Evolutionary and Ecological Aspects of Genetic Variability in Populations of Sicista betulina (Rodentia, Dipodoidea) from Valdai Hills

Abstract

Abstract—Chromosomal (routine, C-banding) and molecular (mitochondrial cytb gene sequencing) data for Sicista of the betulina group from the northern (Valdai National Park), central (the main watershed of East European Plain), and southeastern (Upper Volga Basin) parts of Valdai and, for comparison, from the Moscow and Central Chernozem regions are presented and generalized. The affiliation of birch mice from Valdai and the Moscow area to the 32-chromosomal S. betulina, and that from the Central Chernozem area to S. strandi (2n = 44) were confirmed. Birch mice were collected in various biotopes: specimens from Valdai National Park were caught in coniferous forests with nemoral covering, other selections of S. betulina were caught in mixed forests, and S. strandi were caught in a forest–steppe. Priority chromosomal (C-banding) and molecular (cytb) data indicating the originality of the S. betulina population from Valdai National Park, which are different by the studied genetic traits from other samples of the species from Valdai and the Moscow area and from S. strandi, were obtained. Evolutionary and ecological aspects of the results were discussed.