Phylogenetic Assessment Based On The Allozyme Variations In Turkish Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus Spp.) (Mammalia: Rodentia)

Nuri YİĞİT, Pınar EROL, Ercüment ÇOLAK

Abstract

Three ground squirrel species are distributed in Anatolia as Spermophilus xanthoprymnus, Spermophilus citellus and Spermophilus taurensis. In this study, it is aimed to determine the genetic variation between populations and to contribute to the phylogeny of the species by studying two allozyme variations in three species distributed in Türkiye. Variations in the alleles of isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh-S) and phosphoglucomutase (Pgm) enzymes were investigated using starch gel electrophoresis technique in the tissues of 37 specimens belonging to the three species of Spermophilus from Thrace, Central Anatolia and Western Mediterranean regions. According to the obtained results, Idh-S enzyme was found to be monomorphic homozygous in the studied taxa. The Pgm enzyme is polymorphic homozygous and is represented by the B allele (B) in S. citellus and S. taurensis, and (A) allele in the Central Anatolian population of S. xanthoprymnus. This finding supports that there is a closer phylogenetic relationship between S. citellus and S. taurensis.

Keywords

Spermophilus, Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Phosphoglucomutase, Allozyme

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References

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