An Attempt to Reconstruct the Phylogeny of the Hipposideros Leaf-nosed Bats Based on Nuclear Gene Markers.

The genus Hipposideros is one of the largest bat genera. The latest research on its Asian representatives has been done only with mitochondrial or sole nuclear markers. In the present study we compare the results of phylogenetic reconstructions, based on mitochondrial, on single nuclear genes and on multiple nuclear markers analyzed using the MRP algorithm (Matrix representation with parsimony) for representative species from all the main species groups. MRP analysis provides the most supported and well-interpretable phylogeny. Our data indicate monophyly of the large Asian leaf-nosed bats which suggests they are an independent taxon of the subgenus rank, as well as monophyly of several species complexes which are paraphyletic according to mtDNA analysis.

[Variability of a cytochrome b region in different chromosome races and populations of the common shrew Sorex araneus L., 1758].

The nucleotide sequence (572 bp) of the cytochrome b gene of the common shrew Sorex araneus was analyzed. In total, 92 animals of five chromosome races from 12 localities were studied. The median haplotype network has a pronounced star-like structure. The central haplotype common for all samples, except for the southern island sample of the race Sok, accounts for about 36%. The main characteristics of molecular variation in our work correspond to those obtained in other studies. We revealed the lack of a correlation between the genetic and geographic distances and also population structurization of the species. On the basis of variation of the haplotypes in the samples, a scenario of colonization of the postglacial territories by females of one or several close matrilines with subsequent rapid subdivision of the population into independent populations is discussed.

[Two types of territory used by the common shrew Sorex araneus L].

The home range of resident animals is considered as "known territory" including a "foraging region." It has been revealed that the activity of an average animal unit in the "foraging region" could be approximated by normal distribution. Estimation of activity distribution in the "known territory" (beyond the "foraging region") was impeded by means of marking since it might be difficult to detect the frequency of distant translocations, and the method does not provide an essential body of data. In the case of the common shrew Sorex araneus, the "known territory" was estimated using trap cones as animals evade them in the known areal. The "foraging region" radius of the average shrew was taken to be 30 m (95% of the animal unit activity), the radius of known territory was within the range of 180-240 m. The "foraging region" was expected to provide the animal with vital resources, and the "known territory" reflects its need for exploratory activity.