[Genetic structure and origin of the tetraploid toad Bufo danatensis Pisanetz, 1978 (Amphibia, Bufonidae) from Central Asia. Biochemical polymorphism and comparison of the level of heterozygosity of diploid species with tetraploid species].

Comparison of individual variation at 24 biochemical loci in members of the species complex of Palearctic green toads showed that the heterozygosity of the tetraploid species Bufo danatensis (Hobs + 0.45) was significantly higher than that of the diploid species B. viridis, B. sp., and B. raddei (Hobs = 0.009 - 0.103). Such difference can be explained only by a hybrid origin of the tetraploid species. Individual electrophoretic variability of the polyploid toad species is associated with an allelic variation that is manifested in constantly heterozygous spectra as the gene dosage effect. At the population level, this phenomenon found in Pamir toads is caused by irregular meiosis in founders of the population or by directional changes in gene regulation. Genotypic distributions in zones of contact of the diploid and tetraploid taxons demonstrate the possibility of restricted introgressive hybridization.