The karyotypes of three species of social voles recently discovered in Turkey (Microtus irani karamani, M. schidlovskii, and M. anatolicus) were investigated. All specimens examined revealed similar karyotypes comprising 60 chromosomes in the diploid complement. All autosomes and the X chromosome were acrocentric. The subtelocentric Y chromosome was recorded in M. anatolicus but it was acrocentric in the other species. Dark C-bands were observed in centromeric/pericentromeric areas of all the acrocentric autosomes. The X chromosome had a centromeric C-positive area and the Y chromosome was completely heterochromatic in all specimens examined. AgNORs were recorded in the pericentromeric region of seven autosome pairs in M. irani karamani, ten autosome pairs in M. schidlovskii, and eight autosome pairs of M. anatolicus. Differences in the NOR distribution between the species were quantified in a neighbor-joining tree. The individuals of M. anatolicus appeared as the basal branch in relation to the derived sister group of M. schidlovskii and M. irani karamani.

Predatory mammals are a significant order located at the top of the food pyramid in the ecosystems in which they exist in the wild life. They have important roles in balancing the populations of animals which are smaller and large in numbers with a potential for spreading diseases and causing an economic loss. This study was based on field surveys conducted in the natural areas of Bitlis province between 2011 and 2015. It was determined in field surveys that Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Ursus arctos, Mustela nivalis, Vormela peregusna, Martes foina, Meles meles, Lutra lutra, Felis silvestris, and Lynx lynx species from order Carnivora are distributed. Traffic accidents, habitat reduction and unconsciously hunting activities were observed as leading of the most important factors which threaten these species in the study field.

No abstract

No abstract

The chromosome banding pattern (C-banding, AgNOR staining) was studied in isolated populations of two species of rodents from Turkey, Glis glis and Myodes glareolus. A single nucleolar organizer region was localized in an autosomal pair in the complement of G. glis. Centromeric C-heterochromatin blocks and seven pairs of NOR-bearing autosomes were observed in the complement of M. glareolus. A metacentric Y chromosome was found in the M. glareolus males examined. The detailed structure of karyotypes and the banding patterns differ from some previously published results.