The common shrews, Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758, inhabiting the territory of Belarus, are characterized by a significant variation in the frequency of Robertsonian (Rb) translocations. The frequency clines for translocations specific of three chromosome races: the West Dvina (gm, hk, ip, no, qr), Kiev (g/m, hi, k/o, n, p, q, r), and Białowieża (g/r, hn, ik, m/p, o, q) have already been studied in this territory. In this communication we report new data on polymorphic populations with Rb metacentrics specific of the Neroosa race (go, hi, kr, mn, p/q) in south-eastern Belarus, analyse the distribution of karyotypes in southern and central Belarus and draw particular attention to the fixation of the acrocentric variants of chromosomes in this area. The results show that certain Rb metacentrics specific of the Neroosa, West Dvina, Kiev, and Białowieża races (namely, go and pq; ip; ko; hn and ik, respectively) are absent in many polymorphic populations. Thus, the karyotypic differentiation of S. araneus in the studied area is determined by unequal spread of different Rb translocations and by fixation of acrocentric variants of specific chromosomes.

Chromosome races, Robertsonian translocations, chromosomal differentiation, Sorex araneus

The common shrew, Sorex araneus Linnaeus, 1758, a species inhabiting Eurasia, is a model object for population genetic studies due to its exclusive chromosomal polymorphism (for review, see: Wójcik et al. 2002, Shchipanov and Pavlova 2016). Four metacentric autosomes (af, bc, jl, and tu) and sex chromosomes (XX in females and XY1Y2 in males) are characteristic of species S. araneus (acrocentric morphs of chromosome arms j and l sporadically occur in populations through the species area), while ten autosomal arms (g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, and r) can be presented as acrocentrics or be fused as metacenetrics (Searle et al. 1991). The designations of chromosome arms are constant irrespective of their condition either as separate acrocentrics (g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r) or as arms of metacentrics (gm, hk, ip, no, qr).

A convenient methodic approach to describe the chromosomal polymorphism of S. araneus is a subdivision of populations into chromosome races. “A chromosome race of Sorex araneus is defined as a group of geographically contiguous or recently separated populations which share the same set of metacentrics and acrocentrics by descent” (Hausser et al. 1994). Chromosome races of S. araneus differ in the composition and numbers (one–five pairs) of metacentrics, which were formed by Robertsonian (Rb) translocations involving 10 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes, g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, and r (Searle et al. 1991, Hausser et al. 1994). The karyotype with ten pairs of acrocentric autosomes g–i, k, m–r (number of autosomes in diploid set, 2NA, in this karyotype equals 28) is considered as initial in chromosomal evolution of S. araneus (Wójcik et al. 2002). Metacentrics formed from Rb translocations are referred to as “race-specific fused chromosomes” (or “race-specific metacentrics”) (Zima et al. 1996). Monomorphic karyotypes are characteristic of some races (all race-specific Rb translocations are fixed), while polymorphism for 2–5 translocations was revealed in majority of chromosome races (see list of Shchipanov and Pavlova 2016).

The fixation of Rb translocations may have occurred in isolated small-size populations, for example, in glacial refugia. The data on mtDNA polymorphism in some European species of small mammals, including species of the genus Sorex, testify to the existence of multiple glacial refugia in Mediterranean and central Europe (Bilton et al. 1998, Deffontaine et al. 2005).

In the postglacial period, the previously isolated populations which migrated from refugia came into contact and hybridized with each other. The width of hybrid zones depends on the degree of chromosomal differences between contacting races. When races that differ in the combination of chromosome arms (metacentrics with monobrachial homology) make contact, narrow hybrid zones (0.5–5 km) are formed (Banaszek 1994, Narain and Fredga 1996, Szałaj et al. 1996, Bulatova et al. 2011, Orlov et al. 2012). If races which come into contact have no metacentrics with monobrachial homologies, wide hybrid zones are formed, and the clinal variation in Rb metacentric frequency can stretch for 50–100 km (Lukáčová et al. 1994, Brünner et al. 2002, Zima et al. 2003).

Six chromosome races: Kiev, Bobruysk, Białowieża, Turov, West Dvina, and Borisov, are known in the territory of Belarus by present time (Mishta et al 2000, Borisov et al 2010, 2014). Three of them, the Kiev, Białowieża, and West Dvina races, have continuous distribution ranges beyond the territory of Belarus. The Kiev race (g/m, hi, k/o, n, p, q, r) (Mishta 1994) inhabits the western territory of the Ukraine, and this race was recently discovered in southern Belarus (Borisov et al. 2014, 2016). The distribution area of the Białowieża race (g/r, hn, ik, m/p, o, r; Fredga and Nawrin 1977) stretches from eastern Poland to western Belarus (Mishta et al., 2000; Borisov et al. 2016). The West Dvina race (gm, hk, ip, no, qr; Bulatova et al. 2002) occupies a vast territory from the Valdai Hills to the Smolensk Upland, its southern boundary passes through Vitebsk region of Belarus (Bulatova et al. 2002, Borisov et al. 2008, Orlov and Borisov 2009). The Borisov race (g/m, h/k, i, n/o, q/r, p; Orlov and Borisov 2009), which is a derivative of race West Dvina, is distributed in the middle Berezina basin (Borisov et al. 2010). The Bobruysk (g, h/i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r) and Turov (g, h/k, i, m, n, o, p, q, r) races were described in the vicinities of Bobruisk and Turov towns, respectively (Mishta et al. 2000).

The clinal variation in the frequencies of Rb metacentrics, similar to the clinal variation in wide hybrid zones, was observed in the polymorphic populations of the Kiev, Białowieża, West Dvina, and Borisov races in Belarus. Karyotypes with ten pairs of acrocentric chromosomes (g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r) were found in some of these polymorphic populations (Borisov et al. 2010, 2014). Such a pattern of karyotype distribution may be associated either with the selection against heterozygotes in the interracial hybrid zone (“acrocentric peak”) (term by J. Searle 1986) or with the spread of the Rb translocations of the metacentric races in populations characterized by ten pairs of acrocentric chromosomes (Borisov et al. 2014, 2016).

In this communication, we report new data on the distribution of Rb metacentrics specific of the Neroosa race (go, hi, kr, mn, p/q; Bulatova et al. 2000) in southeastern Belarus, analyse the distribution of the Białowieża, and Kiev races in southern and central Belarus and draw particular attention to the fixation of the acrocentric chromosomes in this area.

Animals were captured at seven sites within the low Pripyat and Dnieper River basins (Gomel’ and Mogilev regions) in July–September, 2014 and in September, 2015 (Table 1).

The new material includes 75 S. araneus individuals (37 males and 38 females). Our karyological data on 290 shrews trapped in 2009–2013 (Borisov et al., 2010, 2014, 2016) and data on 252 shrews presented by other authors were used to determine the distribution range of race-specific metacentrics. In total, 603 individuals from 43 sites (an area from 51°22' to 54°55'N; from 23°10' to 34°10'E) have been analysed in this work (Suppl. material 1, Fig. 1). The study area is a mosaic of forest and meadow biotopes with occurrences of man-made landscapes.

Chromosome preparations were obtained from bone marrow and spleen cells after a routine technique with colchicine treatment (Ford and Hamerton 1956). Chromosome identification was carried out by G-banding method with trypsin (Seabright 1971) in accordance with the international common shrew chromosome nomenclature (Searle et al. 1991).

Figure 1.

The distribution of the chromosome races of the common shrew in Belarus and neighbouring territories: Ne, Neroosa (diamonds); Ki, Kiev (squares); Bi, Białowieża (circles); Wd, West Dvina (light triangles); Bs, Borisov (black triangles); Go, Goldap; Zu, Zuvintas; Ta, Tallin; Ps, Pskov; Lp, Lepel; Mo, Moscow. See Suppl. material 1 for numbers of the collection sites. Dotted line indicates state borders.

Karyotyping of S. araneus individuals captured in the southeastern territory of Belarus (at three sites to the east and one site to the west of the Dnieper River) helped to identify three Rb metacentrics, hi, kr and mn (Table 1, Fig. 1, nos. 4–7). These metacentrics are specific of the Neroosa race (go, hi, kr, mn, p/q); however, other two metacentrics of this race, go and pq, have not been found at the sites studied. The Rb translocation hi is fixed in all the examined samples, and chromosome arms k, r and m, n occur both as metacentric and acrocentric morphs (Table 1). The kr translocation was only found in heterozygous condition. Karyotypes with metacentric ko which is characteristic of the Kiev race (g/m, hi, k/o) were found in two samples from Rechitsa and Bragin districts (nos. 6 and 7).

In karyotypes of eight shrews captured near Bobruisk town (the west bank of the Berezina River), two Rb metacentrics of the Kiev race (g/m, hi, k/o), hi and ko, were observed (Table 1, Fig. 1, no. 18.3). The hi translocation appeared both in homozygous and heterozygous condition, and the ko translocation – only in heterozygous condition. Metacentric gm which is characteristic of the Kiev race was not revealed in our sample.

At two sites to the north of Bobruisk, on the west and east banks of the Berezina, karyotypes with two metacentrics of the Białowieża race (g/r, hn, ik, m/p), hn and ik, were found (Table 1, Fig. 1, nos. 31, 32). Heterozygotes for the hn and ik translocations prevailed in the samples. Metacentrics gr and mp, specific of this chromosome race, were not revealed.

The new results of the karyological study of S. araneus populations in eastern Belarus together with previously published data show a considerable variation in the frequency of Rb metacentrics characteristic of the Neroosa race in this area and the closest territories. The Neroosa race (go, hi, kr, mn, and p/q; Bulatova et al. 2000) is monomorphic for four Rb translocations throughout its large distribution range in the Oka and Don River basins (Bystrakova et al. 2007). The acrocentric chromosomes g, o, k, and r were noted at some sites in Ukraine (Mishta et al. 2000) and near the Belarusian boundary, in the vicinity of Novozybkov city (see Suppl. material 1) where 2NA varied from 19 to 25 (Bulatova et al. 2000, Sheftel and Krysanov 2002). It is supposed that homozygotes for acrocentric morphs g, o and p, q existed among individuals 2NA=25 described by Sheftel and Krysanov (2002) (unfortunately, the data on individual karyotypes were not shown). However, the registered karyotypes with 2NA=19 testify to the presence of all metacentrics specific of the Neroosa race in populations from Novozybkov. As for populations in the Gomel region, only one Rb translocation, hi, is fixed; chromosome arms k, r and m, n are presented by acrocentric and metacentric morphs, while arms g, o and p, q are presented exclusively by acrocentric morphs (Tables 1, 2, nos. 4–7).

A significant variation in the Rb translocation frequency was earlier described in populations of chromosome races West Dvina, Borisov, Kiev, and Białowieża in the Dnieper–Pripyat interfluve (Orlov and Borisov 2009, Borisov et al. 2010, Borisov et al. 2014, 2016). It should be noted that the West Dvina race (gm, hk, ip, no, qr; Bulatova et al. 2002), like the Neroosa race, is monomorphic for five Rb translocations throughout most part of its distribution range, from the Valdai Hills to the Smolensk Upland (Borisov et al. 2008). Acrocentric morphs of chromosomes n, o and q, r were found to the south of the Smolensk Upland (Fig. 1, no. 34; see Suppl. material 1). The Borisov race (a derivative of the West Dvina race) inhabiting the territory along the Berezina River (nos. 35–39) is polymorphic for the gm, hk, no, and qr translocations; however, chromosomes i and p appear only as acrocentrics (Orlov and Borisov 2009, Borisov et al. 2010). Karyotypes with two Rb translocations, gm and hk, and karyotypes with ten pairs of acrocentrics (g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r) were revealed in populations southwards of the town of Borisov (Table 2, nos. 40–43). The analysis of additional samples is required to determine whether these polymorphic populations may be attributed to the Borisov race.

In the populations to the west of the Dnieper River, in the lower part of the Berezina River basin, two metacentrics of the Kiev race (g/m, hi, k/o, Mishta 1994), namely, hi and ko (Fig. 2), are distributed (Table 2, Fig. 1, nos. 12–18); metacentric gm was not found (Borisov et al., 2016). All three Rb metacentrics specific of the Kiev race were revealed on the south bank of the Pripyat (nos. 9 - 11), however, the frequency of the gm metacentric occurred to be lower than in the samples from the Ukraine (Mishta et al. 2000). Taking into account the new data, we note that distribution area of Rb metacentrics hi and ko includes type locality of the Bobruysk race (g, h/i, k, m, n, o, p, q, r; Mishta et al. 2000) (Suppl. material 1, nos 18.1 – 18.3). Hence, the individuals carrying a single Rb translocation hi may be regarded as representatives of polymorphic race Kiev.

Figure 2.

G-banded karyotype of male shrew of the Kiev race (Svetlogorsk vic., Belarus), g, h/i, j/l, k/o, m, n, o, p, q, r (2NA=26).

The shrews with Rb metacentrics of the Neroosa race (kr and mn) and the shrews with metacentric of the Kiev race (ko) were found in samples from Rechitsa and Bragin districts, and hybrid individuals with metacentrics of both the races (simple heterozygotes hi, k/o, m/n) were found in the vicinity of Rechitsa city (Suppl. material 1, nos. 6 and 7, and 13). Thus, the hybrid zone between the polymorphic populations of the Neroosa and Kiev races approximately passes along the Dnieper. Racial attribution of homozygotes for the hi translocation from Rechitsa and Bragin districts is unclear (Fig. 1, nos. 6 and 7).

The polymorphism for Rb translocations was earlier detected in the S. araneus population (a sample of 14 individuals; Table 1, no. 8) from the neighbourhood of Chernobyl; 2NA varied from 24 to 26 (Baker et al. 1996). The chromosomes were not identified by differential G-banding; the animals were not affiliated with any race. Previously known data of Bulatova et al. (2000) and Mishta et al. (2000) and our new results (Suppl. material 1, Fig. 1, nos. 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 13) suggest that both the shrews of the Neroosa and shrews of the Kiev races, may live in the neighbourhood of Chernobyl’. It cannot be excluded that the population at site near Chernobyl belongs to the contact zone of these chromosome races.

In the populations inhabiting the southwestern territory of Belarus along the Ptich River and at some sites of the south bank of the Pripyat River, the metacentrics of the Białowieża race (g/r, hn, ik, m/p, Fredga and Nawrin 1977), hn and ik, were observed (Fig. 1, nos. 25–32; see Suppl. material 1). As for the gr and mp metacentrics, they were only revealed at three of the mentioned sites (frequency did not exceed 0.05; Table 2, nos. 26, 27, 29) and were not found at four sites (nos. 15, 30–32). For comparison, in eastern Poland, the hn and ik translocations are fixed, and the minimal frequencies of the gr and mp translocations are equal to 0.91 and 0.71, respectively (Table 2, 19, 22) (Wójcik et al. 1996, Banaszek et al. 2009).

Hybrid individuals with Rb metacentrics of the Kiev and Białowieża races: simple heterozygotes (hn, ko; g/m, h/n, i/k) and complex heterozygotes (metacentrics with monobrachial homology: i/hi/hn/n and i/ik/ko/o, are present in their karyotypes), were revealed along the Ptich River and on the south bank of the Pripyat River, close to the confluence of the Pripyat and Uborot’ Rivers (Suppl. material 1, nos. 10, 26, 27, and 29). The contact and hybrid zone between these races extends along the Ptich River and continues on the south bank of the Pripyat River. Karyotypes with ten pairs of acrocentrics were observed in some polymorphic populations of the Kiev and Białowieża races (Suppl. material 1, nos. 16, 17, 26–29.2, and 32).

There are two possible explanations of chromosome variation and a high frequency of acrocentrics in S. araneus populations in Belarus.

1) Hybridization between metacentric races which differ for the arm combinations of Rb metacentrics (e.g. chromosome arms g, h, i, k, m, n, o, p, r are combined as metacentrics gr, hn, ik, mp in karyotype of the Białowieża race and as metacentrics gm, hi, ko in the karyotype of the Kiev race). The low fitness of hybrids (complex heterozygotes possessing metacentrics with monobrachial homology, e.g. r/gr/gm/mp/p, n/hn/hi/ik/ko/o) leads to the decrease of metacentric frequency. This phenomenon is called “acrocentric peak” (Searle 1986).

2) Hybridization between metacentric races and an acrocentric race that existed in the Dnieper basin in the past (Borisov et al. 2016).

Our hypothesis about the existence of acrocentric race in the present-day Belarus or neighbouring territory during the Last glacial maximum (LGM, 24–17 kyr BP) does not contradict the paleontological and paleobotanic data: fossil remains of the common shrew were found in the Middle Dnieper basin (Markova and Pusachenko 2008) and a forest refugium of LGM was revealed in this territory (Simakova and Pusachenko 2008). Proceeding from the data on the current distribution range of chromosome races and the data on the locations of Late Pleistocene forest refugia (Kozharinov 1994), we may come to the conclusion that the West Dvina, Neroosa, and Kiev races survived the most recent glacial period in the refugia of the Valdai Hills, the Middle Russian Upland, and the Carpathians (Orlov et al. 2008).

The karyotypic differentiation of S. araneus in the low Dnieper and Pripyat basin is determined by unequal spread of different Rb translocations and by fixation of acrocentric variants of the particular chromosome arms. Each of four groups of the polymorphic populations possessing metacentrics, which are specific of the Neroosa, West Dvina, Kiev, and Białowieża races, consists of two subgroups: 1) polymorphic populations with all Rb metacentrics of the initial race, irrespective of their frequencies (Fig. 1, light figures); 2) polymorphic populations which lack 1-2 race-specific Rb metacentrics (Fig. 1, black figures). It should be stressed that the extent of distribution areas for the populations with fixed acrocentric morphs of definite chromosome arms exceeds 50 kilometres.

The subdivision of the populations of the S. araneus into chromosome races is a simplified methodic approach to describe the chromosomal polymorphism of this species (only the presence / absence of any Rb translocation is taken into consideration irrespective of its frequency; see Searle et al. 2003). According to the definition of a chromosome race as “ … populations which share the same set of metacentrics and acrocentrics by descent” (Hausser et al. 1994), the populations that differ from neighbouring population owing to the presence or absence of a Rb translocation and occupy a definite area may be regarded as separate chromosome races. For example, the populations in Sweden that differ from the Abisko race (g/m, h/n, i/p, k/q, and o/r) by acrocentric variant of the arms o and r were recognized as the Ammarnas and Hattsjo races (Fredga 2007), and the population in the Rügen Island that differs from the mainland Danish race Jutland (gm, hi, kq, no) by acrocentric variant of arms n and o was recognized as the Rügen race (Brünner et al. 2002). Thus, the populations in the Dnieper – Pripyat interfluve which lack 1-2 race-specific Rb metacentrics, may be regarded as new chromosome races.

(1) The absence of metacentrics go and pq, that is, the fixation of acrocentric variants g, o, and p, q in S. araneus populations from the low Dnieper, Sozh and Pripyat basin (a total of 39 individuals from four sites; Tables 1 and 2, Fig. 1, nos. 4–7) allows them to be recognized as a race of its own called “Gomel’ ’’.

Chromosome race: Gomel’ (Gm)

Karyotype: XX/XY1Y2, af, bc, g, hi, jl, k/r, m/n, o, p, q, tu

Type locality: vicinity of Gomel’ city, Belarus, 52°25'29"N, 30°52'31"E.

Distribution range: An area between Dnieper and Sozh Rivers, Gomel, and Rechitsa district; to the south of Rechitsa city to the latitude of Bragino city. The western boundary of the range lies along the west bank of the Dnieper River, approximately at the longitude of Rechitsa city. The other boundaries are not determined.

(2) All the three Rb metacentrics characteristic of the Kiev race occur only in populations to the south of the Pripyat River (Table 2, Fig. 1, nos. 9–11). We suppose that the polymorphic populations of the common shrew inhabiting the area between Dnieper and Pripyat Rivers (a total of 65 individuals from eight sites; Tables 1 and 2, Fig. 1, nos. 12–18), with fixed acrocentric morphs g and m, can be recognized as the Svetlogorsk race.

Chromosome race: Svetlogorsk (Sv)

Karyotype: XX/XY1Y2, af, bc, g, h/i, j/l, k/o, m, n, p, q, r, tu (see Fig. 2).

Type locality: vicinity of Svetlogorsk city, Belarus, 52°31'46"N, 29°34'49"E.

Distribution range: an area between Dnieper and Pripyat Rivers (Belarus, Gomel region); the low Berezina basin to the vicinity of Parichi and Zhlobin cities to the north, from the east bank of the Ptich River and to the west bank of the Dnieper River.

(3) The absence of metacentrics gr and mp, specific of the Białowieża race, in S. araneus populations inhabiting the territory along the Ptich River allows us to recognize these populations (a total of 104 individuals from nine sites) (Table 2; Fig. 1, nos. 25–27 and 29–32) as the Oktiabr’skiy race.

Chromosome race: Oktiabr’skiy (Ok)

Karyotype: XX/X Y1Y2, af, bc, g, h/n, j/l, i/k, m, o, p, q, r

Type locality: Rozhanov settlement, vicinity of Oktiabr’skiy town, Belarus 52°34'26"N, 28°44'37"E.

Distribution range: Southwestern Belarus, territory along the Ptich River, approximately to the latitude of Osipovichi city to the north. The western boundary is not determined. Easternmost site for shrews of this race is on the east bank of the Berezina River. The southern boundary extends along the south bank of the Pripyat River from Turov city to the confluence of the Ptich and Pripyat Rivers.

Now, 74 chromosome races of the common shrew (including 49 polymorphic ones) are known (Shchipanov and Pavlova 2016), however, the study of chromosomal polymorphism of this species is not yet completed. Equally with molecular-genetic and morphometric data, information on distribution and fixation of different Rb translocations in definite parts of the S. araneus range is very important for study of intraspecies structure of the S. araneus. Unequal spread of different Rb translocations and fixation of acrocentric variants of particular chromosome arms observed in each of these groups is an interesting example of karyotypic differentiation in populations of the common shrew.

The authors are grateful to Nikolay Alexander Shchipanov (DrSci senior researcher of Laboratory of Population Ecology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution) for the assistance in capture of shrews in Bobruisk vic. in 2015. We wish to thank Robert Angus (scientific associate of Entomology Section, Natural History Museum, London, UK) for stylistic improvement of English. The study is supported by the Russian and the Belarusian Fund for Fundamental Research “RFBR-BRFFR” (http://www.rfbr.ru/rffi/ru/), Project No. 14-04-90006.