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2. Coat colour and chromosome variation in central European populations of the weasel (Mustela nivalis)

Creator:
Zima, Jan and Cenevová, Elena
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
weasel, pelage coloration, karyotype, and systematics
Language:
English
Description:
The frequencies of two hereditary coat colour types were determined in a sample of weasels, Mustela nivalis (n=1280) from the Czech and Slovak Republics. White pelage was found in four (0.49%) individuals collected in the period between October and April (n=824). All the other individuals studied had type II vulgaris coloration, characterised by an irregular border between the upper brown part of the body and the white underbelly. Distal white coloration on the feet and upper lip appeared to be unreliable in distinguishing between the two basic types of weasel summer coat. The karyotypes of five weasels from different parts of the Czech Republic contained large heterochromatic arms in six pairs of autosomes. The absence of a large heterochromatic arm in autosomal pair No. 7 differentiates the chromosomal complement of the central European weasels from those occurring in the northern parts of their range. The same karyotype found in Czech weasels was also found in an individual from European Turkey. Comparison of the available data on coat colour and chromosomal variation confirmes the existence of three major phylogenetic lineages of weasels in Europe.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

4. Coprophagy in Brandt's vole (Microtus brandti) from the Inner Mongolian grasslands

Creator:
Pei, Yan-Xin, Wang, De-Hua, Wand, Zu-Wang, Zima, Jan, Griffiths, Huw I., Burda, Hynek, and Sedláček, František
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
Brandt's vole, Microtus brandti, and coprophagy
Language:
English
Description:
We studied coprophagous behaviour in Brandt's vole using a solute food marker (Co-EDTA). Examination of marker concentrations in the stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon of voles killed at half-hour intervals after a pulse dose of Co-EDTA indicated that the marker was recycled to the stomach by coprophagy. Recycling of digesta via coprophagy enables Brandt's vole to utilise diets of higher fibre contents. This is the first evidence for coprphagy in this species.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

6. Development of multiplex microsatellite sets for noninvasive population genetic study of the endangered Tatra chamois

Creator:
Zemanová, Barbora, Hájková, Petra, Bryja, Josef, Zima jr., Jan, Hájková, Andrea, and Zima, Jan
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
noninvasive genetic sampling, amplification success rate, and ungulates
Language:
English
Description:
The only autochthonous population of Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) occurs in the Tatra Mountains (northern Slovakia and southern Poland). Another population has been introduced to the Low Tatra Mts., while Alpine chamois (R. r. rupicapra) has been introduced to the neighbouring mountain ranges, Veľká Fatra and Slovenský raj. All these populations have undergone intensive bottlenecks. Any resulting low genetic variability would mean that only few genetic markers could be used for population genetic studies due to prevailing monomorphism. We tested 65 markers previously used in chamois or other Caprinae species, from which 20 most suitable loci for noninvasive genetic study of the Tatra chamois were selected. These polymorphic loci were used for optimisation of three multiplex sets and revealed a mean number of alleles of 2.1 and mean expected heterozygosity of 0.331 for the Tatra population. Low genetic diversity was also observed in the Low Tatra population while slightly higher values were obtained for Alpine chamois population in Slovenský raj. We subsequently assessed the amplification success rate for noninvasively obtained samples (faeces), which ranged from 85.1% to 92.7% for particular loci. The developed polymorphic microsatellite sets provide a unique tool for population genetic study of the endangered Tatra chamois, even when using noninvasive sampling, and is also suitable for Alpine chamois.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

7. distribution and breeding seasons of the dassie-rat, Petromus typicus (Petromuridae, Rodentia)

Creator:
Coetzee, Cornelius G., Zima, Jan, Griffiths, Huw I., Burda, Hynek, and Sedláček, František
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
desert adaptation, macroclimate, fecundity, embryos, placental scars, and tooth wear
Language:
English
Description:
The diurnal dassie-rat, Petromus typicus, occurs in the mountainous areas along the eastern side of the Namib Desert, as well as and on inselbergs in the Namib with an annual mean rainfall >25 mm. Its distribution is limited by the presence of either moist woodlands or to areas with cold, wet winters. The gestation period is taken as three months, based on the precocial condition of the young at birth. A maximum of three young per litter was recorded, with two being the mode. The young start taking solid food at 14 days and wean at about three weeks, then attaining adulthood at about nine months (at a mass of ca. 150 g). The two main breeding seasons could be related to the onset of the rainy season, although it cannot be ruled out that breeding in endogenous.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

8. Epigenetic and morphometric divergence among black rat, Rattus rattus, populations on Western European islands

Creator:
Sousa, Inês Pereira de, Quartau, José Alberto, Mathias, Maria da Luz, Zima, Jan, Griffiths, Huw I., Burda, Hynek, and Sedláček, František
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
insularity, differentiation and variability, and colonisation
Language:
English
Description:
Over the decades, islands have provided a useful background for the evaluation of the consequences of isolation upon populations. Epigenetic and morphometric divergence among black rat (Rattus rattus) populations from Western European island (São Miguel, Terceira, Flores, Porto Santo, Berlenga, Corsica) were analysed and compared with mainland reference populations (Portugal, France, Morocco). Neither of the two approaches showed insular samples to have greater distinctiveness than those from the mainland. The overall pictures of epigenetic and morphometric similarity among populations were concordant, apparently in agreement with their probable origin from founder individuals brought by former maritime traffic. Mainland populations were more variable, but only according to morphometric characters. The adaptive and evolutionary significance of the patterns found may be related to both the period of population isolation and island area.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/

9. Evaluation of genotoxic damage in wild rodents from a polluted area in the Czech Republic

Creator:
Ieradi, Luisa Anna, Zima, Jan, Allegra, Fabio, Kotlánová, Eva, Campanella, Luigi, Grossi, Rossella, and Cristaldi, Mauro
Type:
article and TEXT
Subject:
environmental pollution, heavy metals, rodents, and central Europe
Language:
English
Description:
An integrated system of evaluation of genotoxic damage was employed in two rodent species (Clethrionomys glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis) collected in a polluted and a control site in northern Bohemia. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn) were found in soil samples from the polluted site. Significantly higher concentrations of certain non-essential heavy metals were observed in kidney and liver of the animals studied in the polluted site, however, temporal variation between years and seasons was significant. Heavy metals originating from industrial aerial pollution may be not distinctly reflected in tissue concentrations recorded in small terrestrial rodents, in contrast to soil pollution resulting from mine works and/or from road traffic. In the same animal samples, micronucleus test and sperm abnormalities assays were used to study the correlation between environmental pollution and genetic damage. Higher genotoxic damage was demonstrated in the animals collected in the polluted site. Micronuclei frequencies appeared to be more suitable markers of mutagenicity than those of abnormal sperms. A. flavicollis seems to be a more suitable model in studies of environmental genotoxicity than C. glareolus.
Rights:
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/