The effects of habitat fragmentation and the resulting decreases in effective population sizes are not easy to document because they take place over many generations and may be affected by factors other than demographic ones. Here, we used 22 microsatellite loci to investigate genetic structure and diversity in populations of edible dormice Glis glis from habitats that varied widely in area and in the degree of connectivity to other populations. We found that populations from the most fragmented north-western region of Poland were characterized by extremely limited gene flow and low genetic diversity compared to less fragmented populations from southern Poland. STRUCTURE analysis revealed three genetic groups in Poland, which might reflect adaptation to environmental conditions across south-north and east-west gradients, but could also be due to historical patterns of post-glacial colonization. The latter hypothesis is suggested by the observation that southern populations from Poland grouped with those from the Balkans based on microsatellite data; however, the fact that all Polish populations shared western mtDNA cytochrome b haplotypes is inconsistent with this scenario. We discuss the consequences of our findings for the conservation of the edible dormouse in Poland.

Fourteen new polymorphic di-and di-tetra complex microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the edible dormouse (Glis glis). The markers were tested on 427 individuals representing populations from Croatia and Poland. All loci were polymorphic, with the number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 31, with a mean of 10. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.208-0.957 to 0.228-0.907, respectively. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium between loci has been found. These highly polymorphic markers could provide a powerful tool for detailed genetic studies of this endangered species.

Our current understanding of the function of coordinated acoustic displays usually comes from studies conducted over a short period of the breeding season. However, the function of particular types of vocalizations may vary according to sex and context, and such displays can extend beyond the time of reproduction. To fully understand this phenomenon, analyses of year-round singing behavior are required. In the current study, we focused on a small, year-round territorial Afrotropical songbird, Chubb’s Cisticola (Cisticola chubbi). We analyzed the structure of songs during the breeding season as well as year-round changes in the proportion of solos, duets, and choruses to investigate the potential function(s) of each type of vocalization. We found that: (1) females produced whistling notes, while males generated trilling ones; (2) up to five individuals formed coordinated choruses, and (3) individuals were always near to each other during cooperative singing. Over the course of a year, the majority of syllables recorded were duets (82%), with rarer choruses (16%) and extremely rare solos (2%). Outside of the breeding season, males produced the most solos, while females produced more at the beginning of the breeding season. The proportion of choruses was highest at the end of breeding season. Frequent year-round production of duets and choruses strongly supports territory defense as the main function of joint singing, while the highest proportion of choruses at the end of the breeding season suggests that offspring take part in the chorus. To better understand cooperative singing, it is essential to extend our looking beyond the breeding season.

SummaryDuring a survey on the occurrence of the plant parasitic nematodes of the family Longidoridae in Poland, 925 soil samples were taken. Longidorus distinctus was present in 10 (1.08 %) of these samples. In this Research Note we provide: 1) distribution map of these populations, 2) morphometric data, 3) sequence data for D2-D3 28S rDNA and (partial)18S-ITS1 -5.8S(partial) markers and 4) LdistFOR primer (5'-GGCTGTAAAGATATATGCGT-3') effective in obtaining ITS1 sequence for the species. Morphometric similarities and dissimilarities with data on other published populations are discussed.