Karyological differences of the Northern Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma malma and the white char Salvelinus albus from the Kamchatka River basin

The karyotypes of northern Dolly Varden and white char, sympathrically inhabiting the Kamchatka River basin, were studied. The karyotype of Dolly Varden was stable: 2n = 78 and NF = 98 + 2, while in white char, polymorphism and mosaicism for the chromosome number were revealed: 2n = 76-79, NF = 98 + 2. Using a routine chromosome staining technique, the karyotype of white char (2n = 78) was shown to be identical to that of Dolly Varden. In both karyotypes, similar sets of marker chromosomes were present: two pairs of submetacentric (SM), one pair of submeta-subtelocentric (SM-ST), one pair of large acrocentric (A), and one pair of large sub-telocentric (ST) chromosomes. However, the karyotypes of Dolly Varden and white char differed in the number and location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). In Dolly Varden, single NORs located in the telomeric regions of the marker SM-ST chromosomes were observed. In white char, NORs were multiple and located both in the telomeric regions of the marker SM-ST chromosomes and on the short and long arms of large ST chromosomes. The identical marker chromosomes indicate considerable phylogenetic relatedness between Dolly Varden and white char from the Kamchatka River basin. Variation in NORs provides evidence for the reproductive isolation of these chars and their species status.     

Karyological Differences between Northern Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma malma and White Char Salvelinus albusfrom the Kamchatka River Basin

The karyotypes of northern Dolly Varden and white char, sympatrically inhabiting the Kamchatka River basin, were studied. The karyotype of Dolly Varden was stable: 2n= 78 andNF= 98 + 2, while in white char, polymorphism and mosaicism for the chromosome number were revealed: 2n= 76–79, NF= 98 + 2. Using a routine chromosome staining technique, the karyotype of white char (2n= 78) was shown to be identical to that of Dolly Varden. In both karyotypes, similar sets of marker chromosomes were present: two pairs of submetacentric (SM), one pair of submeta-subtelocentric (SM-ST), one pair of large acrocentric (A), and one pair of large subtelocentric (ST) chromosomes. However, the karyotypes of Dolly Varden and white char differed in the number and location of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs). In Dolly Varden, single NORs located in the telomeric regions of the marker SM-ST chromosomes were observed. In white char, NORs were multiple and located both in the telomeric regions of the marker SM-ST chromosomes and on the short and long arms of large ST chromosomes. The identical marker chromosomes indicate considerable phylogenetic relatedness between Dolly Varden and white char from the Kamchatka River basin. Variation in NORs provides evidence for the reproductive isolation of these chars and their species status.     

Karyotype and Relationships of the Endemic Char <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus krogiusae</Emphasis> from Dal'nee Lake (Kamchatka)

Resident (lacustrine) chars, inhabiting many lakes of Kamchatka, Chukotka, and continental coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, are of particular interest for understanding the mechanisms of speciation and evolution of Salvelinus chars. Since one of these, the char from Dal'nee Lake (Paratunka River basin, southeastern Kamchatka), is substantially different from lacustrine-riverine and anadromous chars from the Paratunka River basin in several morphological traits, hemoglobin spectrum, ecology, and reproduction, it is considered an isolated species Salvelinus krogiusae. The karyotype of the resident char from Dal'nee Lake was shown to be variable in most individuals, containing 76 to 80 chromosomes in different cells, with NF = 98. This suggests that the variability of the chromosome number in this char form is explained by Robertsonian translocations. In females and males, cells with respectively 2n = 78 and 2n = 77 prevailed. Heteromorphic sex chromosomes were not found in the karyotype of this char species. Nucleolar-organizing regions (NORs) were mostly detected in the telomeric regions of short arms of large submetacentric chromosomes. These features of the Krogius char karyotype demonstrate that this species is isolated from other Kamchatka chars, being similar to Taranetz char S. taranetzi from Chukotka Peninsula, which is in good agreement with morphological data.     

Karyological Differentiation of Northern Dolly Varden and Sympatric Chars of the Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus</Emphasis> in Northeastern Russia

In many cases the taxonomic status of sympatric chars (with exception of white-spotted char Salvelinus leucomaenis) is not clear and is actively debated. We karyotyped three pairs of sympatric chars inhabiting the Russian Far East-northern Dolly Varden, S. malma malma, and Lavanidov's char, S. levanidovi, from the Yama River (northern coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, Magadan Region), northern Dolly Varden and Taranetz's char, S. taranetzi, from Lake Achchen (east Chukotka), and northern Dolly Varden and white char, S. albus, from the Kamchatka River (Kamchatka Peninsula). Three of them had similar chromosome numbers. But all chars studied had an individual and discrete set of karyotypic characters, which enabled reliable identification each of them by chromosome number, chromosome arm number, and number and location of active nuclear organizer regions.     

Karyotype and relationships of the endemic char Salvelinus krogiusae from Dal'nee Lake (Kamchatka)

Resident (lacustrine) chars, inhabiting many lakes of Kamchatka, Chukotka, and continental coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, are of particular interest for understanding the mechanisms of speciation and evolution of Salvelinus chars. Since one of these, the char from Dal'nee Lake (Paratunka River basin, southeastern Kamchatka), is substantially different from lacustrine-riverine and anadromous chars from the Paratunka River basin in several morphological traits, hemoglobin spectrum, ecology, and reproduction, it is considered an isolated species Salvelinus krogiusae. The karyotype of the resident char from Dal'nee Lake was shown to be variable in most individuals, containing 76 to 80 chromosomes in different cells, with NF = 98. This suggests that the variability of the chromosome number in this char form is explained by Robertsonian translocations. In females and males, cells with respectively 2n = 78 and 2n = 77 prevailed. Heteromorphic sex chromosomes were not found in the karyotype of this char species. Nucleolar-organizing regions (NORs) were mostly detected in the telomeric regions of short arms of large submetacentric chromosomes. These features of the Krogius char karyotype demonstrate that this species is isolated from other Kamchatka chars, being similar to Taranetz char S. taranetzi from Chukotka Peninsula, which is in good agreement with morphological data.     

Genetic divergence of mitochondrial DNA in white char <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus albus</Emphasis> and northern Dolly Varden char <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus malma malma</Emphasis>

Comparative analysis of mitochondrial DNA variation was performed in white char Salvelinus albus Glubokovsky and in its putative ancestor species, northern Dolly Varden char Salvelinus malma malma Walbaum. Highly statistically significant differentiation of S. albus and S. m. malma in the areas of sympatric (Kamchatka River basin) and allopatric (Kronotskoe Lake and Kronotskaya River) residence was demonstrated. The mtDNA divergence between S. albus and S. m. malma did not exceed the range of intraspecific variation in the populations of northern Dolly Varden char. At the same time, clusterization pattern of the Salvelinus chars provides hypothesis on the common origin of two allopatric populations of white char. Genealogical analysis of haplotypes indicates that S. albus and S. m. malma currently demonstrate incomplete divergence of mitochondrial lineages. The low nucleotide divergence estimates between S. albus and S. m. malma reflect the short time period since the beginning of the divergence of ancestral lineages. These estimates are determined by ancestral polymorphism and haplotype exchange between the diverged phylogenetic groups as a result of introgressive hybridization.     

Variation of cytochrome b gene in sympatric chars from kronotsky lake (Kamchatka Peninsula)

In previously identified sympatric char forms (species) from Kronotsky Lake (Kamchatka Peninsula) and a number of other chars from the genus Salvelinus, nucleotide sequences of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene were determined and phylogenetic analysis of these chars was performed. The divergence estimate of the cytochrome b gene in the Kronotsky char group (0.48%) coincided with the interpopulation difference estimates in northern Dolly Varden, which indicates a relatively recent divergence of the chars from Kronotsky Lake. Haplotypes of each form of the Kronotsky Lake chars are divided into two groups, which belonged to two different phylogenetic mtDNA lineages of northern Dolly Varden from Chukotka and Kamchatka. The formation of the Kronotsky char forms proved to be unrelated to the observed variability of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene.     

Variation of cytochrome b gene in sympatric chars from Kronotsky Lake (Kamchatka oblast)

In previously identified sympatric char forms (species) from Kronotsky Lake (Kamchatka Peninsula) and a number of other chars from the genus Salvelinus, nucleotide sequences of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene were determined and phylogenetic analysis of these forms was performed. The divergence of the cytochrome b gene in the Kronotsky char group (0.48%) coincided with the interpopulation difference estimates in northern Dolly Varden, which indicates a relatively recent divergence of the chars from Kronotsky Lake. Haplotypes of each form of the Kronotsky Lake chars are divided into two groups, which belonged to two different phylogenetic mtDNA lineages of northern Dolly Varden from Chukotka and Kamchatka. The formation of the Kronotsky char forms proved to be unrelated to the observed variability of the mtDNA cytochrome b gene.     

Molecular phylogeny of the marine <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prasiola</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosenvingiella</Emphasis> species (Chlorophyta: Prasiolales) from southeastern Kamchatka

Molecular phylogenetic tools are often useful in distinguishing cryptic species with similar morphologies, but they can also be helpful in identifying morphotypes of a species, which displays completely different shapes. We performed molecular-phylogenetic analysis of supra-tidal green algae in the Kamchatka peninsula that belong to the order Prasiolales (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). Based on rbcL sequences results, two new species were recorded for the first time in Kamchatka. Approximately 1.4% of the field-collected Rosenvingiella constricta had a unique uniseriate hood-like blade shape, although their rbcL sequences were 100% identical with typical multiseriate filamentous plants. Kamchatka’s population of R. constricta showed 99.4–99.6% identity in rbcL sequences with the populations from Canada and New Zealand. Another similar-looking Rosenvingiella species collected from the same locality had 93.5% identity of the rbcL gene sequence with R. constricta. Morphological and geographical analyses also suggested that this species might be a new species of the genus Rosenvingiella. Prasiola delicata was recorded for the first time in Kamchatka. The Kamchatka population of P. delicata showed 100% identity in rbcL gene sequence with the population from Vancouver, but differed from the Canadian population morphologically.     

Population genetic structure of the char species of the Northern Kuril Islands and the rank of the Dolly Varden Char in the system of the genus Salvelinus (Salmonidae: Teleostei)

Analysis of the taxonomic position of most species and forms of the char (genus Salvelinus, Salmonidae: Teleostei) was made based on RAPD-PCR. The material was represented by samples from 29 populations from the Kuril Islands, coast of the Sea of Okhotsk, Kamchatka, Chukotka, Taymyr, Transbaikalia, the Kola Peninsula, Svalbard, Finland, and North America. It was shown that the genus Salvelinus splits into three well-justified clusters: (1) all the forms assigned to the Salvelinus alpinus--S. malma complex; (2) two samples of the White-Spotted Char from the Southern Kuril Islands and from Kamchatka; (3) two North American species, S. fontinalis and S. namaycush (samples of the North American species S. confluentis were absent from the collection). Analysis of the absolute values of genetic disctances of the S. alpinus--S. malma forms relative to S. leucomaenis, S. fontinalis, and S. namaycush revealed distances approaching the species rank between the following isolates: Frolikh Char, Mountain Char, Black Lake Char, Goggle-Eyed Char, and Neyva Char. Samples of Dolly Varden currently considered as "S. malma", do not constitute a separate cluster, falling within the group of the Arctic char S. alpinus. This conclusion is supported by the analysis of the results of three series of experiments by R. Phillips on ITS1 ribosome genes (Pleute et al., 1992; Phillips et al., 1995; Phillips et al., 1999). This indicates the infraspecific rank of malma within S. alpinus. Isolated populations of "Salvethymus svetovidovi" from the lake Elgygytgyn (Chukotka Peninsula) and of the char from the lake Chyornoye (Onekotan Island), recently described as S. gritzenkoi (Vasil'eva, Stygar, 2000), fell withing the S. alpinus--S. malma complex, the Onekotan char grouped together with another isolate from the same island. Comparison of genetic distances between the samples showed that the differences between the two isolated of Onekotan and migratory forms of the Kuril Islands are approximately equal, yet the homogeneity of the Chyornoye sample is higher than that of the other samples. The revealed 330-nucleotide diagnostic sequence of the Onekotan lake isolate showed identity of part of the fragment with a section of expressed DNA from the library of EST clones derived from the gills of Salmo salar, this possibly indicates the adaptive character of the evolution.     

Analysis of microsatellite DNA of rainbow trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Parasalmo</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type="Italic">mykiss</Emphasis>) of Kamchatka: Selection of loci and optimization of the method

The variation of a sample of rainbow trout (Parasalmo (Oncorhynchus) mykiss) from natural populations of several rivers of the Kamchatka Peninsula with respect to 43 microsatellite DNA loci has been studied. These loci were earlier used for analysis of Asian populations of closely related salmonids. Ten of them may be regarded as markers and seen promising for further studies on intraspecific relationships of rainbow trout of Kamchatka. Their use in studies on more numerous samples from different localities and populations of Parasalmo (O.) mykiss in the Asian part of the species range will ensure efficient population genetic analysis of the Kamchatka population group of this species.     

Analysis of microsatellite variation in the rainbow trout <Emphasis Type="Italic">Parasalmo (Oncorhynchus) mykiss</Emphasis> from Kamchatka

Genetic variation of Kamchatka rainbow trout Parasalmo (O.) mykiss was examined using 10 microsatellite DNA loci, and phylogeographic comparison with other representatives of the species across the distribution range was performed. It was demonstrated that Kamchatka populations differed from other geographic groups of rainbow trout in a number of microsatellite loci. These populations also displayed distinct clustering and were characterized by lower genetic diversity. Analysis of a set of 26 different microsatellite loci (personal and literature data) demonstrated that most of the populations within the Kamchatka region were separated from one another, characterized by marked geographic differentiation, and affiliation to certain river basins. In Kamchatka rainbow trout, with high degree of probability, three geographic clusters (northwestern, southwestern, and eastern) were identified. In general, analysis of microsatellite DNA supported the data on low genetic diversity of the Kamchatka group Parasalmo (O.) mykiss, based on the variation estimates for a number of genes of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, and allozyme loci.     

Genetic divergence of populations of the white char <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus Albus</Emphasis>, northern and southern forms of malma <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. malma</Emphasis> (Salmonidae), by microsatellite loci of DNA

A very small but statistically significant genetic differentiation by allele frequencies (in the Kamchatka basin F _ST = 0.016 and in Kronotskoe Lake F _ST = 0.063) is revealed between sympatric populations of the northern malma Salvelinus malma malma and of the white char S. albus by analysis of nine microsatellite loci. Factor analysis and clusterization of individual multilocal genotypes in the sum sample of sympatric S. malma malma and S. albus also demonstrate their extremely weak genetic differentiation. Divergence between geographically isolated (allopatric) populations of each of these chars exceeds by two-three times the interspecies differentiation in the zones of sympatry. Samples from allopatric populations clusterize by the geographic principle but not by the taxonomic principle. Such a situation may be explained by the absence of reproductive isolation and presence of hybridization between sympatric S. malma malma and S. albus with the simultaneous existence of some limitations of genetic exchange related to the ecological specialization of these chars. Analysis of microsatellite loci revealed highly significant genetic differences between the northern and southern forms of malma S. malma krascheninnikovi by many times exceeding genetic differences between S. malma malma and S. albus. The obtained data do not confirm the independent species status of S. albus but support the opinion of the species level of differences between the northern and southern forms of malma.     

The Pechora Pipit (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Anthus gustavi</Emphasis>, Passeriformes,Motacillidae) in Northeastern Asia

The data on the distribution and ecology of the Pechora pipit in northeastern Asia were updated on the basis of published data and the results of studies performed in the period from 1977 to 2016 in the basins of the Olenek, Lena, Yana, Indigirka, and Alazeya rivers. In contrast to the Ob and Yenisei watersheds, as well as to Chukotka and Kamchatka, in the basins of the above-mentioned rivers and in the mid-Kolyma basin, the Pechora pipit inhabits the northern taiga and shows less preference for the tundra zone. Compact breeding grounds are largely confined to large river valleys, and only in the Vilyui River basin can they be found in the watershed wetlands. The breeding range is predominately fragmented. The continuous distribution area of this species encompasses Kamchatka and, apparently, the Koryak Highlands and Southern Chukotka. Westwards, in the Yana and Kolyma basins between 66° N and 69° N, in the Lena valley between 68° N and 70° N, in the interfluve between the Vilyui and Olenek rivers between 63° N and 66° N, and in the Khatanga and Yenisei basins between 63° N and 72° N, a discontinuous distribution zone has formed. In the interfluve between the Vilyui and Olenek rivers and in the Alazeya River valley, the population density reaches its highest values observed in the species optimum in Kamchatka. The nesting sites of the Pechora pipit nests in grass associations, forages mostly in meadows and swamps, and feeds mainly on amphibiont invertebrates.     

Female maturity,reproductive potential,relative distribution,and growth compared between arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) and Kamchatka flounder (A. evermanni) indicating concerns for management

Arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) and Kamchatka flounder (A. evermanni), major piscivorous predators in the eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, are morphologically similar. Consequently the two species have been managed together as a species complex using the length‐ and age‐at‐maturity derived from Gulf of Alaska arrowtooth flounder, which had been the only available maturity estimates. However, there could be serious management consequences if the two species matured at significantly different ages and fork lengths. Therefore, this study was conducted during 2007 and 2008 to determine if there were significant differences in maturation between the two species. Significant differences in size and age of female maturation and growth were found. The age and length of 50% maturity (A_50,L_50, respectively) for arrowtooth flounder females is 7.6 years of age and 480 mm in body length. In comparison, A_50,L₅₀ of Kamchatka flounder females is 10.1 years of age and 550 mm, meaning that Kamchatka flounder has a significantly lower reproductive potential than arrowtooth flounder. The large difference in reproductive potential indicates that managing the two species together as a species complex using the reproductive characteristics of arrowtooth flounder, was not conservative for Kamchatka flounder. This study also determined that arrowtooth flounder maturation was consistent between the Gulf of Alaska and eastern Bering Sea populations.     

On the insect fauna of the Kichiga River basin, northeastern Kamchatka

189 species of insects from 55 families and 9 orders were found in the Kichiga River basin, northeastern Kamchatka Peninsula in 1987–1994: 7 species of Plecoptera, 7 of Odonata, 1 of Orthoptera, 4 of Homoptera, 6 of Heteroptera, 54 of Coleoptera, 73 of Lepidoptera, 15 of Hymenoptera, and 22 species of Diptera. Most of the insect species present in the Kichiga basin have wide ranges: 55 species and subspecies are Holarctic, 52 species have a broad Palaearctic distribution, 10 are Eastern Palaearctic, 8 are Amphi-Pacific, 8 are circumboreal or circumpolar, 4 are Far Eastern or Pacific; 5 species are endemic or subendemic to Kamchatka or some part of the peninsula.     

Traumatization of Kamchatka River Pacific salmon by lampreys

Salmon that enter the Kamchatka River are intensively traumatized by lamprey (from 12.0 to 74.0% in different years). An analysis of the frequency distribution of oral disk marks on salmon revealed two types of marks: (1) small (diameter < 2.2 cm, mainly of oval form, located in the middle of the fish in the upper part of the body) and (2) large (diameter > 2.2 cm, of roundish form, located in the front in the lower third of body). The small marks (type I) are mainly left by the Kamchatka lamprey Lethenteron camtschaticum. The second type of trauma is inflicted by large individuals of the Pacific lamprey Enthosphenus tridentatus in the 2nd and 3rd year of marine life. The most typical traumatic injuries caused by lamprey to salmon are described. Injury data are provided for six species of salmon, namely, sockeye, pink, chum, coho, chinook, and char.     

Fin tissues as surrogates of white muscle when assessing carbon and nitrogen stable isotope levels for Arctic and brook char

Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus) are a fish species ubiquitous to the fresh waters of Arctic region and brook char (Salvelinus fontinalis) are similarly common across the sub-Arctic region of eastern Canada. Populations can be small in numbers, especially farther north thus it is important to develop non-lethal methods of sampling these fish to minimize the invasiveness and impact of scientific research. We examined the stable isotopes of nitrogen and carbon in white muscle, caudal fin, and adipose fin tissues of Arctic char and brook char (S. fontinalis) from northern Quebec and Labrador, Canada. Our results revealed several broad conclusions. First, differences among muscle, caudal fin, and adipose fin tissues were ~1?‰ for freshwater Arctic and brook char. Second, the two species within the same drainage had similar stable isotope levels and tissue differences. Third, anadromous Arctic char show similar, non-significant differences among these tissues for δ¹⁵N, but muscle δ¹³C was highly enriched. Fourth, the stable isotope levels and tissue differences were the same for anadromous Arctic char from two watersheds where char use distinctly different ocean environments. Overall, it appears that caudal fin tissue in particular is a useful surrogate for white muscle δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N levels for Arctic and brook char in this region and thus, a non-lethal collection of a small sample of caudal fin tissue will provide an accurate measure of white muscle isotope levels.     

The genetic variability of the red king crab, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralithodes camtschatica</Emphasis> (Tilesius, 1815) (Anomura,Lithodidae) introduced into the Barents Sea compared with samples from the Bering Sea and Kamchatka region using eleven microsatellite loci

The intentional introduction of red king crab, Paralithodes camtschatica (Tilesius, 1815) in the Barents Sea represent one of a few successful cases and one that now supports a commercial fishery. Introductions of alien species into new environments are often associated with genetic bottlenecks, which cause a reduction in the genetic variation, and this could be important for the spreading potential of the species in the Atlantic Ocean. Red king crab samples collected in the Varangerfjord located on the Barents Sea (northern Norway) were compared with reference crab samples collected from the Bering Sea and Kamchatka regions in the Pacific Ocean. All samples were screened for eleven microsatellite loci, based on the development of species-specific primers. The observed number of alleles per locus was similar, and no reduction in genetic variation, including gene diversity and allelic richness, was detected between the Varangerfjord sample and the reference sample from Okhotsk Sea near Kamchatka, indicating no genetic bottlenecking at least for the microsatellite loci investigated. The same results were found in comparison with the sample from Bering Sea. The level of genetic differentiation among the samples, measured as overall F _ST across all loci, was relatively low (0.0238) with a range of 0.0035–0.1000 for the various loci investigated. The largest pairwise F _ST values were found between the Bering Sea and Varangerfjord/Barents Sea samples, with a value of 0.0194 across all loci tested. The lowest value (0.0101) was found between the Varangerfjord and Kamchatka samples. Genetic differentiation based on exact tests on allele frequencies revealed highly significant differences between all pairwise comparisons. The high level of genetic variation found in the Varangerfjord/Barents Sea sample could be of significance with respect to further spreading of the species to other regions in the North Atlantic Ocean.