Genetic diversity and relationships of populations of northern Eurasia by polymorphic Alu insertions

Autosomal gene pools of 27 populations representing 12 ethnic groups of Siberia, Central Asia, and the Far East have been characterized for the first time using a set of eight polymorphic Alu insertions. The results of our analysis indicate a significant level of genetic diversity in populations of northern Eurasian and the considerable differentiation of their gene pool. It was shown that the frequency of the Alu (?) allele at the CD4 locus was inversely related to the magnitude of the Mongoloid component of the gene pool: the lowest and highest frequencies of the CD4 Alu deletion were recorded in Eskimos (0.012) and in Russians and Ukrainians (0.35), respectively. A gene flow analysis showed that Caucasoid populations (Russians, Tajiks, and Uzbeks), as well as Turkic ethnic groups of southern Siberia (Altaians and Tuvans), Khanty, and Mansi populations, in contrast to ethnic groups of eastern Siberia and the Far East, have been recipients of a considerable gene flow. A correlation analysis showed that genetic distances determined using polymorphic Alu insertions were correlated with the anthropological characteristics of the populations studied.     

Molecular genetic monitoring of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis using PCR O-genotyping

Irkutsk PCR O-genotyping of 117 Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype O:1-O:4 strains isolated in Siberia and Far East was performed. These methods allowed both O-genotype and its variants (a, b, c) to be detected. It was demonstrated that three Y. pseudotuberculosis O-genotypes were circulated in Siberia (O:1a, O:1b and 0:3) and six genotypes (O:1a, O:1b, O:1c, O:2a, O:3 and O:4b) were circulated at Far East. Genotype O:1b dominates at both regions (87.8%). PCR-algorithm for identification of Y. pseudotuberculosis O-genotypes having epidemic significance was developed. The identification of the etiological agent O-genotype without bacteriological isolation of the stimulus is possible by PCR analysis of the clinical material.     

Natural selection associated with color vision defects in some population groups of Eurasia

Fitness coefficients and other quantitative parameters of selection associated with the generalized color blindness gene CB+ were obtained for three ethnogeographic population groups, including Belarusians from Belarus, ethnic populations of the Volga-Ural region, and ethnic populations of Siberia and the Far East of Russia. All abnormalities encoded by the OPN1LW and OPN1MW loci were treated as deviations from normal color perception. Coefficients were estimated from an approximation of the observed CB+ frequency distributions to the theoretical stationary distribution for the Wright island model. This model takes into account the pressure of migrations, selection, and random genetic drift, while the selection parameters are represented in the form of the distribution parameters. In the populations of Siberia and Far East, directional selection in favor of normal color vision and the corresponding allele CB- was observed. In the Belarusian and ethnic populations of the Volga-Ural region, stabilizing selection was observed. The selection intensity constituted 0.03 in the Belarusian; 0.22 in the ethnic populations of the Volga-Ural region; and 0.24 in ethnic populations of Siberia and Far East.     

New data on the phylogeography and genetic diversity of the brown bear Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758 of Northeastern Eurasia (mtDNA control region polymorphism analysis)

An analysis of polymorphism of the fragment of the control region of mitochondrial DNA of 53 tissue samples of the brown bear Ursus arctos from several regions of the eastern part of Russia was carried out. It was found that most of the described haplotypes belong to cluster 3a, the most common in Eurasia, and do not form regionally specific haplogroups. However, among the bears from Western and Eastern Siberia, as well as the island of Kunashir, three haplotypes were identified, which are close to the haplogroup typical of Eastern Hokkaido bears. The assumption was made of the existence in Siberia and the Far East of one or more Pleistocene refugia.     

Mitochondrial genome diversity in the Tubalar, Even, and Ulchi: contribution to prehistory of native Siberians and their affinities to Native Americans

To fill remaining gaps in mitochondrial DNA diversity in the least surveyed eastern and western flanks of Siberia, 391 mtDNA samples (144 Tubalar from Altai, 87 Even from northeastern Siberia, and 160 Ulchi from the Russian Far East) were characterized via high-resolution restriction fragment length polymorphism/single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis. The subhaplogroup structure was extended through complete sequencing of 67 mtDNA samples selected from these and other related native Siberians. Specifically, we have focused on the evolutionary histories of the derivatives of M and N haplogroups, putatively reflecting different phases of settling Siberia by early modern humans. Population history and phylogeography of the resulting mtDNA genomes, combined with those from previously published data sets, revealed a wide range of tribal- and region-specific mtDNA haplotypes that emerged or diversified in Siberia before or after the last glacial maximum, ～18 kya. Spatial distribution and ages of the "east" and "west" Eurasian mtDNA haploclusters suggest that anatomically modern humans that originally colonized Altai derived from macrohaplogroup N and came from Southwest Asia around 38,000 years ago. The derivatives of macrohaplogroup M, which largely emerged or diversified within the Russian Far East, came along with subsequent migrations to West Siberia millennia later. The last glacial maximum played a critical role in the timing and character of the settlement of the Siberian subcontinent.     

Distribution of CCR5-delta 32 gene deletion across the Russian part of Eurasia

32-bp inactivating deletion in the β-chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) gene, common in Nothern European populations, is associated with reduced HIV-1 transmission risk and delayed disease progression. We have studied the deletion distribution in many populations in Eurasia by polymerase chain reaction analysis of 531 DNA samples representing West and East Siberian, Central Asian, and Far Eastern parts of Russia. An unusually high frequency (11.1%) of the deleted variant in natives of West Siberia, of Finno-Ugrian descent, was observed. Furthermore, the deletion was infrequent in indigenous populations of Central Asia, East Siberia, the Russian Far East, and Canada. We conclude that the Δccr5 distribution is limited primarily to Europeans and related western Siberian Finno-Ugrian populations, with a sharp negative gradient toward the east along the territory of Russian Asia. Received: 22 December 1997 / Accepted: 24 March 1998     

Immediate tasks of introduction of woody plants in Asian Russia

The paper analyzes the studies (beginning with the first works by Laxmann in the early 18th century) of the introduction of woody plants on the territory of Asian Russia. A special attention is given to the main introductory centers of Siberia and Russian Far East. It is shown that the first stage of the tests of the species from various botanical-geographical areas results only in the diversification of the woody species suitable for gardening and landscaping. The further studies require more serious and multidimensional research of the trees and shrubs under the conditions of the primary introduction so as to introduce them into the culture and use for creating artificial landscapes of various functions (forest amelioration, land reclamation, preserving rare and endangered species of the world flora, etc.). The special emphasis is put on the search for botanical-geographical areas as potential donors of introduced species using the method of climate comparison that we have developed. It is recommended to create the introduction centers in Siberia and the Far East.     

Folklore and Literature in All the Languages of Siberia

Book reviewed in this article:
Pamiatniki Fol'klora Narodov Sibiri i Dal'nego Vostoka (Folklore Monuments of the Peoples of Siberia and the Far East), Volumes 1–8 . A. P. Derevianko, V. M. Gatsak, and A. B. Soktoev, eds.     

Plague in China. Threat of transmission to regions of Siberia and Far East

In China plague has been officially registered from 1754 (638 epidemics with total number of cases 2.5 millions and case-fatality rate 87.5%). Endemic areas started to form on the south of the country and then the disease gradually spread on seaside provinces, where to the end of the 19th century, due to reach of island territories and large international seaports, was characterized by pandemic spread. Epidemic manifestations of plague in China were observed during more than 200 years in 23 out of 36 administrative areas affecting continental and North-Eastern regions of the country, which are immediately adjacent to border of Russia. Pneumonic plague in Manchuria clearly demonstrated the role of transport communications in transmission of this deadly infection and possibility of its spread on border regions of Siberia and Far East. Lengthy country's border, intensive migration flows, large-scale international integration, developing of near-border trade, simplification of policy for transboundary traveling are the reasons for differentiated number of sanitary protective measures on administrative borders of Siberia and Far East.     

Species divergence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Iris</Emphasis> series <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lacteae</Emphasis> (Iridaceae) in Russia and adjacent countries based on chloroplast DNA sequence data

In Russia, the species of the genus Iris L., series Lacteae Doronkin, the taxonomic structure of which still remains controversial, are found in the south of Siberia and the Russian Far East, as well as in other regions of Asia. Sequence analysis of three chloroplast DNA regions (rps4, trnL–trnF, and trnS–trnG) shows that, in Russia and adjacent countries, there are two genetically and geographically isolated Lacteae species. I. oxypetala Bunge grows in the south of the Russian Far East, and I. lactea Pall. grows in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Genetic differentiation between the populations of I. lactea is extremely low and statistically insignificant (the fixation index Φ_ST = 0.057, P > 0.05), pointing to the unity of the gene pool and the absence of other Lacteae species in this area.     

远东地区影响针叶树天然更新的球果种实害虫———球果花蝇 (双翅目 :花蝇科)( 英文)

球果花蝇是远东地区的重要球果种实害虫。尤其是在我国东北地区 ,由于球果花蝇的危害已严重影响了落叶松种子产量 ,进而影响到落叶松的造林与更新。本文系统地总结了近些年危害落叶松、云杉、冷杉种实的球果花蝇的研究进展及存在的问题。文中还涵括了作者的一些原始研究数据和尚未发表的新结果。     

Les relations entre l’Extrême-Orient eurasien et le nord de l’archipel du Japon au Paléolithique

The aim of this paper is to present a review of current knowledge concerning the Paleolithic records and the related natural environmental setting in the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido, located at the northern tip of the Japanese islands. At present, it is quite difficult to answer whether the archaic humans dispersed from Siberia and northern China across the Amur River basin and Sakhalin into Hokkaido or not, because there is no reliable evidence indicating the Lower and Middle Paleolithic in Hokkaido. We demonstrate that the Upper Paleolithic assemblages in Hokkaido can be divided into at least three phases such as the early Upper Paleolithic (EUP), the middle Upper Paleolithic (MUP), and the late Upper Paleolithic (LUP), based on a synthesis of available radiocarbon dates and the techno-typological characteristics of lithic assemblages. It is reasonable to suggest that the lithic assemblage from the Rubenosawa site, located in northern Hokkaido, and some of lithic assemblages at the transition from the Middle to Upper Paleolithic or the initial Upper Paleolithic (IUP) in Siberia share the relative similarities of techno-typological attributes in the reduction sequences, although the reliable radiocarbon dates have not been obtained from the Rubenosawa site unfortunately. Also, the emergence of microblade technology at the MUP in Hokkaido, such as represented by the microblade assemblage recovered from the Kashiwadai-1 site, central Hokkaido, indicates a close interaction between the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido. As a result, the comparison of archaeological evidence in these regions provides us with a suggestion that the appearance and development of the Upper Paleolithic assemblages in Hokkaido were sometimes associated with the human dispersions and the mutual contacts crossing between the Eurasian Far East and Hokkaido.     

Natural hybridization and taxonomy of birches in North Asia

Currently there is a complicated situation in the taxonomy of widespread species such as birch (Betula L.). A large number of species of this genus in Siberia and the Russian Far East has been described, but one encounters an insurmountable obstacle when trying to carry out a more detailed study: the impossibility of finding them for a second time in nature or at least collect plants that have identical characteristics to the typical examples of the described species. All of these species are characterized by a very high variability of traits. These are the traits of Betula pendula and B. microphylla in the southern parts of Central Siberia and Betula pendula (= B. platyphylla) and B. lanata in Eastern Siberia and in the northern regions of the Russian Far East. This suggests intense and widespread hybridization between these species. In connection with this, research of this genus throughout North Asia has begun. These studies have been carried out over 40 years. To date, many works in periodicals and several monographs have been published using the data of numerous expeditions. This paper shows the role of natural hybridization in plant taxonomy using the example of the Siberian species of birch. It is necessary to have a clear understanding of the hybridization processes on large areas that include the ranges of contact species. Solving problems of taxonomy only by studying small local populations is a hopeless pursuit.     

远东地区影响针叶树天然更新的球果种实害虫——球果花蝇（双翅目：花蝇科）

球果花蝇是远东地区的重要球果种实害虫。尤其是在我国东北地区,由于球果花蝇的危害已严重影响了落叶松种子产量,进而影响到落叶松的造林与更新。本文系统地总结了近些年危害落叶松、云杉、冷杉种实的球果花蝇的研究进展及存在的问题。文中还涵括了作者的一些原始研究数据和尚未发表的新结果。     

Two onygenalean fungi from Russian Far East soil

Two onygenalean fungi isolated from forest soil in the Sikhote-Alin reserve, Russian Far East (east Siberia), are described and illustrated:Gymnostellatospora parvula as a new species andAphanoascus canadensis as a new record.Gymnostellatospora parvula is characterized by psychrophilic growth, pale yellow to pale cinnamon ascomata with a hyphal peridium, small, hyaline discoid ascospores with an equatorial rim and more or less longitudinally ridged wall.     

Faunistic complexes of the Cladocera (Crustacea,Branchiopoda) of Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russia

Faunistic complexes of 155 species of the Cladocera found in Eastern Siberia and the Far East of Russian Federation are described. The eight complexes are specified: unrevised widely spread species (51), the widespread Eurasian faunistic complex (34 species), the circumpolar complex (4 species), the East Asian and American (Beringian) complex (8 species), the endemic East Asian complex (19 species), the southern thermophilic complex (12 species), the mountainous endemic complex (3 species), and the Baikal endemic complex (8 species). Directions for further studies are suggested. Faunistic investigations of the modern level in the East Palearctic represent an independent task, which should be accomplished by taxonomists in close cooperation with specialists on local faunas.     

Morphotype analysis of the sibling vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) casually introduced to the Russian Far East

Here, we present the morphotypic variety of the m1 and M3 teeth diagnostics for the recently formed isolated population of the sibling vole in Far Eastern Russia. In the Far Eastern population, the prevalence of the individuals with m1 with a complicated crown of the forward unpaired loop of the paraconid is characteristic. Namely, m1 in these individuals shows well-expressed sixth exterior and fifth interior salient angles. The structure of the M3 morphotypes is also unique in the sibling voles in Far Eastern Russia. The dominant morphotypes were typica (47 %) and simplex (45 %), whereas the abundance of the duplicata morphotype was 0.08 %. The frequencies of various m1 and M3 morphotypes found in casually introduced sibling voles in the Far East are not typical of any previously studied Microtus rossiaemeridionalis population.     

Diagnosis of species of the genus Dermacentor Koch in Siberia and the Far East by the sexually immature phases (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae)

Keys to four known species of the genus Dermacentor from Siberia and Far East of the USSR are based on their nymphs and larvae. Analysis of laboratory cultures served as a basis for distinguishing differential characters of preimaginal phases. Stability of characters in the distribution area of each species was verified on natural material from many geographical localities. A wide range of structures was used for species identification as follows: peculiarities of scutum, peritreme, anal valve, organs of gnathosoma, chaetotaxy and morphometrical characteristics and ratios. Keys can be used for identifying species from the European part of the USSR and north-eastern Kazakhstan.     

Plant viruses of the Asian territory of Russia: Taxonomy and nomenclature

This review presents the results of long-term study of the species diversity of plant viruses on the Asian territory of Russia. The known and new viruses were revealed in agro- and biocenoses and identified not only for the Far East and Siberia but also for Russia. Based on the criteria of traditional and molecular-genetic taxonomy, 50 viruses were referred to 8 families and 18 genera of the currently known 17 families and 78 genera of plant viruses. The taxonomic status of new phytopathogenic viruses revealed on the Asian territory of Russia was defined.     

Contribution to the fauna of mollusk-eating marsh flies (Diptera,Sciomyzidae) of Yakutia

A total of 38 species belonging to 14 genera and 2 tribes of the family Sciomyzidae were recorded from Yakutia. Among these species, 23, 6, and 8 species were recorded from Yakutia, eastern Siberia, and Siberia, respectively, for the first time. The fauna of Central Yakutia, comprising 33 species, is examined best of all. The range diversity of investigated sciomyzids is classified into 13 types. Species with Holarctic and trans-Eurasian ranges constitute the largest groups comprising 12 species each. Colobaea punctata, Ilione albiseta, Pherbellia brunnipes, and Sepedon sphegea are very abundant. The species composition of the Yakut fauna noticeably differs from neighboring faunas of the Russian Far East, Mongolia, and Alaska, but the generic composition of these faunas is more similar. The Yakut fauna of the Sciomyzidae is intermediate between the fauna of Mongolia and the faunas of the Russian Far East and Alaska. The fraction of marsh flies in dipteran assemblages of meadow cenoses is usually small, but their abundance in some years grows significantly. The population density of marsh flies in the valleys of large rivers is higher in comparison with that found in isolated alas hollows in the plakors (= euclimatopes). Analysis of the trophic associations of the larvae of the Yakut sciomyzids has revealed 5 out of the 7 groups known in the family.