1
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Vorontsova YL, Slepneva IA, Smirnov DN, Khrameeva EE, Shatunov A, Poluboyarova TV, Bulakhova NA, Meshcheryakova EN, Berman DI, Glupov VV. The Impact of Long-Term Hypoxia on the Antioxidant Defense System in the Siberian Frog Rana amurensis. Biochemistry (Mosc) 2024; 89:441-450. [PMID: 38648764 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924030052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The Siberian frog Rana amurensis has a uniquely high tolerance to hypoxia among amphibians, as it is able to withstand several months underwater with almost no oxygen (0.2 mg/liter) vs. several days for other studied species. Since it was hypothesized that hypoxia actives the antioxidant defense system in hypoxia-tolerant animals, one would expect similar response in R. amurensis. Here, we studied the effect of hypoxia in the Siberian frog based on the transcriptomic data, activities of antioxidant enzyme, and content of low-molecular-weight antioxidants. Exposure to hypoxia upregulated expression of three relevant transcripts (catalase in the brain and two aldo-keto reductases in the liver). The activities of peroxidase in the blood and catalase in the liver were significantly increased, while the activity of glutathione S-transferase in the liver was reduced. The content of low-molecular-weight antioxidants (thiols and ascorbate) in the heart and liver was unaffected. In general, only a few components of the antioxidant defense system were affected by hypoxia, while most remained unchanged. Comparison to other hypoxia-tolerant species suggests species-specific adaptations to hypoxia-related ROS stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergei V Shekhovtsov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, 630058, Russia
| | - Yana L Vorontsova
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| | - Irina A Slepneva
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Dmitry N Smirnov
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, 8410501 Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Ekaterina E Khrameeva
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Moscow, 121205, Russia
| | - Alexey Shatunov
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, United Kingdom
| | - Tatiana V Poluboyarova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Nina A Bulakhova
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, 630058, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N Meshcheryakova
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, 630058, Russia
| | - Daniil I Berman
- Institute of Biological Problems of the North, Far East Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, 630058, Russia
| | - Viktor V Glupov
- Institute of Systematics and Ecology of Animals, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, 630091, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Bulakhova NA, Tsentalovich YP, Zelentsova EA, Osik NA, Meshcheryakova EN, Poluboyarova TV, Berman DI. Metabolomic Profiling Reveals Differences in Hypoxia Response between Far Eastern and Siberian Frogs. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3349. [PMID: 37958105 PMCID: PMC10647746 DOI: 10.3390/ani13213349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Anoxia is a significant challenge for most animals, as it can lead to tissue damage and death. Among amphibians, the Siberian frog Rana amurensis is the only known species capable of surviving near-zero levels of oxygen in water for a prolonged period. In this study, we aimed to compare metabolomic profiles of the liver, brain, and heart of the Siberian frog exposed to long-term oxygen deprivation (approximately 0.2 mg/L water) with those of the susceptible Far Eastern frog (Rana dybowskii) subjected to short-term hypoxia to the limits of its tolerance. One of the most pronounced features was that the organs of the Far Eastern frog contained more lactate than those of the Siberian frog despite a much shorter exposure time. The amounts of succinate were similar between the two species. Interestingly, glycerol and 2,3-butanediol were found to be significantly accumulated under hypoxia in the Siberian frog, but not in the Far Eastern frog. The role and biosynthesis of these substances are still unclear, but they are most likely formed in certain side pathways of glycolysis. Based on the obtained data, we suggest a pathway for metabolic changes in the Siberian frog under anoxia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergei V. Shekhovtsov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Lavrentieva av. 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, Portovaya 18, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| | - Nina A. Bulakhova
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, Portovaya 18, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| | - Yuri P. Tsentalovich
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, Institutskaya 3a, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (Y.P.T.); (E.A.Z.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Ekaterina A. Zelentsova
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, Institutskaya 3a, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (Y.P.T.); (E.A.Z.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Nataliya A. Osik
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, Institutskaya 3a, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (Y.P.T.); (E.A.Z.); (N.A.O.)
| | - Ekaterina N. Meshcheryakova
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, Portovaya 18, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| | | | - Daniil I. Berman
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, Portovaya 18, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Vasiliev GV, Latif R, Poluboyarova TV, Peltek SE, Rapoport IB. The mitochondrial genome of Dendrobaena tellermanica Perel, 1966 (Annelida: Lumbricidae) and its phylogenetic position. Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2023; 27:146-152. [PMID: 37063518 PMCID: PMC10090101 DOI: 10.18699/vjgb-23-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Earthworms are an important ecological group that has a significant impact on soil fauna as well as plant communities. Despite their importance, genetic diversity and phylogeny of earthworms are still insufficiently studied. Most studies on earthworm genetic diversity are currently based on a few mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Mitochondrial genomes are becoming a promising target for phylogeny reconstruction in earthworms. However, most studies on earthworm mitochondrial genomes were made on West European and East Asian species, with much less sampling from other regions. In this study, we performed sequencing, assembly, and analysis of the mitochondrial genome of Dendrobaena tellermanica Perel, 1966 from the Northern Caucasus. This species was earlier included into D. schmidti (Michaelsen, 1907), a polytypic species with many subspecies. The genome was assembled as a single contig 15,298 bp long which contained a typical gene set: 13 protein-coding genes (three subunits of cytochrome c oxidase, seven subunits of NADH dehydrogenase, two subunits of ATP synthetase, and cytochrome b), 12S and 16S ribosomal RNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. All genes were located on one DNA strand. The assembled part of the control region, located between the tRNA-Arg and tRNA-His genes, was 727 bp long. The control region contained multiple hairpins, as well as tandem repeats of the AACGCTT monomer. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete mitochondrial genomes indicated that the genus Dendrobaena occupied the basal position within Lumbricidae. D. tellermanica was a rather distant relative of the cosmopolitan D. octaedra, suggesting high genetic diversity in this genus. D. schmidti turned out to be paraphyletic with respect to D. tellermanica. Since D. schmidti is known to contain very high genetic diversity, these results may indicate that it may be split into several species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S V Shekhovtsov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Institute of Biological Problems of the North of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | - G V Vasiliev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - R Latif
- Semnan University, Semnan, Iran
| | - T V Poluboyarova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - S E Peltek
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - I B Rapoport
- Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories of Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Bulakhova NA, Tsentalovich YP, Zelentsova EA, Meshcheryakova EN, Poluboyarova TV, Berman DI. Metabolomic Analysis Reveals That the Moor Frog Rana arvalis Uses Both Glucose and Glycerol as Cryoprotectants. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12101286. [PMID: 35625132 PMCID: PMC9137551 DOI: 10.3390/ani12101286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The moor frog Rana arvalis can tolerate freezing to low temperatures, up to −16 °C. We performed metabolomic analysis of the liver and hindlimb muscles of frozen and control R. arvalis. We found that the moor frog synthesizes glucose and glycerol in similar concentrations as low molecular weight cryoprotectants. This is the first such case reported for the genus Rana, which was believed to use glucose only. We found that freezing upregulates glycolysis, with the accumulation of several end products: lactate, alanine, ethanol, and, possibly, 2,3-butanediol. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of ethanol as an end product of glycolysis in terrestrial vertebrates. We observed highly increased concentrations of nucleotide degradation products, implying high level of stress. We found almost no signs of adaptations to reoxygenation stress, with overall low levels of antioxidants. We also performed metabolomics analysis of subcutaneous ice that was found to contain glucose, glycerol, and several other substances. Abstract The moor frog Rana arvalis is one of a few amphibians that can tolerate freezing to low temperatures, up to −16 °C. In this study, we performed metabolomic analysis of the liver and hindlimb muscles of frozen and control R. arvalis. We found that the moor frog synthesizes glucose and glycerol in similar concentrations as low molecular weight cryoprotectants. This is the first such case reported for the genus Rana, which was believed to use glucose only. We found that freezing upregulates glycolysis, with the accumulation of several end products: lactate, alanine, ethanol, and, possibly, 2,3-butanediol. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of ethanol as an end product of glycolysis in terrestrial vertebrates. We observed highly increased concentrations of nucleotide degradation products, implying high level of stress. The Krebs cycle arrest resulted in high concentrations of succinate, which is common for animals. However, we found almost no signs of adaptations to reoxygenation stress, with overall low levels of antioxidants. We also performed metabolomics analysis of subcutaneous ice that was found to contain glucose, glycerol, and several other substances.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergei V. Shekhovtsov
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
- Correspondence:
| | - Nina A. Bulakhova
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| | - Yuri P. Tsentalovich
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (Y.P.T.); (E.A.Z.)
| | - Ekaterina A. Zelentsova
- International Tomography Center SB RAS, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (Y.P.T.); (E.A.Z.)
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ekaterina N. Meshcheryakova
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| | | | - Daniil I. Berman
- Institute of the Biological Problems of the North FEB RAS, 685000 Magadan, Russia; (N.A.B.); (E.N.M.); (D.I.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Efremov YR, Poluboyarova TV, Peltek SE. Variation in nuclear genome size within the Eisenia nordenskioldi complex (Lumbricidae, Annelida). Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2021; 25:647-651. [PMID: 34782884 PMCID: PMC8558923 DOI: 10.18699/vj21.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The size of the nuclear genome in eukaryotes is mostly determined by mobile elements and noncoding
sequences and may vary within wide limits. It can differ signif icantly both among higher-order taxa and closely
related species within a genus; genome size is known to be uncorrelated with organism complexity (the so-called
C-paradox). Less is known about intraspecif ic variation of this parameter. Typically, genome size is stable within a
species, and the known exceptions turn out be cryptic taxa. The Eisenia nordenskioldi complex encompasses several
closely related earthworm species. They are widely distributed in the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East, as
well as adjacent regions. This complex is characterized by signif icant morphological, chromosomal, ecological, and
genetic variation. The aim of our study was to estimate the nuclear genome size in several genetic lineages of the
E. nordenskioldi complex using f low cytometry. The genome size in different genetic lineages differed strongly,
which supports the hypothesis that they are separate species. We found two groups of lineages, with small
(250–500 Mbp) and large (2300–3500 Mbp) genomes. Moreover, different populations within one lineage also
demonstrated variation in genome size (15–25 %). We compared the obtained data to phylogenetic trees based
on transcriptome data. Genome size in ancestral population was more likely to be big. It increased or decreased
independently in different lineages, and these processes could be associated with changes in genome size and/or
transition to endogeic lifestyle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ya R Efremov
- Kurchatov Genomic Center of ICG SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - S E Peltek
- Kurchatov Genomic Center of ICG SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Ermolov SA, Poluboyarova TV, Kim-Kashmenskaya MN, Derzhinsky YA, Peltek SE. Morphological differences between genetic lineages of the peregrine earthworm : Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny, 1826). ACTA ZOOL ACAD SCI H 2021. [DOI: 10.17109/azh.67.3.235.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aporrectodea caliginosa is a universally distributed and highly abundant peregrine earthworm that is the object of many ecological and ecotoxicological studies. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that A. caliginosa consists of three highly diverged genetic lineages. In this study, we investigated morphological diversity within a sample of these three lineages from Belarus. We detected a variety of forms with different degrees of pigmentation and a shift in the clitellum position. The three genetic lineages of A. caliginosa demonstrated different propensity to particular morphological variants, including size, colour, and the clitellum position, yet no character could be used to distinguish among the lineages with sufficient accuracy. Thus, our results suggest that identification of the genetic lineage should be recommended for ecological studies involving A. caliginosa to account for possible differences between them.
Collapse
|
7
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Shipova AA, Poluboyarova TV, Vasiliev GV, Golovanova EV, Geraskina AP, Bulakhova NA, Szederjesi T, Peltek SE. Species Delimitation of the Eisenia nordenskioldi Complex (Oligochaeta, Lumbricidae) Using Transcriptomic Data. Front Genet 2020; 11:598196. [PMID: 33365049 PMCID: PMC7750196 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.598196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Eisenia nordenskioldi (Eisen, 1879) is the only autochthonous Siberian earthworm with a large distribution that ranges from tundra to steppe and broadleaved forests. This species has a very high morphological, ecological, karyological, and genetic diversity, so it was proposed that E. nordenskioldi should be split into several species. However, the phylogeny of the complex was unclear due to the low resolution of the methods used and the high diversity that should have been taken into account. We investigated this question by (1) studying the diversity of the COI gene of E. nordenskioldi throughout its range and (2) sequencing transcriptomes of different genetic lineages to infer its phylogeny. We found that E. nordenskioldi is monophyletic and is split into two clades. The first one includes the pigmented genetic lineages widespread in the northern and western parts of the distribution, and the second one originating from the southern and southeastern part of the species' range and representing both pigmented and non-pigmented forms. We propose to split the E. nordenskioldi complex into two species, E. nordenskioldi and Eisenia sp. 1 (aff. E. nordenskioldi), corresponding to these two clades. The currently recognized non-pigmented subspecies E. n. pallida will be abolished as a polyphyletic and thus a non-natural taxon, while Eisenia sp. 1 will be expanded to include several lineages earlier recognized as E. n. nordenskioldi and E. n. pallida.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sergei V Shekhovtsov
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Kurchatov Genomic Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Laboratory of Biocenology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | - Aleksandra A Shipova
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Kurchatov Genomic Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Poluboyarova
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Kurchatov Genomic Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Laboratory of Biocenology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | - Gennady V Vasiliev
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Elena V Golovanova
- Laboratory of Systematics and Ecology of Invertebrates, Omsk State Pedagogical University, Omsk, Russia
| | - Anna P Geraskina
- Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nina A Bulakhova
- Laboratory of Biocenology, Institute of Biological Problems of the North of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Ecology, Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia
| | - Tímea Szederjesi
- Department of Zoology, Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Sergei E Peltek
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Kurchatov Genomic Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Shekhovtsov SV, Rapoport IB, Poluboyarova TV, Geraskina AP, Golovanova EV, Peltek SE. Morphotypes and genetic diversity of Dendrobaena schmidti (Lumbricidae, Annelida). Vavilovskii Zhurnal Genet Selektsii 2020; 24:48-54. [PMID: 33659780 PMCID: PMC7716558 DOI: 10.18699/vj20.594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendrobaena schmidti (Michaelsen, 1907) is a polymorphic earthworm species from the Caucasus and adjacent regions. Adult D. schmidti individuals have highly variable body size (from 1.5 to well over 10 cm) and color (from dark purple to total lack of pigmentation), so a lot of subspecies of D. schmidti have been described; however, the existence of most of them is currently under dispute. We studied the genetic diversity of D. schmidti from seven locations from the Western Caucasus using mitochondrial (a fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I gene) and nuclear (internal ribosomal transcribed spacer 2) DNA. For both genes studied, we found that our sample was split into two groups. The first group included somewhat bigger (3–7.5 cm) individuals that were only slightly pigmented or totally unpigmented (when fixed by ethanol). The second group contained small (1.7–3.5 cm) specimens with dark purple pigmentation. In one of the studied locations these two groups were found in sympatry. However, there were no absolute differences either in general appearance (pigmented/unpigmented, small/big) or among diagnostic characters. Although the two groups differed in size (the majority of individuals from the first group were 5–6 cm long, and of the second one, 2–3 cm), the studied samples overlapped to a certain degree. Pigmentation, despite apparent differences, was also unreliable, since it was heavily affected by fixation of the specimens. Thus, based on the obtained data we can conclude that D. schmidti consists of at least two species that have identical states of diagnostic characters, but differ in general appearance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S V Shekhovtsov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Suberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Institute of Biological Problems of the North of Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - I B Rapoport
- Tembotov Institute of Ecology of Mountain Territories of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Nalchik, Russia
| | - T V Poluboyarova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Suberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia Institute of Biological Problems of the North of Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Magadan, Russia
| | - A P Geraskina
- Center for Forest Ecology and Productivity of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - S E Peltek
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics of Suberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| |
Collapse
|