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Melanin-based plumage coloration in birds is determined by the ratio and distribution in the feathers of two types of melanin pigments, eumelanin and pheomelanin. The review focuses on different aspects of melanogenesis and transport and deposition of melanins, as well as on gene regulation of numerous processes associated with them. Modern concepts on the functional role of candidate genes are presented and the results of the analysis of their variability in representatives of different bird species are described. The data on the use of whole genome and transcriptome analyses to study the molecular genetic bases of the plumage coloration and pattern are presented.

The Eurasian wigeon (Mareca penelope) is one of the most numerous migrant species of waterfowl in the Palearctic. Annually, significant part of the world’s wigeon population makes seasonal flights over distances from tens to thousands or more kilometers. According to different estimates based on banding data, five geographic populations of the species were described in the Palearctic. However, distinct borders between the populations have not been identified. At the same time, no phylogeographic studies have been carried out for the complete native range of wigeon so far. In addition to the fundamental importance of such a study, knowledge of the genetic structure of populations is necessary for the development of measures to increase the number of and preserve this valuable game species. The aim of our work was a phylogeographic analysis of the wigeon across its vast native range in the Palearctic including ducks wintering in North America. We examined genetic diversity and differentiation of wigeon populations identified with banding data, phylogenetic relationships of mtDNA haplotypes and demographic history of populations and species as a whole by sequencing a 661 base-pair 5’-fragment of the mitochondrial control region from 195 individual ducks collected throughout the Palearctic and Nearctic. Genetic diversity was high in all studied populations. A reconstruction of haplotypes phylogeny revealed the absence of geographic structure in the data. Nonetheless, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) identified two groups of populations: EuropeanSiberian and East Asian. The former included wigeons from Europe, Siberia and the Atlantic coast of North America, and the latter comprised ducks from Russian Far East, Kamchatka Peninsula, Chukotka Autonomous District, the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and the Pacific coast of North America.

To improve the elements of winter wheat cultivation technology in order to reduce the loss of nutrients from the soil, research was conducted. The results presented in the article show the effectiveness of the use of mineral fertilizers with the application of a biological preparation to the granules. The influence of the method of applying a biological preparation based on Bacillus subtilis H – 13 on urea granules was evaluated. The influence of bio mineral fertilizers on the dynamics of nitrogen accumulation by wheat plants is established. The results obtained are the scientific basis for the use of rhizospheric bacteria Bacillus subtilis H - 13 as an effective strain for expanding the range of mineral fertilizers by creating bio modified forms and subsequent use in agricultural technologies.

Using RAPD PCR analysis and sequencing of the 5′ end segment of the mtDNA control region, the genetic diversity and differentiation of Far Eastern populations of greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons Scopoli, 1769 and bean goose Anser fabalis Latham, 1787 were examined. Based on RAPD PCR data, the level of gene diversity (h) for A. albifrons (0.3634) and A. fabalis (0.3899) was calculated. Sequence data showed considerably higher level of inter-population diversity in A. fabalis (26.4%), compared to A. albifrons (1.88%). Similarly, the nucleotide and haplotype diversity parameters were somewhat higher in A. fabalis (0.01852 and 0.955). Phylogenetic reconstructions generated using neighbor-joining and maximum parsimony algorithms divided each of the examined species into two clusters that differ in the number of haplotypes included. These clusters can correspond to the subspecies that live in the Far East.

Phylogenetic relationships, demographic history, and geographic distribution of the mtDNA haplotypes of the mallard Anas platyrhynchos were examined in three populations, Indian, Northern European, and Far Eastern. Two divergent haplotype groups, A and B, were found in the Far Eastern population, while haplotypes identified in Northern European and Far Eastern populations were exclusively of the A group. The presence of B group haplotypes in the Far Eastern population can be explained either in terms of hybridization of the mallard with spot-billed duck Anas zonorhyncha at the south of the Russian Far East, or by the mtDNA paraphyly in mallards. In general, mallards from Eurasia were characterized by low genetic population differentiation along with slightly expressed phylogeographic structure. The most differentiated was the population from India (Phi(st) = 0.076-0.077), while the difference between Northern European and Far Eastern populations was extremely low (Phi(st) = 0.0029). Differentiation of Anas platyrhynchos Indian population was determined by the fact that a part of the population, inhabiting southern and eastern coasts of the Hindustan Peninsula, was resident.

Sequence variation of the 5′ end of the mitochondrial DNA control region (600 bp) was examined in the population samples of Eurasian wigeon Anas penelope from Anadyr’ and Primorye. A total of 11 different mtDNA haplotypes were identified, with one of these belonging to American wigeon Anas americana. The presence of the mtDNA haplotype from the species closely relative to A. penelope in the Anadyr’ sample can be considered as the genetic evidence in favor of interspecific hybridization. This suggestion is in the good agreement with ornithological data. Genetic differentiation of the Primorye and Anadyr’ populations was low (Φst = 0.096). The phylogeographic structure was not pronounced.

The genetic diversity of a local population of the Manchurian pheasant Phasianus colchicus pallasi was studied using RAPD-PCR. Based on the DNA patterns obtained in PCR with five arbitrary decanucleotide primers, we assessed genetic polymorphism of this population, estimated genetic distances between individuals, and constructed an NJ phylogenetic tree, and an UPGMA dendrogram of genetic similarity. The population was shown to exhibit high average genetic polymorphism (P = 79.4%) and genetic distances (D = 0.267). Possible reasons for the high genetic diversity of this local population are discussed.

The compositions of the neutral lipids, glycolipids, phospholipids and fatty acids of the brown algaeLaminaria japonica andLaminaria cichoriodes have been studied. It has been found that the glycolipids are the main lipid classes in these algae. Palmitic, oleic, and polyunsaturated acids with 18 and 20 carbon atoms form the group of main acids. The lipids of both species of theLaminaria genus have a complex composition but they differ by the ratios of their fatty acids.

An inositol-containing sphingophospholipid ceramidephosphoinositol (CPI) found for the first time in red macrophytic algae proved to be typical of the Rhodophyta. The CPI content varied among the algal species from trace amounts to 15.7% of the total phospholipids and depended on season. Red seaweeds provide a more convenient source of ceramidephosphoinositol than other organisms.