The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is distributed throughout continental Asia. In Eastern Europe, individuals of the European roe deer species (Capreolus capreolus) displaying mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of C. pygargus have been recorded. However, it is not clear if the origin of this introgression is an effect of natural processes or a consequence of human-mediated translocation of the Siberian roe deer. Only a large-scale phylogeographic analysis, spanning both the natural range of C. pygargus and the introgression zone, can answer this question. To reveal the cause of the introgression and to provide the most comprehensive picture of Siberian roe deer phylogeography, we analysed the mtDNA control region fragment (610 bp) of 352 individuals combined with 132 sequences available in GenBank, covering a vast region extending from Eastern Europe to Eastern Asia. We detected 101 mtDNA haplotypes and 6 haplogroups. The proportion of different haplogroups, varying along longitudinal gradients, showed a notable shift in the central parts of Siberia. Haplogroups B and D were the most frequent in the introgression zone. Seven genetic clusters of Siberian roe deer, including two in the introgression zone, were detected. MtDNA diversity of Siberian roe deer proved to be greater than previously documented. Two genetically and evolutionarily distinct haplogroups, occurring predominantly in Europe, appear to be remnants of natural interbreeding between the two roe deer species that could have occurred during one hundred thousand years ago in at least two different time periods. Additionally, past human-mediated translocations of the Siberian roe deer contributed to the observed introgression.

The population of the Northwest Pre-Caspian saiga (Saiga tatarica tatarica) numbered about 800 000 individuals in the middle of the last century. There was a dramatic decline at the end of the 20th century, and by 2015 the numbers of this saiga population reached about five thousand animals. The results of microsatellite loci and of mtDNA control region analysis obtained for museum saiga samples from the Northwest Pre-Caspian population, collected at the peak of their numbers in the 1950s, are presented. We compared these data with our previous results for the samples collected during the population depression in the years 1999–2016. There were no noticeable differences in the mtDNA control region diversity between the museum and modern saiga samples. The most vivid genetic consequence of the severe decline in population numbers was a significant increase of the inbreeding coefficient (Fis) calculated from the microsatellite loci.

Although the European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the most common and widespread ungulate species in Europe and inhabiting a variety of habitats, few studies have addressed its population structure at a large spatial scale using nuclear genetic data. The aims of our study were to: (i) investigate genetic diversity, level of admixture, and genetic structure across European Roe Deer populations; (ii) identify barriers to gene flow; and (iii) reveal factors that have impacted the observed pattern of population genetic structure. Using 12 microsatellite loci, we analyzed 920 European Roe Deer samples from 16 study sites from northern, southern, central, and eastern Europe. The highest genetic diversity was found in central and eastern sites, and lowest in the northern and southern sites. There were 2 main groups of genetically related populations in the study area-one inhabiting mainly Fennoscandia, and the second in the continental part of Europe. This second population was further divided into 3 to 5 spatially distributed genetic clusters. European Roe Deer belonging to the Siberian mitochondrial DNA clade, inhabiting large parts of eastern Europe, were not identified as a separate population in the analysis of microsatellite loci. No isolation by distance (IBD) was detected between roe deer from the fennoscandian and the continental study sites, but the Baltic Sea was inferred to be the main barrier to gene flow. Only weak IBD was revealed within the continental population. Three lower-level genetic barriers were detected in the western, southern, and eastern parts of the study area. The main factors inferred as shaping the observed genetic diversity and population structure of European Roe Deer were postglacial recolonization, admixture of different populations of the species originating from several Last Glacial Maximum refugial areas, and isolation of several study sites. According to our study the overall genetic diversity of European Roe Deer was relatively high. The greatest diversity was found in populations inhabiting central and eastern Europe, as a result of admixture of different postglacial migration waves from several Last Glacial Maximum refugia. Higher genetic diversity of roe deer in eastern Europe could be a result of introgression of Siberian Roe Deer genes as indicated by mitochondrial DNA analyses. This hybridization was an effect of both the natural range overlap of these species in the past and/or the translocations of the Siberian Roe Deer into the eastern part of the continent.

The study presents the status and diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes in the Far Eastern leopard ( Panthera pardus orientalis ). 20 alleles of MHC genes were obtained from 11 samples in total, 19 alleles were described for the first time for the species. A high diversity of alleles is shown at the level of individuals as well as at the population level. Comparison of MHC gene polymorphism in leopard subspecies showed that the genetic diversity of the Far Eastern leopard is not lower and even possibly higher, than observed of the African and Indian subspecies. The high allelic diversity of the Far Eastern leopard genes is supported by the positive selection affecting on the antigen-binding region of the protein product they encrypt. It is concluded that the low abundance of the Far Eastern leopard has not yet led to irreparable losses in the genetic potential of the population.

We analyzed the polymorphism of the complete mtDNA cytochrome b gene (1140 bp) and 12 microsatellite nDNA loci of the eastern red deer Cervus elaphus subspecies—Siberian C. e. sibiricus and Far East C. e. xanthopygus wapiti. On the territory of Russia, 112 samples were collected from different parts of the range, including Yakutia, where individuals with intermediate morphometric traits were found. We described 41 haplotypes, with no common haplotypes found for Siberian and Far East wapiti. Phylogenetic cytochrome b analysis revealed traces of ancestral polymorphism or introgression from Far East wapiti into Siberian wapiti. The red deer of Yakutia formed two haplogroups: the first group was genetically closer to Siberian wapiti, and the second was closer to American wapiti. The latter may indicate the preservation of ancient lines in Yakutia, which participated in the North America colonization during the Pleistocene glaciation. Microsatellite analysis revealed a little differentiation between the subspecies ( Fst = 0.037), reflecting the presence of a constant gene flow between their populations. The genotypes of red deer from Yakutia demonstrate heterogeneity, indicating their mixed origin.

Abstract The Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) is distributed throughout the continental Asia. Nowadays in eastern Europe there have been detected individuals of C. capreolus with mtDNA of C. pygargus but the origin of this introgression is not clear as there have been not many data available concerning the phylogenetic pattern of the Siberian roe deer. To reveal the source of the introgression and to provide the most comprehensive picture of Siberian roe deer phylogeography we analyzed mtDNA control region fragment (610bp) of 352 roe deer samples combined with 139 sequences available in GenBank. We detected 105 haplotypes and seven mtDNA haplogroups. The proportion of different haplogroups in the regional populations varied longitudinally, with a major shift in Central Siberia. Haplogroups A, C and E were the most frequent in Europe, in the areas defined as introgression regions. In Asia, their shares declined (E) or vanished (A). Seven genetic populations of the Siberian roe deer, including two populations in the range of the European roe deer with the Siberian mtDNA lineage, were detected. Genetic diversity of mtDNA in the Siberian roe deer proved to be greater than it was documented earlier. Two ancient haplogroups, occurring predominantly in Europe, have been a remnant of the past natural interbreeding between the Siberian and the European roe deer that most probably had occurred hundred(s) kyr BP. Translocations of the Siberian roe deer to Eastern Europe performed in the 19th and 20th centuries have also left signals in the populations of the European roe deer.

Cervids are popular game mammals and frequent victims of poaching in Europe. Investigation into illegal hunting and commercialisation often requires not only species identification, but also assignment of animal samples to an individual. For the purpose of wildlife forensic identity testing, we developed DNA typing assays for two common cervid species of Europe: European elk ( Alces alces ) and European roe deer ( Capreolus capreolus ), which comprised 16 and 12 short tandem repeats (STRs), respectively. The assays were tested for robustness in individualisation of biological samples based on data from 386 elk and 360 roe deer from all administrative regions of Belarus. Analysis of molecular variance revealed almost countrywide genetic homogeneity of elk and significant genetic differentiation of local roe deer. Reduced genetic diversity in European elk from Belarus compared to Siberia and historically documented massive population decline followed by rapid expansion explain the observed genetic structure as legacy of homogeneous genetic substrate inherited from a small ancestral population after genetic bottleneck in the 1920s. On the other hand, the observed geographic stratification of European roe deer is likely to result from numerous genetic drifts and/or local interspecies gene flow with Siberian roe deer ( Capreolus pygargus ), driven both naturally and artificially by large-scale releases of individuals of both roe deer species in Eastern Europe in the 20th century. Power of discrimination of unrelated individuals based on the pan-Belarusian database for European elk was higher than 0.99999999999. In case of regional databases for European roe deer, the value exceeded 0.999999999. Our results demonstrate the developed STR assays to be highly efficient tools for verification of genetic identity of cervid specimens, even in case of populations which suffered from massive population decline. To our knowledge, this is the first study presenting genetic identity testing assays for European elk and roe deer samples with a number of STR markers and statistical parameters sufficient to generate extremely strong DNA evidence in wildlife forensic casework, which were used to characterise genetic structure on a broad countrywide scale.

AbstractTo provide the most comprehensive picture of species phylogeny and phylogeography of European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), we analyzed mtDNA control region (610 bp) of 1469 samples of roe deer from Central and Eastern Europe and included into the analyses additional 1541 mtDNA sequences from GenBank from other regions of the continent. We detected two mtDNA lineages of the species: European and Siberian (an introgression of C. pygargus mtDNA into C. capreolus). The Siberian lineage was most frequent in the eastern part of the continent and declined toward Central Europe. The European lineage contained three clades (Central, Eastern, and Western) composed of several haplogroups, many of which were separated in space. The Western clade appeared to have a discontinuous range from Portugal to Russia. Most of the haplogroups in the Central and the Eastern clades were under expansion during the Weichselian glacial period before the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), while the expansion time of the Western clade overlapped with the Eemian interglacial. The high genetic diversity of extant roe deer is the result of their survival during the LGM probably in a large, contiguous range spanning from the Iberian Peninsula to the Caucasus Mts and in two northern refugia.

Rangifer tarandus L. 1758 is one of the few modern hoofed species in which domestic and wild forms coexist in the same territory. The genetic differentiation of domestic and wild reindeer in Northern Eurasia was examined using microsatellite data. А total of 780 animals were studied at 16 microsatellite loci. Samples of wild reindeer were taken from seven populations inhabiting different natural areas, and samples of domestic animals were selected from the Evenki, Evens, Chukchi and Nenets breeds, including two ecotypes, Tofalar and Todzha reindeer. The levels of genetic diversity and variation in wild reindeer were higher than in domestic ones. Bayesian clustering analysis allowed us to distinguish domesticated reindeer populations by the degree of taming, but failed to detect differences in genetic structure between wild reindeer populations. These differences were found using the pairwise Fst values. Overall, the microsatellite analysis revealed a significant genetic differentiation between domestic and wild forms and the structuring of populations within each form, which may be important for the development of strategies for animal conservation.

The European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) is one of the most numerous and widespread ungulate species in Europe, which has complicated the assessment of its genetic diversity on a range-wide scale. In this study, we present the mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA CR) genetic diversity and population structure of roe deer in Europe based on the analyses of 3010 samples, which were described as European roe deer individuals. Our analyses revealed two main diversity hotspots, namely Eastern and Central Europe. We proposed that these hotspots result from the Siberian roe deer (C. pygargus) mtDNA introgression and the secondary contact of mtDNA clades, respectively. Significantly lower values of genetic diversity (nucleotide and haplotype diversity) were recorded in the peripheral areas of the species’ range, including the southernmost parts of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) refugial areas. Roe deer population in Europe consists of 2–3 genetic groups according to SAMOVA, and 15–16 clusters identified by GENELAND. The main driver of roe deer population structure in the eastern parts of the continent has been introgression of mtDNA of C. pygargus. Spatial genetic analyses revealed a complex structure of roe deer on a pan-European scale, which presumably results from post-glacial recolonization of the continent from various parts of a large LGM refugial area by different roe deer mtDNA clades and haplogroups.

The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is an iconic carnivoran species of the Northern Hemisphere. Its population history has been studied extensively using mitochondrial markers, which demonstrated signatures of multiple waves of migration, arguably connected with glaciation periods. Among Eurasian brown bears, Siberian populations remain understudied. We have sequenced complete mitochondrial genomes of four ancient (~4.5-40 kya) bears from South Siberia and 19 modern bears from South Siberia and the Russian Far East. Reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships between haplotypes and evaluation of modern population structure have demonstrated that all the studied samples belong to the most widespread Eurasian clade 3. One of the ancient haplotypes takes a basal position relative to the whole of clade 3; the second is basal to the haplogroup 3a (the most common subclade), and two others belong to clades 3a1 and 3b. Modern Siberian bears retain at least some of this diversity; apart from the most common haplogroup 3a, we demonstrate the presence of clade 3b, which was previously found mainly in mainland Eurasia and Northern Japan. Our findings highlight the importance of South Siberia as a refugium for northern Eurasian brown bears and further corroborate the hypothesis of several waves of migration in the Pleistocene.

Abstract: We report the first photographic and genetic evidence of a brown bear (Ursus arctos) on Wrangel Island, Russia, located north of 71° in the Arctic Ocean. The sequenced control region (D-loop) of mitochondrial DNA obtained from hair of a sighted bear was indistinguishable from one of the most widespread haplotypes of the Eurasian brown bear. Molecular genetic analysis indicated that the bear was male. We photographed what may have been a second brown bear on a remote camera trap. It is unknown whether the bear(s) were transients or indicative of a range expansion associated with warming temperatures. Wrangel Island currently supports muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus), reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), and several top predators including a high density of polar bears (Ursus maritimus) during the summer and autumn. Thus, the presence of brown bears could lead to novel interspecies interactions with potentially cascading ecological effects.

The results of research on identification of bird species involved in collisions mainly with aircraft of the Aeroflot–Russian Airlines Public Joint-Stock Company are presented. Identification examination as a complex study includes DNA analysis, as well as examination of the macro- and microstructure of a group of feathers, a single feather, or a fragment of one. The bird strike location is established. The reasons and factors leading to the appearance of a species at the airfield are considered, and brief recommendations are given to minimize bird strikes at the airfield. During this period, 32 species of ten bird orders involved in strikes were identified. It was found that most collisions occurred with the orders Charadriiformes (mostly with gulls), Falconiformes, and Apodiformes. It is noted that more than 90% of collisions occur at the airport or in its vicinity; there are half again as many more strikes during taking off than during landing. The largest number of collisions takes place in spring and summer time and during daylight hours. The engine, nose cone, and fuselage mainly suffer from bird collisions.

To study the genetic differentiation and phylogeny of the breeds and populations of reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus L.), a test system based on multiplex PCR analysis of 16 highly polymorphic STR markers (Rt6, BMS1788, Rt30, Rt1, Rt9, FCB193, Rt7, BMS745, С143, Rt24, OheQ, С217, С32, NVHRT16, T40 and C276) was developed. Using this test system, 397 animals from 11 samples were studied. Four of these samples belonged to the wild forms of reindeer, while the rest of the samples represented the Nenets, Even, and Evenk breeds reared in different climatic zones of the Russian Federation. For 16 microsatellite loci, 204 alleles were identified, some of which could be considered breed-specific. It was demonstrated that more than 70% of the unique allele pool was concentrated in wild populations of reindeer. Statistical analysis of microsatellite data showed that the developed test system was an effective tool for identifying domesticated and wild forms of reindeer, testing the breed assignment, and determining the migration flows of a species over the vast territory of its distribution.

The nucleotide sequences of the alleles of the DRB3 gene of the major histocompatibility complex (class II) of saiga antelope are described. A high degree of heterozygosity is found. The results of the analysis are consistent with the hypothesis of overdominance of heterozygotes. Phylogenetic relations of the DRB3 gene alleles of the saiga antelope and other Bovidae species do not correspond to the systematic position of Saiga tatarica. It is assumed that the polymorphism of the DRB3 gene alleles of saiga is primarily due to the variety of extracellular pathogens (bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and others) affecting its population during the evolutionary history of the species.