Alexander E Balakirev

• Ph.D
• Senior Researcher at Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences

We surveyed the distribution of small terrestrial mammals along the Da (Black) River in the Bac Yen district, Son La province, Vietnam. We recorded 21 species in the area. Species identifications were carried out using morphological and genetic methods in accordance with up-to-date taxonomy. The Da River is traditionally considered a zoogeographic...

Background The paper presents novel findings of little-known species of rodents, the blind tree mice Typhlomys in Son La Province, Vietnam, with the first morphological and genetic characterisation and taxonomical description of the new species, T. taxuansis. The study also summarises all the data available on this genus species distribution, museu...

We studied chigger and gamasid mite loads on small mammals during the dry season in Vietnam and used both our field data and museum collections to estimate the influence of environmental factors on mite abundance and prevalence. Generalized linear (mixed effect) models were used to analyze the data. We examined 1,239 small mammal individuals, which...

The paper presented novel findings of little-known species of rodents the Tonkin limestone rat Tonkinomys daovantieni in Cao Bang Province, Vietnam with its morphological and genetic characterisation. The study summarises data on the distribution of this data-deficient species, available museum collections, genetic samples, information on its taxon...

The study of chigger mites of Vietnam is based on the material collected during fieldworks in 2011–2019 and examination of small mammal samples deposited in museum collections. A total 59 small mammals species were examined (49 species of Rodentia, 8 species of Eulipotyphla, and 2 species of Scandentia). On them, 79 species of chigger mites were co...

Bamboo rats are members of the subfamily Rhizomiinae, of the family Spalacidae. These animals are widely distributed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and China. Due to their larger size compared to other rodents, in recent years they have been bred in captivity and have brought a certain economic value. With the survey resul...

Open access to occurrence records in a standardised format has strong potential applications for many kinds of ecological research and bioresources management, including the assessment of invasion risks, formulation of nature protection, biomedical and management plans in the context of global climate and land-use changes both in the short and long...

Based on new molecular data for mitochondrial (Cyt b) and nuclear (IRBP, RAG1) genes, as well as an extensive analysis of morphological material, we accessed actual species taxonomy and relationships among Asian red-cheeked squirrels Dremomys distributed in eastern Indochina and southern China. Phylo-genetic analyses demonstrated that Asian red-che...

The present study was aimed to determine the potential cultivated lands for rice crop production in Vietnam. Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) were employed in order to analyze the structure of an ideal solution in agriculture that focuses mainly on environmental, eco...

The study combines available data on species distribution in eastern Indochina to investigate the phylogeographical genetic and morphological diversity of tree rats ( Chiromyscus , Rodentia, Muridae) and to specify their natural ranges. We examined the diversity and distribution of tree rats over its range, based on recent molecular data for mitoch...

Background & objectives: Rodents are important reservoir hosts for several zoonotic pathogens such as Rickettsia, Leptospira and Bartonella. Studies on the prevalence of zoonotic pathogens in Vietnam are data deficient, and there is a scarcity of data on multiple co-infections of zoonotic pathogens to date. This study examined the prevalence of Ri...

Многие зоологи занимались изучением териофауны заповедника «Утриш» и его окрестностей. Фауна млекопитающих (MAMMALIA) на 2015г. насчитывала 58 видов и прогнозировалось обитание 8 видов. Результаты полевых и молекулярно- генетических исследований внесли коррективы в современный список териофауны заповедника «Утриш». Список отряда рукокрылых дополнен...

This paper summarises all the currently available phylogeographic data of Callosciurus squirrels in continental Indochina. For the first time, all the available data on the genetic attribution of the squirrels of the C. erythraeus/finlaysonii complex of eastern Indochina (Vietnam) including novel ones from eastern Indochina are presented and the di...

Molecular genetic typing of voles from the vicinity of the Pslukh cordon (south of the Caucasian state reserve), Krasnaya Polyana, and from the Utrish reserve (the Abrau peninsula) has been carried out. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene, voles from Krasnaya Polyana and the Psulkh cordon should be attributed to...

The paper presents an analysis of a genetic and morphological variation of Dacnomys millardi from seven Vietnamese localities, including a new finding from southern Vietnam which lies some 1000 km to the south of the currently known limit of the species range. Samples from northern and southern Vietnam do not differ significantly in their cranial a...

The phylogeographic pattern of Maxomys surifer across most of its geographic range was investigated based on existing sequencing from GenBank and new original data from Vietnam to evaluate its natural subdivision and taxonomic structure in Indochina and neighboring regions. Seven major phylogenetic clusters/groups are apparent on the cytochrome b (...

A new species of marmoset rat, Hapalomys suntsovi, is described from Binh Phuoc Province, southern Vietnam. The species seems to be endemic to Vietnam. It is diagnosed on the basis of cranial morphology, the diversity of COI gene sequences and karyotypic peculiarities. A comparison with the two currently recognised Hapalomys species is provided. Th...

11.05.16 г. К видовому составу, распространению и экологии полёвок (Mammalia, Cricetidae, Microtina) Северо-Западного Кавказа. – Балакирев А. Е., Миронова Т. А., Хляп Л. А., Василенко Л. Е., Окулова Н. М. – Проведено молекулярно-генетическое типирование по-лёвок из окрестностей кордона Пслух (юг Кавказского государственного заповедника), Красной По...

Контакты хромосомных рас обыкновенной бурозубки Sorex araneus L. (Insectivora) на краевых образованиях вепсовской стадии Валдайского оледенения

The genetic variation of the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1779) from isolated populations of Russian Plain and the Caucasus was investigated using cytochrome b gene (cytb). The genetic distance calculated between these populations of forest dormouse was 9.94 %, which corresponds to the typical distance between biological species of mam...

The small mammals’ surveys were carried out in the Chu Mom Ray National Park during 2014-2015 by the Joint Vietnam-Russian Tropical Research and Technological Centre. This national park is located in Sa Thay and Ngoc Hoi districts of the Kon Tum province, close to the point where Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos meet. These preliminary studies focused ma...

INTRODUCTION The common shrew, Sorex araneus L., is a euryy topic species of forest and meadow ecosystems. This species is widespread not only in the forest but also in the foresttsteppe and steppe zones of Europe. Like other mesophilic species, the common shrew's habitat is fragmented in the steppe zone, as biotope suitable for habitat (forest isl...

INTRODUCTION The common shrew, Sorex araneus L., is a euryy topic species of forest and meadow ecosystems. This species is widespread not only in the forest but also in the foresttsteppe and steppe zones of Europe. Like other mesophilic species, the common shrew's habitat is fragmented in the steppe zone, as biotope suitable for habitat (forest isl...

В настоящей работе генетическая изменчивость популяций обыкновенной бурозубки Sorex araneus L. Восточной Европы изучена на основе секвенирования митохондриального гена cytb. Проанализированы 82 последовательности митохондриального гена cytb длиной 953 пн, в том числе пяти хромосомных рас на сплошном ареале вида в лесной зоне и двух рас из фрагменти...

The genetic polymorphism of the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1778) from isolated populations of Russian plain and the Caucasus was investigated using cytochrome- b gene (cytb). The genetic distance calculated between these populations of forest dormouse was 9.94%, which corresponds to the typical distance between biological species of...

Complete list of samples used for phylogenetic reconstructions used for "Phylogenetic relationships in the Niviventer-Chiromyscus complex (Rodentia, Muridae) inferred from molecular data, with description of a new species" (Balakirev et al., 2014, Zookeys).

The list of samples used for combined Cyt b+COI+IRBP+GHR analysis used for "Phylogenetic relationships in the Niviventer-Chiromyscus complex (Rodentia, Muridae) inferred from molecular data, with description of a new species" (Balakirev et al., 2014, Zookeys).

Cranial measurements, range, and standard deviation used for "Phylogenetic relationships in the Niviventer-Chiromyscus complex (Rodentia, Muridae) inferred from molecular data, with description of a new species" (Balakirev et al., 2014, Zookeys).

Based on molecular data for mitochondrial (Cyt b, COI) and nuclear (IRBP, GHR) genes, and morphological examinations of museum specimens, we examined diversity, species boundaries, and relationships within and between the murine genera Chiromyscus and Niviventer. Phylogenetic patterns recovered demonstrate that Niviventer sensu lato is not monophyl...

The taxonomic position of enigmatic pygmy dormouse Typhlomys (Rodentia: Platacanthomyidae) from Vietnam is reconsidered based on both morphology and sequence data. The analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear genes has shown that the pygmy dormouse from Lao Cai Province of northern Vietnam belongs to a distinct phylogenetic lineage of Typhlomys. The D...

The genetic polymorphism of the forest dormouse Dryomys nitedula (Pallas, 1778) from isolated populations of Russian plain and the Caucasus was investigated using cytochrome b gene (cytb). The genetic distance calculated between these populations of forest dormouse was 9.94%, which corresponds to the typical distance between biological species of m...

Tonkinomys daovantieni was recently described from Northern Vietnam, but very sparse information exists for the taxon. We report for the first time the karyotype of this species and investigate its phylogenetic position in the Dacnomys division using both mitochondrial and nuclear genetic data. The diploid chromosome number of the species is 2n=44....

A revision of the genus Leopoldamys is presented, and both the species composition and distribution in Indochina and Sundaic regions is reinvestigated. The phylogeny of the genus is recovered based on Cyt b, COI, and IRBP gene analyses. Five basal and 16 secondary monophyletic phylogenetic lineages were identified. A taxonomic reassessment of the c...

Microsatellite and mtDNA markers have been used to identify two pairs of cryptic species Sorex araneus L. (Sorex satunini Ogn.) and Sorex minutus L. (S. volnuchini Ogn.). The new data were obtained on the distribution of these species on the plain between the Don and Kuban rivers. The shrew S. volnuchini and Caucasian mole are distributed on the pl...

The sequencing of Cyt b and COI mtDNA genes was used to investigate the species composition of Rattus rats in Southern Vietnam and establish an actual correspondence between revealed mtDNA haplogroups and taxonomical species for the group in the region. Seven specific level phylogroups corresponding to Rattus tanezumi, R. norvegicus, R. nitidus, R....

Based on a comparative investigation of morphological and genetic data, a taxonomic revision of the genus Niviventer in Vietnam and the adjacent regions of East Indochina was carried out. The phylogenetic relationships within 13 species (N. andersoni, N. excelsior, N. eha, N. brahma, N. culturatus, N. coninga, N. rapit, N. niviventer, N. confucianu...

Using the data of karyological analysis, the phylogenetic relationships of Caucasian shrew Sorex satunini and the cryptic species of superspecies Sorer araneus were examined. In the population of Sorex satunini from the plain of North Ciscaucasia two deeply radiated cytochrome b genes (A and B) were identified. Genetic distance between haplotype A...

The species composition of the genus Niviventer was studied. The presence of at least 15 species in the genus, 8 of which represent the fauna of Vietnam, was confirmed. Based on an analysis of the cytochrome gene b of mtDNA, an attempt at distinguishing natural inter-genus groups was made and questions of inter-genus taxonomy were discussed. Keywo...

Puumala virus (PUUV) and other Arvicolinae-borne hantaviruses are difficult to cultivate in cell culture. To isolate these hantaviruses efficiently, hantavirus nucleocapsid protein (NP)-positive but seronegative wild rodents were selected by NP-detection ELISA. Three of 68 Myodes glareolus captured in Samara, Russia, were NP-positive and seronegati...

Распространение криптических видов бурозубок рода Sorex (Mammalia), диагно-стированных по молекулярным маркёрам, в междуречье Дона и Кубани. Стахеев В.В., Балакирев А.Е., Григорьева О.О., Шестак А.Г., Потапов С.Г., Борисов Ю.М., Орлов В.Н. – Для диагностики двух пар криптических видов Sorex araneus L. – S. satunini Ogn. и Sorex minutus L. – S. vol...

Новый подвид кавказской бурозубки Sorex satunini (Mammalia) и филогенетические связи вида по мтДНК последовательностям и хромосомным маркёрам. – Орлов В.Н., Балакирев А.Е., Борисов Ю.М. – Описан новый подвид и кариотип (G-banding) кавказ-ской бурозубки Sorex satunini tembotovi ssp. n. из междуречья Кубани и Дона. В одной популяции этого подвида обн...

European Russia is a highly endemic area of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), a rodent-borne zoonotic disease, caused by hantaviruses. In total, 145 small mammals of four species (Myodes glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis, A. agrarius, and A. uralensis) were trapped in the Samara region of European Russia in August 2005 and examined for th...

Cytogenetic analysis of the common shrew populations in the Valdai Hills revealed the presence of four distinct chromosome races (Western Dvina, Seliger, St. Petersburg, and Moscow). The geographic distribution of these races relative to the borders of the Late Valdai glaciation area is described and discussed. Five contact zones between chromosoma...

In this review, we discuss the processes of fixation of Robertsonian chromosome fusions in populations of the common shrew Sorex araneus L. Various Robertsonian fusions, accumulating in populations, create an illusion of large chromosomal rearrangements, reciprocal translocations of complete chromosome arms. The use of these rearrangements for phyl...

The biotopical distribution and reproduction of the sibling species, Microtus arvalis and M. rossiaemeridionalis, and their interrelationships with the hantavirus Tula were studied within an anthropogenic forest-steppe landscape (Tula oblast) by seasons during three years. 332 specimens of both species were captured using 19.5 thousand trap-days. T...

Skulls in 504 one-year-old individuals of the common shrew, Sorex araneus, representing seven chromosomal races (Moscow, Lepel, Manturovo, Yagri, Tomsk, and Nerusa) were examined using 24 dimensions and 15 indices. Races were found to differ in a number of dimensions and proportions of skull. Each race has its own morphological appearance. The clus...

To specify the taxonomic rank of form ciscaucasicus (independent species Sylvaemus ciscaucasicus, or intraspecific form of pygmy wood mouse, S. uralensis), a 402-bp the mtDNA cytochrome b gene fragment (402 bp) was examined in ciscaucasicus individuals from six geographic localities of the Caucasus and Ciscaucasus (Krasnodar krai and Adygeya Republ...

Richard Goldschmidt has given the name “system mutation” to a large change in the karyotype resulting from translocations, inversions, and other rearrangement and leading to species isolation, though he assumed that the novel chromosomal structure develops gradually after a series of consecutive events [1, p. 200]. Goldschmidt assumed that speciati...

A total of 5149 small mammals belonging to 16 species were collected from the Lipetsk, Voronezh, and Belgorod regions (40 administrative districts) in 2003-2004 and examined by ELISA and IFA to detect hantavirus antigen and antibodies in the lung tissues. Hantavirus circulation was revealed in 13 species, the highest hantavirus activity being detec...

The karyotypes (routine, C-, Ag-NOR-banding) and haemoglobin patterns (using express electrophoresis) in sibling-species of the common vole, Microtus arvalis s. l., as well as in M. agrestis from the Voronezhskii State Reserve were studied for the first time. Twenty-six specimens among 43 ones investigated were found to belong to M. rossiaemeridion...

A natural focus of hantavirus infection was detected and examined during the studies conducted in 2000-2002 around the Sochi (the western spurs of the Great Caucasus Ridge, which descended to the Black Sea (the Krasnodar Territory of Russia). At least 4 rodent species, such as Microtus majori, A. (S.) ponticus, A. agrarius, A. (S.) ciscaucasicus, w...

Three syntopic mouse species of the genus Apodemus (A. (Sylvaemus) ciscaucasicus, A. (S.) ponticus, and A. agrarius) were identified in an anonymous sampling from the western part of the Great Caucasus using chromosomal- (C-, NOR-banding), molecular-genetic (RAPD PCR), and nontraditional morphological methods (comparative analysis of structural and...

A hierarchy of intraspecific taxa of the common shrew, Sorex araneus L., is described over a large area of the European species range to the east from the Gulf of Bothnia and the Visla and Dniester River basins. Diagnostic characteristics of the intraspecific taxa are chromosome rearrangements. Different metacentric chromosomes are generated by cen...

A comparative analysis of structural and metric peculiarities of spermatozoa in six species of the genus Apodemus (A. mosquensis, A ciscaucasicus, A. ponticus, A. flavicollis, A. fulvipectus, and A. agrarius) from Eastern Europe and adjacent territories of Transcaucasia was performed for the first time. In these species, as well as in most Muridae...