Mustafa Sözen

A STUDY ON KARYOTYPIC EVOLUTION OF THE GENUS SPALAXGÜLDENSTAEDT, 1770 (MAMMALIA: RODENTIA) IN TURKEY

..The subterranean Spalacidae probably originated from a muroid-<:ricetoid stock in Asia Minor or vicinity, in Oligocene times, about 30-40 Ma, and adaptively radiated underground in the Balkans, steppic Russia, and Middle East, extending into North Africa (Savic and Nevo, 1990). Nevo et al. (1994) have tested the longitudinal north-south Israeli evolutionary model, proposed by Nevo (1991), of positive association of diploid chromosome number (2n) and genetic diversity with aridity stress in Spalacidae in Turkey. They showed that in Turkish Spalax, speciation and adaptation, revealed in Israel by 2n and heterozygosity, H, positively carreiate with aridity stress and climatic unpredictability. 2n values and H increase toward the ecologically harsh, arid, climatically unpredictable, and geologically young central Anatolian Plateau from the west, north, south, and east, repeating from all directions the pattem seen in Israe1. However, while variation in the Israeli speciational trend involves only four chromosomal species, ranging from north to south (Nevo, 1991), chromosomal speciation in Turkey is centripetal, involving about 30 taxonomic groups ofspecific rank defined by a combination of chromosome number,

Phylogeny of species and cytotypes of mole rats (Spalacidae) in Turkey inferred from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequences

Abstract. We described the genetic variation of cytochrome b gene sequences of blind mole rats in Turkey. We examined 47 individuals belonging to nine cytotypes of three superspecies Nannospalax leucodon, N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi in the 402bp gene sequence of cytochrome b. Phylogenetic analyses showed that relationships between cytotypes were well supported, but deeper divergence between species showed insignificant relationships. Cytotypes of N. xanthodon with low diploid number of chromosomes from western Turkey formed a monophyletic group distinct from the populations with higher number of chromosomes (2n = 56-60). The monophyly of N. xanthodon was supported with respect to N. leucodon (2n = 56) in the Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenies. The divergence between two analyzed cytotypes of N. ehrenbergi (2n = 52, 2n = 56) was 9.4 %, and the Kilis cytotype (2n = 52) appeared as the basal branch of the whole analysed dataset. N. ehrenbergi cytotypes were paraphyletic and they formed unsupported relationships with previously described N. galili (2n = 52), N. golani (2n = 54), N. carmeli (2n = 58) and N. judaei (2n = 60) from Israel. The results of this study showed that the Nannospalax species complex most likely represents more species than currently recognized, especially in N. xanthodon. We suggest that cytotypes of N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi from Turkey should be investigated in detail as possible candidates for being separate species.

Chromosome Differentiation of four 2n = 50 Chromosomal Forms of Turkish Mole Rat, Nannospalax nehringi

Nannospalax is a genus of blind rodents adapted to living in underground. The species have numerous chromosomal forms in Turkey, and their taxonomic position is still unknown. In this study, 15 mole rats of four different 2n = 50 forms were used; C- and G- banding processes were applied; and a comparison was made accordingly. Karyological results showed that the 2n = 50S form is a new form for Turkish blind mole rats. 2n = 50S form is determined from Andirin (Kahramanmaraş) and has NF = 70. The 2n = 50W form, on the other hand, differs from the others with NF = 74 form. C-banding results showed that heterochromatin blocks of all 2n = 50 are different, while only the 2n = 50W form has telomeric heterochromatin blocks. G-banding results, however, displayed homologies and differences among the chromosomal forms. After comparison, we determined that Robertsonian fusion is an efficient force on chromosomal evolution in blind mole rats in Turkey, and that telomeric heterochromatin is a distinctive character for the 2n = 50W form. We suggest that the chromosomal changing mechanism should be independent from climatic peculiarities. These results support the theory that ancestral karyotype should have the largest distribution in a chromosomally variable species.

A karyological study on subterrranean mole rats of the Spalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 (Mammalia: Rodentia) superspecies in northwestern Turkey

Abstract The karyotypes of 35 specimens of the subterranean mole rat of the superspecies Spalax leucodon Nordman, 1840, from 11 localities in the Bilecik area in north-western Turkey were analysed. Two different karyotypes were identified and both show a distinct geographic distribution: The karyotype 2n=52 and NF=70 is confined to the eastern side of the Sakarya River, whereas 2n=60 and NF=78 is found only on the western side of the river. The Sakarya River thus serves as a barrier and separates both forms in this area.

Dobrava-Belgrade Virus in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis Mice, Turkey

In 2009, human Dobrava-Belgrade virus (DOBV) infections were reported on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Serologic and molecular studies of potential rodent reservoirs demonstrated DOBV infections in Apodemus flavicollis and A. uralensis mice. Phylogenetic analysis of DOBV strains showed their similarity to A. flavicollis mice–borne DOBV in Greece, Slovenia, and Slovakia.

Contribution to karyology, distribution and taxonomic status of the Long-winged Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae), in Turkey

Abstract The distribution of the Long-winged Bat, Miniopterus schreibersii, in Turkey is described with the help of literature records and our own new records. The range extends all over the country, with populations in Thrace, the Marmara region and the western Black Sea region belonging to the nominate form, and those in the eastern Black Sea region, in Central, eastern, southern and south-eastern Anatolia to M. s. pallidus. The transition between the two subspecies occurs in a wide area extending from the Aegean region to the central Black Sea region, where intermediate forms exist. The karyotype was analysed from the western Black Sea region, and was found to be 2n= 46, FN= 52, FNa= 48, which is in conformity with the karyotype described from other parts of the distribution area of this species.

The karyotype of Apodemus agrarius (Pallas, 1771) (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey

Abstract The karyotypes of seven specimens of Apodemus agrarius from İğneada in Thrace (European Turkey) were examined. The results showed that the diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 48, the number of autosomal arms NFa = 56, and the fundamental number NF = 58. The X chromosome is large acrocentric and the Y chromosome is small acrocentric. It was found that one subtelocentric pair in the chromosome set of A. agrarius is different from that of European populations.

On the karyology and morphology of Sciurus anomalus (Mammalia: Rodentia) in Turkey

Abstract Morphological and karyological parameters, including the baculum and phallus, of Sciurus anomalus from Turkey were examined. The diploid number of chromosomes is 2n = 40, the fundamental number is NF = 80, the number of autosomal arms is NFa = 76. The X chromosome is a large submetacentric, and the Y chromosome is a small submetacentric.

GERBIL RECORD FROM TURKEY: GERBILLUS (HENDECAPLEURA) DASYURUS (WAGNER, 1842) (RODENTIA: GERBILLINAE)

The morphology, biometry, and karyology of 33 specimens of Gerbillus from Kilis (Turkey) were examined. It was determined that the specimens were not different from the nominative Gerbillus dasyurus. Gerbillus dasyurus leosollicitus and Gerbillus dasyurus palmyrae are the nearest geographical subspecies.

Karyotypes of seven rodents from Jordan (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Abstract We present here data on the karyotypes of seven species of rodents from Jordan. The karyotype of Acomys dimidiatus was found to be 2n= 38, NF= 70; Acomys russatus russatus and A. r. lewisi 2n= 66, NF= 94; Apodemus flavicollis 2n= 48, NF= 48; Apodemus mystacinus 2n= 48, NF= 52; Meriones tristrami 2n= 72, NF= 76; Skeetamys calurus 2n= 38, NF= 70; Allactaga euphratica 2n= 48, NF= 96. Of these species, the karyotypes of A. flavicollis, A. mystacinus, S. calurus, and A. euphratica are here reported for the first time from Jordan.