Allozyme Variation in Spalax leucodon Nordmann, 1840 (Rodentia: Spalacidae) in the Area between Ankara and Beyşehir

Authors: TEOMAN KANKILIÇ, ERCÜMENT ÇOLAK, REYHAN ÇOLAK, NURİ YİĞİT

Abstract: Eighty-one specimens belonging to 3 populations of Spalax leucodon collected in the area between Ankara and Beyşehir were electrophoretically analyzed. Three enzyme systems, isocitrate dehydrogenase (Idh), esterase (Est) and \alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (\alpha-Gpdh), were screened using horizontal starch gel electrophoresis, and 5 loci were determined. Three loci (Idh-1, Est-1, Est-3) were polymorphic, and 2 (Idh-2, \alpha-Gpdh) were monomorphic. Heterozygosity ranged from 0.1804 (in population A) to 0.2254 (in population K). Genetic divergency in 3 the populations resulted from the locus Idh-1 (F_{st} = 0.0372). The mean value of the fixation index in 3 the populations (F_{st} = 0.0266) reflected little genetic differentiation. Genetic diversity estimated by Shannon's information index was moderate (I = 0.3202).

Keywords: Spalax leucodon, Allozyme, Genetic diversity, Turkey

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