Abstract
The variation pattern of the C-heterochromatin and nucleolar organizer region (nOr) distribution, both between and within two cytotypes of M. arvalis with 46 chromosomes, are described. The positive C-bands were observed on six or seven small bi-armed autosomal pairs and in two, three or four acrocentric autosomal pairs. Only a small dark C-band was observed in the acrocentric homologue from a large heteromorphic autosomal pair in the complement of specimens belonging to the obscurus cytotype. The nucleolar organizer region was localized in the secondary constrictions in three autosomal pair in the specimens of the obscurus cytotype. These results may contribute to the knowledge of cytogenetic differentiation between the cytotypes and investigation of their systematic status.
Highlights
Karyotypic studies have been quite important for investigations of systematic problems in the common vole
The aim of the present study was to investigate in detail the variation pattern of the C-heterochromatin and nucleolar organizer region (NOR) distribution both between and within both cytotypes of M. arvalis with 46 chromosomes
Two pairs of acrocentric autosomes with distinctly dark centromeric C-bands were observed in complements of the specimens originating from the Alps in Austria, whereas three or four acrocentric autosomal pairs were identified in specimens from Czech and Slovak populations
Summary
Karyotypic studies have been quite important for investigations of systematic problems in the common vole. The distinct karyotypes found in various geographic populations indicate that the traditional broad species concept of the common vole (Ellermann and Morrison-Scott, 1951) was not correct and separation into several independent species was proposed. Most of these species (Microtus arvalis, M. levis, M. transcaspicus, M. ilaeus) are currently included in a monophyletic branch of the Microtus tree (Martínková and Moravec, 2012). This treatment was followed in the use of this name for the 54-chromosome sibling species (Musser and Carleton, 2005)
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