Bogdanov Alexey S, Rozhkova Daria N, Khlyap Lyudmila A, Baskevich Marina I
Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119334 Moscow, Russia.
Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119071 Moscow, Russia.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Sep 5;15(17):2605. doi: 10.3390/ani15172605.
Previous molecular studies have demonstrated significant differentiation of the Strand's birch mouse () into two groups; differences between them are comparable with those observed between species. However, these studies were based on different, not numerous samples and the small number of individuals. To clarify the differentiation pattern and structure of the Strand's birch mouse, we analyzed variability of the total mitochondrial gene and the nuclear gene fragment using additional material on this species. Our results confirmed its division into two main genetically distinct forms: the northern form includes Strand's birch mice from Belgorod and Kursk regions, while the southern form incorporates specimens from the Greater Caucasus as well as Rostov, Saratov, and Lugansk regions. In turn, within the southern form, moderate differences were first revealed by the gene analysis between individuals from Rostov region and samples from the Greater Caucasus and Saratov region. One specimen from Belgorod region had the haplotypes, typical of this population, but an 'alien' mitotype, close to those of Strand's birch mice from Rostov region. This result may indicate existence of a modern or ancient hybrid zone between the northern form and the 'Don' line of the southern form.
以往的分子研究表明，斯特兰德林姬鼠（）明显分化为两组；它们之间的差异与不同物种之间观察到的差异相当。然而，这些研究基于不同的、数量不多的样本以及少量个体。为了阐明斯特兰德林姬鼠的分化模式和结构，我们利用该物种的更多材料分析了线粒体全基因和核基因片段的变异性。我们的结果证实它分为两个主要的遗传上不同的形态：北方形态包括来自别尔哥罗德和库尔斯克地区的斯特兰德林姬鼠，而南方形态包含来自大高加索地区以及罗斯托夫、萨拉托夫和卢甘斯克地区的标本。反过来，在南方形态中，基因分析首先揭示了罗斯托夫地区的个体与大高加索地区和萨拉托夫地区的样本之间存在适度差异。来自别尔哥罗德地区的一个标本具有该种群典型的单倍型，但有一种“外来的”线粒体类型，与罗斯托夫地区的斯特兰德林姬鼠的线粒体类型相近。这一结果可能表明在北方形态和南方形态的“顿河”谱系之间存在现代或古代杂交带。
