Holarctic phylogeography of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus): implications for late Quaternary biogeography of high latitudes

A species-wide phylogeographical study of the root vole (Microtus oeconomus) was performed using the whole 1140 base pair mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome b gene. We examined 83 specimens from 52 localities resulting in 65 unique haplotypes. Our results demonstrate that the root vole is divided into four main mtDNA phylogenetic lineages that seem to have largely allopatric distributions. Net divergence estimates (2.0-3.5%) between phylogroups, as well as relatively high nucleotide diversity estimates within phylogroups, indicate that the distinct phylogeographical structure was initiated by historical events that predated the latest glaciation. European root voles are divided into a Northern and a Central mtDNA phylogroup. The mtDNA data in concert with fossil records imply that root voles remained north of the classical refugial areas in southern Europe during the last glacial period. The currently fragmented populations in central Europe belong to a single mtDNA phylogroup. The Central Asian and the North European lineages are separated by the Ural Mountains, a phylogeographical split also found in collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx) and the common vole (M. arvalis). The Beringian lineage occurs from eastern Russia through Alaska to northwestern Canada. This distribution is congruent with the traditional boundaries of the Beringian refugium and with phylogeographical work on other organisms. In conclusion, similarities between the phylogeographical patterns in the root vole and other rodents, such as Arctic and subarctic lemmings, as well as more temperate vole species, indicate that late Quaternary geological and climatic events played a strong role in structuring northern biotic communities.     

青春期雌性根田鼠初次择偶行为与雄性优势等级

在实验室条件下，研究了性刚成熟的雌性根田鼠对一对互为同胎同胞的以体重划分为优势和从势的雄性个体的择偶行为，目的在于检验雄性社会等级是否影响其配偶选择。结果发现：(1)根田鼠存在显著的偏雄性二型，而雄性动物优势度与体重大小成正比；(2)在Y字型迷宫中，初次发情雌鼠对优势雄鼠的访问时间、社会探究频次和友好频次等显著大于从属雄鼠；(3)在随后24h的一雌二雄共居中，优势雄优先交配；从属雄的干扰不能中断优势雄鼠的交配。这些结果说明，体重差异可以作为划分雄性优势的指标，社会等级可以作为择偶行为的一个依据。优势雄鼠与处于从属地位的同胞相比，能获得优先交配机会。同胎同胞虽具有遗传相似性，但雄性竞争的结果表现在体重和社会等级上具有显著差异，表明配偶选择在发挥着作用。根田鼠是一雄多雌制，而且具有较大的偏雄性二型，提示社会等级、雌性选择和婚配制度有密切关联[动物学报49(3)：303—309，2003]。     

Matrilineal kin clusters and their effect on reproductive success in the field vole Microtus agrestis

Kin dusters of philopatric females are thought to form the basicsocial organization of breeding females in various vole species.The spatial association between young breeding females and theirmothers was studied in five 2500–m² enclosures in naturalhabitats during mid- and late breeding season in summer 1992.The mothers (founder females) were introduced into the enclosuresin die beginning of the study in June, whereas the young breedingfemales were born within the enclosures. Matrilineal kinshipwas determined by using radionudides. In July-August, 58% ofyoung breeding females were philopatric, but 82% of the mother-daughterassociations broke up until August-September. Of the young femalesthat started to breed in August-September, only 12% were philopatricThus the kin clusters found were short Hved and few in numberduring the late breeding season. The reduction in the incidenceof the kin clusters coincided with an increase of populationdensity. The mean reproductive success of females breeding inkin clusters was better than that of those breeding separately.In addition, among the nonphilopatric females there was a positive,significant correlation between reproductive success and thedistance to the nearest unrelated founder female. Such correlationwas not found among the philopatric females.     

棕色田鼠种群繁殖特征及密度制约调节(英)

1992年～1994年在河南灵宝市郊黄土高源农作区春夏秋逐月捕获并解剖棕色田鼠1757只（雌性961只,雄性796只）,总性比为1．2073。全年都有繁殖鼠出现,但怀孕率、胎仔数、性比、繁殖指数有明显的季节变化,年间也有一定的差异。不同年龄组的性比、怀孕率、胎仔数、繁殖指数、睾丸下降率不同。种群密度对繁殖特征有明显的调节作用。高密度年份的棕色田鼠的性比、怀孕率和繁殖指数低于低密度年份。高密度区种群的繁殖强度受到抑制,雌鼠怀孕率、睾丸下降率低于低密度种群。     

Gene expression patterns associated with suppression of odontogenesis in mouse and vole diastema regions

Rodents have a toothless diastema region between the incisor and molar teeth which may contain rudimentary tooth germs. We found in upper diastema region of the mouse (Mus musculus) three small tooth germs which developed into early bud stage before their apoptotic removal, while the sibling vole (Microtus rossiaemeridionalis) had only a single but larger tooth germ in this region, and this developed into late bud stage before regressing apoptotically. To analyze the genetic mechanisms of the developmental arrest of the rudimentary tooth germs we compared the expression patterns of several developmental regulatory genes (Bmp2, Bmp4, Fgf4, Fgf8, Lef1, Msx1, Msx2, p21, Pitx2, Pax9 and Shh) between molars and diastema buds of mice and voles. In diastema tooth buds the expression of all the genes differed from that of molars. The gene expression patterns suggest that the odontogenic program consists of partially independent signaling cascades which define the exact location of the tooth germ, initiate epithelial budding, and transfer the odontogenic potential from the epithelium to the underlying mesenchyma. Although the diastema regions of the two species differed, in both species the earliest difference that we found was weaker expression of mesenchymal Pax9 in the diastema region than in molar and incisor regions at the dental lamina stage. However, based on earlier tissue recombination experiments it is conceivable that the developmental arrest is determined by the early oral epithelium. Received: 1 February 1999 / Accepted: 30 March 1999     

棕色田鼠性染色体联会复合体配对的形态学研究

以界面铺展———硝酸银染色方法制备棕色田鼠性染色体联会复合体标本,电镜观察了性染色体联会复合体的形成过程。性染色体轴深染加粗,在早粗线期开始联会;中粗线期Ｙ轴以其全长与Ｘ轴约３／８配对,Ｘ轴形成发夹状结构;晚粗线期先于常染色体解联会。并对性染色体间同源性与非同源性配对机制作了探讨     

洞庭湖区夏季温光条件及被迫迁移对东方田鼠繁殖的影响

在野外 ,从先年的秋初至当年春末被迫迁移前 ,东方田鼠在湖滩上能保持较高的繁殖能力 ;在夏季 ,不论栖息在农田还是岗地 ,都是东方田鼠的繁殖低谷。夏季 (6～ 8月 )在实验室自然温光条件下与人工控制较低温度条件下同时进行观察 ,结果表明 ,前种条件下东方田鼠的繁殖能力明显低于人工降低温度缩短光照条件下的繁殖力 ,此变动趋势与野外观察到的繁殖力季节动态一致 ,可以说明夏季温光条件不利于东方田鼠的繁殖。另一方面 ,东方田鼠的繁殖能力最低的 6月并非全年最热的月份 ,这是因为东方田鼠的被动迁移对体力的消耗加剧了夏季温光对繁殖的影响程度。因此 ,认为洪水引起的东方田鼠被迫迁移和夏季的温光条件共同影响了东方田鼠的繁殖。洞庭湖区东方田鼠主要在冬春季繁殖 ,而分布在高纬度地区的田鼠类动物和分布在高纬度地区的东方田鼠在夏季繁殖 ,在月份上虽不同 ,但其繁殖盛期的气温则相近 ,其实是田鼠类动物喜寒惧热特性的反映 ,乃是对当地的生态环境的适应。     

Analysis of sex-linked sequences supports a new mammal species in Europe

European mammals have been the focus of particularly detailed taxonomic studies by traditional morphological methods. However, DNA analyses have the potential to reveal additional, cryptic species. We describe two highly divergent evolutionary lineages within a small Eurasian mammal, the field vole (Microtus agrestis). We show that the two lineages can be detected not only with maternally (mitochondrial DNA), but also with paternally (Y chromosome) and biparentally (X chromosome) inherited DNA sequences. Reciprocal monophyly of all genealogies and their congruent geographical distributions is consistent with reproductive isolation. Our results suggest that the field vole should be reclassified as two separate species.     

光照和温度对根田鼠褐色脂肪组织产热能力的影响

测定了根田鼠在室内驯化2周后褐色脂肪组织（BAT）的蛋白含量、线粒体蛋白含量和细胞色素C氧化酶活性的变化。动物进行如下4种处理:23℃,16L:8D;23℃,8L：16D;5℃,16L：8D和5℃,8L:16D.。结果表明,短光照可刺激根田鼠的BAT线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶的活性增加;低温驯化可导致根田鼠的BAT线粒体蛋白含量增加;短光照加低温可进一步促进酶的活性增加。结合个体水平的产热特点,说明根田鼠在产热能力的季节驯化过程中,光周期是一主要的季节调节信号,环境温度进一步增强光照的作用,环境温度和光周期共同作用以诱导其产热能力等方面的生理调节。研究结果支持了环境温度和光周期共同作用以调节动物产热变化的学说。