The rocky mouse, Apodemus mystacinus, is a rodent species distributed in the eastern Mediterranea... more The rocky mouse, Apodemus mystacinus, is a rodent species distributed in the eastern Mediterranean region. This species lives in varied vegetation, including rocky and stony surfaces covered with forests, small bushes, or cultivated areas up to an elevation of 2700 m (Vohralik et al., 2002; Çolak et al., 2004). A. mystacinus has four controversial subspecies: A. m. mystacinus Danford and Alston (1877) from Sebil, Turkey; A. m. smyrnensis Thomas (1903) from western Turkey; A. m. rhodius Festa (1914) from Rhodes, Crete, and southwestern Turkey; and A. m. euxinus Allen (1915) from northern or northeastern Turkey. A. epimelas Nehring (1902), formerly described as a subspecies of A. mystacinus, is distributed in the Balkan region (former Yugoslavia, Greece, and Bulgaria). This subspecies has been raised to the level of species on the basis of morphometric studies using body size and dental characters (
The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests throughout the Palearctic region. In ... more The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests throughout the Palearctic region. In Turkey, this species is distributed only in northern Anatolia (the Black Sea region) where these forests exist. This study reveals genetic differentiation among bank vole populations based on two regions of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and D-loop). Populations in northern Anatolia are divided into two genetic lineages (the ''eastern'' and ''western Black Sea'' lineages) by the Kızılırmak Valley. While the western Black Sea lineage is close to the Balkan lineage, in accordance with their geographical proximities, surprisingly, the Uludag lineage, also situated in Western Turkey appears related to the eastern Black Sea population. The divergence time analyses suggest a separation between the Balkan and Turkish groups around 0.26 Mya, whereas the split between the eastern and western Black sea lineages appeared a little bit later (0.20 Mya). Our results suggest that regional refuges existed for this species in Turkey and that small-scale habitat fragmentations led to genetic differentiations between Myodes populations.
The present study is based on species collected and observed in Kazdagi National Park and its sur... more The present study is based on species collected and observed in Kazdagi National Park and its surroundings. Field collections yielded 40 mammal species from 6 orders: Insectivora (4), Chiroptera (14), Lagomorpha (1), Rodentia (11), Carnivora (8), and Artiodactyla (2), Of the species recorded in this study, 6 were new records from north-west Anatolia: Sorex volnuchini, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus, Eptesicus serotinus, Hypsugo savii, and Microtus subterraneus.
We report a new species of Spermophilus ( Rodentia: Sciuridae), here designated as S. torosensis ... more We report a new species of Spermophilus ( Rodentia: Sciuridae), here designated as S. torosensis sp. nov., distributed in the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia, Turkey. A total of 161 specimens of the genus Spermophilus from Turkey and Iran were analyzed for their morphological, morphometric, and karyological characteristics. Uni- and multi-variate statistical analyses of morphologic data for 95 adult specimens yielded 4 distinct groups. Taxonomic evaluations classified the specimens into 4 species Spermophilus citellus, S. xanthopymnus, S. fulvus and S. torosensis sp. nov. Morphometrics, coat coloration, a brush-shaped tail, and a NFa value of 72 are diagnostic characters that distinguish S. torosensis sp. nov. from the other species. In Turkey, S. torosensis sp. nov. was found in 6 locations. The karyotype of S. fulvus also is described for the first time as 2n= 36, NFa= 70 and NFa= 66; new karyotypic data is reported for S. xanthoprymnus from Iran and Turkey.
We examined 529 specimens of Mus domesticus and Mus macedonicus from Turkey, in terms of their mo... more We examined 529 specimens of Mus domesticus and Mus macedonicus from Turkey, in terms of their morphological, bacular, and phallic aspects. The zygomatic index (ZI) varied from 0.32 to 0.47 in M. domesticus, and 0.60 to 0.85 in M. macedonicus. The head plus body length/tail length (H+B/T) index varied from 0.87 to 1.05 in M. domesticus, and 1.08 to 1.78 in M. macedonicus. The zygomatic plate is straight or convex in M. domesticus and M. macedonicus. The ventral wing of the parietal is generally tortuous in M. domesticus and is protruding or straight in M. macedonicus. The anterolabial cusp on M 1 is missing or indistinct in M. domesticus and is forwardly prominent in M. macedonicus. Characteristics of the baculum and phallus did not differentiate M. domesticus from M. macedonicus.
ABSTRACT A total of 94 specimens from 16 populations of Myodes glareolus, collected between 2004 ... more ABSTRACT A total of 94 specimens from 16 populations of Myodes glareolus, collected between 2004 and 2007, from different altitudinal distributions were analyzed, using 16 enzyme systems. We found that 10 out of 22 loci (Idh-2, α-Gpdh, Me, Pgm, Pgd, Mdh-s, Ada, Est-1, Ldh-1, and Ldh-2) were polymorphic. Group 1 included population from altitudes ranging from 27 to 605 m above sea level (ASL), and Group 2 were from altitudes ranging from 1003 to 1288 m ASL. The summaries of the genetic parameters also displayed differences between the 2 groups. The possible reasons of such fragmentation between M. glareolus populations were discussed.
We employed RAPD (Randomly Amplifi ed Polymorphic DNA Marker System) to Apodemus mystacinus, rock... more We employed RAPD (Randomly Amplifi ed Polymorphic DNA Marker System) to Apodemus mystacinus, rocky mouse widely distributed in Turkey, in order to explore the genetic variation. A total of 60 RAPD markers were tested, 14 primers were selected and 154 polymorphic DNA bands were analysed. The estimated genetic diversity for A. mystacinus populations was ranged from 0.022 (P= 4.55%) in Trabzon to 0.204 (P= 40.91%) in Muğla population. The total genetic diversity was calculated as 0.248 in all A. mystacinus populations. High G ST value (0.631) was calculated for the A. mystacinus populations. The UPGMA dendrogram constructed based on genetic distance data formed distinct groupings with low bootstrap values.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Sep 5, 2012
Environmental conditions largely control the distribution of species, either through the direct i... more Environmental conditions largely control the distribution of species, either through the direct impact of abiotic parameters such as temperature or precipitation on metabolic properties, or by indirect effects on the ecology of the animals, including changes in their habitat. Hence, past environmental changes contributed to mould their current distribution and diversity. Focus is often put on the climatic oscillations associated with the Quaternary glacial/interglacial cycles. Their impact was particularly important on forest species, as ...
The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests in Northern Anatolia. Eighty-four ind... more 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 Kandıra and Sümela with D=0.124, while the closest ones were Şile and Kandıra 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 Uludağ 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 Sümela population while the other eastern populations formed the second subgroup.
The rocky mouse, Apodemus mystacinus, is a rodent species distributed in the eastern Mediterranea... more The rocky mouse, Apodemus mystacinus, is a rodent species distributed in the eastern Mediterranean region. This species lives in varied vegetation, including rocky and stony surfaces covered with forests, small bushes, or cultivated areas up to an elevation of 2700 m (Vohralik et al., 2002; Çolak et al., 2004). A. mystacinus has four controversial subspecies: A. m. mystacinus Danford and Alston (1877) from Sebil, Turkey; A. m. smyrnensis Thomas (1903) from western Turkey; A. m. rhodius Festa (1914) from Rhodes, Crete, and southwestern Turkey; and A. m. euxinus Allen (1915) from northern or northeastern Turkey. A. epimelas Nehring (1902), formerly described as a subspecies of A. mystacinus, is distributed in the Balkan region (former Yugoslavia, Greece, and Bulgaria). This subspecies has been raised to the level of species on the basis of morphometric studies using body size and dental characters (
The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests throughout the Palearctic region. In ... more The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests throughout the Palearctic region. In Turkey, this species is distributed only in northern Anatolia (the Black Sea region) where these forests exist. This study reveals genetic differentiation among bank vole populations based on two regions of mitochondrial DNA (cytochrome b and D-loop). Populations in northern Anatolia are divided into two genetic lineages (the ''eastern'' and ''western Black Sea'' lineages) by the Kızılırmak Valley. While the western Black Sea lineage is close to the Balkan lineage, in accordance with their geographical proximities, surprisingly, the Uludag lineage, also situated in Western Turkey appears related to the eastern Black Sea population. The divergence time analyses suggest a separation between the Balkan and Turkish groups around 0.26 Mya, whereas the split between the eastern and western Black sea lineages appeared a little bit later (0.20 Mya). Our results suggest that regional refuges existed for this species in Turkey and that small-scale habitat fragmentations led to genetic differentiations between Myodes populations.
The present study is based on species collected and observed in Kazdagi National Park and its sur... more The present study is based on species collected and observed in Kazdagi National Park and its surroundings. Field collections yielded 40 mammal species from 6 orders: Insectivora (4), Chiroptera (14), Lagomorpha (1), Rodentia (11), Carnivora (8), and Artiodactyla (2), Of the species recorded in this study, 6 were new records from north-west Anatolia: Sorex volnuchini, Rhinolophus hipposideros, Myotis emarginatus, Eptesicus serotinus, Hypsugo savii, and Microtus subterraneus.
We report a new species of Spermophilus ( Rodentia: Sciuridae), here designated as S. torosensis ... more We report a new species of Spermophilus ( Rodentia: Sciuridae), here designated as S. torosensis sp. nov., distributed in the Taurus Mountains in southern Anatolia, Turkey. A total of 161 specimens of the genus Spermophilus from Turkey and Iran were analyzed for their morphological, morphometric, and karyological characteristics. Uni- and multi-variate statistical analyses of morphologic data for 95 adult specimens yielded 4 distinct groups. Taxonomic evaluations classified the specimens into 4 species Spermophilus citellus, S. xanthopymnus, S. fulvus and S. torosensis sp. nov. Morphometrics, coat coloration, a brush-shaped tail, and a NFa value of 72 are diagnostic characters that distinguish S. torosensis sp. nov. from the other species. In Turkey, S. torosensis sp. nov. was found in 6 locations. The karyotype of S. fulvus also is described for the first time as 2n= 36, NFa= 70 and NFa= 66; new karyotypic data is reported for S. xanthoprymnus from Iran and Turkey.
We examined 529 specimens of Mus domesticus and Mus macedonicus from Turkey, in terms of their mo... more We examined 529 specimens of Mus domesticus and Mus macedonicus from Turkey, in terms of their morphological, bacular, and phallic aspects. The zygomatic index (ZI) varied from 0.32 to 0.47 in M. domesticus, and 0.60 to 0.85 in M. macedonicus. The head plus body length/tail length (H+B/T) index varied from 0.87 to 1.05 in M. domesticus, and 1.08 to 1.78 in M. macedonicus. The zygomatic plate is straight or convex in M. domesticus and M. macedonicus. The ventral wing of the parietal is generally tortuous in M. domesticus and is protruding or straight in M. macedonicus. The anterolabial cusp on M 1 is missing or indistinct in M. domesticus and is forwardly prominent in M. macedonicus. Characteristics of the baculum and phallus did not differentiate M. domesticus from M. macedonicus.
ABSTRACT A total of 94 specimens from 16 populations of Myodes glareolus, collected between 2004 ... more ABSTRACT A total of 94 specimens from 16 populations of Myodes glareolus, collected between 2004 and 2007, from different altitudinal distributions were analyzed, using 16 enzyme systems. We found that 10 out of 22 loci (Idh-2, α-Gpdh, Me, Pgm, Pgd, Mdh-s, Ada, Est-1, Ldh-1, and Ldh-2) were polymorphic. Group 1 included population from altitudes ranging from 27 to 605 m above sea level (ASL), and Group 2 were from altitudes ranging from 1003 to 1288 m ASL. The summaries of the genetic parameters also displayed differences between the 2 groups. The possible reasons of such fragmentation between M. glareolus populations were discussed.
We employed RAPD (Randomly Amplifi ed Polymorphic DNA Marker System) to Apodemus mystacinus, rock... more We employed RAPD (Randomly Amplifi ed Polymorphic DNA Marker System) to Apodemus mystacinus, rocky mouse widely distributed in Turkey, in order to explore the genetic variation. A total of 60 RAPD markers were tested, 14 primers were selected and 154 polymorphic DNA bands were analysed. The estimated genetic diversity for A. mystacinus populations was ranged from 0.022 (P= 4.55%) in Trabzon to 0.204 (P= 40.91%) in Muğla population. The total genetic diversity was calculated as 0.248 in all A. mystacinus populations. High G ST value (0.631) was calculated for the A. mystacinus populations. The UPGMA dendrogram constructed based on genetic distance data formed distinct groupings with low bootstrap values.
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Sep 5, 2012
Environmental conditions largely control the distribution of species, either through the direct i... more Environmental conditions largely control the distribution of species, either through the direct impact of abiotic parameters such as temperature or precipitation on metabolic properties, or by indirect effects on the ecology of the animals, including changes in their habitat. Hence, past environmental changes contributed to mould their current distribution and diversity. Focus is often put on the climatic oscillations associated with the Quaternary glacial/interglacial cycles. Their impact was particularly important on forest species, as ...
The bank vole, Myodes glareolus, lives in deciduous forests in Northern Anatolia. Eighty-four ind... more 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 Kandıra and Sümela with D=0.124, while the closest ones were Şile and Kandıra 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 Uludağ 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 Sümela population while the other eastern populations formed the second subgroup.
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