A genetic investigation on the evolution and taxonomy of the genus nannospalax in Turkey

Currently there is no consensus over the details of evolutionary history and taxonomical classification of the genus Nannospalax in Turkey. This includes the geographical distribution of the different cytotypes, their relationships to one another, and the number of recognized species. In this thesis, in order to try to answer some of these questions, a 896 bp segment of the mitochondrial D-loop region of 120 samples belonging to N. xanthodon, N. leucodon and N. Ehrenbergi were amplified by the PCR method and sequenced. The relationships between species and between chromosomal forms of these species were investigated through various phylogenetic analyses. The results showed that N. leucodon and N. ehrenbergi were distinct species living in Thrace and Southeast Anatolia, repectively. Moreover, the idea that only N. xanthodon was distributed in the rest of Anatolia was not supported. Nine cytotpes were seen to cluster into three main groups, suggesting the presence of three different species in Turkey. N. labaumei includes 2n= 52S, 56W, 58 and 60 cytotpes, N. xanthodon contains 2n=36, 38, 40, and 52N cytotypes (western populations) and N. nehringi has 2n=50E, 54C and 56S cytotypes.