Lyudmila S. Zinevich

Feathers of an unknown bird of prey were collected on the coastal plain tundra near Meinypil’gyno (62°32′ N, 177°03′ E), southeastern Chukotka on June 5, 2021. An analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and sex chromosome CHD1 gene fragments from DNA isolated from the feathers showed with full confidence that the feathers belonged to a male of the Nearctic northern harrier (Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus 1766)), formerly considered as a subspecies of the Holarctic hen harrier (C. cyaneus (Linnaeus 1766)). No specimens of the American harrier from the northern part of the Russian Far East are contained in the collections of the Zoological Museum of Lomonosov Moscow State University or the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The few other visual observations of harriers in Chukotka known are not properly documented for their correct species identification. The revealed vagrant American harrier documents the first record of this species in Russia in general and in Chukotka in particular.

Feathers of an unknown bird of prey were collected on the coastal plain tundra near Meinypil’gyno (62°32′ N, 177°03′ E), SE Chukotka on June 5, 2021. An analysis of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene and sex chromosome CHD1 gene fragments from DNA isolated from the feathers showed with full confidence that the feathers belonged to a male of the Nearctic Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius (Linnaeus 1766)), formerly considered as being a subspecies of the Holarctic Hen Harrier (C. cyaneus (Linnaeus 1766)). No specimens of the American Harrier from the northern Far East of Russia are contained in the collections of the Zoological Museum of Moscow State University and the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Few other known visual observations of harriers in Chukotka are not properly documented for their correct species identification. The revealed vagrant American Harrier documents the first record of this species in Russia generally and in Chukotka in particular.

Степной орел (Aquila nipalensis) – птица, без которой невозможно представить Казахстан. Согласно последней оценке численности 2018 г. в стране гнездилось 20950–31570 пар (68,5–82,2% мировой популяции). Численность казахстанской популяции устойчиво снижается, начиная, как минимум, с 1990–х гг. (Карякин, 2018). В настоящий период неблагоприятный тренд наблюдается по всему казахстанскому ареалу степного орла, но отсутствие регулярного и географически репрезентативного мониторинга не позволяет корректно оценить темпы сокращения. Степные орлы на гнездовании в Казахстане неравномерно распределены по трём гнездовым группировкам: западной, центральной и восточной.

DNA analysis is a “gold standard” for individual identification and parentage studies as for humans, so for animals (Saks et al., 1991). First forensic testing of the rare animal species DNA occurred in 1991 in Great Britain, when the case of illegal capture of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) nestlings was proved by parentage testing using DNA fingerprints of birds in question and other peregrines in captivity (Shorrock, 1998). In Russia, illegal capture for foreign sales is the main threat for Saker (Falco cherrug) and Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) populations (Kovács et al., 2014; Lobkov et al., 2020). In 2021, a Comprehensive action plan for creation of Reintroduction and conservation centres for falcons in the Kamchatka region and bustards in the Republic of Kalmykia was signed into law by the Vice-Prime Minister V. Abramchenko. While this statute is primarily addressed to falcon species reproduction and reintroduction, some action items there are coming from falcon species conservation to prevent illegal trade: investigating the orders of marking birds in captivity and tracing them individually from hatching to selling and transferring abroad. Genetic methods were supposed to be the heart of the orders. Accuracy of any DNA identification highly depends on genetic markers used for it. Usually, for humans and farm animals, individual identification and paternity testing are based on nuclear microsatellites (short tandem repeats) panels. These markers are codominant, multiallelic, hypervariable and allow running analyses quickly and automatically. Some studies have already shown their possibilities in forensic DNA testing of falcons (Beasley et al., 2021). We tested different microsatellite panels for genetic identification of Sakers, Gyrfalcons and Peregrines and established a simple and cheap protocol for falcon genotyping using 10 microsatellite loci primarily described for saker natural populations (Hou et al., 2018). Using a first dataset contained of 99 samples (85 Sakers, 12 Gyrfalcons and two hybids), we showed the possibility to estimate the significance of genotyping for these loci and obtained values of probability of identity (PI) less than 10-9 in total and less than 10-3 for siblings. Whereas total population number both for the Saker and Gyrfalcon over the area is estimated by the IUCN in less than 106 individuals, and the offspring of one bird pair can hardly amount to much more than a hundred, the probability of accidental appearance of two birds with same genotypes for these loci may be regarded as negligible. The accuracy of parentage testing was also shown to be sufficient as for the pair and their offspring, so for one parent and the offspring. The microsatellite panel showed specificity for Peregrines, but more investigation is needed to check if these loci are fully convenient also for Peregrine Falcon identification. Basing on these preliminary results we used this test system starting a voluntary programme of breeding stock genotyping for Russian falconries. To the date, five falconries have already provided genetic material and supporting data for their breeding stock, about 380 samples from Sakers, Gyrfalcons, Peregrines and their hybrids. Together with data from natural populations (about 300 samples including museum specimens), this dataset provides opportunities to perform species and population analysis even though our preliminary results like previous data (Nittinger et al., 2007) showed low sensitivity of microsatellites to distinguish Sakers from Gyrfalcons without supporting geographic data. For falconries, full analysis of genetic data, analysis of paternity etc. provided a probability to check the breeding stock and breeding programs and exclude occasional mistakes in identification even for old cases. But the main aim of the program is to obtain a unique genetic identifier for each bird and its offspring to show the legitimacy of rare species keeping. While our microsatellite panel showed genotype uniqueness like CODIS (Budowle et al., 2016) and other forensic test systems for human identification, we propose it as a base of the genetic passport of falcon which can be put into a pedigree sertificate as a plain text or a QR-code. For such purposes, the method should be fully reproducible using any equipment at any laboratory. Together with Russian companies specialized in forensic DNA test systems manufacturing, we plan to develop a ready-to-use kit for genetic passportization of sakers and gyrfalcons in captivity and forensic DNA testing in case these rare species illegal outtake from nature or trafficking is suspected.

For centuries, Steppe Eagle (Aquila nipalensis) had been the most numerous Palearctic Aquila species, but nowadays it has been decreasing in numbers progressively, so in 2015 the IUCN changed the species status to “endangered”. The decrease is evidently related to Steppe Eagles’ electrocution at nesting areas and during migration, poisoning by veterinarian drugs when feeding on agricultural animal carcasses at wintering grounds, steppe fires and total habitat loss combined with loss of prey like susliks. To the contrary, the sister Aquila species, the Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca), which exhibits similar biological traits and lives simpatrically to the Steppe Eagle at some parts of areas, shows local increase in numbers and even substitutes the decreasing Steppe Eagle in steppe biomes. In the 1960s, many Palearctic birds of prey came through population decline due to so-called “DDT crisis” – massive pesticide poisoning. To restore the species numbers, specific conservation actions were initiated in Europe to support population numbers and genetic diversity of raptors. Regarding the Steppe Eagle with its nesting area located mostly at Kazakhstan, Russian, Mongolian and Chinese territories, the implications of DDT and electrocution impacts on the population numbers stayed poorly investigated. Meanwhile, loss of genetic stability can be a reason for lasting population decline. Genetic threats like population fragmentation, genetic erosion, and inbreeding depression are believed more prolonged in comparison to anthropogenic impacts and more rarely come under increasing scrutiny of conservation practitioners. However, if exist, they can lead to species extinction regardless of removal of all other threats. The Steppe Eagle population structure stays poorly investigated. In 2018, during the 1st Steppe Eagle conservation international workshop, this problem was highlighted with recommendations for filling this gap. Our presented study was conducted following this recommendation and focused on genetic structure, fragmentation, and effective number comparison of the Steppe Eagle population at the individual samples) and sympatric populations of the Imperial Eagle (over 100 samples). For conservation criteria estimation, we used widespread genetic markers like nuclear microsatellites (9 loci) and mitochondrial control region (D-loop). Also we performed molecular individual tagging and parentage analysis to study the population structure using samples from the numerous Western Kazakhstan population. We also used GIS methods to study geographic fragmentation of populations. The genetic analysis showed that the Steppe Eagle population structure is highly similar to that of the Imperial Eagle but with less genetic diversity and has traces of repeated survival of “population bottlenecks” with huge decline in the number and genetic diversity. Fragmentation analysis showed no genetic isolation of geographically fragmented nesting groups despite the presumed natal phylopatry in accordance with our Steppe Eagle parentage data. Preliminary estimation of the Steppe Eagle population effective numbers by linkage disequilibrium method showed rather high values inspite of the lasting population decline. The molecular coancestry estimation showed more serious decline during the latest bottleneck which was also far below the ancestral Imperial Eagle population at the studied areas. The inbreeding rate for the Steppe Eagle population at the most part of the species areas turned out to outnumber one for the local population of the Imperial Eagle. Our data showed no immediate genetic threats for the Steppe Eagle population restoration and also demonstrated traces of multiple bottlenecks in the species evolution. Still the genetic structure of the species population keeps some traits of modern decline and should be monitored permanently according to the species numbers. Unique population structure patterns of the Steppe Eagle between other Aquilinae species and their conservation aspects are directions for future Aquila nipalensis genetic research.

Результаты апробирования методики восстановления популяции балобана путём подсадки в естественные гнёзда птенцов, выращенных в питомнике (с результатами GPS/GSM-трекинга слётков)

Современное состояние популяции степного орла в Оренбургской области, Россия

Популяционная структура ареала степного орла и предварительные данные по генетическому разнообразию его популяций и статусу подвидов

Факты, описанные в сообщении, говорят не только о возможности формирования смешанных пар между степным орлом и орлом-могильником, но и об успешном размножении и фертильности гибридов. Все случаи формирования смешанных пар выявлены в зоне контакта двух видов по периферии ареала степного орла при сокращении численности одного (степного орла) и росте другого (в Западном Казахстане), либо при сокращении численности обоих и недостатке партнёров своего вида (в Даурии). Учитывая то, что численность степного орла продолжает сокращаться, процесс гибридизации может усилиться и это явление требует более тщательного изучения.

The expression of the Igf-1 gene in mouse liver at different stages of development of hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrozamine—from the initial diffuse tissue dysplasia and nodular hyperplasia to the development of multiple adenomas and carcinoma—has been analyzed. It was marked that the level of Igf-1 expression in all liver neoplasms decreased; it increased only in the liver tissue surrounding the carcinoma. The dependence of Igf-1 expression on inflammatory processes accompanying tumor growth was analyzed on the model of acute liver damage by diethylnitrozamine. It was established that the level of Igf-1 expression in liver tissue under acute damage in sexually mature mice was the same as in the control group. By the means of semiquantitative evaluation of the products of two Igf-1 splice isoforms—locally active (Mgf) and circulating (Igf-1v4)—it has been shown that the amount of mRNA of both isoforms in hepatocellular carcinoma was lower, and in tissue surrounding the tumor higher, than in the samples of the control group. At the same time, the proportion of transcripts of isoforms was stable.