Latest Articles from Comparative Cytogenetics Latest 10 Articles from Comparative Cytogenetics https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/ Thu, 28 Mar 2024 18:14:40 +0200 Pensoft FeedCreator https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/i/logo.jpg Latest Articles from Comparative Cytogenetics https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/ Integrative analysis reveals cryptic speciation linked to habitat differentiation within Albanian populations of the anomalous blues (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Polyommatus Latreille, 1804) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/90558/ Comparative Cytogenetics 16(4): 211-242

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v16.i4.90558

Authors: Laurian Parmentier, Roger Vila, Vladimir Lukhtanov

Abstract: The Balkan Peninsula is one of the greatest hotspots for biodiversity in Europe. While the region has been investigated thoroughly, some parts remain understudied and may still harbour undiscovered diversity, even in well-studied organisms such as Lepidoptera. Here we investigated the group of the so-called anomalous blue butterflies, also known as ‘brown complex’ of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822 including the taxa of the entire Polyommatus aroaniensis (Brown, 1976) species complex. This species complex is distributed in the southern part of the Balkan Peninsula and known to be represented by three closely related allopatric species, differentiated by their chromosome numbers (n) and mitochondrial (mt) DNA. These are P. aroaniensis sensu stricto (Southern Greece, Peloponnese, n=47–48; mt haplogroup aroa1), P. timfristos Lukhtanov, Vishnevskaya et Shapoval, 2016 (Central Greece, Attika, n=38, aroa2) and P. orphicus Kolev, 2005 (North-Eastern Greece, Southern Bulgaria, n=41–42, orph1). Based on an analysis of chromosomal, molecular and morphological markers, we demonstrate that a fourth taxon of this species complex exists in Albania. This taxon possesses the mt haplogroup aroa3, which is the most differentiated within the entire P. aroaniensis species complex, and the karyotype (n=42–43), which differs by one fixed chromosome fission from P. orphicus. The Albanian taxon seems to be ecologically specialised (habitat on dark-coloured, ophiolitic substrate soils) and differs in colouration (wing reflectance) from the others taxa of the P. aroaniensis species group. Based on the evidence here presented and following the current view of the taxonomy of the group, we propose considering the Albanian taxon as a new species, here described as Polyommatus lurae sp. nov. At the contact zone between the new species and P. orphicus, in addition to typical ones, we detected specimens with haplogroup orph2, karyotype n=43 and intermediate morphology, which seem to represent P. lurae × P. orphicus hybrids.

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Research Article Tue, 15 Nov 2022 18:14:23 +0200
Chromosomal and DNA barcode analysis of the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damone (Eversmann, 1841) species complex (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/60347/ Comparative Cytogenetics 15(1): 1-22

DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v15.i1.60347

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Alexander V. Dantchenko

Abstract: The Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damone (Eversmann, 1841) species complex comprises from 5 to 8 species distributed in southeastern Europe and southern Siberia. Here we used chromosomal and DNA-barcode markers in order to test the taxonomic hypotheses previously suggested for this complex. We revealed that all taxa within this group demonstrate chromosomal stasis and share the same or very similar haploid chromosome number (n = 66 or n = 67). This finding is unexpected since the karyotypes are known to be very diverse and species-specific within the other taxa of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822. Analysis of the mitochondrial gene COI revealed six diverged clusters of individuals within the complex. Each cluster has a specific geographic distribution and is characterized by distinct morphological features in the wing pattern. The clusters mostly (but not always) correlate with traditionally recognized species. As a result of our study, we describe a new subspecies P. (A.) iphigenides zarmitanus subsp. nov. from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan and show that the taxon originally described as Lycaena kindermanni var. melania Staudinger, 1886 represents a subspecies P. (A.) iphigenides melanius (Staudinger, 1886). Polyommatus (A.) samusi Korb, 2017 (syn. nov.) and P. (A.) melanius komarovi Korb, 2017 (syn. nov.) are considered here as junior subjective synonyms of P. (A.) iphigenides iphigenides (Staudinger, 1886).

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Research Article Mon, 4 Jan 2021 09:52:42 +0200
Karyotype and DNA barcode of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) cyaneus (Staudinger, 1899) from its type locality: implication for taxonomic and evolutionary research in Polyommatus blue butterflies (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/59574/ Comparative Cytogenetics 14(4): 567-575

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v14.i4.59574

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Alexander V. Dantchenko, Karine V. Balayan, Anastasia V. Gagarina

Abstract: Chromosomal and molecular analyses of rapidly evolving organisms such as Polyommatus Latreille, 1804 blue butterflies are essential for understanding their taxonomy and evolutionary history, and the studies of populations from their type localities are crucially important for resolving problems of nomenclature and species identity. Here we present data on the topotypical population of the blue butterfly species described as Lycaena damone var. cyanea Staudinger, 1899. This taxon was described from Khankendi (Nagorno-Karabakh, Caucasus), and rediscovered at the type locality for the first time since it was collected there in 1869. The specimens were found on dry stony meadows with a predominance of Onobrychis radiata Bieberstein, 1810, on upper border of oak forests. Their haploid chromosome number (n) was established as n = 17. Chromosomal and mitochondrial DNA barcode analyses of the studied samples from type-locality provided an opportunity for the critical taxonomic re-examination of Caucasian species of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822 of the genus Polyommatus Latreille, 1804. The obtained data support the interpretation of the P. (A.) cyaneus (Staudinger, 1899) and P. (A.) carmon (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851) as two different, not closely related species complexes as previously hypothesized by Hugo de Lesse. On the contrary, the treatment by Walter Forster who considered these taxa as two groups of conspecific populations was not supported by our data.

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Short Communication Tue, 17 Nov 2020 22:04:11 +0200
Karyotype of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) eriwanensis Forster, 1960 and taxonomic position of P. (A.) interjectus de Lesse, 1960 (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/46897/ Comparative Cytogenetics 13(4): 359-366

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v13i4.46897

Authors: Vladimir Lukhtanov, Alexander Dantchenko

Abstract: The karyotype of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) eriwanensis Forster, 1960 from the type locality (“Eriwan” [Yerevan, Armenia]) and other localities in Armenia was investigated. The number of chromosomal elements (bivalents+ multivalents) observed in male meiosis I was found to vary from 29 to 34. In individuals with n = 34, all observed elements were represented by bivalents. In other specimens, heterozygosity for different number of chromosomal fusions resulted in multivalent formation at MI stage and consequently in a lower number of recognizable chromosomal elements. We show that all karyotype peculiarities of P. (A.) interjectus de Lesse, 1960 (n = 29–32) from Turkey are similar to those in A. eriwanensis. The butterflies of these taxa have allopatric distribution and can be considered as conspecific.

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Short Communication Tue, 12 Nov 2019 18:20:43 +0200
Karyotype reinvestigation does not confirm the presence of two cryptic species and interspecific hybridization in the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damocles complex in the Crimea (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/46777/ Comparative Cytogenetics 13(3): 311-319

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v13i3.46777

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Konstantin A. Efetov, Alexander V. Dantchenko

Abstract: The karyotype of the blue butterflies from the Angarskiy Pass (Crimea), previously attributed to Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) poseidon (Herrich-Schäffer, 1851), was re-examined. In all 19 studied individuals, we found the haploid chromosome number n = 26, including 7 pairs of relatively large and 19 pairs of relatively small chromosomes. According to the chromosome number and karyotype structure, the studied population does not differ from P. (A.) damocles krymaeus (Sheljuzhko, 1928) from the eastern part of the Crimean Mountains. This result does not confirm the previously formulated hypotheses, according to which (1) two morphologically similar but karyologically different species, P. (A.) poseidon and P. (A.) damocles krymaeus, occur sympatrically in the Crimea and (2) there is hybridization between these taxa on the Angarskiy Pass. Thus, only three species of the subgenus Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822 have been reliably established for the Crimea: P. (A.) damone pljushtchi Lukhtanov & Budashkin, 1993, P. (A.) damocles krymaeus (Sheljuzhko, 1928) and P. (A.) ripartii budashkini Kolev & de Prins, 1995.

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Short Communication Thu, 17 Oct 2019 17:11:57 +0300
Two types of highly ordered micro- and macrochromosome arrangement in metaphase plates of butterflies (Lepidoptera) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/32614/ Comparative Cytogenetics 13(1): 19-25

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v13i1.32614

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov

Abstract: In karyotype of many organisms, chromosomes form two distinct size groups: macrochromosomes and microchromosomes. During cell divisions, the position of the macro- and microchromosomes is often ordered within metaphase plate. In many reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects of the orthopteran family Tettigoniidae and in some plants, a so called “reptilian” type organization is found, with microchromosomes situated in the center of metaphase plate and with macrochromosomes situated at the periphery. An opposite, “lepidopteran” type is known in butterflies and moths (i.e. in the order Lepidoptera) and is characterized by macrochromosomes situated in the center and by microchromosomes situated at the periphery. The anomalous arrangement found in Lepidoptera was previously explained by holocentric organization of their chromosomes. Here I analyse the structure of meiotic metaphase I plates in ithomiine butterfly, Forbestra olivencia (H. Bates, 1862) (Nymphalidae, Danainae, Ithomiini) which has a clear “reptilian” organization, contrary to previous observations in Lepidoptera. In this species large bivalents (i.e. macrochromosomes) form a regular peripheral circle, whereas the minute bivalents (i.e. microchromosomes) occupy the center of this circle. The reasons and possible mechanisms resulting in two drastically different spatial chromosome organization in butterflies are discussed.

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Short Communication Mon, 14 Jan 2019 10:40:47 +0200
A new butterfly species from south Russia revealed through chromosomal and molecular analysis of the Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) damonides complex (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/20072/ Comparative Cytogenetics 11(4): 769-795

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v11i4.20072

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Alexander V. Dantchenko

Abstract: Finding a new species is a rare event in easy-to-see and well-studied organisms like butterflies, especially if they inhabit well-explored areas such as the Western Palaearctic. However, even in this region, gaps in taxonomic knowledge still exist and here we report such a discovery. Using a combined analysis of chromosomal and molecular markers we demonstrate that Polyommatus blue populations from Daghestan (South Russia), previously identified as P. aserbeidschanus, represent in fact a new species which is described here as P. australorossicus sp. n. We also show that the enigmatic Polyommatus damonides described as a form of Polyommatus damone and later considered as an entity similar to P. poseidon or P. ninae is conspecific with a taxon previously known as P. elbursicus. As a result of our study, we propose several taxonomic changes within the P. damonides species complex and suggest the following new combinations: P. damonides elbursicus Forster, 1956, comb. n. and P. damonides gilanensis Eckweiler, 2002, comb. n.

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Research Article Fri, 24 Nov 2017 14:50:45 +0200
Chromosomal identification of cryptic species sharing their DNA barcodes: Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) antidolus and P. (A.) morgani in Iran (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/20876/ Comparative Cytogenetics 11(4): 759-768

DOI: 10.3897/compcytogen.v11i4.20876

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Nazar A. Shapoval

Abstract: DNA barcoding has been suggested as a universal tool for molecular species identification; however, it cannot be applied in cases when morphologically similar species share their DNA barcodes due to the common ancestry or mitochondrial introgression. Here we analyze the karyotype of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) morgani (Le Cerf, 1909) from the region of its type locality in the southern Zagros Mountains in Iran, provide first chromosomal evidence for P. (A.) antidolus (Rebel, 1901) in Iran and demonstrate that these two species can be easily identified through analysis of their karyotypes whereas they share their mitochondrial barcodes.

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Short Communication Tue, 21 Nov 2017 14:03:11 +0200
Intragenomic variations of multicopy ITS2 marker in Agrodiaetus blue butterflies (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/5429/ Comparative Cytogenetics 9(4): 483-497

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v9i4.5429

Authors: Nazar A. Shapoval, Vladimir A. Lukhtanov

Abstract: The eukaryotic ribosomal DNA cluster consists of multiple copies of three genes, 18S, 5. 8S and 28S rRNAs, separated by multiple copies of two internal transcribed spacers, ITS1 and ITS2. It is an important, frequently used marker in both molecular cytogenetic and molecular phylogenetic studies. Despite this, little is known about intragenomic variations within the copies of eukaryotic ribosomal DNA genes and spacers. Here we present data on intraindividual variations of ITS2 spacer in three species of Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822 blue butterflies revealed by cloning technique. We demonstrate that a distinctly different intragenomic ITS2 pattern exists for every individual analysed. ITS2 sequences of these species show significant intragenomic variation (up to 3.68% divergence), setting them apart from each other on inferred phylogenetic tree. This variation is enough to obscure phylogenetic relationships at the species level.

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Research Article Fri, 7 Aug 2015 10:07:23 +0300
Chromosomal and molecular evidence for presence of Polyommatus (Agrodiaetus) poseidon (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae) in Caucasus region https://compcytogen.pensoft.net/article/5020/ Comparative Cytogenetics 9(2): 249-255

DOI: 10.3897/CompCytogen.v9i2.5020

Authors: Vladimir A. Lukhtanov, Valentin V. Tikhonov

Abstract: We show how combination of chromosomal and molecular markers can be applied for proper species identification in Agrodiaetus Hübner, 1822 blue butterflies. Using this approach we provide first evidence for presence of P. (A.) poseidon (Herrich-Schäffer, [1851]) in Georgia.

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Short Communication Wed, 3 Jun 2015 11:31:25 +0300