Chromosomal and molecular studies of cryptic species of the subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Terricola</Emphasis> (Rodentia,Arvicolinae, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microtus</Emphasis>) in the Caucasian region: Analysis of new records

Using chromosomal and molecular (cytb) markers, the specific identity of 78 individuals of cryptic species of voles of the subgenus Terricola was ascertained. The animal samples were obtained at 13 localities of the Caucasian region, from Krasnodar krai to North Ossetia in the Greater Caucasus and in the Stavropol Upland (forest island in the steppe) in Ciscaucasia, which had not been covered earlier in genetic studies. In the total sample, two chromosomal forms (cryptic species), namely, Microtus (Terricola) majori (2n = 54, NF = 60) and M. (T.) daghestanicus (2n = 54, NF = 58), were identified. The specific identity of most animals tested was confirmed by karyological means, and for individuals from two localities on the south slopes of the Greater Caucasus (Adlerskii district of Krasnodar krai), it was confirmed exclusively by means of molecular (cytb) markers. The last two records were used for evaluation of the differential role of sibling-species of the subgenus Terricola in circulation of the pathogen in mountain loci of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Western Caucasus. For the first time, using the example of M. (T.) majori from the Ciscaucasia, which was compared with those of the mountain part of the species’ natural habitat, the role of isolation factors in morphogenesis of the subgenus Terricola was studied. As a whole, the results obtained specify the character of the geographical distribution and biotope attachment of cryptic species of the subgenus Terricola in the Caucasian region.     

On the taxonomic rank of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ciscaucasicus</Emphasis> and its relationships with the pygmy wood mouse <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sylvaemus uralensis</Emphasis> inferred from the mtDNA cytochrome b gene sequence

To specify the taxonomic rank of form ciscaucasicus (independent species Sylvaemus ciscaucasicus, or intraspecific form of pygmy wood mouse, S. uralensis), a 402-bp the mtDNA cytochrome b gene fragment (402 bp) was examined in ciscaucasicus individuals from six geographic localities of the Caucasus and Ciscaucasus (Krasnodar krai and Adygeya Republic) and 17 S. uralensis individuals from seven localities of the Russian Plain (Saratov oblast, Smolensk oblast, Voronezh oblast, Tula oblast, Moscow oblast, Tver’ oblast, and northern Krasnodar krai). For comparison, the cytochrome b gene was partly sequenced in the samples of yellow necked, S. flavicollis (n = 2, Samara oblast), and Caucasian, S. ponticus (n = 6, Krasnodar krai), wood mice. One Mus musculus specimen from Western Europe, whose nucleotide sequences were deposed in the GenBank, was used as intergeneric outgroup. Phylogenetic trees for the forms examined were constructed based on the mtDNA sequence variation and using the neighbor joining and maximum parsimony methods. The network of the cytochrome b haplotypes was also constructed. The level of genetic divergence was evaluated using Kimura’s two-parameter algorithm. Based on the data on the sequence variation in a 402-bp mtDNA cytochrome b gene fragment, the hypothesis on the species status of the ciscaucasicus form was. The mean intergroup distances (d) between the geographic groups of S. uralensis varied from 0.0036 to 0.0152. At the same time, the distances between the pygmy wood mice and the group of S. flavicollis-S. ponticus varies in the range from 0.0860 to 0.0935, and the level of intergeneric genetic differentiation (Sylvaemus-Mus) is higher than the latter index (d = 0.142). Ciscaucasicus should be considered as geographic substitution form of S. uralensis. Furthermore, the Caucasian populations of S. uralensis (= ciscaucasicus) were characterized by a threefold lower value of intergroup genetic divergence (d = 0.0062) than the East European populations (d = 0.0179). This finding pointed to some isolation of Caucasian populations of pygmy wood mouse and depletion of their gene pool. However other molecular genetic data (similarity of nucleotide composition and consistence of the levels of intra-and intergroup distances) suggest the absence of geographic subdivision between Caucasian and East European populations of S. uralensis relative to the molecular marker examined.     

New and little known species of the dance-fly subgenus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthempis</Emphasis> Bezzi,genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Empis</Emphasis> L. (Diptera,Empididae), from the Caucasus

Five new species of the subgenus Xanthempis Bezzi are described from the Caucasus: Empis (Xanthempis) annae sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory), E. (X.) grichanovi sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory; Georgia), E. (X.) pseudoconcolor sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar and Stavropol territories; Georgia: Abkhazia), E. (X.) teberdaensis sp. n. (Russia: Karachay-Cherkessia), and E. (X.) zamotajlovi sp. n. (Russia: Krasnodar Territory and Adygea). The females of E. (X.) alanica Shamshev and E. (X.) kovalevi Shamshev are described for the first time. New data on the distribution of some previously described species are reported. The geographical distribution of Xanthempis is discussed. A key to Xanthempis species from the Caucasus is compiled.     

Record of the second species of the East Asian seed-beetle genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Megabruchidius</Emphasis> Borowiec (Coleoptera,Bruchidae) in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gleditsia</Emphasis> seeds in Krasnodar and Stavropol territories,Russia

Megabruchidius dorsalis (Fåhraeus), an introduced Eastern Asian seed beetle, was reared from Gleditsia triacanthos pods collected in Krasnodar and Stavropol territories in October 2013. The species has become established in several European countries since 1989 and is for the first time recorded from Russia.     

Genetic differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Puccinia triticina</Emphasis> Erikss. in Russia

A collection of Puccinia triticina isolates was characterized for polymorphism of microsatellite loci and estimated for their differentiation by geographic origin. The collection included 20 isolates from the Ural region, 31 from West Siberia, 53 from Central Europe, 32 from the Northwest region, 32 from the Volga region, and 40 from the North Caucasus (24 from Dagestan and 16 from Krasnodar and Stavropol). The studied isolates were represented by 65 virulence phenotypes. In the polymorphism analysis of 18 microsatellite loci, 69 genotypes were determined. The index values of genetic distances (F _st, R _st, KB _c) between populations for microsatellite loci indicated differentiation of P. triticina isolates according to geographical origin, and they were clustered into three groups: (1) Asian, (2) European, and (3) North Caucasian. The North Caucasian isolates from Krasnodar and Stavropol regions were closer in similarity to European isolates than the Dagestan ones. Current analysis confirmed the assumption made earlier on the basis of the virulence analysis about the existence of several geographic fungi populations in Russia.     

On high abundance of the Harlequin lady beetle, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harmonia axyridis</Emphasis> (Pall.) (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae), in the plains of the Northwestern Caucasus,Russia

The Harlequin lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), is recorded in great numbers in the city of Krasnodar and in the plain part of Krasnodar and Stavropol territories in mid-October 2013. The beetles flew onto walls and windows of the apartment buildings in Krasnodar and were found concentrating in a car and on fruit trees in an orchard in western Stavropol Territory.     

Genetic population structure and low genetic diversity in the over-exploited sea cucumber <Emphasis Type="Italic">Holothuria edulis</Emphasis> Lesson, 1830 (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in Okinawa Island

Understanding genetic connectivity is fundamental for ecosystem-based management of marine resources. Here we investigate the metapopulation structure of the edible sea cucumber Holothuria edulis Lesson, 1830 across Okinawa Island, Japan. This species is of economic and ecological importance and is distributed from the Red Sea to Hawai‘i. We examined sequence variation in fragments of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S ribosomal RNA (16S), and nuclear histone (H3) at six locations across Okinawa Island. We found higher haplotype diversity for mtDNA (COI: Hd = 0.69 and 16S: Hd = 0.67) and higher heterozygosity of nDNA (H3: H _E = 0.39) in populations from the west coast of Okinawa compared to individuals from populations on the east coast (COI: Hd = 0.40; 16S: Hd = 0.21; H3: H _E = 0.14). Overall population structure was significant (AMOVA results for COI: Φ _ST = 0.49, P < 0.0001; 16S: Φ _ST = 0.34, P < 0.0001; H3: Φ _ST = 0.12, P < 0.0001). One population in the east, Uruma, showed elevated pairwise Φ _ST values in comparisons with all other sites and a marked reduction of genetic diversity (COI: Hd = 0.25 and 16S: Hd = 0.24), possibly as a consequence of a shift to a more dominant asexual reproduction mode. Recent reports have indicated that coastal development in this area influences many marine organisms, and ecosystem degradation in this location could cause the observed decrease of genetic diversity and isolation of H. edulis in Uruma. Our study should provide valuable data to help with the urgently needed management of sea cucumber populations in Okinawa, and indicates particular attention needs to be paid to vulnerable locations.     

Glutathione-S-transferase gene polymorphism in Russian populations of European part of Russia

Distribution of several widespread, extensively studied polymorphic variants of genes of the cytosol glutathione-S-transferase subfamily (GSTA1, GSTM1, GSTM3, GSTP1, and GSTT1) has been studied in samples from Russian populations of European Russia, as well as Komi and Yakut populations used for comparison. Analysis of the GSTP1 and GSTM3 polymorphisms has not revealed significant differences in the distribution of alleles of the loci, including two-site GSTP1 haplotypes, in most Russian populations and between Komi populations. Only in the Yakut sample have a significant difference been found with respect to these loci in each pairwise comparison. Regarding the GSTT1 and GSTA1 genes, in addition to differences between the Yakut population and all other populations with respect to the GSTA1 gene, it has been found that the frequencies of the GSTT1 0/0 deletion genotype and GSTA1 ?69T allele in the Russian sample from Mezen’ (Arkhangel’sk oblast) are substantially lower than in other Russian populations and Komi populations. The significance of these differences has been confirmed by tests for heterogeneity of the entire pool of Russian populations.     

Fine-scale genetic structure of rabbitfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Siganus fuscescens</Emphasis>, in Penghu Archipelago following a mass mortality event caused by extreme cold winter weather

In the winter of 2007–2008, a large number of fish were killed by chilling damage that occurred in the Pescadores (Penghu Archipelago). Such extreme weather events can cause rapid population changes, which provide an opportunity to understand the possible restoration mechanism of coral reef fishes in the Pescadores. The fine-scale genetic structure of the rabbitfish, Siganus fuscescens (Siganidae), was assessed using amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Significant genetic differences (lower gene flow) were observed between rabbitfish from the northern and southern parts of the Pescadores (Chenkong-Soukang, Φ _ST 0.075, P?<?0.001) but not between those from the northern Pescadores and northeastern Taiwan (Chenkong-Keelung, Φ _ST 0.03, P?>?0.02). The northern Pescadores and northeastern Taiwan have been shown to be relatively connected. The population structure of rabbitfish has complemented and helped support fish population recovery after several chilling events in the Pescadores.     

Reliability of the search for 19 common mutations in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">CFTR</Emphasis> gene in Russian cystic fibrosis patients and the calculated frequency of the disease in Russian Federation

A study of Russian cystic fibrosis (CF) patient DNA was conducted to assess the incidence frequency of 19 mutations, namely CFTRdele2,3(21kb), F508del, I507del, 1677delTA, 2143delT, 2184insA, 394delTT, 3821delT, L138ins, 604insA, 3944delGT, G542X, W1282X, N1303K, R334W, and 3849 + 10kbC > T, S1196X, 621 + 1g > t, and E92K of the CFTR gene. We also sought to determine the estimated CF frequency in Russian Federation. In addition, we determined the total information content of the approach for 19 common mutations registration in the CFTR gene, 84.6%, and the allelic frequencies of the examined mutations: three mutations were observed with a frequency exceeding 5% (F508del, 53.98%, E92K, 6.47%, CFTRdele2,3(21kb), 5.35%); other mutations were observed with frequencies ranging from 0.13 to 3.0%. The CF population carrier frequency was 1 in 38 subjects, while the predicted CF frequency was 1 in 5776 newborns.     

Polymorphism of Chloroplast DNA and Phylogeography of Green Alder (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Alnus alnobetula</Emphasis> (Ehrh.) K. Koch s. l.) in Asiatic Russia

This paper studies the phylogeography of Alnus alnobetula s. l. in the Asian part of the Russian range with the use of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences (intergenic spacers trnH-psbA, trnS-trnG, and psaA-trnS). Nine haplotypes were identified as a result of a combination of polymorphism of all sites in 241 plants in 20 populations of A. alnobetula. High interpopulation differentiation (G_ST = 0.914, N_ST = 0.928) and a significant phylogeographic structure (N_ST > G_ST, p < 0.05) were found. Reconstruction of genealogical relationships of green alder haplotypes revealed five highly divergent genetic lineages: one geographically widespread throughout Siberia and the Urals and several allopatric lines in the Far East of Russia, namely, the Chukotka Peninsula and the mouth of the Yana River, Magadan oblast, Primorye and the central part of Sakhalin Island, and the southern part of Sakhalin Island. Our data confirm that in the past the range of this species in the Far East was fragmented in several refugia that were isolated for a long time in various ice-free regions. This could have contributed to a high level of intraspecific polymorphism of green alder as a result of the divergence of endemic haplotypes, with almost non-overlapping distribution. However, the level of their molecular divergence does not correspond to the level of morphological differences.     

New data on the Pteromalid wasps (Hymenoptera,Chalcidoidea: Pteromalidae) of the Russian Far East

Fourteen genera (Ardilea Graham, Glyphognathus Graham, Rhicnocoelia Graham, Eulonchetron Graham, Habritys Thomson, Heteroprymna Graham, Janssoniella Kerrich, Lyubana Bou?ek, Muscidifurax Girault et Sanders, Nazgulia Hedqvist, Notoglyptus Masi, Oxysychus Delucchi, Platygerrhus Thomson, and Stenetra Masi) and 81 species are recorded for the first time for the fauna of Russia; in addition, 13 species are new to the fauna of the Russian Far East.     

Digger wasps (Hymenoptera,Apoidea: Ampulicidae,Sphecidae, Crabronidae) of the Black Sea coast of Krasnodar Territory,Abkhazia, and adjacent areas

A list of 208 digger-wasp species (Hymenoptera, Apoidea: Ampulicidae, Sphecidae, Crabronidae) from the Black Sea coast and adjacent areas within Krasnodar Territory, Abkhazia, and Adygea is given. Gorytes schmiedeknechti Handlirsch, 1888, Miscophus albufeirae Andrade, 1952, Psenulus fulvicornis (Schenck, 1857), and Passaloecus pictus Ribaut, 1952) are new to the Russian fauna, and 47 species are recorded for the first time from Abkhazia. Ectemnius guttatus (Vander Linden, 1829) does not occur in the Western Caucasus; the record of the species from this region was based on a misidentified female of E. lituratus Pz. Tachysphex gibbus Kohl, 1885, stat. n. is considered a distinct species based on its ecological and morphological features.     

Polymorphism of chloroplast microsatellite DNA loci in Russian potato cultivars

The cpSSR method was for the first time used to analyze the plastome in 29 Russian potato Solanum tuberosum cultivars. The informativeness coefficient H and the allele variability of the NTCP6, NTCP8, and NTCP9 loci were determined. In total, 14 allelic variants of the microsatellite cpDNA loci were identified. The NTCP8 and NTCP9 cpSSR displayed the highest allele polymorphism in the cultivars examined. A cultivar-specific haplotypes of the chloroplast genome were observed for 20 out of 29 cultivars.     

Molecular phylogeography and paleodistribution modeling of the boreal tree species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ulmus lamellosa</Emphasis> (T.Wang et S. L. Chang) (Ulmaceae) in China

The uplift of mountains and climatic oscillations are important for understanding of the demographic history and genetic structure of species. We investigated the biogeographic history of the boreal tree species Ulmus lamellosa (Ulmaceae) in China, by using a combined phylogeographic and paleodistribution modeling approach. In this study, 14 populations of endangered U. lamellosa were analyzed by using chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequences. A high level of genetic differentiation (Φ _ST = 86.22%) among populations with a significant phylogeographic pattern (N _ST > G _ST, P < 0.05) was found in U. lamellosa. Ten haplotypes were detected by combining chloroplast DNA data, and haplotype 3 (H3) was found to be common and widespread. The intraspecific divergence of all U. lamellosa cpDNA haplotypes (9.27 Ma; 95% HPD 5.17–13.33 Ma) most probably began in the late Miocene. The pairwise difference among haplotypes and neutrality tests (Tajima’s D and Fu’s Fs statistic) indicated that populations of U. lamellosa, except group I, have not experienced recent sudden expansions. Multiple refuge areas were identified across the entire distribution ranges of U. lamellosa. The low level of gene flow (Nm = 0.14) among populations may have resulted from isolation resulting from distance and complex topography during climatic oscillations; this isolation was probably the major process that shaped the present distribution of haplotypes. These results support the hypothesis that U. lamellosa persisted in situ during glaciations and occupied multiple localized glacial refugia, contrary to the hypotheses of large-scale range contraction and long-distance southward migration.     

To the fauna of bristletails of the families Meinertellidae and Machilidae (Thysanura) from Krasnodar Territory and Kazakhstan

Four new species, Machilinus caucasicus (Meinertellidae), Trigoniophthalmus fuscus, T. petrophilus, and Silvestrichilis zazimkoi from Krasnodar Territory, and one new species, Allopsontus linnaeusi (Machilidae) from Eastern Kazakhstan are described. A key to species of the genus Trigoniophthalmus is given.     

Features of the Biology of the False Zokor (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Myospalax aspalax</Emphasis>, Rodentia,Spalacidae) from Eastern Transbaikalia

The features, population characteristics of reproduction, nutrition, and lifestyle of an extremely poorly studied narrow-range species of underground rodents—the false zokor (Myospalax aspalax)—have been described on the basis of original field materials. The data were obtained within the Russian part of the species range in Zabaikal’skii krai. The false zokor is characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size (males are larger) and a predominance of females in the population. Mating takes place in April; at other times of the year, zokors lead a solitary lifestyle. The size of the brood is small: 3.7 embryos per breeding female. Their preferred food is bulbs and rhizomes of Allium, Thermopsis, Phragmites, and Leymus. In Eastern Transbaikalia, they are active in winter.     

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.     

A New Species of the Eulophid-Wasp Genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Kolopterna</Emphasis> Graham, 1987 (Hymenoptera,Eulophidae: Tetrastichinae) from Stavropol Territory

Kolopterna trjapitzinisp. n. is described from Stavropol Territory. A key to the known species of the genus Kolopterna is provided.     

Hybrid peony (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Paeonia hybrida</Emphasis> Pall.), a rare endangered plant of Bashkir Trans-Uralian region: Autocorrelation analysis of the spatial genotype distribution under different environmental conditions

Hybrid peony (Paeonia hybrida Pall.) is listed as endangered in Russian Federation (since 1988) and in several regions of Russia. The structure of the isolated population from Bashkir Trans-Uralian region, separated by 1500 km from the main geographic range of this species, has been studied using isoenzyme markers from 11 loci. The population is split between two geographical locations, both characterized by a relatively high genetic diversity (mean allele number A = 1.9±0.3, percentage of polymorphic loci P = 0.54, observed heterozigosity H _O = 0.223±0.068, expected heterozigosity H _E = 0.229±0.067) and a quite low intergroup genetic differentiation (fixation index F _ST = 0.008, Nei’s genetic distance D = 0.011). In a subpopulation located near a swampy lake in dense cereal grass and steppe shrubby vegetation, autocorrelation analysis has revealed spatial structuring of genetic variability. In the other location, a stipa-forb steppe on a flat hill slope, a uniform spatial structure of the genotypes has been observed. The results are discussed with respect to the ecological characteristics of the species and the conservation of the genetic pool of the population in situ and ex situ.