DOCSLIB.ORG

Chromosomal Evolution of the Genus Nannospalax (Palmer 1903) (Rodentia, Muridae) from Western Turkey

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Chromosomal Evolution of the Genus Nannospalax (Palmer 1903) (Rodentia, Muridae) from Western Turkey Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2013) 37: 470-487 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1208-25 Chromosomal evolution of the genus Nannospalax (Palmer 1903) (Rodentia, Muridae) from western Turkey Ferhat MATUR*, Faruk ÇOLAK, Tuğçe CEYLAN, Murat SEVİNDİK, Mustafa SÖZEN Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey Received: 29.08.2012 Accepted: 17.02.2013 Published Online: 24.06.2013 Printed: 24.07.2013 Abstract: We used 33 blind mole rats belonging to 10 different chromosomal races from 10 localities in western Turkey. We applied G- and C-banding techniques to compare chromosomal races as well as clarifying relationships between them. We discussed cytogenetic similarities and differences between chromosomal races. We concluded that 2n = 60C is the ancestor of the other chromosomal races. However, as a result of ongoing evolution processes 2n = 38 and 2n = 60K have become ancestors to chromosomal races on their peripherals. We discovered which rearrangements contribute to the evolution of such a complex chromosomal race system in a genus. With this study we provide a comprehensive comparison of the 10 chromosomal races and perform a cladistic analysis using chromosomal rearrangement character states. According to our tree, chromosomal races with a low diploid number formed a monophyletic group. Key words: Blind mole rat, comparative cytogenetic, G- and C-banding, chromosome differentiation, phylogeny, Anatolia 1. Introduction assumed that ancestral karyotype diverged into the 2n The genus Nannospalax includes blind rodents that have = 60W and R chromosomal races, and independent adapted to living underground. Currently more than 30 translocations of short arms of some chromosomes caused chromosomal races have been determined in Turkish blind this differentiation. Arslan et al. (2011) studied variation mole rats but there is still doubt about the taxonomy of this of C- and AgNOR-banding of 3 chromosomal races (2n = taxon (Nevo et al., 1994; Sözen et al., 1998a, 1998b, 1999, 40, 58, and 60) of N. xanthodon from southern Anatolia. 2000a, 2000b, 2006a, 2006b, 2011; Sözen, 2004; Matur and They found differentiation among the chromosomal Sözen, 2005; Kankiliç et al., 2007; Ivanitskaya et al., 2008; races. Matur et al. (2011) banded 4 chromosomal races Arslan et al., 2011). Kandemir et al. (2012) discussed the with 2n = 50 from different localities in Anatolia. These taxonomic name problem of blind mole rats and so here 4 chromosomal races had the same diploid numbers but we will follow Kandemir et al. (2012). their G-banding patterns were different. The complements Ivanitskaya and Nevo (1998) analyzed Jordanian blind of all these chromosomal races included 2 identical mole rats using C-, G-, and AgNOR-banding techniques metacentric autosomes and the sex chromosomes were and compared these data with previous results obtained also always the same. The studied chromosomal races in Turkish and Israeli blind mole rats. They found should have their own evolutionary pathway but they have that NF values were useful for differentiation due to a common ancestor. pericentric inversions and centromeric shifts. So far, only Dobigny et al. (2004) indicated that chromosomal a few banding studies of Turkish N. nehringi have been data have been underutilized in phylogenetic research, performed. These were conducted in populations from and chromosomal changes could be used as a character. Malatya (Ivanitskaya et al., 1997) and Kastamonu and We set out to identify chromosomal characters that Çankırı provinces (Ivanitskaya et al., 2008). Additionally, could be used to reconstruct the evolutionary history of a banding study was performed by Ivanitskaya et al. (1997) these blind mole rats. The aim of the present study was with southeastern Anatolian blind mole rats (N. ehrenbergi) to compare 9 chromosomal races of N. xanthodon and using G-, C-, and AgNOR-banding techniques. Ivanitskaya a chromosomal race from N. leucodon by determining et al. (2008) assigned the 2n = 60 populations in Turkey to which Robertsonian translocations are prevailing (fissions 2 chromosomal races as 2n = 60W and 2n = 60R, based vs. fusions). By finding the main chromosomal changing on G-bands, C-bands, AgNOR staining, fluorochrome mechanism, we may explain chromosomal evolution of staining, and FISH of telomeric and rDNA probes. They the genus Nannospalax in western Turkey. * Correspondence: [email protected] 470 MATUR et al. / Turk J Zool 2. Materials and methods and C- (Sumner, 1972) banding techniques were applied In this study, 33 animals were studied from 10 localities to each specimen. Pictures of metaphases were taken using (Table 1; Figure 1). According to their geographical a Canon DP 21 digital camera. location in Turkey, these chromosomal races were The G-banding patterns allowed us to assess all the designated as N for north (52N, 54N, 58N), W for west chromosomal homologies among chromosomal races and (50W), E for east (50E), Tr for Thrace (56Tr), C for central to identify the structural differences among karyotypes. (60C), and K for Kastamonu (60K). We recognized the 2n The 2n = 60J fromN. ehrenbergi from Jordan was used = 36, 2n = 38, 2n = 40, 2n = 50W, 2n = 52N, 2n = 54N, as an outgroup (Ivanitskaya and Nevo, 1998). In order 2n = 56W, 2n = 58N, and 2n = 60C chromosomal races to determine whether fusion or fission is the main from N. xanthodon and 2n = 56Tr from N. leucodon. rearrangement we identified the specific arm combination Karyotypes were prepared from bone marrow according of a particular metacentric (Figure 2). If an arm was to Ford and Hamerton (1956). Then G- (Seabright, 1971) included in different metacentrics, fusion was accepted Table 1. Localities, sample size (M: males, F: females), diploid chromosome numbers (2n), and chromosomal arm numbers (NF) of animals examined. 2n NF Localities Province N 36 70 Kemer Cemetery AYDIN 3 38 74 Kırkağaç, Gelenbe MANİSA 3 40 72 Beyşehir 12 km SW KONYA 4 50W 74 Alaşehir MANİSA 5 52N 72 Yalova YALOVA 3 54N 70 Eflani KASTAMONU 2 56W 72 Kula 7 km S MANİSA 5 56Tr 78 Hayrabolu KIRKLARELİ 3 58N 72 Taşköprü KASTAMONU 3 60C 78 Kızılcasöğüt 1 km S UŞAK 2 30 35 40 56 Tr 38 40 36 56W 50W 52N 60K 54N 60 58N 100 0 100 200 300 km Figure 1. Map of the study area in Turkey and the geographical distribution of the chromosomal races studied. 471 MATUR et al. / Turk J Zool Populaton A Populaton B Populaton C a c e a c a Fsson b d f b d e f b c d e f Metacentrc chromosomes Populaton B Populaton C a c d c e Populaton A Fuson b e a b c d e f f d b a f Acrocentrc chromosomes Figure 2. Schematic diagram showing how to specify the rearrangement that plays a main role. If in a hypothetical Population A we always found “a” and “b” arms together like Population B and C then we can claim that fission is responsible for differentiation, or if the reverse situation is observed—“a” and “b” arms are combined with different arms in different condition such as Population B or Population C—it can be said the fusion is the main rearrangement responsible. as the responsible mechanism (references within Sumner 3. Results (2003)). We coded all the characters as indicated by Dobigny 3.1. Karyotype results of C-banding patterns and et al. (2004). First, the chromosomes or chromosomal G-banding comparisons segments were treated as characters, and their presence/ After C- and G-banding, heterochromatin variation in absence or the changes they had undergone represented the heterochromatin distribution (Figures 3a–j) and the character states. Secondly, the chromosomal changes rearrangements among chromosomal races (Figures themselves were considered to represent the characters. 4a–i) were identified. In karyotypes of the 2n = 60, 9 of Using both approaches, we treated 30 chromosome states 30 chromosomes were bi-armed. The X chromosome and 60 chromosomal rearrangements as absent/present. was submetacentric, while the Y chromosome was The matrix of chromosomal characters (Table 2) was subtelocentric. According to the C-band pattern of the 2n analyzed by maximum parsimony using the heuristic = 60, 16 pairs of chromosomes (pairs 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10, search option in PAUP 4.0b.10 (Swofford, 2001) with 11, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, and 26) had heterochromatin bisection–reconnection (TBR) and 10,000 random taxon areas (Figure 3a). The X chromosomes had a centromeric addition replicates. Bootstrap resampling (Felsenstein, heterochromatin area. 1985) was applied to assess the support for individual The karyotype of the 2n = 36 showed 17 pairs of bi- nodes using 10,000 bootstrap replicates with 100 random armed chromosomes. The X chromosome was a middle- additions. TBR was also conducted by both a NJ search sized submetacentric and the Y chromosome was a with 10,000 heuristic bootstrap analysis and NJ bootstrap small-sized acrocentric. C-band results showed interstitial analysis in PAUP 4.0b.10 (Swofford, 2001) dibranch blocks in 7 pairs (pairs 3, 6, 10, 11, 13, 14, and 17) and swapping. The karyotype preparations and animals centromeric heterochromatin in 2 pairs (pairs 7 and 12) examined were deposited in the Department of Biology, (Figure 3b). Two chromosomal rearrangements relative to Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Bülent Ecevit University. 2n = 38 were recognized from G-banding patterns. These 472 MATUR et al. / Turk J Zool Table 2. The matrix of first 30 out of 90 chromosomal characters identified in Nannospalax and used for the phylogenetic reconstruction. The karyotype of 2n = 60 Jordanian (Ivanitskaya and Nevo, 1998) has been used as outgroup. These 30 characters are present/absent in chromosomes; others are rearrangement and every identified rearrangement is coded as 1. 2n/Chr.no.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Blind Mole Rat (Spalax Leucodon) Masseter Muscle: Structure, Homology, Diversification and Nomenclature A
    Folia Morphol. Vol. 78, No. 2, pp. 419–424 DOI: 10.5603/FM.a2018.0097 O R I G I N A L A R T I C L E Copyright © 2019 Via Medica ISSN 0015–5659 journals.viamedica.pl Blind mole rat (Spalax leucodon) masseter muscle: structure, homology, diversification and nomenclature A. Yoldas1, M. Demir1, R. İlgun2, M.O. Dayan3 1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaras University, Kahramanmaras, Turkey 2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aksaray University, Aksaray, Turkey 3Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey [Received: 10 July 2018; Accepted: 23 September 2018] Background: It is well known that rodents are defined by a unique masticatory apparatus. The present study describes the design and structure of the masseter muscle of the blind mole rat (Spalax leucodon). The blind mole rat, which emer- ged 5.3–3.4 million years ago during the Late Pliocene period, is a subterranean, hypoxia-tolerant and cancer-resistant rodent. Yet, despite these impressive cha- racteristics, no information exists on their masticatory musculature. Materials and methods: Fifteen adult blind mole rats were used in this study. Dissections were performed to investigate the anatomical characteristics of the masseter muscle. Results: The muscle was comprised of three different parts: the superficial mas- seter, the deep masseter and the zygomaticomandibularis muscle. The superficial masseter originated from the facial fossa at the ventral side of the infraorbital foramen. The deep masseter was separated into anterior and posterior parts. The anterior part of the zygomaticomandibularis muscle arose from the snout and passed through the infraorbital foramen to connect on the mandible.
    [Show full text]
  • Seismic Communication Signals in the Blind Mole-Rat (Spalax Ehrenbergi ): Electrophysiological and Behavioral Evidence for Their Processing by the Auditory System
    J Comp Physiol A (1998) 183: 503±511 Ó Springer-Verlag 1998 ORIGINAL PAPER R. Rado á J. Terkel á Z. Wollberg Seismic communication signals in the blind mole-rat (Spalax ehrenbergi ): electrophysiological and behavioral evidence for their processing by the auditory system Accepted: 11 May 1998 Abstract Based on morphological and behavioral ®nd- ings we suggest that the seismic vibratory signals that Introduction blind mole-rats (Spalax ehrenbergi) use for intraspeci®c communication are picked up from the substrate by The blind mole-rat, Spalax ehrenbergi, is a subterranean bone conduction and processed by the auditory system. rodent that shows striking behavioral, morphological An alternative hypothesis, raised by others, suggest that and physiological adaptations to fossorial life (Nevo these signals are processed by the somatosensory sys- 1979, 1982). It is a highly solitary species that digs its tem. We show here that brain stem and middle latency tunnel system to its own size, and which it never leaves responses evoked by vibrations are similar to those unless forced to (Nevo 1961). Encounters between in- evoked by high-intensity airborne clicks but are larger in dividuals are very rare and are limited to the mating their amplitudes, especially when the lower jaw is in season, to contacts between mother and pups, and to close contact with the vibrating substrate. Bilateral incidental intrusion of an individual to a foreign tunnel deafening of the mole-rat or high-intensity masking system. noise almost completely eliminated these responses. We and others have shown that for long-distance Deafening also gradually reduced head-drumming be- communication this subterranean rodent uses vibratory havior until its complete elimination about 4±6 weeks (seismic) signals that are produced by rapidly tapping its after surgery.
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded from Ensembl (Www
    Lin et al. BMC Genomics 2014, 15:32 http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/15/32 RESEARCH ARTICLE Open Access Transcriptome sequencing and phylogenomic resolution within Spalacidae (Rodentia) Gong-Hua Lin1, Kun Wang2, Xiao-Gong Deng1,3, Eviatar Nevo4, Fang Zhao1, Jian-Ping Su1, Song-Chang Guo1, Tong-Zuo Zhang1* and Huabin Zhao5* Abstract Background: Subterranean mammals have been of great interest for evolutionary biologists because of their highly specialized traits for the life underground. Owing to the convergence of morphological traits and the incongruence of molecular evidence, the phylogenetic relationships among three subfamilies Myospalacinae (zokors), Spalacinae (blind mole rats) and Rhizomyinae (bamboo rats) within the family Spalacidae remain unresolved. Here, we performed de novo transcriptome sequencing of four RNA-seq libraries prepared from brain and liver tissues of a plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) and a hoary bamboo rat (Rhizomys pruinosus), and analyzed the transcriptome sequences alongside a published transcriptome of the Middle East blind mole rat (Spalax galili). We characterize the transcriptome assemblies of the two spalacids, and recover the phylogeny of the three subfamilies using a phylogenomic approach. Results: Approximately 50.3 million clean reads from the zokor and 140.8 million clean reads from the bamboo ratwere generated by Illumina paired-end RNA-seq technology. All clean reads were assembled into 138,872 (the zokor) and 157,167 (the bamboo rat) unigenes, which were annotated by the public databases: the Swiss-prot, Trembl, NCBI non-redundant protein (NR), NCBI nucleotide sequence (NT), Gene Ontology (GO), Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COG), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG).
    [Show full text]
  • Checklist of Rodents and Insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia
    ZooKeys 1004: 129–139 (2020) A peer-reviewed open-access journal doi: 10.3897/zookeys.1004.57359 RESEARCH ARTICLE https://zookeys.pensoft.net Launched to accelerate biodiversity research Checklist of rodents and insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia Alexey V. Andreychev1, Vyacheslav A. Kuznetsov1 1 Department of Zoology, National Research Mordovia State University, Bolshevistskaya Street, 68. 430005, Saransk, Russia Corresponding author: Alexey V. Andreychev ([email protected]) Academic editor: R. López-Antoñanzas | Received 7 August 2020 | Accepted 18 November 2020 | Published 16 December 2020 http://zoobank.org/C127F895-B27D-482E-AD2E-D8E4BDB9F332 Citation: Andreychev AV, Kuznetsov VA (2020) Checklist of rodents and insectivores of the Mordovia, Russia. ZooKeys 1004: 129–139. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1004.57359 Abstract A list of 40 species is presented of the rodents and insectivores collected during a 15-year period from the Republic of Mordovia. The dataset contains more than 24,000 records of rodent and insectivore species from 23 districts, including Saransk. A major part of the data set was obtained during expedition research and at the biological station. The work is based on the materials of our surveys of rodents and insectivo- rous mammals conducted in Mordovia using both trap lines and pitfall arrays using traditional methods. Keywords Insectivores, Mordovia, rodents, spatial distribution Introduction There is a need to review the species composition of rodents and insectivores in all regions of Russia, and the work by Tovpinets et al. (2020) on the Crimean Peninsula serves as an example of such research. Studies of rodent and insectivore diversity and distribution have a long history, but there are no lists for many regions of Russia of Copyright A.V.
    [Show full text]
  • Project Information Document
    Global coordination project for the SFM Drylands Impact Program Part I: Project Information Name of Parent Program Sustainable Forest Management Impact Program on Dryland Sustainable Landscapes GEF ID 10253 Project Type FSP Type of Trust Fund GET CBIT/NGI CBIT NGI Project Title Global coordination project for the SFM Drylands Impact Program Countries Global Agency(ies) FAO Other Executing Partner(s): IUCN Executing Partner Type GEF Agency GEF Focal Area Multi Focal Area Taxonomy Focal Areas, Climate Change, Climate Change Mitigation, Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use, Technology Transfer, Financing, Forest, Forest and Landscape Restoration, REDD - REDD+, Drylands, Biodiversity, Protected Areas and Landscapes, Productive Landscapes, Terrestrial Protected Areas, Community Based Natural Resource Mngt, Mainstreaming, Forestry - Including HCVF and REDD+, Agriculture and agrobiodiversity, Biomes, Tropical Dry Forests, Desert, Grasslands, Financial and Accounting, Conservation Finance, Payment for Ecosystem Services, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Sustainable Pasture Management, Improved Soil and Water Management Techniques, Integrated and Cross- sectoral approach, Community-Based Natural Resource Management, Income Generating Activities, Sustainable Forest, Ecosystem Approach, Sustainable Fire Management, Sustainable Livelihoods, Restoration and Rehabilitation of Degraded Lands, Sustainable Agriculture, Drought Mitigation, Land Degradation Neutrality, Land Cover and Land cover change, Land Productivity, Carbon stocks
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 4 the Antiquity of Rhizomys and Independent Acquisition of Fossorial Traits in Subterranean Muroids
    Chapter 4 The Antiquity of Rhizomys and Independent Acquisition of Fossorial Traits in Subterranean Muroids LAWRENCE J. FLYNN1 ABSTRACT In parallel with the growing body of molecular data bearing on the relationships of muroids, particularly subterranean lineages, the relevant fossil record has improved to the point that its data constrain scenarios of evolution about both the timing and mode of evolution of burrowing muroids, especially bamboo rats, blind mole rats, and zokors. Morphologists have considered these groups phylogenetically distinct from each other, but the three lineages appear to be related as a monophyletic Family Spalacidae, sister taxon to all other living muroids, based on both nuclear and mitochondrial genes. Although living genera are fully subterranean, the fossil record shows that the three groups evolved burrowing characteristics independently. Bamboo rats (Rhizomyinae) have the longest fossil record, extending into the Late Oligocene, but do not show fossorial traits until the Late Miocene. Blind mole rats (Spalacinae) have a fossil record nearly that long, and its early members also lack burrowing traits. Zokors (Myospalacinae) show characteristics considered derived relative to other groups, and have a shorter fossil record. The fossil record of the Tribe Rhizomyini, living Asian bamboo rats, extends to about 10 million years ago, with early species distinct at the generic level from living Rhizomys. The oldest well- known species assignable to an extant genus is Rhizomys (Brachyrhizomys) shansius from the early Pliocene of Yushe Basin, China, north of the geographic range of modern Rhizomys.A hypothesis of close relationship of bamboo rats, blind mole rats, and zokors leads to a reevaluation of affinities of certain Asian fossil taxa and reevaluation of polarity of some features, but molecular data are not yet robust enough to clarify interrelationships of the groups.
    [Show full text]
  • Laws of Tanzania
    THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (CAPTURE OF ANIMALS) REGULATIONS TABLE OF CONTENTS Regulation Title 1. Citation. 2. Interpretation. 3. Capture permit. 4. Permit not to constitute an authority. 5. Trapper to inform the Game Office. 6. Valid trappers permit. 7. Trappers card. 8. Carrying of trappers card. 9. Loss of trappers card. 10. Grant of permit. 11. Capture permit to be valid. 12. Director's permission to capture. 13. Personal supervision. 14. Animal to be kept in a holding ground. 15. Holding grounds and farms to be maintained. 16. Before export. 17. Container to conform to the specifications. 18. Director to be informed of any export. 19. Holder to produce a permit to the Director. 20. Inspection. 21. Animal to be produced to a Veterinary Officer. 22. Trophy export certificate. 23. No removal of animals from their holding. 24. Accompaning of animals. 25. Welfare and safety of animals. 26. Production of a certified copy. 27. Record keeping. 28. Particulars to be furnished to the Director and Game Officer. 29. Directors power to vary or add any provisions. 30. Permit to keep a live animal. 31. No commercial purpose to keep animal. 32. Offences. SCHEDULES THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (CAPTURE OF ANIMALS) REGULATIONS (Section 94) G.Ns. Nos. 278 of 1974 178 of 1990 1. Citation These Regulations may be cited as the Wildlife Conservation (Capture of Animals) Regulations. 2. Interpretation In these Regulations– "permit" means a permit for the capture of an animal issued under these Regulations; "prescribed" in relation to a form means a form prescribed in a Schedule to these Regulations; and "prescribed fee" in relation to a permit for the capture of any animal means the fee prescribed in relation to such animal in the Fifth Schedule; "Schedule" means a Schedule to these Regulations; "trapper" means a person authorised by a licence or permit to capture an animal.
    [Show full text]
  • A Thesis School of Graduate Studies Addis Ababa University in Partial
    A BTUJlY ON SOlIS EGOLOGICJIL ASP.o;CTS Ob' THE GIAWJ: HOI)l~ ... R~'.'r T.'\CHYOnYC~E's HACnOCEPHALUS (nUPPEI,L,184z). IN lYILic HOUNTJ\INS, ETHIOPIA A Thesis Presented to School of Graduate Studies Addis Ababa University In Partial Fulfillment of tho Requirement for the Degree Muater of Sci onCe in Biology By Shimelis Beyene June 1986 i endemic to Ethiopia, waG 13i~u'li2d in two ohservutio!l llre~s at Bale Mountains National I'&lk i]l south eastern Ethiopia~ The burrow system 8Y.:cavated revBaled extensive underground tunnels, material consisting exclusively of grasses knitted into a hollow ball. One to several blind tlmnels ;iere found filled with foods to res and faec BE>. rJ~he underground tunnel SYR tems \'Jere marked by soil moundG, Garth plugs, foraging holes and haypiles resembled those of pocket gophers. Mole-rats spent an ave~Rge of about 70 minlltes a day on the surface, mainly foraL:inp; tut £1.1so observing ana. digging Q The time spent on the surface by mole-rats at high altitude was significantly greater thc1.n that spent by mole-rats .:;l.t low al ti tude. This difference appea.red to be related to the difference in vegetation cover. The populatiDn d(.nc;i ty of mole-rats 'lias estimated to be about 6000 mole-rats per kr/ at Sanetti and 570 mole-rats per 2 km at Badeae 0 l'his difference in population donai ty ;\'a8 probably due to differences in [;oil and vegetation types, it CompGtion with dom;)stic live stock at lovler al ti tudes might have also contributed.
    [Show full text]
  • Ecologically-Based Management of Rodent Pests ECOLOGICALL V-BASED MANAGEMENT of RODENT PESTS
    Ecologically-based Management of Rodent Pests ECOLOGICALL V-BASED MANAGEMENT OF RODENT PESTS Edited by: Grant R. Singleton, Lyn A. Hinds, Herwig Leirs and Zhibin Zhang Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Canberra 1999 The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) was established in June 1982 by an Act of the Australian Parliament. Its primary mandate is to help identify agricultural problems in developing countries and to commission collaborative research between Australian and developing country researchers in fields where Australia has special competence. Where trade names are used this constitutes neither endorsement of nor discrimination against any product by the Centre. ACIAR MONOGRAPH SERIES This peer-reviewed series contains the results of original research supported by ACIAR, or deemed relevant to ACIAR's research objectives. The series is distributed internationally, with an emphasis on the Third World ©Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research GPO Box Canberra, ACT 2601. Singleton, C.R., Hinds, L.A., Leirs, H. and Zhang, Z.ed. 1999. Ecologically-based management of rodent ACIAR Monograph No. 59, 494p. ISBN 1 86320 262 5 Editing and design by Arawang Communication Croup, Canberra Printed by Brown Prior Anderson, Melbourne, Australia page Author Contact Details 8 Abbreviations 12 List of Species 13 Preface 15 1. Ecologically-based Management of Rodent Pests-Re-evaluating 17 Our Approach to an Old Problem Grant R. Singleton, Herwig Leirs, Lyn A. Hinds and Zhibin Zhang Section 1 Basic Research - the Foundation for Sound Management 31 2. Current Paradigms of Rodent Population Dynamics- 33 What Are We Missing? Charles J. Krebs 3. The Behaviour and Ecology of Rattus norvegicus: from Opportunism to 49 Kamikaze Tendencies David W.
    [Show full text]
  • Functional Morphology of Marsupial Moles ( Marsupialia, N Otoryctidae) Contents
    Verh. naturwiss. Ver. Hamburg (NF) 42 39-149 Hamburg 2006 Functional morphology of marsupial moles ( Marsupialia, N otoryctidae) By NATALIE MARINA WARBURTON, Nedlands (Western Australia*) With 22 Figures Abstract: Marsupial moles (Notoryctes) are the most highly specialised burrowing marsupials. The specialisa­ tions of the appendicular musculo-skeletal system of the marsupial moles are extensive and widespread; the ma­ jor alterations are concentrated in, but not restricted to, the forelimb. Many of the derived features of the mus­ cular system appear to be adaptations for improving the mechanical advantage of the limbs for burrowing. A number of the specialisations of the muscular system of the marsupial moles are convergent with those pre­ viously documented in other fossorial mammals, including golden moles ( Chrysochloris), rodents (Spalacidae) and armadillos (Dasypodidae: Chlamyphorus). There are, however, a number of unique specialisations of the musculo-skeletal system of Notoryctes. The functional morphology of the locomotor apparatus of marsupial moles is interpreted on the basis of the descriptions of the anatomy of the skeletal and muscular systems. The burrowing technique of the marsupial moles is a modified form of the parasagittal digging method that is used by other fossorial mammals, such as golden moles, armadillos and some rodents including pocket gophers (Geomyidae). Differences in the functional morphology of the hindlimb between marsupial moles and other fossorial mammals are a reflection of the fact that marsupial moles do not construct permanent open burrow systems, but instead constantly dig through loose soil, backfilling as they progress. The functional morphology of the tail is uniquely specialised in the marsupial moles to function as the fifth limb during the pentapedal bur­ rowing locomotion.
    [Show full text]
  • A Checklist of the Land Mammals Tanganyika Territory Zanzibar
    274 G. H. SWYNNERTON,F.Z.S., Checklist oj Land Mammals VOL. XX A Checklist of the Land Mammals OF mE Tanganyika Territory AND mE Zanzibar Protectorate By G. H. SWYNNERTON, F.Z.S., Game Warde:z, Game Preservation Department, Tanganyika Territory, and R. W. HAYMAN, F.Z.S., Senior Experimental Officer, Department of Zoology, British Museum (Natural History) 277278·.25111917122896 .· · 4 . (1)(3)(-)(2)(5)(9)(3)(4)280290281283286289295288291 280. .. CONTENTS· · · No. OF FORMS* 1. FOREWORDINSECTIVORA ErinaceidaM:,gadermatidaEmballonuridaSoricidt:eMacroscelididaMarossidaNycteridaHipposideridaRhinolophidaVespertilionida(Shrews)(Free-tailed(Hollow-faced(Hedgehogs)(Horseshoe(Leaf-nosed(Sheath-tailed(Elephant(Simple-nosed(Big-earedBats)Bats)Shrews)BatsBats)Bats) Pteropodida (Fruit-eating Bats) 2.3. INTRODUCTIONSYSTEMATICLIST OF SPECIESAND SUBSPECIES: PAGE CHIROPTERA Chrysochlorida (Golden" Moles to) ···302306191210.3521. ·2387 . · 6 · IAN. (1)(2)1951(-)(4)(21)(1)(6)(14)(6)(5),(7)(8)333310302304306332298305309303297337324325336337339211327 . SWYNNERTON,. P.Z.S.,·· ·Checklist··· of·Land 3293Mammals52 275 PItIMATES G. It. RhinocerotidaPelidaEchimyidaHyanidaPongidaCercopithecidaHystricidaMuridaHominidaAnomaluridaPedetidaCaviidaMustelidaGliridaSciuridaViverrida(Cats,(Mice,(Dormice)(Guinea-pigs)(Apes)(Squirrels)(Spring(Hyaenas,(Genets,(Man)(Polecats,(Cane(porcupines)(Flying(Rhinoceroses)Leopards,(Monkeys,Rats,Haas)Rats)Civets,Arad-wolf).Weasels,Squirrels)Gerbils,Lions,Baboons)Mongooses)Ratels,etc.)•Cheetahs)..Otters) ProcaviidaCanidaLeporidaElephantidaLorisidaOrycteropodidaEquidaBathyergidaManida
    [Show full text]
  • The Lens Protein Aa-Crystallin of the Blind Mole Rat, Spalax
    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 84, pp. 5320-5324, August 1987 Evolution The lens protein aA-crystallin of the blind mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi: Evolutionary change and functional constraints (protein evolution/rodent phylogeny/substitution rate/retina/photoperiodicity) WIUAN HENDRIKS*, JACK LEUNISSEN*, EVIATAR NEVOt, HANS BLOEMENDAL0, AND WILFRIED W. DE JONG*t *Department of Biochemistry, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands; and tInstitute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Mount Carmel, Haifa 31999, Israel Communicated by Francisco J. Ayala, April 13, 1987 (received for review January 5, 1987) ABSTRACT The complete structure of the single-copy sequence homology, due to an ancient gene duplication (10), aA-crystallin gene of the blind mole rat (Spalax ehrenbergi) has and conspicuous sequence similarity with the small heat been determined in order to elucidate the evolutionary effects shock proteins indicates that the ancestral ca-crystallin gene of the loss of vision on a lens-specific protein and its gene. The originated from this protein family (13, 14). aA-Crystallin aA-crystallin gene appears to have all the necessary transcrip- DNA sequences are mainly available from rodents (14-17), tional and translational signal sequences to be expressed in the which makes the aA gene of the completely blind mole rat, rudimentary lens of the mole rat and gives rise to probably two Spalax ehrenbergi (18), an excellent target for a study of protein products by means of alternative splicing, as in rodents evolutionary constraints. The eyes of this rodent are highly with normal vision. Comparisons of the blind mole rat aA- degenerated (19), as an adaptation to a subterranean way of crystallin sequence with aA sequences from other rodents life probably more than 25 million years (myr) ago (20).
    [Show full text]