Genetic Structure of Urban and Suburban Populations of Common Hamster (Cricetus cricetus) in Ciscaucasia

Abstract

On the basis of the allelic composition of ten microsatellite loci and mtDNA sequences, we studied the genetic structure of the common hamster populations that inhabit cities and suburban settlements in Ciscaucasia. It was shown that, in urbanized territories, the hamster population is divided into separated groups, the genetic differences between which are high and not related to the distance between them. On the outskirts of cities adjacent to undeveloped or green areas and further in rural areas, the degree of isolation of neighboring hamster settlements decreases, and the level of genetic differences between them begins to correspond to the distance separating the settlements. In the course of work, this species was first registered within the territory of the easternmost part of Ciscaucasia, in the Republic of Dagestan.