May 2014, Vol. 8, No. 5, pp. 442-446 Journal of Life Sciences, ISSN 1934-7391, USA D DAVID PUBLISHING

Study of Caspian Goby Neogobius sp. Karyotype Flexibility from Several Biotops

Aithazha Bigaliev1, Saidina Kobegenova1, Viktor Vasil’ev2, Elena Vasil’eva3, Aiman Imentai1 and Ashan Shametov1 1. Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, BOX 050040, Kazakhstan 2. IPEE (Institute of Ecology and Evolution), Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia 3. Zoological Museum, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

Received: January 16, 2014 / Accepted: April 21, 2014 / Published: May 30, 2014.

Abstract: The karyotype of Caspian goby was studied, which has been identified as Caspian bighead goby - Neogobius gorlap before. The results of cytogenetic analyses have shown that the diploid set of goby varies from 38 to 40 chromosomes, which is different from bighead goby (2n = 43-46). We assumed that Caspian goby has independence as a species.

Key words: Caspian goby, diploid number of chromosomes, karyotype, cytogenetic, chromosomal mutation, evolution.

1. Introduction “Karakol”, which is located 10-14 km from Aktau town. was caught by net. The average body Most of species and subspecies of goby family length of captured specimens ranged from 6.0 to 20 () are endemic of the . The sm. Mitotic chromosome preparations were obtained investigation of taxonomical status of the Caspian from a kidney and thymus cell suspension to the gobies attracts researchers to use not only air-drying technique after in vivo colchicines treatment morphological features, but also karyological data [6]. Chromosomes were classified by the criteria of [1-4]. It is assumed that Gobiidae family based on Levan [7]. karyology is a compact group as most of them have 46 acrocentric chromosomes with 46 NF [5]. 3. Results and Discussion The results of cytogenetic analyses of Caspian goby, The 12 out of 16 specimens’ mitotic plates were which has been collected in August 2012 in the obtained. The karyotypes of studied samples were Caspian Sea near the Aktau town, external signs of significantly different from Caspian goby gorlap which are similar with bighead goby or gorlap - (Neogobius gorlap). It is considered as subspecies of Neogobius gorlap (Fig. 1). Neogobius kessleri (Günther, 1861). Afterwards, 2. Materials and Methods using the methods of cytogenetic analysis, it was proved that N. kessleri and N. gorlap are different A total of 16 sexually mature specimens were used species [3, 8-10]. Authors have shown that the number for this study. All specimens were collected from the of chromosomes of N. kessleri from the rivers Dnepr coastal zone of district 9 in the “Buchta” and the gulf and Dnestr was 30 for the female and 29 for the male. The chromosomal formula for the female was 14 Corresponding author: Aithazha Bigaliev, Ph.D., professor, metacentric, 2 submeta centric and 2 subtelocentric and research fields: general genetic and ecology, environmental mutagenesis and ecologically genetic. E-mail: 12 acrocentric chromosomes. The chromosomal formula [email protected]. Study of Caspian Goby Neogobius sp. Karyotype Flexibility from Several Biotops 443

Fig. 1 Caspian goby is collected from the gulf “Karakol”.

Table 1 Chromosome set of Neogobius sp. collected in the coastal area near by Aktau. No. of fish Sex Length of fish (mm) 2n NF Formula of karyotype No. 32.5-1* 63 40 46 4m + 2sm + 34a No. 38.5-1* 48 38 44 4m + 2st + 32a No. 38.5-4* 48 38 42 1m + 3st + 34a No. 40.5-1* 48 38 No. 42.6-1 38 38a No. 42.6-12 ♂ 38 48 5m + 5st + 28a No. 45.6-7 ♀ 39 46 1m + 4st + 2st + 32a No. 50.6-1 ♀ 60 38 46 3m + 5st + 30a No. 54.6-2 ♂ 69 38 45 1m + 6sm + 31a No. 54.6-7 39 46 3m + 2sm + 2st + 32a No. 54.6-11 39-40 47 4m + 3st + 33a No. 54.6-14 38-39 44 1m + 4sm + 34a No. 54.6-15 38 46 1m + 5sm + 32a for the male was 15 metacentric, 2 submetacentric and number of chomosome arms as NF = 46 [11, 12]. 12 acrocentric chromosomes. However, both sexes had The studied diploid set ranged from 38 to 40 the equal number of chromosome arms as NF = 46. The chromosomes, while the variability of the cytogenetic structure both of sexes of N. kessleri has chromosomal formula and the arm number were shown the male heterogeneity and the presence of a observed (Table 1). fixed Y-autosomal translocation [3]. The karyotype of The karyotype of syrman goby includes, in the N. gorlap from the downstream of the River Volga and diploid set, from 32 to 34 chromosomes with the the west- east coast of the Caspian Sea was found 46 number of chromosomes arms as 46 [13]. chromosomes with 2 subtelocentric and 44 acrocentric According to the table 1, the specimens with the and the arm number as NF = 46 [3]. Further investigation number 38, 42, 50 have the diploid number 2n = 38, of the diploid number of chromosomes of gorlap from while the formula of karyotype is different. Therefore, the Caspian Sea (The Rivers Bolshoy and Malyi Uzen) the arm number also varies. The karyotype of gorlap has shown polymorphism and interpopulation No. 54 includes, in the diploid set, from 32 to 34 variability of karyotypes. There is a variability of chromosomes and each of the metaphase plate has number of chromosomes from 43 to 46 with the same different formula (Figs. 2 and 3).

444 Study of Caspian Goby Neogobius sp. Karyotype Flexibility from Several Biotops

metacentric chromosomes;

submetacentric chromosomes;

acrocentric chromosomes. Fig. 2 Metaphase plate and karyotype of Caspian goby No. 54.6-2 (male 69 mm): 2n = 38.

Fig. 3 Metaphase plate of Caspian goby gorlap No. 54.6-7, 2n = 39.

The first metaphase plate includes: 1 metacentric, 6 length of 170 mm is 2n = 38, include 4 metacentric, 2 submetacentric and 31 acrocentric chromosomes (Fig. submetacentric, 2 subtelocentric and 30 acrocentric 2). Second metaphase plate includes: 3 metacentric, 2 chromosomes. The arm number NF = 45. submetacentric, 2 subtelocentric and 32 acrocentric 4. Conclusions chromosomes with the diploid set 2n = 39 (Fig. 3). The karyotype of the female (№ 45.6) with the Therefore, the investigated gorlap using the diploid

Study of Caspian Goby Neogobius sp. Karyotype Flexibility from Several Biotops 445 number is completely different from the Caspian Dokl. Akad. Nauk SSSR 432 (4) (1992) 898-900. (in Russian) bighead goby (N. gorlap). There are also slightly [4] D.A. Medvedev, P.A. Sorokin, V.P. Vasil'ev, N.V. differences by morphometric characteristics (13 Chernova, E.D. Vasil'eva, Reconstruction of phylogenetic specimens were investigated): the number of rays in relations of Ponto-Caspian gobies (Gobiidae, Perciformes) the first , - 7 (5-8 singly), the second - 16-18, based on mitochondrial genome variation and some anal 8-12 and the gorlap has - 6, 16-18 and 11-14 rays, problems of their , J. 53 (6) (2013) 687-698. (in Russian) respectively. However, the external signs of studied [5] V.P. Vasiliev, Evolutionary Karyology of , Nauka, goby were similar to bighead goby. Gobies with a Moscow, 1985. small set of chromosomes, such as the bighead goby N. [6] V.P. Vasiliev, Chromosome polymorphism in Spicara kessleri (2n = 29-30), or Caucasian river goby smaris (Pisces, Centracanthidae), Zool. Zhurnal 57 (8) (1978) 1276-1278. (in Russian) Neogobius platyrostris constructor (2n = 38-42) [7] A. Levan, A. Fredga, A. Sandberg, Nomenclature for belong to the river forms [14-16]. The studied goby centromeric position on chromosomes, Hereditas 52 lived in the eastern part of the Caspian Sea and it (1964) 201-220. represented the separate status of species. The [8] K.A. Grigoryan, Population and Species’ Cytogenetic of identification requires further morphological and Ponto-Caspian Gobies (Gobiidae, Perciformes), Avtoreferat kandidat Biological Sciences, Publisher of biological and karyological studies. Moscow State University, Russia, 1992. (in Russian) Moreover, it could be assumed that detected [9] A.T. Toktosunov, E.U. Mazik, Ecological Cytogenetic of karyotype differences of goby (N. Gorlap) from Tyan-shan Fishes, Institute of Biology of Science Kir different biotopes with different level of pollution SSR – issue, Ilim, 1991, p. 188. (in Russian) [10] E.D. Vasil’eva, V.P. Vasil’ev, Neogobius gorlap Iljin in which could ascribe to the effect of pollutants, the Berg 1949, the Freshwater Fishes of Europe, J. variability of karyotypes by genome destabilization. Wiebelsheim: AULA Verlag 8 (I) (2003) 253-264. Certainly, further population-genetic research is [11] D.V. Prazdnikov, The Evolution of Karyotype of required [17-19]. Neogobius Gorlap (Pisces: Perciformes: Gobiidae), in: Chromosome 2012 Materials of International Conference, Acknowledgment Novosibirsk, Russia, 2011. [12] D.V. Prazdnikov, V.P. Vasil’ev, E.D. Vasil’eva, The authors would like to thank the Research Polymorphism and interpopulation variability of the Institute of Biology and Biotechnology Directorate for karyotype in the caspian bighead goby Neogobius gorlap supporting for the studies and former chief of (Gobiidae, Perciformes), J. Ichthyology 53 (6) (2013) 459-464. (in Russian) Department of Mangystau natural resources using and [13] E.D. Vasil’eva, D.V. Prazdnikov, V.P. Vasil’ev, First regulation m-r Zhanburzhin Edil, Dr. Tech. Sci. confirmed occurrence of syrman goby Neogobius syrman (Gobiidae, Perciformes) in Sasyk Lake of the References Basin and Karyological Characteristic of Syrman goby [1] E.D. Vasil’eva, The osteological analysis of some and Ginger goby N. Eurycephalus, J. Ichthyology 51 (4) Caspian tadpole gobies in terms of systematic of genus (2011) 472-479. (in Russian) Benthophilus (Gobiidae), J. Ichthyology 23 (4) (1983) [14] V.P. Vasil’ev, K.A. Grigoryan, Broad chromosome 544-556. (in Russian) polymorphism in the Caucasus river goby, Doklady Akad. [2] E.D. Vasil’eva, Skull morphology of the ground goby Nauk. SSSR 311 (6) (1990) 1509-1511. (in Russian) Gobius melanostomus and the syrman goby G. syrman in [15] K.A. Grigoryan, V.P. Vasil’ev, Karyotypes of five species relation to their position within the genus Gobius of Ponto-Caspian gobies, J. Ichthyology 32 (4) (1992) sensu lato, J. Ichthyology 29 (2) (1989) 186-197. (in 162-166. (in Russian) Russian) [16] V.P. Vasil’ev, K.A. Grigoryan, Karyology of the gobiidae, [3] V.P. Vasil’ev, E.D. Vasil’eva, Karyological evidence of J. Ichthyology 32 (5) (1992) 27-40. (in Russian) the separate species status of Neogobius kessleri [17] A.B. Bigaliyev, E.T. Zhanburshyn, R.K. Bigaliyeva, A.R. (Günther) and Neogobius gorlap Iljin (Pisces, Gobiidae), Ryskulova, R.M. Bilydebayeva, Zh. Rakhmanova, et al.,

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