South Siberia Research Articles

A new species of Tulostoma genus from Siberia

We described a new Tulostoma species based on morphological and molecular data. Its characteristic features are creamy-brownish to grayish white fruiting bodies, spore-sac of small size, stem slender, gleba orange brown, spores are large, subglobose, regularly verrucose, up to 10.6 μm. Warts are large, 6–7 in number on the visible side of spore, up to 0.9 μm length, more or less isolated or merging into groups with small warts or forming ridge-like anastomoses at the base visible on SEM. It grows in scattered shrub communities with Caragana pygmaea, on dry sandy soil in south of Siberia. Based on the sequences of internal transcribed spacer (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS) and D1/D2 domain of large subunit (28S) of nuc ribosomal DNA, we reconstructed a phylogeny of the genus Tulostoma. We present the detailed description of new species, color photos of fruiting bodies, light microscopy of anatomical characters, and analysis of morphological features in comparison with related species. To differentiate species of the genus Tulostoma necessary to use scanning electron microscopy. Therefore, we present photographs of spores of a new species under SEM. The DNA sequences obtained by us can also be used for identification of new species.

Evaluating the role of selection in the evolution of mitochondrial genomes of aboriginal peoples of Siberia.

Studies of the nature of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability in human populations have shown that protein-coding genes are under negative (purifying) selection, since their mutation spectra are characterized by a pronounced predominance of synonymous substitutions over non-synonymous ones (Ka/Ks < 1). Meanwhile, a number of studies have shown that the adaptation of populations to various environmental conditions may be accompanied by a relaxation of negative selection in some mtDNA genes. For example, it was previously found that in Arctic populations, negative selection is relaxed in the mitochondrial ATP6 gene, which encodes one of the subunits of ATP synthase. In this work, we performed a Ka/Ks analysis of mitochondrial genes in large samples of three regional population groups in Eurasia: Siberia (N = 803), Western Asia/Transcaucasia (N = 753), and Eastern Europe (N = 707). The main goal of this work is to search for traces of adaptive evolution in the mtDNA genes of aboriginal peoples of Siberia represented by populations of the north (Koryaks, Evens) and the south of Siberia and the adjacent territory of Northeast China (Buryats, Barghuts, Khamnigans). Using standard Ka/Ks analysis, it was found that all mtDNA genes in all studied regional population groups are subject to negative selection. The highest Ka/Ks values in different regional samples were found in almost the same set of genes encoding subunits of ATP synthase (ATP6, ATP8), NADH dehydrogenase complex (ND1, ND2, ND3), and cytochrome bc1 complex (CYB). The highest Ka/Ks value, indicating a relaxation of negative selection, was found in the ATP6 gene in the Siberian group. The results of the analysis performed using the FUBAR method (HyPhy software package) and aimed at searching for mtDNA codons under the influence of selection also showed the predominance of negative selection over positive selection in all population groups. In Siberian populations, nucleotide sites that are under positive selection and associated with mtDNA haplogroups were registered not in the north (which is expected under the assumption of adaptive evolution of mtDNA), but in the south of Siberia.

Embracing Landscape: Living with Reindeer and Hunting among Spirits in South Siberia, written by Selcen Küçüküstel

Embracing Landscape: Living with Reindeer and Hunting among Spirits in South Siberia, written by Selcen Küçüküstel

Polymorphism of the rs1815739 Locus of the &lt;i&gt;ACTN3&lt;/i&gt; Gene and rs11227639 &lt;i&gt;cis&lt;/i&gt;-eQTL Affecting Its Expression in Populations of Siberia

The polymorphism of the rs1815739 locus of the ACTN3 gene and the rs11227639 cis-eQTL that affects expression of this gene was studied in the populations of the northern (Chukchi, Koryaks, Evens, and Evenks) and southern (Buryats, Altaians, and Tuvinians) parts of Siberia. It was shown that the frequencies of the rs1815739-C allele of the ACTN3 gene (corresponding to the 577R amino acid variant) and the rs11227639-A upregulating ACTN3 allele, which increases the expression level of this gene, are significantly higher in the north than in the south of Siberia. Similarly, in the northern direction, the frequency of the combination of CC/AA genotypes at these loci increases. The revealed pattern of the geographical distribution of alleles and genotypes at the rs1815739 and rs11227639 loci in Siberian populations may be due to adaptation to cold and the processes of thermoregulation of the body when exposed to cold. It is assumed that an increase in the frequency of rs1815739-C and rs11227639-A alleles in the aboriginal populations of the north of Siberia is associated with an increase in the role of shivering thermogenesis during adaptation to cold exposure, and also contributes to an increase in muscle mass in their carriers, which reduces heat loss in the conditions of the North.

Geochemical Records of the Late Glacial and Holocene Paleoenvironmental Changes from the Lake Kaskadnoe-1 Sediments (East Sayan Mountains, South Siberia)

Long-term and continuous lake sedimentary records offer enormous potential for interpreting paleoenvironmental histories and for understanding how terrestrial environments might respond to current global warming conditions. However, sedimentary records that contain the Late Glacial and Holocene epochs are scarce in deep continental high-mountain regions. A 150 cm sediment core was obtained from Lake Kaskadnoe-1 in the East Sayan Mountains (South Siberia, Russia, 2080 m above sea level), containing a unique record of the last 13,200 calibrated years (cal yr). Chronological control was obtained by AMS 14C dating. Here, we show the first detailed X-ray fluorescence (XRF) geochemical record, with the goal of broadening our knowledge of the paleoenvironmental history of the East Sayan Mountains in the past. The determination of major compounds and trace elements (Sr, Zr) was performed from each centimeter of the Lake Kaskadnoe-1 sediment core. The inorganic geochemistry indicates significant variations in elemental composition between two major lithological units of the sediment core: the Late Glacial dense grey silty clay (150–144 cm), and the upper interval (0–143 cm) mostly consisted of dark biogenic-terrigenous silt, accumulated during the Holocene. The Late Glacial sediments accumulated 13,200–12,800 cal yr BP are characterized by high values of CIA, Mg/Al, K/Al, and Mn/Fe, and are depleted in Si/Al, Fe/Al, and Ca/Al. During the Younger Dryas cold episode, LOI enrichment was probably caused by the presence of less oxic conditions, as seen in lower Mn/Fe values, due to a longer period of lake ice-cover. The Early Holocene (12,000–7500 cal yr BP) is associated with a decreasing trend of mineral matter with fluvial transport to Lake Kaskadnoe-1 (low K/Al, Mg/Al) and stronger chemical weathering in the lake basin. The increase in Ti/Al, K/Al and CIA values over the last 7500 years suggests an increase in the terrigenous input into the lake. Low LOI values can be possibly explained by the presence of less dense vegetation cover in the basin. In summary, our data indicate that the geochemical indices and selected elemental ratios mirror the sedimentation conditions that were triggered by environmental and climate changes during the Late Glacial and Holocene.

The ‘old wood’ effect and problems of dating iron smelting sites

The paper is aimed at the analysis of the ‘old wood’ effect in radiocarbon chronology of iron smelting com-plexes of South Siberia. The production sites are here set outside the settlements, and radiocarbon dating re-mains the only means of their chronological attribution. With the example of Kuyahtanar metallurgical site in the Mountain Altai, we show that the range of a series of radiocarbon dates obtained for the same iron-smelting fur-naces can span a thousand years. It has been established that such a chronological range can be explained by the use of wood from long-lived tree species for charcoal production and the resulting significant apparent age due to the ‘old wood’ effect. The essence of the effect consists in that as a tree grows, its inner annual rings die out and stop exchanging carbon with the environment, while the tree is still alive. Therefore, the pith of a long-lived tree is much older than its outer rings, and radiocarbon analysis determines not the age of the archaeologi-cal object, or time when the tree was cut, but the date of the death of that part of the tree which was sampled for the dating. Methodological recommendations have been drawn up capable of minimizing the impact of the ‘old wood’ effect in the dating of iron metallurgy sites. During the sampling, it is recommended to collect fragments of char-coal from the tree outer rings. In a case, where this is not possible, it is necessary to obtain a series of at least three dates for one site. In such a series, the latest of the three dates will be the closest to the age of the archaeological object. It is also necessary to determine the tree species used for burning the charcoal for smelting. After the tree species is identified, it becomes possible to infer its average and maximum life expectancy in the specific natural and climatic conditions, and, consequently, possible average and maximum impact of the ‘old wood’ effect. Since in the case of dating metallurgical sites the impact of the ‘old wood’ effect is virtually unavoidable, it is suggested that, in the future, the chronology of the complexes radiocarbon dated with a single sample of charcoal is revisited.

Prevalence of genetically determined trehalase deficiency in populations of Siberia and Russian Far East

ABSTRACT In order to be digested, the disaccharide trehalose needs to be cleaved by the trehalase enzyme. There were reports suggesting that trehalase deficiency was more common in high-latitude than in the temperate climate populations. New horizons were opened for the epidemiologic research of trehalase enzymopathy when it became clear that reduced trehalase activity is determined by the A allele of tTREH gene (rs2276064). The aim of this study was to analyze the frequencies of the trehalase gene alleles and genotypes among the indigenous peoples of Siberia and the Russian Far East. We genotyped 567 samples representing the indigenous peoples of Siberia and the Russian Far East and 146 samples representing Eastern Slavs as the reference dataset. We found that the frequencies of the A*TREH alleles increased to the east. The A*TREH allele frequency was 0.03 in the reference group, 0.13-0.26 in the North-West Siberian indigenous populations, 0.29-0.30 in the South Siberia, 0.43 in West Siberia, and 0.46 in the low Amur populations. The highest frequency of the A allele (0.63) was observed in the Chukchi and Koryak populations. From 1 to 5% of European origin individuals are at risk of trehalase enzymopathy. In the indigenous populations, the frequency of the A*TREH allele varies 13% to 63%, whereas the frequency of the AA*TREH genotype from 3% to 39%. Thus, the total risk of trehalase enzymopathy among the homo- and heterozygous carriers of the A*TREH allele in the studied indigenous populations may be as high as 24% to 86%.

Selcen Küçüküstel, Embracing Landscape: Living with Reindeer and Hunting among Spirits in South Siberia.

Selcen Küçüküstel, <i>Embracing Landscape: Living with Reindeer and Hunting among Spirits in South Siberia.</i>

알타이 설화에 나타난 어휘의 상징성

The purpose of this study is to analyze the characteristics of Altai tales and the symbolic meanings of words in Altai tales. Altai refers to the Altai Republic in the Russian Federation, located in South Siberia. Altaians - the common name of a kind of historically formed union of six autochthonous Turkic-speaking ethnic groups. Altai folklore is the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth Altai people. Altai folk tales are life stories that reflect the traditions, belief systems, religions, and cosmic views of the peoples who have lived around the Altai Mountains since ancient times. Altai folk tales have similar themes or modified contents found in other regions and peoples, but reflect the uniqueness of the Altai peoples and culture. In Altai folktale texts, color words that symbolically express the main character and surrounding objects, as well as names of people and numbers using color words, are found. These vocabularies are linearly combined with other vocabularies and function as text components unique to narrative texts.

Genus Apterocuris Jacobson, 1901 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the Subfamily Chrysomelinae with Description of a New Species and Remarks on Significance of Preimaginal Characters

For Apterocuris Jacobson, 1901, formerly considered a monotypic genus endemic to South Siberia, a second congener is described from the Central Sikhote-Alin’ Mountains in the Far East of Russia. Apterocuris brinevi sp. n. differs from A. sibirica Jacobson, 1901 in the rather convex body, shining smooth dorsum, absence of rectangular projecting basilateral angles of elytra, and only two or three distinct striae of elytral punctures. For Apterocuris sibirica, the pupa is first described, imago redescribed, and the revised distribution is mapped. The place of Apterocuris in the tribe Chrysomelini is discussed and its similarity to the genus Sclerophaedon Weise, 1882 considered. Both genera have pupae with two urogomphi that should place them into the subtribe Entomoscelina, but their adults with open anterior coxal cavities do not fit the subtribe diagnosis. Therefore, re-establishment of the subtribe Sclerophaedonina Steinhausen, 1996 is proposed to place the genera Sclerophaedon, Apterocuris, Colaphellus Weise, 1916 and Colaspidema Laporte, 1833. A triple key to the genera of the tribe Chrysomelini based on the combination of larval, pupal and imaginal characters is presented.

Deer or Horses with Antlers? Wooden Figures Adorning Herders in the Altai

Among the burials of horse herders who lived in the 4th–3rd centuries BCE Altai Mountains of South Siberia were some that contained small wooden figures of four-legged hoofed animals that represent horses, deer, or hybrid creatures. They decorated headgear buried with select commoners of the Pazyryk Culture. Although the people, material possessions, and horses of the elites were frequently ornamented with imagery often associated with the so-called Scytho-Siberian animal style, these figurines are generally more realistic and less stylized representations of natural creatures, either cervids or horses. There is, however, ambiguity in these representations; in some cases, figures that are horses have inset recesses on the tops of their heads, in addition to holes for ear inserts. This recalls the elaborate headdresses on some horses outfitted with large displays of antlers or horns made of wood, leather, and felt buried with the Pazyryk leaders. The implication of this ambiguity is explored here. Horses were “cultural capital and tokens of clout” (see Andreeva Introduction, this volume) in the Pazyryk Culture, as well as the base of the economy. Deer were foundational to older belief systems in Siberia. The commingling of horse, mountain goat/ibex, and deer features in Pazyryk Culture imagery has inspired this study.

Aborigines or Migrants? A New Stage in the Okunev Origin Debate

New arguments put forward by advocates of the migration theory of the Okunev origin are discussed and found unconvincing. A cultural impulse from the Late Yamnaya and Yamnaya-Catacomb populations of the northeast Caucasian steppes is quite probable; in fact, a migration is possible too, but not on a mass scale. The western pulse was single and limited in size, and its effect on Okunev origin was likewise limited. Eventually, it was overlaid by a much more powerful local tradition-a fact that is supported Ьy Ьoth craniometry and genetics. The Ьelief that "Ьrachycranic Caucasoid males"-alleged militant migrants from the west-played a critical part in 0kunev origins is erroneous. Even if it proves possible to single out such males among the newly discovered skeletons from burials of the early, Uybat, stage (thus far, such attempts have been unsuccessful), their contribution to the Okunev gene pool was much smaller than that of the autochthonous population of South Siberia. According to A.V. Gromov and other members of the Saint-PetersЬurg school of cranial nonmetric studies, new crania from the UyЬat Ьurials don't reveal the "Native American" tendency peculiar to other 0kunev samples and to certain other ancient groups of South SiЬeria. This is especially evident in the frequency of infraorbital pattern type II. However, no inequality is observed either in the number of Uybat males and females or in the distribution of nonmetric traits between them, disproving the idea of a military campaign allegedly causing a population turnover whereby, as migrationists claim, Afanasyevo people were destroyed or displaced. Genetics provides no indication that the source of the western admixture in Okunev people was some post-Afanasyevo migrant group from the western steppes rather than Afanasyevans themselves. This idea is more plausible with regard to the Chaa-Khol people of Tuva.

The Concepts, Chronology and Dispersal Routes of the Initial Upper Paleolithic of South Siberia and Central Asia

The article considers the chronology and distribution of the earliest blade of the Initial Upper Paleolithic in Central and Eastern Eurasia. Based on a review of the available evidence, it is concluded that the spread of the Initial Upper Paleolithic tradition is relatively rapid, with the difference between the older dates from the Altai Upper Paleolithic laminar assemblages (ca 45–49 ka BP, Kara-Bom UP2 level), and the younger dates from the industries east of Altai is minimal, and most often does not exceed one-two thousand years. Initial Upper Paleolithic industries replace Late Middle Paleolithic complexes on their way from the Altai. The early Initial Upper Paleolithic assemblages from Central Eurasia, being close in age, show a significant degree of technological and typological similarity, which may indicate the transfer of the tradition in its entirety. The earliest Initial Upper Paleolithic assemblages of Central Eurasia are synchronous, or slightly younger than the early Emiran Upper Paleolithic industries from the Boker Tachtit site in the Levant. The Initial Upper Paleolithic industries on the assumed route of dispersal between the Levant and Central Asia are unknown. At the same time, the earliest European Initial Upper Paleolithic can also be seen as an example of a rapid and directed transfer of Initial Upper Paleolithic cultural traditions from the Levant to the Balkans and to Central and Western Europe. The article suggests that the same scenario of the spread of the Initial Upper Paleolithic tradition, supposedly associated with the dispersal of the anthropologically modern type of humans, could also take place in the central part of Eurasia, where the territory of the mountains and foothills of Central Asia and South Siberia could become the center of Initial Upper Paleolithic formation.

Spatial structure and morpholody of understory in the southern taiga zone of central Siberia

The spatial structure of understory is influenced by various biotic and abiotic factors. The aim of the present study was to reveal the role of spatial distribution of the understory and its influence on the morphological and other forest characteristics in young stands. Visual and instrumental forest measuress were conducted to assess the spatial distribution of understory (forest inventory data for Boguchanskoye, Daurskoye and Manskoye forestries in 1965–1975 were used). In Central Siberia, the spatial structure of understory is significantly influenced by the number of understory trees and the share of conifers in the stand composition. Quality of the understory worsens with increase in its number and age. At the same time, the condition of young trees growing in groups is lower. Competition in groups accelerates growth in height, making trees growing in groups higher than those arranged uniformly after 30 years of age. It was confirmed that the spatial structure of understory changes from a group to a uniform one with age. The analysis of variance showed that group arrangement of the understory significantly influences its quality and the share that dominant forest-forming species (spruce) takes in the young generation. In the case of uniform arrangement, a significant characteristic is the number of understory trees. Group spatial structure significantly influences the quality of understory and its growth rate in the southern taiga zone of South Siberia. In Central Siberia, abandoned agricultural lands are restocked mainly with coniferous (Scots pine) and deciduous (birch) species.

АНАТОЛИЮ ИВАНОВИЧУ МАРТЫНОВУ - 90 ЛЕТ

The article overviews the activities of the famous Siberian archaeologist A.I. Martynov, who has been working in Kemerovo Region for 68 years. He headed the Regional Museum of Local History, explored archaeological sites of South Siberia, took part in the museumification of the archaeological rock art site “Tomskaya Pisanitsa”, and created a scientific archaeological school at Kemerovo State University. In the university, Professor A.I. Martynov established the Department of Archaeology, which he headed for 23 years. He still works at the Department of Museum Affairs at Kemerovo State Institute of Culture and at the Museum-Reserve “Tomskaya Pisanitsa”. The article also discusses the researcher’s personality traits, which enabled him to achieve outstanding results in the organization of archaeological science in the Kemerovo Region.

Междисциплинарный подход к изучению этногенеза: геногеография и филогеография тувинских родовых групп

Introduction. The territory of South Siberia has historically been a crossroads of ancient migration routes. So, the complex process of ethnogenesis across the region requires multidisciplinary insights of historians, ethnographers, anthropologists, linguists, and geneticists. Goals. The work aims to substantiate the possibility of a comprehensive study of Tuvan tribal groups on the basis of the latter’s gene pools and structures. Materials and methods. The most efficient tool thereto is the Y chromosome since it is inherited — like the clan/tribal name proper — paternally, has a high variety, makes it possible to reconstruct migration waves, and may yield genetic dates. These properties of the Y chromosome make it an additional historical source within comprehensive ethnographic, historical, linguistic, anthropological, and genetic studies of ancestral groups among peoples to have retained the memory of clan/tribal structures. Results. The early 21st century has witnessed an intensive research of the Tuvan Y-chromosomal gene pool — with no sufficient data on corresponding tribal groups mentioned. The analysis of Tuvan tribal structures is complicated by a number of factors, such as the administrative/territorial system of the Qing Empire in Tuva (1757–1912), introduction of a passport system in Tuva (1945–1947) when not clan/tribal names but rather personal ones were registered as surnames, and an increase in unmarried cohabitation that violates the patrilineal system. Y-chromosomal analyses of the largest Tuvan tribal groups Mongush and Oorzhak show that the bulk of their gene pool are North Eurasian haplogroups (N*, N1a2, N3a, Q) associated with the autochthonous population of the area nowadays inhabited by Tuvans. At the same time, Central Asian haplogroups (C2, O2) make up less than a fifth (17 %) of the gene pool. A targeted analysis of the most frequent branch (C2a1a2a2a2-SK1066) of the Central Asian haplogroup C2 shows it had originated about 900 years ago in the territory of Northeast Mongolia, and thus could not have reached Tuva before the 11th–12th centuries AD. Anthropological data also attest to the late admixture of the Central Asian cluster into the Tuvans and their tribal groups. The North Eurasian haplogroups completely dominate within the gene pool of tribal groups Kol, Oyun, and Khertek, which results in that the share of Central Asian lineages drops to 3%. Conclusions. In general, the paper shows the Mongolian expansion had no essential genetic impacts on the Y-chromosomal gene pool of Tuvan tribal groups, but — in contrast — did overwhelmingly influence ethnocultural, economic, and linguistic spheres.

Medieval Chinese Painting «Nomads», Boqtag and Rock Carvings of Human Figures in Long Robes from Khakasia in South Siberia

The author recollects his first ‘in-person’ acquaintance with petroglyphs of South Siberia under the tutorship of his teacher V. E. Larichev. The main interpretations of figures in long robes (so-called «boots») engraved on planes of Oshkol pisanitsa and other adjacent rock art sites of Northern Khakassia are enumerated. Arguments by S. V. Pankova in favour of their interpretation as Manichean or Buddhist priests and their attribution to Tashtyk culture time are considered. The author tries to present alternative interpretation and dating of figures in long robes. He proposed the 13th century Chinese painting «Nomads» depicting two women in boqtag – traditional headdress of Mongolian nobles – as the ichnographically closest analogy to Khakas rock art «boots». A brief overview of Russian boqtag studies is given. The author mentions articles by M. V. Gorelik, N. V. Khripunov, E. P. Myskov, Z. V. Dode, A. A. Tishkin, S. A. Pilipenko, L. E. Maklasova and others. He presumes that Chinese Medieval scroll «Nomads» depicted a Mongolian wedding train and rock engravings of figures in long robes in Khakassia reflected matrimonial contacts of Yenisei Kyrgyz leadership with Mongolian nobles.

Hidden Diversity within Tetralophozia filiformis (Marchantiophyta, Anastrophyllaceae) in East Asia.

Tetralophozia filiformis s.l. is known from a number of localities mostly in amphi-oceanic areas in Northern Hemisphere, including Atlantic Europe, amphi-Pacific Asia, South Siberia, and western North America. The newly obtained collections of this 'species' show strong variation in morphology of the taxon across amphi-Pacific Asia although connected by some 'intergrading' modifications. This implies the genetic diversity within this unit earlier recognized as a single taxon. Authors used molecular-genetic, morphological, and chorological methods to understand if the geographically correlated morphological variation also correlates with genetic differences and if it is possible to distinguish some additional taxa within the series of specimens originating from the various areas in amphi-Pacific Asia. It was found that Tetralophozia filiformis is a complex of at least three morphologically similar species, including one long forgotten name (Chandonanthus pusillus) that should be reinstated as separate species and one taxon (Tetralophozia sibirica) that should be described as new. Tetralophozia filiformis and Chandonanthus pusillus are lectotypified, and the new combination is provided for the latter. The three accepted taxa distinctly differ one from another in distribution patterns, preferable climate characteristics, and genetic distances, besides minor differentiations in morphology. The main morphological distinguishing features are the leaf cell size, height of undivided part in leaf lamina, and leaf dentation characteristics. Taking into account the robust correlation between the climate-based and molecular-genetic-based clusters, one more (fourth) taxon could be probably segregated from Tetralophozia filiformis.

Additions to the fauna of Heterocera (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of the Republic of Khakassia and of the South of Krasnoyarsk Region (South Siberia, Russia) with a comparison of the moths flight timing after 100 years of W. Kozhantshikov's research

Additions to the fauna of Heterocera (Insecta, Lepidoptera) of the Republic of Khakassia and of the South of Krasnoyarsk Region (South Siberia, Russia) with a comparison of the moths flight timing after 100 years of W. Kozhantshikov's research

Eranthis Salisb. (Ranunculaceae) in South Siberia: Insights into Phylogeography and Taxonomy

Eranthis Salisb. (Ranunculaceae) is a herbaceous plant genus, including few species disjunctively distributed throughout the temperate zone from Southeastern Europe to Eastern Asia. Until recently, only Eranthis sibirica DC. was known in South Siberia, being considered endemic and tertiary relict. Not long ago, Eranthis tanhoensis Erst was also described in Siberia. We report here a reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships between the Siberian Eranthis species based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid (trnL + trnL-trnF + trnH-psbA) DNA. The phylogeographic structure of Siberian Eranthis is distinguished by the presence of the two “eastern” and “western” supergroups, which most likely formed as a result of disjunction caused by active mountain uplifts during the late Neogene–early Quaternary and subsequent progressive Pleistocene cooling. The eastern supergroup combines lineage I, containing populations from the eastern Khamar-Daban Ridge, the Eastern Sayan Mountains, and the Tannu-Ola Ridge, and lineage II containing western Khamar-Daban populations. The western supergroup includes only lineage III, containing Western Sayan populations. Our data clearly show that E. tanhoensis is nested in the E. sibirica clade, thereby indicating that its description as a separate species is unjustified, as it compromises the monophyletic status of E. sibirica. Therefore, we suggest here to consider E. tanhoensis as a synonym of E. sibirica.