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WOS: 000429520500004, Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) is a semiaquatic rodent living in and around wetland habitats covered by rich vegetation. It has a broad distribution in the Palearctic and three subspecies live in Turkey. In order to identify the geographical distribution of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b diversity in A. amphibius populations in Turkey, the restriction fragment length polymorphism method was applied. The digestion patterns of four restriction enzymes (Alu I, Rsa I, Sau3A I and EcoR V) in 100 samples of A. amphibius from 20 localities in Turkey brought out four mtDNA lineages [Thrace (THR), central Anatolia (CA), southern Anatolia (SA) and eastern Anatolia (EA)], each having high genetic diversity. In contrast to the three lineages in THR, CA and SA, respectively, corresponding to the known subspecies A. a. cernjavskii, A. a. persicus and A. a. hintoni, separate populations constituting the fourth A. amphibius lineage in EA were determined. The results proved that the variable topography and geomorphological conglomeration process of Anatolia lead to an allopatric differentiation and had a large impact on the appearance and shaping of intraspecific genetic variations in water voles. Moreover, the existing high genetic variability in Turkish water vole populations propounds the importance of Anatolia as a potential refuge in the Pleistocene., Coordinatorship of the Scientific Research Projects of Ankara University [12B4240010]; Coordinatorship of Scientific Research Projects of Artvin Coruh University [2015.F10.02.05], We would like to thank Dr. Tolga KANKILIC and Dr. Kubilay TOYRAN for their help during the field work, Dr. Basar KARACA for his help conducting the experimental protocols in the laboratory, Dr. Munir UCAK for preparing the map and Dr. Sarp KAYA for constructing the phylogenetic tree. This research was partially supported by the Coordinatorship of the Scientific Research Projects of Ankara University (No. 12B4240010) and Coordinatorship of Scientific Research Projects of Artvin Coruh University (No. 2015.F10.02.05).

Eighty-one specimens belonging to 3 populations of Spalax leucodon collected in the area between Ankara and Beyşehir were electrophoretically analyzed. Three enzyme systems, isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh), esterase (Est) and a-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (a-Gpdh), were screened using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis, and 5 loci were determined. Three loci (Idh-1, Est-1, Est-3) were polymorphic, and 2 (Idh-2, a-Gpdh) were monomorphic. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.1804 (in population A) to 0.2254 (in population K). Genetic divergency in 3 the populations resulted from the locus Idh-1 (Fst = 0.0372). The mean value of the fixation index in 3 the populations (Fst = 0.0266) reflected little genetic differentiation. Genetic diversity estimated by Shannon's information index was moderate (I = 0.3202).

The karyotypes of 2 bat species from Iran were examined. The diploid number of chromosomes (2n) and the fundamental numbers of chromosomal arms (NFa) were determined to be 2n = 44 and NFa = 54 for Myotis blythii and 2n = 46 and NFa = 50 for Miniopterus schreibersii, respectively. The karyotypes of Iranian bats show similarity within populations in other countries with respect to the diploid chromosome numbers; however, they are quite different in the fundamental chromosome numbers and the numbers of autosomal arms., Vespertilionidae familyas›ndan ‹ran’dan iki yarasa türünün karyotipi incelenmifltir. Diploid kormozom say›lar› (2n) ve otozomlar›n temel kol say›lar› (NFa), Myotis blythii’de 2n = 46, NFa = 50 ve Miniopterus schreibersii için de 2n = 44 ve NFa = 54 oldu¤u belirlenmifltir. Bu karyolojik analizler ‹ran’dan ilk kez yap›lm›flt›r. Diploid kormozom say›lar› dikkate al›nd›¤›nda, ‹ran’dan olan bu yarasalar›n karyotipleri, di¤er ülkelerdeki populasyonlar›nda yap›lanlarla benzerlik göstermektedir. Ancak kromozom kol say›lar› ve dolay›s›yla otozom kol say›lar›nda biraz farkl›l›klara rastlanmaktad›r.

WOS: 000334089600004, The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests in Northern Anatolia. Eighty-four individuals collected from 17 localities in Turkey were studied to reveal the differentiation of M glareolus by RAPD markers. Fifteen RAPD markers were tested and they yielded 142 DNA bands. Nei's (1978) genetic distance and similarity calculations were used in order to show the genetic relationships between the populations studied. The total genetic diversity and genetic differentiation values were calculated as H=0.1571 and G(ST)=0.4170, respectively. Nei's genetic distance (D) ranged from 0.026 to 0.124. Thus the most genetically distant populations were Kandira and Sumela with D=0.124, while the closest ones were Sile and Kandira with D=0.026. The dendrogram based on the genetic distance data showed two main groups. The first group, including western populations, was divided into two subgroups; the first subgroup contained the Uludag population and the second subgroup the remaining western populations. The second group, including eastern populations, was also separated into two subgroups. The first subgroup consisted of the Sumela population while the other eastern populations formed the second subgroup., Scientific Research Project Office of Ankara University [09 B 4240 001], This study was sponsored by the Scientific Research Project Office (NO: 09 B 4240 001) of Ankara University.

Plecotus auritus and Plecotus austriacus were recorded from 8 and 3 localities in the Asiatic part of Turkey, respectively. It was determined that the length of the first premolar, the shape of the zygomatic arches and baculum distinguish these taxa from each other. Apart from these morphological characteristics, the tibia length of P. austriacus was found to be significantly greater than that of P. austriacus (P < 0.05). The diploid chromosome numbers were identical in both taxa (2n = 32). The number of chromosomal arms (FN = 54) and the number of autosomal chromosomal arms (FNa = 50) were the same as in previously published papers on P. austriacus.

WOS: 000318754500004, The level of genetic polymorphism in chromosomal races of Nannospalax xanthodon and Nannospalax ehrenbergi was determined by applying random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs) analysis. One hundred and fifty four mole rat samples belonging to two species N. xanthodon (61 populations) and N. ehrenbergi (3 populations) distributed in Anatolia were studied. Remarkable variations of diploid chromosome numbers were identified for N. xanthodon (2n=36-60). Eleven RAPD-PCR primers generated 160 polymorphic loci. The mean proportion of polymorphic loci was 92% (147 bands) for all chromosomal race implying high levels of genetic variability in N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi. Estimation of genetic diversity based on PCR amplification of RAPDs was high for both species. Results of RAPD- PCR observed within and among species were also connected with the peripatric mode of speciation. We determined that RAPD bands showed high diagnostic value between chromosomal races as they were very distinctive for each chromosomal race and absent from other forms. Genetic distance (1),) values between chromosomal races suggest that most populations analyzed in this study may be valid biological species.

WOS: 000183991900004, Rousettus aegyptiacus is active throughout the year in Turkey, where its morphology was studied collected from three localities in the south-west. The characteristics of the Turkish population were similar to those of the nominative subspecies. Moderate differences between the sexes were found in tibia length and total body length. The karyotype is 2n=36, FN=70, FNa=66. The X chromosome is a large metacentric/submetacentric, and the Y chromosome is a dot-like acrocentric.

Morphological, biometrical, karyological, bacular and phallic aspects of Apodemus mystacinus populations in Turkey were studied based on 117 specimens. The biometrical and phallic comparisons confirmed the distinctness of A. m. mystacinus and A. m. epimelas. The UPGMA tree divided populations in Turkey into 2 groups. The distance (D) between A. m. mystacinus and A. m. euxinus was 0.469. A. mystacinus had karyotypic values of 2n = 48, NFa = 50, and NF = 52. Being different from A. m. epimelas, there was a short groove in the dorsal view of the phallus in populations of A. m. mystacinus in Turkey. © TÜBİTAK.

WOS: 000330012300017, The population dynamics of Arvicola amphibius were investigated in Ayas (Ankara, Turkey), during the period between August 2005 and July 2006. The method of capture-mark-recapture was used and 123 individuals were marked during the study. For each animal, total body length, body weight, reproductive condition, as well as features of habitat were recorded. The width of the riparian vegetation was measured by ranging from 1 to 5 m. The reproductive period lasted from March to October. In adult females, the total length varied from 306 mm to 321 mm, while in adult males, it varied from 305 mm to 326 mm, it was compared with other populations. Estimated monthly population size of the water voles ranged from 3 in January to 49 in July.

The reproductive biology and postnatal development of Microtus rossiaemeridionalis were investigated based on field and laboratory observations. This vole preferred humid meadows, and its burrow was complex with several entrances. The breeding season of this species was between December and October, and lasted 11 months. Pregnancy lasted 20-21 days, and average litter size was 5. The first mating was observed in a captive female at an age of 35 days, and other females subsequently mated at 40, 42, 60, and 70 days. Young were weaned at 17 days. The growth rate of weight was 0.45 g/day between birth and day 13, 1 g/day between days 18 and 24, and decreased thereafter. Length of specimens reached adult size within 45 days, whereas tail length, ear length, and weight reached adult size at 37 days, and hind foot length at 30 days.

The morphological structure of seven chromosomal forms of Spalax leucodon was studied using numerical taxonomical methods. Fifty-five skull and external characters were used in multivariate analysis. The diploid number of chromosome is diverse even in adjacent localities. Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) revealed the presence of three distinct groups for both males and females. DFA separated the three chromosomal forms (2n = 60, 50 and 56 NW) from each other. S. l. cilicicus has 2n = 60, 56 SW, 54, 52, 40 chromosomal forms; S. l. turcicus contains 2n = 56 NW; and S. l. nehringi includes 2n = 50 chromosomal form. M2 and M3 have 2 alveoli cubicles in chromosomal forms of 2n = 40, 50, 54, 56 NW, 56 S, while M2,3 have 1 cubicles in chromosomal forms of 2n = 60 and 52. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information.

WOS: 000304292800004, We described the genetic variation of cytochrome b gene sequences of blind mole rats in Turkey. We examined 47 individuals belonging to nine cytotypes of three superspecies Nannospalax leucodon, N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi in the 402bp gene sequence of cytochrome b. Phylogenetic analyses showed that relationships between cytotypes were well supported, but deeper divergence between species showed insignificant relationships. Cytotypes of N. xanthodon with low diploid number of chromosomes from western Turkey formed a monophyletic group distinct from the populations with higher number of chromosomes (2n = 56-60). The monophyly of N. xanthodon was supported with respect to N. leucodon (2n = 56) in the Bayesian and maximum likelihood phylogenies. The divergence between two analyzed cytotypes of N. ehrenbergi (2n = 52, 2n = 56) was 9.4 %, and the Kilis cytotype (2n = 52) appeared as the basal branch of the whole analysed dataset. N. ehrenbergi cytotypes were paraphyletic and they formed unsupported relationships with previously described N. galili (2n = 52), N. golani (2n = 54), N. carmeli (2n = 58) and N. judaei (2n = 60) from Israel. The results of this study showed that the Nannospalax species complex most likely represents more species than currently recognized, especially in N. xanthodon. We suggest that cytotypes of N. xanthodon and N. ehrenbergi from Turkey should be investigated in detail as possible candidates for being separate species., Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [101T084, 106T225]; Zonguldak Karaelmas University [2004-13-06-08, 2008-13-06-01]; Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic [AV0Z60930519], This study was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK 101T084 and 106T225), Zonguldak Karaelmas University (2004-13-06-08, 2008-13-06-01) and Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (AV0Z60930519). The authors thank Ahmet Turkyilmaz from REFGEN Biotechnology Inc. for performing the sequencing. Authors thank to Zeynep Yuksel Sezen and Joan E. Johnston for careful editing the manuscript and two anonymous reviewers and the editor for helpful and detailed comments.