline (tet ^r ) and lincomycin (lin ^r ) resistance in the soil strain Bacillus subtilis 19 is described. Transfer was preceded by this fragment insertion into the large conjugative p19cat plasmid producing a hybrid plasmid. Insertion frequency was 10^?4?10^?5. Then genes tet ^r and lin ^r were transferred to the recipient strains. The transfer of chromosomal genes inserted into the plasmid and plasmid gene cat occurred sequentially and resembled sexduction, which represents chromosomal gene transfer by F′ and R′ plasmids during conjugation in Escherichia coli and other gram negative bacteria.     

Molecular genetic characterization of the yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lachancea kluyveri</Emphasis>

A comparative study of Lachancea kluyveri strains isolated in Europe, North America, Japan, and the Russian Far East was performed using restriction analysis, sequencing of non-coding rDNA regions, molecular karyotyping, and the phylogenetic analysis of the α-galactosidase MEL genes. This study showed a close genetic relatedness of these L. kluyveri strains. The chromosomal DNAs of the L. kluyveri strains were found to range in size from 980 to 3100 kb. The haploid number of chromosomes is equal to eight. The IGS2 restriction patterns and single nucleotide substitutions in the ITS1/ITS2 rDNA region correlate neither with geographic origin nor with the source of the strains. The L. kluyveri strains isolated from different sources have a high degree of homology (79–100%) of their MEL genes. The phylogenetic analysis of all of the known α-galactosidases in the “Saccharomyces” clade showed that the MEL genes of the yeasts L. kluyveri, L. cidri, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, S. paradoxus, S. bayanus, and S. mikatae are species specific.