Radiobiological monitoring of striped field mouse populations in the Moscow recreation forest "Kuzminki"

The results of radiometric and haematological studies of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius) sampled over the years 1995-2003 from the territory of the preserved radioactive waste burial (RWB), which is located in the Moscow recreation forest "Kuzminki", are presented and discussed in the paper. It was shown that the level of 90Sr-90Y content in mice sampled from the RWB area varies within the range of 0-1200 Bq/kg with an average of 98.7+/-21.5 Bq/kg. The content of 90Sr-90Y in the body of 80% of the mice sampled from the RWB area was below 100 Bq/kg. Only in 4% of the sampled mice, the 90Sr-90Y specific radioactivity was above 300 Bq/kg. Haematological indications of the animals sampled from the RWB area were within the range of normal physiological fluctuations. Nevertheless, a slight but statistically significant increase in the average amount of erythrocytes and the average percentage of banded neutrophils was registered in peripheral blood of the mice.     

Genogeography of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L. populations in the Greater Caucasus and Crimea

Allozyme analysis of 18 Pinus sylvestris L. populations from seven landscape-geographic groups has been performed in the Greater Caucasus, Crimea, and Russian Plain. The results show that populations of the Mt. Elbrus region (isolated by high mountain ridges) are characterized by lower polymorphism and most distinct differentiation (at the level of geographic race) from other populations, which are differentiated from each other at the level of geographic groups. Genetic gradients (boundaries) between populations reach a maximum on transects across the Greater Caucasus Range, and Transcaucasian populations are more similar to populations of the Russian Plain, compared to North Caucasian populations, which confirms the hypothesis of ancestral connections between their gene pools.     

A system of Pleistocene refugia for Pinus sylvestris L. in the southern marginal part of the species range

An allozyme analysis of 67 Pinus sylvestris L. populations distributed over the entire species range has provided a basis for determining locations of 12 hypothetical Pleistocene refugia (HPRs) in its southern marginal part and estimating their relative contributions to the gene pools of seven phylogeographic population groups (PPGs) in the glaciated zone of the range. Using Nei’s (1978) minimum genetic distances (DN78 < 0.015) reflecting similarities and differences in allele frequencies between PPGs and the refugia, it has been shown that the main contributions to the P. sylvestris gene pool in Central Europe, Scandinavia, and the Russian Plain were probably made by the Balkan and Southern Ural refugia, and in Western and Central Siberia, by the Southern Ural, Turgai, and Southern Siberian mountain refugia.     

Insularization and polymorphism in marginal island populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.

Comparative allozyme analysis of 26 marginal island populations of Pinus sylvestris L. and 20 populations from the center of the species range has confirmed, at the species level, the Wright-Dubinin “island model” of automatic genetic processes and Mayr’s hypothesis about homozygotization of small isolated populations at range boundaries. It has been shown that the polymorphism of isolated populations sharply decreases when their area is reduced below 15–20 km² and increases to the level observed in the center of the range when the population area exceeds 50–100 km². A chorogenetic classification of marginal P. sylvestris populations is proposed.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bisphenol A: Assay optimization and its application for surface water analysis

A range of ELISAs in indirect and direct formats for the determination of bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. Bisphenol A carboxymethyl ether (BPA-CME), (BPA-CPE) and 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid were coupled with bovine serum albumin (BSA) (immunogens for the production of polyclonal antibodies), ovalbumin (OVA) and horseradish peroxidase. In general, the indirect assay was more sensitive and specific than the direct one. Using heterologous combinations of immunoreagents in the indirect assay allowed to increase assay sensitivity and specificity. The highest sensitivity was obtained for the antibodies produced against a conjugate of BPA-CPE with BSA and a conjugate of 4,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)valeric acid with OVA. The detection limit of BPA in phosphate buffer was 0.03?ng?mL^?1. The assay developed was also the most specific towards BPA. Maximum cross-reactivity values did not exceed 11% for 4-cumylphenol, 5% for bisphenol E and 2% for bisphenol S. Finally, the developed assay was used to analyze surface water samples spiked with known amount of BPA. The assay showed good recovery values (85–109%) for surface water with mineralization level lower than 500?mg?L^?1.     

Genetic differentiation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus mugo</Emphasis> Turra and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. sylvestris</Emphasis> L. populations in the Ukrainian Carpathians and the Swiss Alps

The allozyme analysis of six local populations of Pinus mugo Turra and six populations of P. sylvestris L. in the Ukrainian Carpathians, Swiss Alps, and Schwarzwald has shown a higher polymorphism and greater interpopulation differentiation of the Carpathian group of P. mugo populations compared to the Alpine group (Nei’s genetic distance DN ₇₈ at the level of geographic population group is −0.023). A genetic differentiation of DN ₇₈ = 0.049 between these populations, which are isolated by a distance of more than 1000 km, has been found. This confirms the existence of the subspecies P. mugo ssp. mugo and P. mugo ssp. uncinata in the Carpathians and Alps, respectively. The hypothesis is put forward that the former subspecies has been formed in the Balkans and the latter, in the Pyreneans. It has been demonstrated that regional populations and geographic groups of P. sylvestris are less differentiated than those of P. mugo.     

Pleistocene Refugia for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Calluna vulgaris</Emphasis> (L.) Hull Populations in the European Atlantic Region

The distribution of nine chloroplast DNA haplotypes in four insular North-Atlantic and four European coastal Atlantic populations of Calluna vulgaris in the glacial zone of the range has been analyzed in comparison with that in six marginal southern populations in the nonglacial zone of the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions. As a result, two hypothetical Pleistocene refugia (HPRs) for this C. vulgaris population group have been revealed, one in the Cévennes mountain range and the other in the Southern Alps (Trento). Judging from the 1–F_ST value, it has been found that the group of populations in the glacial Atlantic zone and adjacent European coastal Atlantic region is genetically similar to the HPR in the Cévennes at a highly significant level (p ≥ 0.999) and less similar to the HPR in Trento; however, it differs significantly from other Mediterranean and Atlantic populations. It has been concluded that the most probable hypothetical Pleistocene refugium for the recent C. vulgaris populations of the northeastern Atlantic and European coastal Atlantic regions was in the west of the Mediterranean, in the Cévennes, while the additional refugium was in the Southern Alps. Possible directions of the postglacial dispersal and recolonization of habitats by C. vulgaris populations from the western Mediterranean to the northeast of the Atlantic and to Scandinavia have been revealed.