Enzymatic proteins encoded by 28 putative loci in 326 samples of 12 mol rat cytotypes collected from 97 localities in Anatolia were investigated by standard horizontal starch-gel electrophoresis. A ...total of 61 alleles were determined for 28 isozyme loci and 23 of the 28 were polymorphic. Eight of the 23 polymorphic loci were agreeable to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. It was determined that deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in the examined populations were due to a heterozygote deficiency. It was revealed by allozyme analyses that mole rat populations in Anatolia have formed 4 cytotypes groups, represented by 4 species (Nannospalax xanthodon, Nannospalax ehrenbergi, N. cilicicus, and N. nehringi). Cytotypes in western Anatolia (2n = 36, 2n = 38, 2n = 40, 2n = 52) showed private alleles in different enzyme systems; therefore, these cytotypes were genetically different, both from each other and other cytotypes. Although cytotypes in central Anatolia (2n = 52S, 2n = 56, 2n = 58, and 2n = 60) contained a different diploid chromosome number, they showed identical patterns in terms of their allele content in the 28 enzymatic loci.
•We analyzed allozyme diversity across Anatolia, based on 28 allozymic loci in 12 mol rat cytotypes.•We determined deviations from Hardy–Weinberg in examined populations were due to heterozygote deficiency.•Each cytotype group was genetically distinct, and genetic diversity is not low.•The results showed that Nannospalax nehringi and Nannospalax xanthodon are separate species.•We classified the central Anatolian mole rats (2n = 56, 58, and 60) as a different species Nannospalax cilicicus.
A new karyotype for blind mole rats was recorded in Tunceli province in Eastern Turkey. The karyotype contained 44 chromosomes, including 13 biarmed pairs, 7 acrocentric pairs, and one heteromorphic ...pair with a submetacentric and an acrocentric homologue in the autosomal complement (FNa=69). The X chromosome was submetacentric and the Y chromosome medium-sized subtelocentric (FN=73). Distinct dark centromeric C-bands were observed on most of the biarmed and three pairs of the acrocentric autosomes. The NORs were detected on short arms of three subtelocentric pairs and one acrocentric pair of autosomes. The diploid number of chromosomes and the karyotype characteristics observed are obviously unique among hitherto studied populations of blind mole rats and the complement can be evaluated as a new chromosome race of Nannospalax xanthodon. The distribution ranges of individual chromosome races of the species recorded in Eastern Anatolia are revised and possible interracial hybridization is discussed in respect of the finding of a new race.
Genetic diversity and phylogeny of Dryomys nitedula and Dryomys laniger from Turkey was described in the present study by using mitochondrial DNA NADH dehydrogenase 1 gene (ND1). Genetic variation in ...ND1 gene was determined by two model-based phylogenetic analyses and a network analysis revealed 27 haplotypes of D. nitedula constructing four main lineages (Thrace, Anatolia, North-eastern Anatolia and Şavşat) that have non-overlapping geographic distributions and no shared haplotypes, but on the other hand, three haplotypes were detected in four samples of D. laniger from Turkey. It was determined that nucleotide diversity was low but haplotype diversity was high in D. laniger, whereas, D. nitedula has both high level of haplotype and nucleotide diversity. Characterization of Thrace lineage of D. nitedula with low nucleotide diversity and determination of the total nucleotide diversity of Anatolian lineages (Anatolia + North-eastern Anatolia+Şavşat) to be approximately four times higher than that of Thrace lineage indicated that Anatolia may have served as a refuge for D. nitedula. Divergence times and high level of nucleotide differences between D. nitedula lineages showed that diversification of the lineages may have occurred before and during ice ages in Turkey, thought to be a refuge for post-glacial colonization and biodiversity resource of Europe. Additionally, estimated divergence times and calculated genetic distances yielded compatible results with the previous paleontological and genomic data for the diversification time of two species in the genus.
Background
Understanding parasite diversity in wild and captive animal populations has critical implications for both individual animal health and ecosystem dynamics in a broader sense. In mountain ...gazelles (Gazella gazella), the gastrointestinal helminth community is poorly understood, limiting our efforts in the conservation of this endangered bovid species. This species has only two remaining populations in the world, including the isolated northernmost population in Türkiye.
Objectives
To identify and compare the diversity and prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths in captive and free‐ranging populations of mountain gazelles in Hatay, Türkiye, and to assess potential zoonotic risks.
Methods
In total, 105 fresh faecal samples, 45 individual samples and 60 faecal samples, representing 16 pools, from both captive and free‐ranging populations were collected and analysed using Fulleborn flotation, Benedek sedimentation and Bearman–Wetzel methods faecal flotation methods, including the McMaster technique to determine the severity of infection.
Results
We detected 12 helminth taxa in our examination of faecal samples, including gastrointestinal nematodes, lungworms and trematodes. Parasites from the Trichostrongyloidea family demonstrated variable hatching stages and rates, potentially influenced by ambient conditions. We also detected one protozoan among the samples. Our results revealed a higher diversity of parasites in free‐ranging populations compared to captive ones.
Conclusions
This study underscores the necessity for regular parasitological surveillance in both captive and free‐ranging wildlife populations for effective conservation management. It also contributes to the ‘One Health’ perspective by highlighting the potential zoonotic risks posed by parasites in wild ruminants. Our results have implications for the conservation and management of the mountain gazelle.
The goal of this study was to analyse the gastrointestinal helminths of mountain gazelle (Gazella gazella), an endangered large mammal species. Over 100 fresh faecal samples from both captive and free‐ranging populations were collected and analysed using various techniques. We detected 12 helminth taxa, including gastrointestinal nematodes, trematodes and lungworms. The results of our study have important implications for the management and conservation of the mountain gazelle.
Introduction The aim of our study was to measure fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations in captive and free-ranging male and female mountain gazelles ( Gazella gazella ) during their ...circannual cycle. In addition, FGM concentrations were used to track the intensity of the adrenocortical response in mountain gazelles during the same period. Methods Fecal samples were collected from the ground in the Hatay Mountain Gazelle Wildlife Development Area in the Hatay Province of Türkiye (36°32’ N, 36°32′ E) in each season of the year (December, April, July, September). The sex of the animals was determined by detecting the SRY gene of the Y chromosome in DNA isolated from the fecal samples. FGM was extracted from dried fecal samples with methanol, and its concentration was measured using a previously partially validated ELISA. Results and discussion The results indicate that season is the most important factor explaining the variability in FGM concentrations in mountain gazelles. In animals of both sexes, the highest concentrations of FGM were observed in September. The values were significantly higher in the captive population, perhaps due to unpredictable stress. In July, FGM concentrations were low in both populations. As a result of the overall analysis across seasons, the comparison of FGM concentrations between captive and free-ranging animals revealed higher concentrations in captive animals only in September but not in other seasons, although higher concentrations have been previously reported for several wild captive species. Due to predation risk, the presence of offspring can be considered a critical point in the biological cycle for the welfare of free-ranging mountain gazelles, as suggested by the higher FGM concentrations in the free-ranging population in July. The high number of visitors could be a challenge for mountain gazelles in captivity, as indicated by higher FGM concentrations during September. Sex had no effect on the FGM concentrations of either population.
Abstract
Genetic diversity is not always congruent with phenotypic heterogeneity, resulting in cryptic species complexes which cause a great struggle for scientists trying to define ‘species’ and ...describe relationships among taxa. Anatololacerta is a lizard genus distributed in southern and western Anatolia and some neighboring Aegean islands. Three morphospecies were recognized in Anatololacerta but a recent molecular study revealed the presence of cryptic diversity within the genus which led to the raise of a subspecies to species level. Currently the genus includes the species A. anatolica, A. danfordi, A. budaki and A. pelasgiana. Using a comprehensive sampling concerning both the number of specimens (218 specimens) and the genetic markers (3 nuclear and 3 mitochondrial), we performed phylogenetic analyses including tree reconstruction, species delimitation and divergence times estimation. The results revealed the occurrence of one more cryptic lineage which should be regarded as a separate species for which the name A. ibrahimi stat. nov. has priority. The existence of five well differentiated species with parapatric distributions in Anatololacerta is strongly supported. There is also evidence of recent and rapid radiation of the genus which probably causes phylogenetic relationships between these species to remain largely unresolved. At last, we proceeded to some nomenclatorial changes: The current name A. budaki was synonymized with A. pelasgiana because specimens of the type-locality of A. budaki are assigned genetically to A. pelasgiana. The genetic lineage including specimens currently assigned to A. budaki was named A. finikensis stat. nov., raising the subspecies A. b. finikensis to species level.
Objective: The genetic diversity parameters for gazelle populations sampled in Turkey were estimated to assess the effects
of captive breeding on the populations’ gene pools and effective population ...sizes.
Materials and Methods: Four individuals from a recently discovered Gazella gazella population in Hatay and two captive
gazelle populations were sampled (the Kızılkuyu State Farm (n=48) and the Erikçe State Farm (n=25)) and analyzed using
nuclear DNA, mtDNA and Y-chromosome markers.
Results: The mtDNA cyt-b partial sequence analysis assigned the Erikçe and Kızılkuyu samples to Gazella marica. The
structure analysis differentiated significantly between them, and revealed samples originating from wild population. Both,
the Y-chromosome INRA126 locus sequences of Gazella gazella and Gazella marica males and the mtDNA partial cyt-b region
RFLP analysis from all the samples distinguished the two gazelle species from each other. Based on microsatellites, the
estimated effective population sizes were 9.7, 8.9 and 6.4 for the Kızılkuyu, Erikçe and Hatay populations, respectively. When
the Kızılkuyu and Erikçe populations (where severe inbreeding depressions seems to be occurring already) were pooled, the
estimated Ne was 24.5. All these estimates were too small for the sustainability of either individual or pooled populations in
the wild or even in captivity.
Conclusion: The markers used in the study provided information on two of the gazelle species (Gazella marica, and Gazella
gazella): their species identity, degree of divergences, effective population sizes and the presence of admixture within the
populations. These results turned out to be invaluable in terms of their contribution to future studies for the conservation of
these species.
The genus Anatololacerta (Lacertidae) occurs mainly in Anatolia (western and southern Turkey) and on the Aegean islands Samos, Ikaria, and Rhodos. Although its taxonomy has long been debated and is ...currently nascent, three morphological species have been attributed to this genus: Anatololacerta anatolica, Anatololacerta oertzeni, and Anatololacerta danfordi. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of A. oertzeni and Anatololacerta danfordi based on both mitochondrial and nuclear markers (16S rRNA and cmos). In total, 34 Anatololacerta specimens were analyzed using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods. Our results supported the presence of four well-supported lineages: two belongs to A. oertzeni and two to A. danfordi. The temporal diversification of these lineages probably started with the divergence of the first A. oertzeni lineage from western Antalya at 7.9 Mya. The other two major splits may have occurred in early Pliocene (4.4 Mya: the divergence of the second A. oertzeni from A. danfordi) and in late Pliocene (2.7 Mya: the divergence of the two lineages of A. danfordi). The phylogeographical scenario suggests that the major diversification events (from late Miocene to late Pliocene) could be related with climatic oscillations (such as the late Miocene aridification and the Messinian Salinity Crisis) and tectonic movements (such as the uplift of the central Taurus mountain).
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