A study of the role of selection in the formation of geographical variability and speciation by the example of representatives of mouse-like rodents (Myomorpha, Rodentia)

At present, much attention is paid to the processes of speciation and "microevolution" in general. This is facilitated by the introduction of new generation sequencing methods, which allow not only to research well-studied genetically model objects, but also to analyze virtually any species. Studying the patterns of segregation of genetic variants in different populations from natural conditions, it is possible to identify the accumulation of genetic differences, which in the future can lead to speciation. In addition, these technologies allow solving the problems with hybridization between species, which is found in many studies as a mismatch between tree topologies for nuclear and mitochondrial genes. This project will be aimed at verifying and refining the results obtained in previous studies on the model system - mouse-like rodents (voles). Voles are convenient both in terms of availability of material, and the fact that each group is characterized by rapid adaptive radiation, leading to the so-called "explosive speciation." In this regard, despite an intensive study of the origin, kinship and taxonomy of these groups, divergence orders and phylogenetic links remain both within the subfamily of the field animals and among a number of tusk taxa. Also, a separate part of the study will be the study of hybridization of species, introgression of mitochondrial DNA, and adaptive variability and plasticity of closely related or cryptic species. Analysis of the adaptive capacity of cryptic species in Transbaikalia and Eastern Mongolia will make it possible to judge the factors of speciation within a complex of narrow-headed voles. And the study of patterns of genomic differences will penetrate deeper into the causes of reproductive isolation of Lasiopodomys gregalis and L. raddei. The study of NGS data will allow testing the hypothesis of the presence of signs of introgression into the protein coding regions of the genome in representatives of the genus Alticola.