Distribution and parameters of genetic polymorphism in northern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys rutilus) and bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) in West Siberia

This article presents data on the genetic variability of the northern red-backed vole and the bank vole that live sympatrically in West Siberia. The two species of voles have comparable, relatively high indices of genetic variability of inter simple sequences repeats DNA. The proportion of polymorphic DNA markers is 95–98%, and the Nei’s genetic diversity index is 0.33–0.35. A total of 47–58% of allozyme loci in the voles are polymorphic, and the average heterozygosity per locus is 0.058 in the northern red-backed vole and 0.054 in the bank vole. Interpopulation differentiation is less pronounced in the red-backed vole ( F ST 0.293) compared to the bank vole ( F ST 0.475). Individuals of the hybrid line of the bank vole with the mitochondrial haplotype of the red-backed vole have been found by PCR typing of cytochrome b gene fragment of mtDNA. The distribution boundary of the hybrid line of bank voles goes farther to the northeast than was shown in earlier works. The proportion of hybrid specimens range from 2 to 34%. The indices of genetic variability in the hybrid line of the bank vole are lower than those of the parental species.