Diverse Regions Research Articles

Genotyping-by-sequencing derived SNP markers reveal genetic diversity and population structure of Dactylis glomerata germplasm

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), a widely cultivated cool-season perennial, is an important forage crop due to its adaptability, high nutritional value, and substantial biomass. Understanding its genetic diversity and population structure is crucial for developing resilient cultivars that can withstand climate change, diseases, and resource limitations. Despite its global significance in fodder production, the genetic potential of many regional accessions remains unexplored, limiting breeding efforts. This study investigates the genetic diversity (GD) and population structure of 91 accessions of D. glomerata from Turkey and Iran using genotyping-by-sequencing based single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers. A total of 2913 high-quality SNP markers revealed substantial genetic variability across provinces. Notably, accessions from Erzurum exhibited the highest GD (mean GD: 0.26; He: 0.5328), while provinces such as Bursa and Muğla demonstrated lower GD (mean GD: 0.15; He < 0.22), suggesting potential genetic bottlenecks. Population structure analysis using Bayesian clustering, PCoA and UPGMA dendrograms divided the accessions into three distinct clusters, with cluster membership largely reflecting geographical origins, and dry biomass content. Cluster II revealed higher GD, associated with enhanced biomass production (128 g/plant), the most important agronomic trait in forage species, supporting the notion of heterosis in breeding programs. The majority of the genetic variation (85.8%) was observed within clusters, with minimal differentiation among clusters (FST = 0.007). Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified significant marker-trait associations for dry biomass weight, a critical agronomic trait, with markers DArT-100715788, DArT-101043591, and DArT-101171265 and DArT-101090822 located on Chromosomes 1, 6, and 7 respectively. These findings highlight the importance of regional diversity for maintaining adaptive potential in future breeding programs.

Trematode Parasite Infections in Freshwater Leeches from the Central Region of Lithuania: First Record of Posthodiplostomum (Dubois, 1936) in a Leech Host

Leeches play a critical role in the transmission of digenean trematodes, yet their parasitic infections remain understudied in the Baltic region. This study investigates the diversity, prevalence, and molecular identification of trematode infections in freshwater leeches from central Lithuania. A total of five leech species (Alboglossiphonia heteroclita, Glossiphonia complanata, Glossiphonia verrucata, Helobdella stagnalis, and Erpobdella octoculata) were examined using compression and dissection techniques to detect trematode cysts, which were predominantly found in the soft tissues rather than the intestinal tract. Molecular sequencing of 18S rRNA, COI, and ITS markers, combined with phylogenetic analyses, confirmed the presence of three trematode genera: Cotylurus, Australapatemon, and Posthodiplostomum. The overall infection rate among leeches was 40.8%, with the highest prevalence observed in G. complanata (53.3%). Cotylurus spp. were the most frequently detected parasites, with genetic analyses revealing close affinities to Cotylurus syrius and Cotylurus spp. from Poland. Australapatemon species were also identified, though species-level classification remained inconclusive. Notably, this study provides the first molecular evidence of Posthodiplostomum cuticola utilizing leeches as intermediate hosts, extending the known range of hosts for this trematode. Phylogenetic analyses demonstrated the broad geographic distribution of these parasites, with close genetic matches to isolates from Poland, Russia, Canada, and Japan. The findings highlight the ecological significance of leeches in parasite transmission networks and contribute to the understanding of trematode diversity and host interactions in the Baltic region. Further molecular and ecological studies are needed to clarify species diversity and the role of leeches in the life cycles of aquatic parasites.

Nat-UV DB: A Natural Products Database Underlying of Veracruz-Mexico

Background Natural products databases are well-structured data sources that offer new molecular development opportunities in drug discovery, agrochemistry, food, cosmetics, and several other research disciplines or chemical industries. The crescent world’s interest in the development of these databases is related to the exploration of chemical diversity in geographical regions with rich biodiversity. Methods In this work, we introduce and discuss Nat-UV DB, the first natural products database from a coastal zone of Mexico. We discuss its construction, curation, and chemoinformatic characterization of their content, and chemical space coverage compared with other compound databases, like approved drugs, and other Mexican (BIOFACQUIM and UNIIQUIM databases) and the Latin American natural products database (LaNAPDB). Results Nat-UV DB comprises 227 compounds that contain 112 scaffolds, of which 52 are not present in previous natural product databases. The compounds present in Nat-UV DB have a similar size, flexibility, and polarity to previously reported natural products and approved drug datasets. Conclusions Nat-UV DB compounds have a higher structural and scaffold diversity than the approved drugs, but they have low structural and scaffold diversity in contrast with other natural products in the reference datasets. This database serves as a valuable addition to the global natural products landscape, bridging gaps in exploring biodiversity-rich regions.

Elevation gradient effects on grassland species diversity and phylogenetic in the two-river source forest region of the Altai Mountains, Xinjiang, China

Altitude, as a key environmental factor, shapes the spatial patterns of species diversity, phylogenetic diversity, and community phylogenetic structure. Studying grassland diversity and phylogenetic structure along altitudinal gradients helps clarify how altitude-driven environmental changes influence community assembly, and reveal vertical patterns in community formation. This study examines grasslands at 1300–2500 m elevation in the Two-River Source Forest Area, Altai Mountains, Xinjiang. Six elevation gradients (200 m intervals) were surveyed with 90 grassland quadrats, documenting community characteristics and environmental data. The study analyzes the patterns of species composition, diversity, and phylogeny across different elevation gradients and explores their relationships with key environmental factors. The results indicate that the grassland species composition is dominated by species from the Poaceae, Rosaceae, and Asteraceae families, with Poa annua (annual bluegrass) being the dominant species within Poaceae. The species diversity along the elevation gradient exhibits a bimodal trend, with an initial increase, followed by a decrease, another increase, and finally a decline as the elevation rises. In contrast, phylogenetic diversity shows a unimodal pattern, characterized by an initial increase followed by a decline with increasing elevation. Although the phylogenetic structure did not exhibit a significant trend of transitioning from divergence to clustering along the altitudinal gradient, the overall phylogenetic pattern of grassland communities tended toward clustering. Further analysis reveals significant correlations between species diversity and environmental factors such as temperature, precipitation, forest cover, and soil moisture. However, no environmental factors were found to have a significant correlation with the phylogenetic indices.

Health effects associated with ozone in China: A systematic review.

As the ozone (O3) pollution becomes severe in China, it poses a threat to human health. Currently, studies on the impacts of O3 on different regions and groups are limited. This review systematically summarizes the relationship between O3 pollution and mortality and morbidity across the nation, regions, and cities in China, with a focus on the regional and group-specific studies. Then, we clarify the overall limitations in the research data, methods, and subjects. In addition, we briefly discuss the mechanisms by which O3 exposure affects human health, analyzing the effects of O3 on human health under heatwaves (temperature) condition, multi-pollutant modeling, and future climate scenarios. Finally, we give some suggestions for future research directions. Studies found that increased risks of premature mortality and morbidity of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases are closely associated with high concentration O3 exposure. Besides, the old and children are sensitive groups, more studies are needed estimate the risk of their health associated with O3 pollution. Severe O3 pollution in Northern and Eastern China, has significantly increased premature mortality. O3 pollution has led to decreased lung function in the elderly in East China, and a higher asthma risk among young people in South China. Comparing with other regions, less research studied the relationship between O3 pollution and health of local people in Southwest, Central, Northeast, and Northwest Regions. Therefore, it is necessary to enhance research in these regions, with a particular emphasis on the distinctive health consequences of O3 pollution in these regions. Given the diversity of regions and research groups, comprehensive comparison is crucial for determining the impact of O3 pollution on human health in China.

CO2-rich protoplanetary discs as a probe of dust radial drift and trapping

Context. Mid-infrared spectra indicate considerable chemical diversity in the inner regions of protoplanetary discs, with some being H2O-dominated and others CO2-dominated. Sublimating ices from radially drifting dust grains are often invoked to explain some of this diversity, particularly with regards to H2O-rich discs. Aims. We model the contribution made by radially drifting dust grains to the chemical diversity of the inner regions of protoplanetary discs. These grains transport ices – including those of H2O and CO2 – inwards to snow lines, thus redistributing the molecular content of the disc. As radial drift can be impeded by dust trapping in pressure maxima, we also explore the difference between smooth discs and those with dust traps due to gas gaps, quantifying the effects of gap location and formation time. Methods. We used a 1D protoplanetary disc evolution code to model the chemical evolution of the inner disc resulting from gas viscous evolution and dust radial drift. We post-processed these models to produce synthetic spectra, which we analyse with 0D LTE slab models to understand how this evolution may be expressed observationally. Results. Discs evolve through an initial H2O-rich phase as a result of sublimating ices, followed by a CO2 -rich phase as H2O vapour is advected onto the star and CO2 is advected into the inner disc from its snow line. The introduction of traps hastens the transition between the phases, temporarily raising the CO2/H2O ratio. However, whether or not this evolution can be traced in observations depends on the contribution of dust grains to the optical depth. If the dust grains become coupled to the gas after crossing the H2O snow line – for example if bare grains fragment more easily than icy grains – then the dust that delivers the H2O adds to the continuum optical depth and obscures the H2O, preventing any evolution in its visible column density. However, the CO2/H2O visible column density ratio is only weakly sensitive to assumptions about the dust continuum obscuration, making it a more suitable tracer of the impact of transport on chemistry than either individual column density. This can be investigated with spectra that show weak features that probe deep enough into the disc. The least effective gaps are those that open close to the star on timescales competitive with dust growth and drift as they block too much CO2; gaps opened later or further out lead to higher CO2/H2O. This leads to a potential correlation between CO2/H2O and gap location that occurs on million-year timescales for fiducial parameters. Conclusions. Radial drift, especially when combined with dust trapping, produces CO2 -rich discs on timescales longer than the viscous timescale at the H2O snow line (while creating H2O-rich discs at earlier times). Population analyses of the relationship between observed inner disc spectra and large-scale disc structure are needed to test the predicted role of traps.

Artificial Screening of Sesame Germplasm against Shoot Webber and Capsule Borer

Ten promising germplasm lines and three checks (VRI 1-Local check; TC-25 Susceptible check; SI-250 Resistance check) of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) exhibiting different genetic and regional diversity were screened against shoot webber and capsule borer (Antigastra catalaunalis Duponchel) under net house condition during rabi season 2019-20 which were already found promising under open field condition at Regional Research Station, Vriddhachalam, Tamil Nadu. Among the entries tested, three entries viz., B-7-11, SI 2116, and GRT-83148 under artificial screening as well as feeding preference study were recorded less than 10 per cent plant damage and were classified as resistant.

A review of the effects of different types of social behaviors on the recruitment of neuropeptides and neurotransmitters in the nucleus accumbens.

There is a lack of understanding of the neural mechanisms regulating the rewarding effects of social interactions. A significant contributor to this lack of clarity is the diversity of social behaviors and animal models utilized to investigate mechanisms. Other sources of the lack of clarity are the diversity of brain regions that can regulate social reward and the diversity of signaling pathways that regulate reward. To provide some clarity into the mechanisms of social reward, this review focused on the brain region most implicated in reward for multiple stimuli, the nucleus accumbens, and surveyed (systematically reviewed) studies that investigated the relationship between social interaction and five signaling systems implicated in the regulation of reward and social behavior: oxytocin, vasopressin, serotonin, opioids and endocannabinoids. Moreover, all of these studies were organized by the type of social behavior studied: affiliative interactions, play behavior, aggression, social defeat, sex behavior, pair-bonding, parental behavior and social isolation. From this survey and organization, this review concludes that oxytocin, endocannabinoids and mu-opioid receptors in the nucleus accumbens positively regulate the rewarding social behaviors, and kappa-opioid receptors negatively regulate the rewarding social behaviors. The opposite profile is observed for these signaling systems for the aversive social behaviors. More studies are needed to investigate the directional role of the serotonin system in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of many types of social behaviors, and vasopressin likely does not act in the nucleus accumbens in the regulation of the valence of social behaviors. Many of these different signaling systems are also interdependent of one another in the regulation of different types of social behaviors. Finally, the interaction of these signaling systems with dopamine in the nucleus accumbens is briefly discussed.

Unpacking the role of relatedness in technological diversification in the US metropolitan statistical areas

ABSTRACT This paper aims to unpack the role of relatedness in regional technological diversification by decomposing relatedness from the perspectives of mechanisms, strength, and complexity. In terms of mechanisms, relatedness is divided into geography, complementarity, and similarity relatedness. Furthermore, relatedness is differentiated into four categories based on relatedness strength and knowledge complexity. The effects of different types of relatedness are tested on a dataset containing 2,922,473 patents distributed across 347 US metropolitan statistical areas and 544 technology classes from 1976 to 2015. Our results, which area robust under different circumstances, show that the effect of geography relatedness outweighs complementarity relatedness and similarity relatedness, and higher strength and lower complexity relatedness have the largest impact on technology entry. We contribute to the literature by proposing a new method to calculate similarity relatedness and responding to the call of unpacking relatedness by taking relatedness strength and knowledge complexity dimensions into account.

Climatically Specialized Lineages of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, and its Likely Asian Origins.

Chytridiomycosis is a wildlife disease that has caused significant declines in amphibian populations and species extinctions worldwide. Asia, where the causal pathogens Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and B. salamndrivorans (Bsal) originated, has not witnessed mass die-offs. It is hypothesized that Asian amphibians may have evolved immunity to clinical Batrachochytrium infection, but this has not been explored in depth due to limited knowledge of endemic lineages and infection patterns. We investigated Bd's genetic diversity and infection patterns in south China's Guangxi region using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) marker and nested PCR. Across the 17 forest sites studied (N = 1088 individuals; 1012 adults and 76 tadpoles), the overall prevalence of Bd infection was 4.74% in adult individuals and 5.26% in tadpoles. We found seven new haplotypes, four of which were closely related to the BdASIA-1 lineage from South Korea. The most prevalent haplotype (genetically similar to BdASIA-3) was found in 11 out of 15 infected species, including a salamander with non-lethal skin lesions. A generalized linear model of our environmental data indicates that Bd infection is correlated with mean temperature of the warmest quarter and elevation, with higher infection prevalence associated with lower temperature and relatively higher elevation in southern China. Our findings suggest significant undiscovered genetic diversity of Asian Bd lineages in this region. Longer-term studies are required to further investigate Bd diversity, prevalence, seasonality, and impact on native species and populations in Southern China and across the region of origin in Asia.

Which dimensions of regional diversity facilitate media cluster formation?

ABSTRACT This research investigates the relationship between regional diversity and media industry agglomeration by exploring multiple aspects of regional diversity, including cultural, economic, and demographic diversity, and their varying impacts on media industry agglomeration in South Korea. The findings of this study show that regions with great cultural and economic diversity attract the media industry. Exposure to diverse cultures and various economic activities enhances the region’s capacity to embrace unconventional thinking and innovative ideas, attracting creative talents who are vital to the media industry and promoting a conducive environment for creative activities within the media industry. However, this research also found that not all forms of regional diversity act as magnets for the media industry. Highlighting the multifaceted aspects of regional diversity, this study provides empirical evidence that, rather than a demographically diverse population, a demographically concentrated population of young labor attracts media industry agglomeration, facilitating the formation of media industry clusters.

Network mechanisms underlying the regional diversity of variance and time scales of the brain's spontaneous activity fluctuations.

The brain's activity fluctuations have different temporal scales across the brain regions, with associative regions displaying slower timescales than sensory areas. This so-called hierarchy of timescales has been shown to correlate with both structural brain connectivity and intrinsic regional properties. Here, using publicly available human resting-state fMRI and dMRI data it was found that, while more structurally connected brain regions presented activity fluctuations with longer timescales, their activity fluctuations presented lower variance. The opposite relationships between the structural connectivity and the variance and temporal scales of resting-state fluctuations, respectively, were not trivially explained by simple network propagation principles. To understand these structure-function relationships, two commonly used whole-brain models were studied, namely the Hopf and Wilson-Cowan models. These models use the brain's connectome to coupled local nodes (representing brain regions) displaying noise-driven oscillations. The models show that the variance and temporal scales of activity fluctuations can oppositely relate to connectivity within specific model's parameter regions, even when all nodes have the same intrinsic dynamics -but also when intrinsic dynamics are constrained by the myelinization-related macroscopic gradient. These results show that, setting aside intrinsic regional differences, connectivity and network state are sufficient to explain the regional differences in fluctuations' scales. State-dependence supports the vision that structure-function relationships can serve as biomarkers of altered brain states. Finally, the results indicate that the hierarchies of timescales and variances reflect a balance between stability and responsivity, with greater and faster responsiveness at the network periphery, while the network core ensures overall system robustness.Significance Statement Brain regions exhibit activity fluctuations at different temporal scales, with associative areas displaying slower timescales than sensory areas. This hierarchical organization is shaped by both large-scale connectivity and local properties. The present study demonstrates that the variance of fluctuations is also hierarchically organized but, in contrast to timescales, it decreases as a function of structural connectivity. Whole-brain models show that the hierarchies of timescales and variances jointly emerge within specific parameter regions, indicating a state-dependence that could serve as a biomarker for brain states and disorders. Furthermore, these hierarchies link to the responsivity of different network parts, with greater and faster responsiveness at the network periphery and more stable dynamics at the core, achieving a balance between stability and responsiveness.

Comparative Analysis of P. vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 Genetic Diversity in Multiple Geographical Regions

Comparative Analysis of P. vivax Merozoite Surface Protein-1 Genetic Diversity in Multiple Geographical Regions

The Evolution of Regional Representativeness in the Administrative Cadre Service of Bangladesh

The regional diversity in civil service may foster more equitable distribution of public resources and an increase in innovative service delivery. Before 2018, the government of Bangladesh relied on the districts’ share of population as a tool to ensure regional variation in the civil service. There is no systematic research in the existing literature exploring the effects of different types of quotas on the representativeness of bureaucracy in Bangladesh. In this study, we attempt to address this gap in the literature and explore to what extent the population share based quota system contributes to improving the representation of underserved regions of the country. It is found that the districts’ share of population and share of freedom fighters play a major role in determining the regional representativeness in the BCS administration cadre. Among the socio-economic factors, university completion rates of the districts are found to be positively correlated with the districts’ share of officials, while the sign of the coefficient on the poverty rates of the districts changes from positive to negative. Social Science Review, Vol. 41(1), June 2024, Page 237-259.

Do CMIP6 Models Capture Seasonal and Regional Differences in the Asymmetry of ENSO‐Precipitation Teleconnections?

AbstractEl Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a prominent climate phenomenon affecting precipitation patterns across much of the world. Regional ENSO‐precipitation teleconnections are often asymmetric such that the precipitation response to El Niño is stronger or weaker than the response to La Niña. Better understanding of asymmetry in teleconnections can improve the predictability of climate extremes during ENSO events. In this study, we assess the capability of 50 state‐of‐the‐art climate models and a reanalysis against observational data in simulating seasonal differences in asymmetric response of precipitation to ENSO. The analysis is performed across 46 sub‐continental scale regions, using a precipitation composite technique for deriving the asymmetric component of precipitation response. Significant regional and seasonal diversity is found in the asymmetric response to ENSO, both in observations and models. Model performance in simulating the nature of teleconnections is higher than the performance in simulating the associated asymmetry. Model performance in capturing the regional diversity of asymmetry is highest in austral spring. The model biases in asymmetry are related to the inability of the models to accurately simulate the skewness of the heavy tailed local precipitation distributions and Niño3.4 SST distributions. In regions outside the Pacific and Indian Ocean basins, model bias in the skewness of local precipitation variability plays a larger role in model asymmetry bias. This analysis contributes to better understanding the fidelity of CMIP6 models in capturing asymmetry in teleconnections across different seasons and regions which are critical for making skillful projections of floods and droughts in a warming climate.

Genotypic and phenotypic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from eastern India.

Whole genome sequencing has been used to investigate the genomic diversity of M. tuberculosis in the northern and southern states of India, but information about the eastern part of the country is still limited. Through a sequencing-based strategy, this study seeks to comprehend the diversity and drug resistance pattern in the eastern region. A total of 102 M. tuberculosis isolates from North East (n = 54), and Odisha (n = 48) were sequenced along with 7 follow up isolates from Sikkim. The pre-XDR and XDR isolates diagnosed as per the NTEP diagnostic algorithm were subjected for phenotypic second-line liquid culture drug susceptibility testing in MGIT-960 system. After filtering out low quality isolates based on taxonomic classification and depth of coverage, variant calling was performed. We observed a high prevalence of multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) lineage 2 (52/54) isolates in northeast whereas there was a mixed representation of lineage 1 (30/48) & lineage 3 (11/48) in Odisha. The MDR-TB isolates from Sikkim posed a high rate (51/53) of fluoroquinolone resistance and pairwise SNV distances (≤10) indicating possible local transmission events in the region. We observed occurrence of genetic variations in genes associated with bedaquiline and delamanid resistance. Our findings show the diversity of M. tuberculosis vary across the eastern regions, in north eastern states lineage 2 has a dominant presence while lineage 1 and 3 has mixed representation in Odisha. The high prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance in north eastern region associated with variations in gyrA gene and may have been caused by local transmission events based on genomic similarities.

The Grain for Green Program Promotes Soil Organic Matter Accumulation and Improves Soil Fungal Diversity in the Southwestern Karst Region

Soil microorganisms play pivotal roles in terrestrial ecological processes. However, how soil microbial biomass and community characteristics respond to changes in land utilization in karst regions remains largely unknown. The present study investigated the impacts of land-use change on soil chemical properties, microbial community structure, and biomass in a karst region of southwest China across four land-use types: shrubland (natural vegetation restoration), plantation forest (managed vegetation restoration), orchards, and croplands. Vegetation restoration increased microbial biomass carbon and microbial biomass nitrogen. Shrubland had the highest bacterial and fungal abundance and fungal diversity; in addition, the soil microbial community structure differed significantly among land-use types. The dominant bacterial phyla were Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi, whereas Ascomycota was the predominant fungal phylum, with its abundance declining significantly following vegetation restoration. Soil properties, including soil organic matter and available phosphorus, were strongly associated with microbial community composition and diversity in karst areas. The findings of this study are essential for gaining a deeper understanding of how changes in land-use affect soil properties and microbial dynamics, and provide valuable insights for ecological restoration and agricultural management in karst regions.

Ex Situ Conservation, DNA Barcoding and Enzymatic Potential Evaluation of Macrofungi (Basidiomycota, Ascomycota) from Vietnam.

The diversity and resource potential of macroscopic fungi in tropical regions remain understudied. Vietnam, being in a biodiversity hotspot, has a large number of new fungal species that are of interest for biotechnology and medicine. The presence of a large number of protected areas in Vietnam creates favorable opportunities for the study and ex situ conservation of tropical biodiversity. From 2012 to 2023, 785 strains of macrofungi from National Parks of Vietnam were preserved in the LE-BIN collection, 327 of which were barcoded with the sequences deposited in the NCBI GenBank. A taxonomic analysis demonstrated that many of the preserved isolates are potentially new or poorly studied species, representing a useful resource for taxonomical studies and a search for new medicinal mushrooms. More than 180 strains were studied for the first time for growth rate and enzymatic activities. Of these, 53 strains showed high growth rate, 43-high cellulolytic activity, 73-high oxidative enzymes activity, and 27 showed high proteolytic activity, making them promising candidates for biotechnological and medical applications and opening new opportunities for sustainable biomass management, discovery of new enzymes and bioactive substances, development of new drugs and efficient plant waste treatment technologies. The results confirm the importance of the ex situ conservation of fungal diversity in tropical regions as a valuable source for scientific and commercial applications and suggest certain new active strains for biotechnological study.

Genetic polymorphism of mitochondrial DNA of beluga throughout its range and genetic monitoring of restocking in the Caspian Sea

The purpose of the work: to study the genetic structure and genetic heterogeneity inherent in various beluga populations for the competent construction of the restocking process of the species.Scientific novelty: for the first time, the results of studying the genetic diversity of mtDNA control region of beluga in its entire range and brood stock of beluga in the SFF of the Caspian region are presented.Materials and methods: the work uses material from the RNCRGM FGBNU VNIRO (Russian National Collection of Reference Genetic Materials). The mtDNA control region was sequenced using ABI3500xL genetic analyzers (Applied Biosystems, USA). The collection and analysis of fish-breeding and biological indicators, materials on artificial spawning of producers in the period from 2016 to 2021 was carried out, the effectiveness of crosses was assessed by the degree of development of eggs at the stage of 4 blastomeres.Results: 100 different mitochondrial haplotypes with a length of 614 bp were identified in 246 beluga individuals. The largest number of haplotypes is found in the Caspian population, the smallest in the Azov one. The total haplotypic diversity for beluga was Hd=0.983, standard deviation 0,002, and nucleotide diversity π=0,0138±0,00712. Comparison of populations showed high intra-population and low inter-population variability. There is no genetic differentiation between the beluga populations of the Caspian and Azov Seas, the most pronounced differentiation is between the Caspian and Black Sea belugas. Such fish-breeding and biological characteristics as average weight, inter-spawning interval, relative and working fertility, generative index, and other data were evaluated and entered into the register of beluga producers. It has been shown that the genetic polymorphism of belugas used in SFF to produce juveniles is sufficient for the formation of genetically diverse offspring.Practical significance: the data are used in genetic monitoring and restocking of the natural beluga population.

Prospects for the Development of Mountain Tourism in Azerbaijan

Mountain tourism in Azerbaijan has significant potential for development, given the country’s diverse landscapes, rich cultural heritage and emerging tourism infrastructure. The Greater and Lesser Caucasus Mountains offer unique opportunities for ecotourism, adventure tourism and winter sports, making Azerbaijan a promising destination for mountain lovers. This article examines the future prospects for mountain tourism in Azerbaijan, focusing on key factors such as infrastructure development, environmental sustainability and the promotion of local culture. Key initiatives include expanding facilities in popular destinations such as Shahdag and Tufandag resorts, improving road and transport networks and enhancing the quality of accommodation and services. In addition, promoting sustainable tourism practices to preserve the natural environment and engage local communities is crucial. Azerbaijan’s strategic location between Europe and Asia and its visa facilitation programmes offer great potential for attracting foreign tourists. The article also examines challenges such as the need for trained specialists, seasonal restrictions and competition with neighbouring countries. By investing in infrastructure, promoting responsible tourism and utilizing its unique natural resources, Azerbaijan can establish itself as a top mountain tourism destination, contributing to regional development and economic diversification.