Joanna Ziomek

Low genetic diversity and significant structuring of the common hamster populations Cricetus cricetus in Poland revealed by the mtDNA control region sequence variation

The genetic diversity of 12 populations in the present range of the common hamster Cricetus cricetus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Poland was established. The 366 bp of the mtDNA control region was sequenced for 195 individuals. As few as seven haplotypes were found and their distribution was geographically structured. The large geographic areas were fixed or almost fixed for a single haplotype and three groups of populations, that do not share any haplotypes, have been defined. Proportions of genetic diversity attributable to variation between groups of populations, between populations within groups and within populations were 93.64, 1.92 and 4.45% (SAMOVA: p < 0.001 for all estimates), respectively. Such pattern of variation is most probably the result of historical, postglacial bottlenecks and present genetic drift after the population decline in the last few decades.

Genetic variation and effective population size in an isolated population of the common hamster, Cricetus cricetus

Abstract. An isolated population of the common hamster, forming the western border of the species range in Poland was analysed by the use of 16 microsatellite loci and the mtDNA control region in two consecutive generations. The genetic diversity and the effective population size in this population are low. We found the evidence for ancient bottleneck in this population, but the results of tests for recent reduction of Ne were ambiguous. However, population functions properly i.e. it is in HW equilibrium, Fis and relatedness coefficients do not indicate inbreeding. It indicates that even isolated and small populations of the common hamster have good chance of survival on the condition of the protection and restoration of the habitats. Moreover, the sexrelated differences in dispersal in the common hamster were demonstrated through the relatedness analysis.

The Common Hamster, Cricetus Cricetus (L.) Populations in the Lower San River Valley

The Common Hamster, Cricetus Cricetus (L.) Populations in the Lower San River Valley Seven active localities of the common hamster were found in the Lower San River Valley, while in the Tarnogród Plateau the hamsters are not present any longer. The populations on both banks of the San River belong to the Pannonia phylogeographic lineage. The contact between two Polish phylogeographic lineages: E1 and Pannonia, was not found in this area. Although it is not possible to establish currently what was the former distribution of the phylogroups, it is probable that the barrier between them was formed by the Solska Forest. The genetic diversity of the common hamster populations in the Lower San River Valley is lowered, however quite typical for Polish Pannonia populations. The populations of the Lower San River Valley are isolated from the other parts of the species range in Poland. The only possible connection with other populations is through Ukrainian hamsters in Lvov district. Występowanie Chomika Europejskiego Cricetus Cricetus (L.) W Dolinie Dolnego Sanu W dolinie dolnego Sanu stwierdzono siedem aktywnych stanowisk chomika europejskiego, podczas gdy nie potwierdzono jego występowania na Płaskowyżu Tarnogrodzkim. Populacje występujące po dwóch stronach Sanu należą do tej samej linii filogeograficznej - Pannonia. Kontakt pomiędzy dwiema występującymiw Polsce liniami filogeograficznymi (E1 i Pannonia) nie został stwierdzony na badanym obszarze. Ustalenie dawnego rozprzestrzenienia obu linii jest obecnie niemożliwe, jednak wydaje się prawdopodobnym, że barierę stanowiła dla nich Puszcza Solska. Zróżnicowanie genetyczne populacji chomika europejskiego w dolinie dolnego Sanu jest obniżone, ale wciąż typowe dla polskich populacji Pannonia. Populacje z doliny dolnego Sanu są izolowane od pozostałych części zasięgu gatunku w Polsce. Jedyne możliwe połączenie z innymi populacjami chomika to potencjalny kontakt z ukraińskimi populacjami w okręgu lwowskim.

Morphometric Differences Between the Phylogeographic Lineages of the Common Hamster Cricetus Cricetus in Poland

Morphometric Differences Between the Phylogeographic Lineages of the Common Hamster Cricetus Cricetus in Poland As the common hamster is endangered in the European part of its range, it is necessary to define the conservation units for successful management of natural populations. Here we describe the case of clear morphometric differentiation between phylogeographic lineages of the common hamster. The standard external measurements were taken from 209 common hamsters collected during the period 2005-2007 from the present species range in Poland. The studied populations belong to different phylogeographic lineages P3 (Polish Pannonia) and E1, and the hamsters of P3 lineage are smaller with longer feet and tails than the hamsters of E1 lineage. The phylogeographic lineages of the common hamster can be defined as evolutionary significant units (ESU) due to the significant genetic differentiation and as management units (MU) with the evidence for ecological differentiation. Morfometryczne Zróżnicowanie Pomiędzy Liniami Filogeograficznymi Chomika Europejskiego Cricetus Cricetus W Polsce Chomik europejski jest gatunkiem zagrożonym w całej europejskiej części zasięgu, istnieje więc konieczność zdefiniowania jednostek ochrony w obrębie gatunku w celu skutecznego zarządzania naturalnymi populacjami. Opisujemy tutaj przypadek wyraźnej różnicy morfologicznej pomiędzy liniami filogeograficznymi chomika europejskiego. Standardowe pomiary zewnętrzne zostały wykonane na 209 chomikach odłowionych w latach 2005-2007 z obecnego zasięgu gatunku w Polsce. Badane populacje należą do różnych linii filogeograficznych: P3 (Pannonia w Polsce) i E1 i stwierdzono, że chomiki linii P3 są mniejsze z dłuższymi stopami i ogonami niż chomiki linii E1. Linie filogeograficzne chomika europejskiego mogą być więc zdefiniowane jako jednostki o znaczeniu ewolucyjnym (ESU), w związku z istotnym zróżnicowaniem genetycznym, i jednostki zarządzania (MU), z wykazanym zróżnicowaniem ekologicznym.

Common hamster Cricetus cricetus (L., 1758) in the Silesian Voivodeship, South Poland

An inventory of the localities of common hamsters was conducted in the years 2007-2009. It revealed 14 localities of this rodent in 12 communes within the Silesian Voivodeship. The sites are situated in four macroregions: the Silesian Upland (7 localities), the Woźniki-Wielun Upland (3 localities), the Krakow-Czestochowa Upland (1 locality) and the Przedborz Upland (3 localities). The present western border of the distribution range of the common hamster in Poland is marked by the following places: Kamienszczyzna (the Wielun Upland), Piekary Śląskie (the Tarnowskie Gory Hummock) and Chorzow (the Katowice Upland). A comparison of the number of communes currently inhabited by the common hamster with the data from 40 years ago proves a significant reduction in the population of this species (12 communes out of 43) in the Silesian Voivodeship. The common hamster usually occurs in agricultural areas; however, it can also be encountered in home gardens or in allotments. Moreover, populations inhabiting fields extremely isolated by urban infrastructure were discovered (Siemianowice Śląskie, Piekary Śląskie) and they will be constantly monitored..

Distribution of the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides in western Poland.

The raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1839) is an introduced canine species, currently widely distributed in Europe. The raccoon dog is a relatively new alien predator in Polish fauna and can be considered a threat to the native species. However, little is known about its distribution or habitat selection in western Poland. Until the1970s, only 20 single records of raccoon dogs in the western and south-western parts of Poland had been noted. New data on the numbers of raccoon dogs, its distribution and habitat preferences in the western Poland have been collected using questionnaires. 289 new localities have been reported. Raccoon dogs have been observed mostly in five types of habitats: forests, arable fields, banks of water bodies, roads and human settlements, wet meadows and marshes.