Phylogeography of ancient and modern brown bears from eastern Eurasia.

The brown bear () is an iconic carnivoran species of the Northern Hemisphere. Its population history has been studied extensively using mitochondrial markers, which demonstrated signatures of multiple waves of migration, arguably connected with glaciation periods. Among Eurasian brown bears, Siberian populations remain understudied.

Chromosome Translocations as a Driver of Diversification in Mole Voles (Rodentia, Mammalia).

The involvement of chromosome changes in the initial steps of speciation is controversial. Here we examine diversification trends within the mole voles , a group of subterranean rodents. The first description of their chromosome variability was published almost 40 years ago.

Rapid chromosomal evolution in enigmatic mammal with XX in both sexes, the Alay mole vole Vorontsov et al., 1969 (Mammalia, Rodentia).

Evolutionary history and taxonomic position for cryptic species may be clarified by using molecular and cytogenetic methods. The subterranean rodent, the Alay mole vole Vorontsov et al., 1969 is one of three sibling species constituting the subgenus Ellobius Fischer, 1814, all of which lost the Y chromosome and obtained isomorphic XX sex chromosomes in both males and females.

Features of Interspecific Contacts and Hybridization of Ground Squirrels (Marmotinae, Sciuridae, Rodentia) in Mongolia.

Using molecular genetic methods, we investigated the secondary contact zones of two pairs of species of ground squirrels of Mongolia. In common colonies of marmots M. sibirica and M.

A new form of the mole vole Ellobius tancrei Blasius, 1884 (Mammalia, Rodentia) with the lowest chromosome number.

The subterranean mole vole, Ellobius tancrei, with aspecific variability in autosomes (2n = 31-54) and unusual sex chromosomes (XX in males and females), represents an amazing model for studying the role of chromosome changes in speciation. New materials from the upper reaches of the Surkhob River in the Pamiro-Alay mountains resulted in the discovery of a new form with 2n = 30. The application of Zoo-FISH and G-banding methods allowed the detection of 13 pairs of autosomes as Robertsonian metacentrics originated after fusions of acrocentrics of an assumed ancestral karyotype of Ellobius tancrei with 2n = 54.