Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alexandra A. Raspopova, Vladimir S. Lebedev, Jeremy B. Searle, Anna A. Bannikova
Summary: In this study, the phylogenetic relationships within the chromosomally variable Sorex araneus species group were reconstructed using nuclear and mitochondrial genes. The results showed a complex evolutionary history with high incidence of reticulation and possible ancient hybridizations. The authentic mitochondrial lineage of the Iberian shrew S. granarius was found to be closely related to S. coronatus, indicating introgression from S. araneus. This study also revealed deeper reticulations for the first time, suggesting hybrid origins for the S. arcticus and S. coronatus lineages.
Article
Zoology
Jan M. Wojcik, Rafal Kowalczyk, Jerzy Rybialek, Jeremy Herman
Summary: A fully albino individual of the common shrew was found in south-western Poland, which is one of the three recorded cases in mainland Europe.
Article
Zoology
Krzysztof Kowalski, Pawel Marciniak, Leszek Rychlik
Summary: This study confirms that the common shrew is venomous and provides experimental evidence of hemolytic action of shrew venom on frog erythrocytes. The venom of shrews may contain multiple toxins, and the hemolytic effects vary between shrew species, with the venom of Eurasian water shrew showing stronger hemolytic activity.
ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Martina Dokulilova, Jarmila Krojerova-Prokesova, Marta Heroldova, Ladislav Cepelka, Josef Suchomel
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the population dynamics of shrews in mountain and upland forest clearings in the Czech Republic and to reveal how climatic factors influenced fluctuations in their abundance. The results showed that shrews are sensitive to winters with a longer period of snow cover and climatic oscillations associated with the NAO, which may indirectly affect them through their prey.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Cecilia Baldoni, William R. Thomas, Dominik von Elverfeldt, Marco Reisert, Javier Lazaro, Marion Muturi, Liliana M. Davalos, John D. Nieland, Dina K. N. Dechmann
Summary: This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the common shrew brain using histological, MRI, and transcriptomic approaches. The results highlight the importance of high-resolution morphological and genetic research in unraveling the mechanisms behind Dehnel's phenomenon.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Lucie Farkova, Javier Lazaro, Boris Krystufek, Vladimir Vohralik
Summary: The morphological variation of the common shrew is influenced by climatic and geographical factors. At the continental scale, there is a negative correlation between body- and skull-size and latitude and longitude, but at regional scales such an association is often not apparent. Geometric morphometrics analysis confirmed the existence of significant interpopulation differences in both size and shape. Centroid size was found to be correlated with latitude, altitude, and annual precipitation.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Ana Maria Benedek, Anamaria Lazar, Niculina Viorica Cic, Maria Denisa Cocirlea, Ioan Sirbu
Summary: Protection of natural areas through restricting human activities is essential for preserving plant and animal populations and enhancing ecosystem services. A study conducted in the southern Carpathian Mountains found that long-term protection led to positive responses from small mammal communities, particularly the shrew species Sorex araneus and S. minutus. These species showed increased abundance and relative abundance, indicating their sensitivity to improved habitat quality through protection.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew A. Conte, Frances E. Clark, Reade B. Roberts, Luohao Xu, Wenjing Tao, Qi Zhou, Deshou Wang, Thomas D. Kocher
Summary: This study investigates the evolution of a giant sex chromosome in cichlid fish, finding that it consists of three distinct regions and contains unprecedented amounts of endogenous retroviral elements, immunoglobulin genes, and long non-coding RNAs. Comparative analysis across 69 teleost genomes supports the hypothesis that the giant sex chromosome originated from the fusion of a B chromosome.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Ahmed Gailan Qasem, Sarah S. Lam
Summary: This study develops a reliable wart treatment prediction system using a hybrid genetic algorithm (GA)-ensemble learning approach with a larger dataset. The results show that ensemble models yield better classification results on the combined balanced wart dataset than individual classifiers. The proposed prediction system can assist physicians to reliably select appropriate treatment methods for patients who have warts with high accuracy, which in turn will have a positive impact on clinical resources.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Iryna A. Kryshchuk, Victor N. Orlov, Elena V. Cherepanova, Yury M. Borisov
Summary: Analysis of the frequency of karyotypes and chromosomal rearrangements in four metacentric races of Sorex amneus Linnaeus, 1758 revealed features that are not typical for polymorphic populations. The frequency of the acrocentric karyotype and heterozygotes for fusion of acrocentric chromosomes was significantly higher than expected, suggesting hybridization between metacentric races and ancient acrocentric populations.
COMPARATIVE CYTOGENETICS
(2021)
Article
Zoology
Eva Ladurner, Paolo Colangelo, Gianni Amori, Federica Lazzeri, Elisa Colonna, Petra Kranebitter
Summary: The study used molecular markers to revise the specimens of the Sorex araneus group in South Tyrol, Italy, detecting the presence of both S. antinorii and S. araneus in the region. This finding underscores the importance of revising museum collections using modern technologies to accurately assess the diversity of small mammal fauna at regional and national levels.
HYSTRIX-ITALIAN JOURNAL OF MAMMALOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhen Huang, Zaoxu Xu, Hao Bai, Yongji Huang, Na Kang, Xiaoting Ding, Jing Liu, Haoran Luo, Chentao Yang, Wanjun Chen, Qixin Guo, Lingzhan Xue, Xueping Zhang, Li Xu, Meiling Chen, Honggao Fu, Youling Chen, Zhicao Yue, Tatsuo Fukagawa, Shanlin Liu, Guobin Chang, Luohao Xu
Summary: Microchromosomes are prevalent in nonmammalian vertebrates, but some are missing in bird genome assemblies. This study presents a new chicken reference genome, including all autosomes and sex chromosomes, and provides detailed characterization of small microchromosomes (dot chromosomes) with unique sequence and epigenetic features, shedding insights into the structure and evolution of chromosomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Paleontology
Leonid L. Voyta, Evgeniy P. Izvarin, Yulia A. Shemyakina, Viktoria A. Nikiforova, Tatyana Strukova, Nikolai G. Smirnov, Daniel A. Melnikov, Anatoly Bobretsov
Summary: This study reveals the temporal patterns in the morphological variety of Sorex araneus and S. tundrensis through the examination of modern and fossil samples. The results show differences between modern and fossil samples, as well as similarities and differences between the two species. The study uncovers phenotypic changes in size and shape during the Holocene that were previously unnoticed.
PALAEONTOLOGIA ELECTRONICA
(2023)
Review
Entomology
Ananda R. Pereira Martins, Natalie B. B. Warren, W. Owen McMillan, Rowan D. H. Barrett
Summary: Evaluating the stability or mobility of hybrid zones can provide valuable insights for evolution and conservation biology. Butterflies, a highly sensitive organism to environmental changes, serve as an important model for studying hybrid zone dynamics. In this review, we examine the literature on butterfly hybrid zones, focusing on their spatial and temporal dynamics as well as the mechanisms responsible for their movement or stability. By synthesizing evidence obtained from various data sources across different regions and spatial scales, we aim to identify general conditions associated with the stability or mobility of butterfly hybrid zones. We also discuss the implications of spatiotemporal dynamics in the context of speciation/divergence continuum and recommend key topics for future research.
Article
Zoology
V. Ya Yurchinsky
Summary: A study compared the thymus of four species of immature insectivorous mammals belonging to different families. The results showed that the morphology of the thymus varies depending on the biological characteristics of the species, indicating an adaptive value.
ZOOLOGICHESKY ZHURNAL
(2022)
