Aim: The continental island system comprising Sakhalin, Hokkaido and the southern Kuril Islands (SHSK) in northeastern Asia serves as one of the southernmost habitats for many boreal and arctic organisms, with colonization via land bridges formed during glacial periods. To understand the impacts of past land-bridge formation under Quaternary climate changes across SHSK, we investigated the demographic history of forest-dwelling marten species.Location: Sakhalin, Hokkaido and the southern Kuril Islands in northeastern Asia.Taxon: Sable, Martes zibellina (Carnivora, Mustelidae).Methods: We employed multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) to obtain genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We tested possible scenarios of colonization and diversification for SHSK sables using several population genetics approaches including clustering analysis, population tree estimation and approximate Bayesian computation modelling. We also examined haplotype diversity for the mitochondrial ND2 gene.Results: The genetic diversity of the island populations and their affinity for continental populations were found to be higher in the order Sakhalin > Hokkaido > Iturup in both nuclear SNP and mitochondrial DNA analyses. Demographic analyses indicated that the sable migrated repeatedly from the continent, particularly to the neighbouring Sakhalin Island. However, only an earlier colonized lineage has persisted on marginal Iturup Island since the Middle Pleistocene. The stronger effects of repeated migrations and/or isolation influenced by the distance to the continent have shaped the contemporary genetic diversity and differentiation of sable populations in SHSK.Main Conclusions: Genome-wide and comprehensive sampling approaches demonstrated that the forest-dwelling sable had long-term persistence with partial admixture of multiple lineages in SHSK, suggesting the existence of forest corridors and refugia on the islands during the last several glacial periods. The SHSK system of continental islands is valuable for understanding the impacts of Quaternary climate changes on the genetic diversity and evolutionary histories of boreal organisms.

The age structure of Amur sables was assessed based on a comparison of craniological characteristics based on materials from eight hunting seasons. It is shown that fingerlings predominate in hunting camps. The group of full-aged and aging animals is the least represented. Possible reasons for this distribution are considered.

Alexandromys evoronensis is the endemic vole of the Russian Far East. The range of the species is still unclear. Previously, this species was found in two intermontane areas of the Khabarovsk Krai and one area of the Amur Oblast. We recorded this species in a new location in August 2021 and August 2022. It is a small intermountain area of the western spurs of the Bureinsky Range, in the Tyrma River valley, Khabarovsk Krai (50°01'17.55''N, 132°03'02.60''E). A total of eight Evoron voles were caught here. Karyotyping of one female (2n = 36) revealed a similarity with the karyotype of the Argi chromosomal race of the A. evoronensis. New records of the voles in the Tyrma River valley expand the range of Evoron vole and indicate more southerly habitats than previously stated.

Based on the analysis of microsatellite loci Ma3 and Mer041 , the genetic structure of the sable population of the Middle Amur region was monitored. Materials obtained by hunters in winter seasons from 2011 to 2021 were studied. Three geographic subpopulations of sable from the Bureya Highlands and one from the eastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Ridge are considered. It was shown that the group of specific alleles characterizing the differences between the sable populations of the Bureya Highlands and the Sikhote-Alin Ridge is represented by four alleles. The monitoring of two microsatellite loci in the subpopulations of the Bureya Highlands showed a higher allelic diversity in the northern autochthonous population compared to the more southern ones, which arose as a result of dispersal of the northern subpopulation in the first half of the 20th century. The relative homogeneity of the population structure of the sable of the Bureya Highlands is shown, which does not lead to a statistically significant level of differentiation of subpopulations either in space or in time. A different character of the dynamics of allelic diversity in the subpopulations of the left bank (Bureya Highlands) and right bank (Sikhote-Alin Ridge) of the Amur River was found. It was hypothesized that temporal heterogeneity in the Sikhote-Alin subpopulation may indicate the existence of a spatially heterogeneous population structure on the eastern slopes of the Sikhote-Alin Ridge that formed from descendants and possible hybrids of autochthonous and introduced forms. The influence of the anthropogenic factor on the genetic structure dynamics is considered.

As a result of analysis of the control region of mtDNA for the Evoron vole, a high haplotype (97%) and nucleotide (1.53%) diversity was found. The data obtained indicate a low level of genetic differentiation of populations. At the same time, populations geographically located closer are subdivided more strongly than remote ones. In general, there is agreement between the data on the variability of the mitochondrial DNA control region and chromosome races. However, if the data of chromosomal analysis indicate the preservation of the more ancient variants of the karyotype in the Evoron-Chukchagir Lowland (“ evoron ” chromosomal race), then the data of molecular genetic analysis testify in favor of the preservation of the most ancient mt haplotype (106-19) in the population of the Upper Bureya Depression (argi race).

The Amur region sable sub-populations monitoring of the allelic composition in the hunting seasons of 2011–2021 showed the presence of alleles marking the differences between the sable population at the Amur River left and right banks. A pairwise comparison of seasonal collections of left- and right-bank sub-populations revealed a spread in the level of genetic differentiation from almost zero values to intermediate ones. It became clear that in order to determine the number of different genetic groups of sable in this region, we need additional mathematical methods to work with the obtained data. The purpose of this work is to determine and visualize the most likely number of different genetic groups of sables in the territory under consideration. It was studied three sub-populations of the Bureinsky Highland sable (left bank of the Amur River). For comparison, it was taken a species sub-population from the Sikhote-Alin western slopes (the Amur River right bank). The analysis of data for two microsatellite loci Ma3 and Mer041, on the material of hunting winter seasons from 2011 to 2022, was carried out using the programs Structure 2.3.4 and Structure Harvester. Based on the results obtained with these programs, it can be assumed that in the territory under consideration, this species is represented by two genetic groups (clusters) – “the left-bank” and “the right-bank”. The structure remains the same for both the collection material of the 2012–2013 winter hunting seasons and those of 2013–2014, as well as for the total collections of 2011–2022. The formation of such a structure is undoubtedly the result of both the historical formation of the species habitat and the genetic specifics of anthropogenic introductions from two different geographical areas.

The genetic variability and age structure analysis of the sable population in the Jewish Autonomous region (JAR) was carried out on the basis of six hunting seasons 2011–2022. The authors studied the distribution of genotypes, allelic composition and its change over time for microsatellites Ma3 and Mer_041. In most of the seasonal collections, there was a lack of heterozygotes. However, the genotypic balance for both loci was disturbed only in one season of six. The age structure analysis was carried out on the materials (hunting collections of sables) of five hunting seasons in the JAR. It showed that the most represented are the age groups actively involved in reproduction, while the number of underyearlings is somewhat lower. We can assume a more or less stable state of the sable population in JAR , which is confirmed by the data of genetic analysis.

An assessment of polymorphism and the level of differentiation in insular and mainland populations of the field mouse was carried out. Specimens of four islands in the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan and four regions on the mainland of the of the Russian Far East South were tested. Nuclear markers of 5 microsatellite loci were studied. The results demonstrate higher allelic diversity in the mainland part of the range, with a significantly higher level of differentiation in the insular part of the range.

The authors investigated the allele microsatellite locus Ma-3 composition in the Middle Amur Region sable (Martes zibellina). Three subpopulations of animals from the Bureinsky Highlands (Magan, Sutyr and Kamenushka), as well as one from the western macro slope of the Sikhote-Alin ridge (Manoma) were analyzed. The genetic material was collected for the hunting seasons of 2011/2012 – 2017/2018. Subpopulations of the northern (Magan) and middle (Sutyr) parts of the Bureinsky ridge were most similar to each other in their allele composition In the subpopulation of the Bureinsky Highlands southern part (Kamenushka) some slight differences were found. In the Manoma subpopulation, the specific allele 129 was found in hunting catches of 2012-2013 and 2017-2018. The specific allele presence in this subpopulation has proved some geographic isolation between the Sikhote Alin and the Bureinsky Highlands sable populations.

Bats represent one of the most diverse but poorly studied mammal groups in Priamurye and, in particular, in the Jewish Autonomous region, which is located on the left bank of the southern bend of the Amur (47°–49° N 130°–135° E). The collection and analysis of scientific information made it possible to summarize the bat finding data in the Jewish Autonomous region, to provide brief descriptions of their distribution and lifestyle, and estimate their species diversity, considering changes in the bat’s taxonomy in recent decades. Despite the minimal number of bat findings reflected in the literature, the bat fauna of the Jewish Autonomous region is characterized by relatively high species diversity, comparable to one in the neighboring territories of Priamurye (Amur Region and Khabarovsk Territory). According to modern views, the nine species belonging to four genera of the Vespertilionidae family reliably inhabit the Jewish Autonomous region: five species of genus Myotis, two species of genus Vespertilio, and one species of both genera Plecotus and Murina. In addition, it is possible to arealogically expect the presence of Murina ussuriensis and Eptesicus nilssonii in the area.

Microsatellite analysis was used to examine intraspecific polymorphism in two extensive continental isolates of the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius Pallas, 1771) separated by the Baikal disjunction. Striped field mice from the western isolate (from the European and Kazakh-Siberian parts of the range) and from the eastern isolate (from the territory of the Middle Amur Region and Coastal Territory of Far East) were tested. The analysis used 180 specimens collected from 33 localities and five microsatellite loci developed earlier for the genus Apodemus. The work was carried out based on the summation of local samples in each of the aforementioned geographical regions. It was shown that allelic diversity and the number of specific alleles were higher in the eastern isolate that may be the result of the longer habitation of the striped field mouse in the eastern part of the range. The limited number of specific alleles in the western isolate as compared to the eastern one can be determined by the founder effect and may reflect the direction of the historical migration of the species from east to west. Our results demonstrate no more than a population level of differentiation within the continental isolates of the striped field mouse and indicate no more than a subspecies level of differences between these isolated forms, i.e., the relatively recent penetration of A. agrarius to western Eurasia.

Основываясь на анализе трех микросателлитных локусов, проведено исследование аллельного разнообразия и уровня генетической дифференциации для 4 географических субпопуляций соболя Буреинского нагорья и одной субпопуляции хребта Сихотэ-Алинь. Обнаружено 23 аллеля. Наибольшее аллельное разнообразие было обнаружено в субпопуляции хребра Сихотэ-Алинь (22 аллеля). 18 из 23 обнаруженных аллелей являются общими для соболей Буреинского нагорья и Сихотэ-Алиня. 5 из 23 обнаруженных аллелей оказались специфическими, т.е. представлены в субпопуляциях какой-либо одной из рассматриваемых горных систем. Однако частота встречаемости специфических аллелей в субпопуляциях достаточно низкая.

Систематизированы результаты экспедиционных сборов на территории российской части Малого Хингана и на Буреинском хребте, выполненных с 2010 по 2018 годы. В результате проведенных полевых сборов обнаружено 11 видов грызунов. Представители родов Apodemus ( A . peninsulae ), Myodes ( M . rutilus ), Craceomys ( C . rufocanus ) Tamias ( T . sibiricus ) распространены от южной до северной точек рассматриваемой территории. Apodemus agrarius и два вида восточноазиатских полевок Alexandromys ( A . fortis и A . maximowiszii ) распространены в южной части Хингано-Буреинского нагорья. Северная граница ареала полевой мыши здесь представлена трансектой север Малого Хингана – юг Буреинского хребта. Эта граница совпадает с северным краем ареала дальневосточной (большой) полевки. Полевка Максимовича по Буреинскому хребту проникает значительно севернее. Домовая мышь, мышь-малютка и крыса-пасюк встречены в природных биотопах единичными экземплярами. Эворонская полевка обнаружена локально на севере рассматриваемой территории.

Исследованы интермолярные нёбные складки у 148 экземпляров соболя из 5 районов Среднего Приамурья. Обнаружена изменчивость по числу, морфологии и асимметрии расположения нёбных складок. Общее число интермолярных нёбных складок соболя варьирует от 6 до 9. Изменчивость морфологии выражалась в уменьшении размеров, дроблении, образовании лоскутных краев, бугорчатости, слиянии в центральной части нёба и у коренных зубов. Показано, что преобладающими фенотипами являются симметричные, но асимметричные фенотипы представлены более чем у 25% особей. Основной вклад в различия географических субпопуляций соболя рассматриваемой территории поставляют редкие фенотипы, маркирующие своим присутствием какую-либо из субпопуляций. Проведено сравнение возрастной структуры и представленности асимметричных фенотипов как в общем пуле, так и в отдельных географических субпопуляциях.

ПОЛЕВЫЕ СБОРЫ МЕЛКИХ МЛЕКОПИТАЮЩИХ НА ТЕРРИТОРИИ СЕВЕРО-ВОСТОКА МАЛОГО ХИНГАНА И ЮЖНОЙ ЧАСТИ БУРЕИНСКОГО ХРЕБТА Л.В.Фрисман 1 , Л.В.Капитонова 1 , И.В.Картавцева 2 , И.Н.Шереметьева 2 , Т.В.Васильева 2 1 Институт комплексного анализа региональных проблем ДВО РАН, г.Биробиджан 2 ФНЦ Биоразнообразия наземной биоты Восточной Азии ДВО РАН, г

ХРОМОСОМНАЯ ИЗМЕНЧИВОСТЬ ТРЕХ ИЗОЛЯТОВ ЭВОРОНСКОЙ ПОЛЕВКИ ALEXANDROMYS EVORONENSIS (RODENTIA, ARVICOLINI)И