Pavel A Sorokin

Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution · Molecular Diagnostics Methods Room

The North-West Pre-Caspian saiga (Saiga tatarica tatarica) population numbers was about 800 thousand individuals in the middle of the last century. There was a dramatic decline at the end of the 20th century, and by 2015 this saiga population numbers and was about five thousand animals. Our paper presents the results of microsatellite loci and of t...

The population of the Northwest Pre-Caspian saiga (Saiga tatarica tatarica) numbered about 800 000 individuals in the middle of the last century. There was a dramatic decline at the end of the 20th century, and by 2015 the numbers of this saiga population reached about five thousand animals. The results of microsatellite loci and of mtDNA control r...

We analyzed population genetic structure of polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in the Russian Arctic based on samples collected in 2010–2021. For 93 adult individuals, we report polymorphism of 17 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci and a 610 nucleotide long mtDNA D-loop fragment. High genetic diversity of nuclear DNA and low nucleotide diversity π for mitoc...

Polymorphism of nine microsatellite loci in the Sikhote-Alin tiger population was analyzed in the modern and recent historical periods, using blood, excrement, and museum bone samples. Tests for excess heterozygosity to determine whether the population went through a period of low abundance and a low value of the Garza–Williamson coefficient indica...

Population genetic structure in polar bear (Ursus maritimus) from model areas in the Russian Arctic is considered based on materials collected in the period 2010–2021. Data on polymorphism of 17 microsatellite loci of nuclear DNA and a 610 nucleotide long mtDNA D-loop fragment were obtained for 93 animals. For the studied sample of adult polar bear...

In this study, we examined the mitochondrial DNA diversity of Eurasian otter from European Russia and Transcaucasian countries and compared it with other European populations. We used a fragment of the mtDNA control region (255 bp) and also included previously detected haplotypes from NCBI. Six haplotypes were found in 75 samples from European Russ...

The polymorphism of 9 microsatellite loci of the Sikhote-Alin tiger population in the modern and recent historical period was analyzed using blood, excrement, and museum bone samples. Tests for a population going through a period of low abundance in the analysis of excess heterozygotes and a low value of the Garza-Williamson coefficient indicate a...

The study presents the status and diversity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes in the Far Eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis). 20 alleles of MHC genes were obtained from 11 samples in total, 19 alleles were described for the first time for the species. A high diversity of alleles is shown at the level of individuals as...

In this study we examined mitochondrial DNA diversity of Eurasian otter from European part of Russia and Transcaucasian countries and compared it with other European populations. We used a fragment of mtDNA control region (255 bp) and also included previously detected haplotypes from NCBI. Six haplotypes were found in 75 samples from European part...

Saiga (Saiga tatarica Linnaeus, 1766) was a widespread species in the past. However, nowadays it is included in the list of protected IUCN species due to a population depression. The North‐West Pre‐Caspian saiga population (S. tatarica tatarica) is the only population in Europe. Over the last 20 years its number has decreased from 180 thousand to 4...

Territoriality is the regulating social system for many carnivore species. It is usually determined by resource abundance and competition. Lutra lutra (hereinafter also – Eurasian otter), a top freshwater predator, has a wide range of various types of resources, which can influence its spatial organisation and space use. It is well known for optima...

Marginelliform gastropods are a heterogeneous and diverse group of molluscs encompassing over 1,600 living species, among which are the smallest known neogastropods. The relationships of marginelliform gastropods within the order Neogastropoda are controversial, and the monophyly of the two marginelliform families the Marginellidae J. Fleming, 1828...

This monograph provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the available literature on the monitoring of big cats. Special attention is paid to the most up-to-date methods based on recent advances in technology, resulting in useful tools to remotely and noninvasively study animals in natural habitats, essential when working with rare species. E...

The nucleotide sequences of the alleles of the DRB3 gene of the major histocompatibility complex (class II) of saiga antelope are described. A high degree of heterozygosity is found. The results of the analysis are consistent with the hypothesis of overdominance of heterozygotes. Phylogenetic relations of the DRB3 gene alleles of the saiga antelope...

Впервые описаны нуклеотидные последовательности аллелей гена DRB3 главного комплекса гисто-совместимости (класс II) сайгака. Для исследованной выборки получена высокая степень гетерози-готности. Результаты анализа согласуются с гипотезой сверхдоминирования гетерозигот. Филоге-нетические связи аллей гена DRB3 сайгака и других полорогих не соответств...

На основе данных с фоторегистраторов, которые были установлены на модельной территории в юго-западной части Приморского края, в течение годового цикла получены сведения о присутствии индивидуально идентифицированных дальневосточных леопардов в районе исследования. Анализ полученных данных с использованием комбинации различных методик позволил опред...

Data on the reproductive success and reproductive behavior of the domestic cat, the most widespread representative of the family Felidae, are presented. The effects of the number of partners, mating order, and sperm quality on male and female reproductive success were assessed. The experiments showed that the fertility of female cats that mated wit...

Based on data from camera traps installed throughout the model territory in southwest Primorye, information was received during an annual cycle on the presence of individually identified Amur leopards in the area of study. Analysis of the data using a combination of different techniques has determined the mutual spatial arrangement and sizes of app...

В монографии проанализированы и обобщены практически все доступные литературные источники, посвященные мониторингу крупных хищных. Особое внимание уделено самым современным методам, основанным на активном развитии технологий и позволяющим дистанционно и неинвазивно исследовать животных в естественных условиях, что принципиально важно при работе с р...

Seroprevalence to nine different virus pathogens was estimated for Russian big cats (Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica Temminck, 1844) and far-eastern leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis (Schiegel, 1857))) in Southern Primorie, Russia (n = 25), in 2008–2016. Serum samples from smaller cats (Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx (Linnaeus, 1758)) and far-easte...

A molecular-genetic analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the cytochrome b gene (1140 base pairs) of the mitochondrial DNA and 17 microsatellite loci of eight samples of roe deer from the Samara forest of Dnipropetrovsk oblast (Ukraine) was carried out. For comparison, 212 corresponding mtDNA sequences of the Siberian and European roe deer and da...

Data on the breeding success and reproductive behavior of the domestic cat as the most common felid species are presented. We evaluated the effect of the mating pattern and male sperm quality on breeding success. We also observed the relations between females and males during the breeding period. We experimentally showed that mating of a domestic c...

Despite a great number of empirical studies, the mechanisms of population differentiation and the factors that influence this process, particularly in seabirds, remain insufficiently understood. Here we analyzed population structure in the whiskered auklet (Aethia pygmaea), a previously poorly studied alcid species with unusual differentiation in c...

A female of Amur leopard was captured and tagged with a satellite GPS-collar in southwestern Primorye region in 2011. A total of 2434 locations have been analyzed for 464 days. The annual home range area (1978 locations) was 161.7 km(2) (MCP95%), and the core area (Fixed Kernel 90%), 23.3 km(2). During the year, the female committed five extraterri...

We used molecular genetic analyses to noninvasively identify individual Amur tigers and define subpopulations of tigers in the Russian Far East. We identified 63 individuals as a result of genotyping 256 feces, 7 hair and 11 blood samples collected within southern, central, and northern Sikhote-Alin, as well as Southwest Primorye. Analysis of nucle...

The effect of philopatry on the formation of the intrapopulation structure in the crested auklet colony of the Talan Island, Tauiskaya Bay of the Sea of Okhotsk, was examined. The nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region fragment (408 bp) and five microsatellite loci (Apy03, Apy04, Apy06, Apy07, Apy10) in individuals from two st...

To better understand spatial structure of Amur tigers (Panthera tigris Temminck, 1884) at the southern edge of their range we fitted 14 tigers (6♀♀ and 8♂♂) with 15 GPS-Argos collars between 2008 and 2011 in two study sites: Ussuriskii Reserve of Southern Sikhote-Alin and Land of the Leopard National Park in Southwest Primorye, Russian Far East. Fi...

The study of population differentiation is essential for understanding species evolution and ecology. Despite a large amount of published works in this area of study, the prediction of population structure in a number of animal species and, particularly, in seabirds remains difficult. The Crested Auklet (Aethia cristatella) is a small, planktivorou...

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) appears to be a suitable tool for solving various tasks of popu- lationgenetics. Information on genetic basis of immunity facilitates understanding of evolutionary his- tory and assessment of current state and prospects of studied population/species survival. On the one hand, MHC variability is maintained thro...

Phylogenetic relations of Ponto-Caspian gobies in the context of different taxonomic hypotheses have been studied based on the analysis of variations in cytochrome b gene. Evidence for the paraphyly of the genus Neogobius sensu lato, represented by two independent phyletic lineages that should be treated as separate genera Neogobius s. stricto (inc...

Noninvasive methods (interviews, feces collection, DNA analysis, and trail camera traps) allowed us to identify the most widespread mustelid species and assess the pattern of their distribution over the territory of the region. Two mustelid species—the American mink and common marten—are predominant in the Southern Urals. In summer and autumn, the...

For the first time, the genetic structure of a population of Amur leopards (Panthera pardus orientalis) in southwest Primorie was analyzed in detail. In 2010–2012, 23 individuals were identified individually. It was shown that the studied microsatellite markers are suitable for individual identification of leopards, monitoring the population number...

A matrix of photocameras was applied to estimate spatial use by the main prey species of Amur tiger at the Ussuriisky Reserve. The most often registered species were red deer (37.2% of all prey photos), Nippon deer (22.6), wild boar (13.9), and bears (9.3%). The seasonal use of the study area was observed forbears (they were absent in January-March...

Polymorphism of the nucleotide sequence of a hypervariable fragment of the D-loop (985 bp) of mtDNA in 76 Goitered gazelles of subspecies Gazella subgutturosa subgutturosa from Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan was studied. The genetic similarity of gazelles from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan has been identified. The population of gazelles fro...

The possibility of application of satellite collars to the study of home range and activity of Amur tigers has been analyzed. The possibility of obtaining information about the size and structure of a home range, discerning the home range core areas, seasonal changes in the use of space by tigers, and collecting detailed data on animals’ activity a...

A noninvasive evaluation method of hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenals axis (HPA) activity in the Siberian tiger was verified. Comparison of the activity level of HPA in Siberian tigers in the wild and in captivity, and their alterations over the year was carried out. Significant seasonal deviations between activity levels of HPA in tigers in captivity...

Background. A new taxonomy of tubenose gobies of the genus Proterorhinus has been proposed recently. However, some of taxonomic hypotheses have not been confirmed by recent genetic studies or seem not to correspond with ecological features and genetic differentiation of these fishes. The aim of this paper was to test the new taxonomy through a phyl...

Summary Morphological and molecular genetic analyses of the Aipenser gueldenstaedtii sensu Berg (1934) were accomplished using individuals collected in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. The distribution of specimens in the space of principal components were calculated using 28 morphometric characters. The results demonstrated the absence of sep...

The possibility of application of satellite collars to study home range and activity of Amur tigers is analyzed. The home range of an adult tigress (more than 800 km2) was assessed using MCP (100%) and the kernel method (95%)). The core area included 55% of the tigress locations, and its largest part was inside the "Us-suriisky" Reserve. However, a...

Two morphologically similar morphs of the Periclimemes soror shrimps were subjected to nucleotide sequence analysis of the mitochondrial COI gene fragment and highly variable nuclear fragment, D1–D2 domain of the large subunit of their ribosomal RNA genes. These shrimps are widely distributed in the Indo-West-Pacific and are obligate symbionts of s...

The state of animals in natural populations can be often assessed only by noninvasive methods. The use of EIA antibodies against corticosterone makes it pos� sible to reveal an increase in the concentration of immunoreactive compounds that bind to antibodies against corticosterone in faeces of tigers both after artificial stimulation of adrenal gla...

Morphological and molecular genetic analyses of the Russian sturgeon sensu Berg (1934) were accomplished using the sample of individuals collected in the southern part of the Caspian Sea. The distribution of specimens in the space of principal components calculated using 28 morphometric characters demonstrates the absence of separate clusters. Freq...

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The mitochondrial DNA D-loop hypervariable fragment sequence polymorphism was examined in 27 Mongolian gazelles from Mongolia, Russia, and China. Intraspecific polymorphism of the D-loop fragment examined was demonstrated. All haplotypes described were unique. The average nucleotide diversity (pi) for the mtDNA fragment investigated constituted 5.8...

Using as molecular marker the most variable mDNA segment - left domain of control region (D-loops) able to reflect changes of effective population number (including 'bottle gourd' passing), it is shown that presently in the European population of Saiga antelope, due to catastrophic decline of its number, the decreasing of general genetic diversity...